Simple syrup recipes are easy to create and make a wonderful gift for any time of year. Perfect for cocktails or natural flavored sodas, toppings for dessert and more.
How pretty is this cranberry simple syrup?
I’ve just made three simple syrup recipes to share with you today, and plan on taking them to a couple of parties we are attending, as well as having a couple left for us to use at home. This cranberry syrup would be great in a cocktail with vodka, seltzer, and fresh lime.
It’s just as good sans alcohol for those who don’t like to drink. How about adding a touch to Prosecco or Champagne for added color and a tart flavor.
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The recent popularity of Moscow Mules requires ginger beer as one of the key ingredients. This used to be hard to buy around here, but I found that making a simple syrup with fresh ginger and seltzer is a good substitution. In fact, I wrote about it in my Skinny Moscow Mule Recipe.
Since I was creating a pretty label for my bottles
Simple Syrup Recipes
The third recipe is lemon. Lemon simple syrup is so refreshing and delicious. You can use it to make lemonade, sweeten iced tea, or just as a cocktail mixer. It would also be great on pound cake, pancakes, and sliced melon for dessert.
Lastly, the only problem with these fresh yummy syrups is that they don’t last long. There are no preservatives so I suggest that you use them or give them away quickly. They should last for about one month if kept refrigerated. Make sure that you use glass bottles that you’ve sterilized to help prevent any bacteria growth.
Simple Syrup Recipes
Ingredients
Cranberry Syrup
- 2 cups fresh cranberries
- 1.5 cups water
- 1 cup sugar
Ginger Syrup
- 1 cup fresh ginger peeled & sliced (4 oz)
- 1.5 cups water
- 1 cup sugar
Lemon Syrup
- 1 cup fresh lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons lemon zest
- 1.5 cups water
- 1 cup sugar
Instructions
- For each syrup bring the ingredients to a boil.
- Reduce heat and simmer for 15 - 20 minutes.
- Let cool slightly then strain. You can use a coffee filter to obtain a clear syrup.
- Pour into 12 oz. sterilized bottles.
- Refrigerate up to 1 month.
Tessa says
Good day
Lovely recipe but can I substitute the sugar for a sweetener like stevia?
Patti Estep says
Hi Tessa,
I haven’t never tried that but I do think it’s worth a try. Whenever I’ve used stevia to sweeten tea it seems like a little goes a long way, so you would need to find the right ratio of water to stevia. Looking online, I see 1 cup of sugar equals 1 teaspoon of stevia. This makes me think that the result would not be a syrup but a sweetened liquid. You might try using the same recipe and substitute the sugar with one teaspoon of stevia and see how it turns out. Let me know how it works out.
Carole says
This is so neat and simple, I thought there was so much more to it and the end result is beautiful. Great gift for the hostess. Really like the labels too, they accent the bottle perfectly.
Patti Estep says
Thanks Carole. I already brought some to my sister’s house. She had us over for a family dinner last week and next week we are going to my brothers for a big party so I’ll bring some to them too. Too bad you are so far away. I’d totally make some for you.