How to make simple syrup at home
Learn how to make simple syrup at home in just a few steps. This quick and affordable cocktail essential requires only sugar and water, with optional tips to extend shelf life and add flavours. Perfect for beginners, it’s an easy way to improve your drinks with better balance and control.
Many cocktails call for simple syrup
Many cocktail recipes call for simple syrup. This, quite literally simple syrup, is quick and easy to make. And while you can buy sugar syrups in many flavours, making your own is a more affordable option—with far more fun and control over the ingredients.
What you need for simple syrup
- A measuring jug
- A bottle or any sealable container
- A saucepan (and a hob)
- A whisk or spoon
- A filter
- Optional: filter paper and a sieve
How to make simple syrup at home
Step 1: Add 1 part sugar to a saucepan
About 125 g of sugar into the pan
Step 2: Add 1 part water to the sugar
Add 125 ml of water to the pan
Step 3: Bring to the boil and stir
Once the sugar has dissolved and the syrup has simmered briefly, you can turn off the heat
Step 4: Transfer into a container
Once the syrup has cooled slightly, pour it into a sterilised bottle
Step 5: Extend shelf life with vodka
Adding a tablespoon of vodka will help the syrup keep in the fridge for around 2–4 weeks
Making fruit or spiced syrups
Fancy a delicious fruit syrup or a festive cinnamon–anise syrup? No problem. Simply add your ingredients to the sugar and water mixture and let everything simmer for a while. Afterwards, strain and filter out the solids and transfer the syrup into a container.
In the header image, you can see a blackberry syrup after two days in the fridge. The fruit residue has settled at the bottom. That’s not an issue—but if you need a perfectly clear syrup, you may have to filter it through a tea or even a coffee filter. This can take quite a while and may require multiple filters, as the pores clog quickly with syrup and particles. In that case: swap the filter and keep going. Patience is key here.
Filtering syrup requires patience.
How long does syrup keep?
Stored in the fridge and with a bit of vodka added, it will keep for around 2–4 weeks. The bottle should ideally be boiled or sterilised beforehand. Otherwise, you should use the syrup within 2–3 days.
If a syrup develops mould around the rim or smells off, always discard it.
