Name: Simple Syrup Recipe
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 15 min
Ingredients: 1 cup water; 1 cup granulated sugar

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This simple syrup recipe takes 15 minutes to make and then becomes something you reach for every time you’re mixing drinks.

The syrup in a measuring cup surrounded by fresh lemons.

If you’ve ever stirred granulated sugar into a cold drink and ended up with undissolved crystals at the bottom, you know exactly why simple syrup exists.

It’s just equal parts sugar and water, and it mixes into cold beverages in a way that granulated sugar just can’t.

Once I started keeping a jar in the fridge, I honestly wondered how I ever made cocktails without it. The best part is it only takes about 15 minutes (or less) to make.

I use this same base for our cranberry simple syrup and our raspberry simple syrup, both of which start exactly the same way before the fruit gets added.

How to Make Simple Syrup

Add equal parts sugar and water to a saucepan, one cup of each is a what we normally make. That will give about 1 ½ cups when it’s done.

Warm the mixture over medium-high. The liquid will look cloudy at first. Keep stirring and it will turn completely clear once the sugar has fully dissolved.

A cup of water pouring into a saucepan with sugar.

The finished syrup mixture pouring into a glass measuring cup.

Don’t let it come to a boil or cook it too long. Otherwise, the sugar begins to caramelize and turn brown. Once everything is clear, pull it off the heat and let it cool before transferring it to a jar or bottle with a tight lid, then refrigerate.

How to Store Simple Syrup

Store leftovers in a sealed jar in the fridge. It lasts about 3 to 4 weeks. If it starts to turn cloudy or have an “off” smell, then it’s time to toss it.

Sometimes You Don’t Need a Big Batch

This recipe scales beautifully which is great if you don’t need a big batch. Half a cup of water with half a cup of sugar works just fine.

I’ll often make a smaller batch when I only need enough for one round of cocktails. As long as you always use the same amount of sugar and water, you can make as much or as little as you need.

Close up view of simple syrup in a glass measuring cup.

How to Flavor Simple Syrup

Once you have the base simple syrup down, you can take it in a lot of directions depending on what you’re making. Here are a few of my favorites:

Fruit: Strawberries, blueberries, and cherries all work beautifully, but the fruit needs to be simmered with the syrup so the flavor actually cooks into it. I have full recipes for strawberry simple syrup, blueberry simple syrup, and cherry simple syrup that walk you through exactly how to do it.

Vanilla extract: One of my personal favorites. It adds a warm, slightly sweet depth that’s lovely in bourbon cocktails.

Mint or peppermint extract: Start with just a quarter teaspoon because it’s stronger than you’d expect.

Lemon juice: Easy to stir in if you’re making a citrus cocktail or a quick lemonade base.

Pomegranate or fruit juice: Works great in mocktails too, like our virgin cranberry cocktail.

Don’t want to turn on the stove top?

In a pinch, whisk equal parts warm tap water and powdered sugar together until fully dissolved. It’s not quite the same as the cooked version, but it works when you need simple syrup fast and don’t want to heat up the stove.