This kiwi simple syrup is perfect for incorporating the flavor of kiwis into cocktails, mocktails, and more! It’s made from REAL kiwi fruits quickly infused over low heat into a classic simple syrup.
I’ve been making homemade simple syrups since I went to baking and pastry school in 2010, though nowadays, I mainly use them for making homemade beverages. Syrups mix up perfectly into any liquid, hot or cold, so they’re perfect for adding unique flavors to any drink.
The sweet, lush, almost berry-melon-like flavor of kiwis works perfectly in so many drinks, especially tropical ones (eeeeven though kiwi is most definitely an autumn and winter fruit!). Use this kiwi syrup to make a batch of kiwi mojitos, your own homemade kiwi soda pop, or kiwi lemonade!
why this kiwi syrup recipe works:
🥝 sweet & seasonal. Using fresh fruit to infuse this syrup means you’re getting peak-season kiwi flavors straight from the source: nothing artificial here!
🙌 easy peasy. This is a great recipe to make as a newbie cook, and it’s so fun to make with kids! The hardest part is peeling the kiwi!
🤌 unique & unexpected. Imagine the look on your friends and family’s faces when you tell them that you’re serving drinks with homemade kiwi syrup!
🛒 ingredients needed to make kiwi syrup
See the recipe card for the exact quantities.
🥝 all about kiwi fruit
- how to pick a kiwi – select fruit that has a bit of a squish to it when you gently press it. If a kiwi is as hard as a rock, they aren’t ripe yet. If it’s very soft or wrinkly, it’s overripe.
- kiwi flavor pairings – think tropical for flavor pairings. Kiwi fruit goes great with pineapple, strawberry, passionfruit, citrus (oranges, lemons, limes), and coconut!
- gold kiwi vs green kiwi – green kiwi is more tangy, tart, or sour. Green kiwi also has a fuzzier exterior, a larger core, and more seeds. Golden kiwi is much sweeter, with fewer seeds, lezz fuzz on the outside, and a smaller core.
🍳 step-by-step process for making your kiwi syrup
Step 1: Peel and slice your kiwis. The easiest way to peel a kiwi is to slice of both ends, and use a spoon to peel the fruit! Push a spoon into one end of the kiwi, and rotate it until it comes free from the peel. No special peelers are needed!
Step 2: Slice the fresh kiwi into quarters.
Step 3: In a 1.5 quart saucepan, combine the water and granulated sugar. Place the saucepan over medium-low heat to dissolve the sugar.
Step 4: Once the sugar is dissolved, add in the kiwi and allow the mixture to cook at a rolling simmer for about 10 minutes. Then, add in the lemon juice.
Step 5: Continue to cook the syrup for about 15 – 20 minutes, until the kiwi have lost most of their color and the liquid has taken on the color of the kiwis. If you want a thicker syrup, cook the syrup a bit longer. I’ve cooked it for up to 45 minutes with consistent results.
Step 6: After 15-20 minutes, remove the pan from the heat and allow it to cool for up to 30 minutes. Strain the syrup through a fine mesh sieve, and discard the solids.
Step 7: Store your syrup in an airtight container for up to two weeks, or freeze it for longer storage!
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💡tips & tricks for getting it right
ℹ️ troubleshooting tips
- not enough kiwi flavor – you can use more kiwi fruits if the flavor isn’t intense enough for you. Add up to 4 more whole fruits, and be sure they’re ripe for the best taste.
- non-reactive pans – make sure your pots, pans, and mesh sieve are non-reactive metal like stainless steel or enameled cast iron. Aluminum or regular cast iron can impart a metallic flavor into dishes that are acidic, like this syrup.
🔆 top tip
Kiwi is mild in flavor, s0 use more fruit if you want a stronger taste!
🍽️ how to use your kiwi syrup
From kiwi lemonade to kiwi daiquiris, the limit does not exist when using your syrup to make kiwi fruit drinks! Here are some ideas to get you started…
DIY sodas
Add your kiwi syrup to homemade sodas for a pop of REAL kiwi flavor! It would work well in this strawberry Italian soda, or on its own as a kiwi soda!
cocktails
If you like mojitos, you’ll love adding a few muddled fruits plus a generous squeeze of this syrup for a seasonal kiwi mojito cocktail!
smoothies
Most smoothie shops add sugar or syrup to their fruit mixes (it’s true)! Add 1/2 – 1 ounce of this kiwi drink syrup to your favorite tropical smoothie for a boost of flavor!
♻️ customize your kiwi simple syrup!
Missing an ingredient? No problem. Check out these tried-and-true substitutions, or comment below with your question. I’m here to help you troubleshoot!
- sweetener – you can use the sweetener of your choice in place of granulated sugar, like brown sugar or demerara sugar. Just be mindful that the flavor of the syrup will change slightly.
- strawberry-kiwi – add 8-10 strawberries along with the kiwi fruits to make a strawberry-kiwi syrup! You can also mix this syrup with a strawberry simple syrup to make any drink strawberry-kiwi flavored!
🧰 equipment needed & storage tips
Check out this post for a guide of all the tools you’ll need for making homemade syrups!
🫙 how to store your kiwi syrup
Store your finished kiwi syrup in the fridge for up to two weeks, or freeze it for longer storage. In the freezer, simple syrups can last three to five months.
The syrup might not totally freeze as the sugar content is higher than the water content, so it will remain a kind of “gel” like consistency. Because of this, I recommend storing it in a squeeze bottle!
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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Homemade Kiwi Simple Syrup (with Real Kiwi Fruit)
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Equipment
- 1 1.5-quart saucepan non-reactive metal, like stainless steel
- 1 fine mesh sieve non-reactive metal, like stainless steel
- 1 set of measuring cups thermal shock-resistent material, like thick glass.
- 1 silicone spatula I love using GIR brand
- 1 small cutting board for slicing kiwi
- 1 pairing knife for slicing kiwi
- 1 spoon or vegetable peeler for peeling kiwi
Ingredients
- 600 g kiwi about 7-8 medium-sized kiwi fruits
- 200 g granulated sugar 1 cup
- 237 g filtered water 1 cup
- 15 g lemon juice 1/2 ounce, from 1/2 a small lemon
Instructions
- Prep kiwis. Peel and slice your kiwis. The easiest way to peel a kiwi is to slice of both ends, and use a spoon to peel the fruit! Push a spoon into one end of the kiwi, and rotate it until it comes free from the peel. No veggie peelers needed!600 g kiwi
- Chop fruit. Slice the peeled kiwi into quarters. Set them aside.
- Combine water + sugar. In a 1.5 quart saucepan, combine the water and granulated sugar. Place the saucepan over medium-low heat to dissolve the sugar.200 g granulated sugar, 237 g filtered water
- Add fruit + infuse. Once the sugar is dissolved, add in the kiwi and allow the mixture to simmer for about 15 – 30 minutes, until the kiwi have lost most of their color and the liquid has taken on the color of the kiwis.600 g kiwi
- Cool + add lemon. Remove the pan from the heat and add in the lemon juice, if using. Allow the pan to cool for at least 15 minutes, continuing to let the fruit infuse.15 g lemon juice
- Strain + store. Strain the syrup through a fine mesh sieve, and discard the solids. Store your syrup in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two weeks.
