This agave nectar simple syrup recipe is perfect for using in cocktails and mocktails that benefit from the delicate flavor of agave without needing the overpowering sweetness that it sometimes adds.

A bottle of agave simple syrup sits on a small dish on a cutting board. A bottle of agave nectar is in the background.

It’s a must for your margaritas, like this classic silver margarita, not-so-spicy jalapeño margaritas, and a non-alcoholic spicy margarita mocktail. It’s also perfect for everyday drinks, like agave limeade or agave iced green tea!

I first learned how to use simple syrups when I attended baking and pastry school in 2010. Since then, I’ve been using homemade simple syrups to mix up bespoke beverages! Agave nectar has sometimes been touted as being a better-for-you-sugar-alternative to use in recipes, but it’s actually WAY sweeter than sugar by weight, so making a syrup helps to balance things out.

why this agave simple syrup recipe works:

⚖️ perfectly balanced. Agave nectar is much sweeter per ounce than granulated sugar. Diluting it into a syrup by cutting it with water makes the perfectly balanced flavor for your cocktails.

🙌 quick & easy. It doesn’t get easier. With only two ingredients, this syrup comes together in a matter of minutes.

🤌 nuanced flavor. Agave nectar is known for having a deeper and more toasty flavor than granulated sugar, making it perfect for drinks where you want a little more complexity with your sweetness!

🛒 ingredients

light agave nectar – unless you know you want a more robust flavor profile, be sure to choose light agave nectar for this recipe. This style of agave is lighter in color and in taste, but still has a bit more character than plain granulated sugar. Sort of like with maple syrup, the darker the agave nectar you choose, the more robust the taste will be.
filtered water – always use filtered water when making simple syrups to keep a clean flavor profile. You want the focus of the flavor to be on the added ingredients!

See the recipe card for the exact quantities.

🤔 all about agave nectar

Agave nectar comes from the agave plant, probably most famous for tequila. However, unlike tequila, which needs to come specifically from the blue weber agave plant, agave nectar comes from a variety of kinds of plants.

light agave – I actually prefer agave nectar from blue agave plants, usually called light agave. It’s mild in flavor and tastes similar to honey.
amber agave – darker in color, and a bit more intense in flavor, like caramel.
dark agave – very dark in color and strong, almost molasses like in taste.
raw agave – slightly less sweet in taste, so you might need a bit more of it to match the sweetness of other agaves. This agave is made using lower temperatures to preserve natural enzymes.

Wanna save this recipe for later? 📬

I'll email this recipe post to you so you can have it for later!

🍳 instructions

Pouring water into a small saucepan on a hotplate.

1: Pour water into a 1.5-quart saucepan over medium heat.

Pouring agave nectar into a saucepan filled with water to make agave nectar simple syrup.

2: Add of agave nectar to the saucepan.

Stirring agave nectar and water until dissolved.

3: Stir the mixture until it is fully dissolved.

Allowing a pan of agave simple syrup to cool.

4: Take the pan off the heat and allow it to cool.

Pouring finished and cooled agave nectar simple syrup into an airtight storage bottle.

5: Pour the syrup into a clean airtight storage bottle and store it in the fridge for up to 14 days.

6: Use your agave syrup in any drinks of your choice, like margaritas, iced tea, and mocktails!

💡tips & tricks for getting it right

🍽️ serving tips

cocktails

margaritas – I love using this agave simple syrup in margarita recipes, like in this classic silver margarita recipe or in this less-spicy jalapeño margarita recipe.
tequila gimlet – a classic gimlet is made with gin or vodka and simple syrup, but this revamped tequila gimlet is sweetened with this agave syrup!
tequila old fashioned – another classic cocktail with a tequila twist! This old fashioned is made with this agave syrup and a nice reposado tequila for a delicious sipping drink.

mocktails

agave limeade – switch up your summer lemonade with this agave limeade recipe!
spicy margarita mocktail – skipping out on alcohol? This spicy margarita mocktail is full of flavor without the booze!

cooking, baking, and gifting

salad dressings – I love using simple syrups to add a bit of sweetness to homemade salad dressings, and this agave syrup works well in place of honey or maple syrup in dressings like this parsley salad dressing or this herb balsamic dressing.
glaze baked goods – glaze your favorite cakes or loaves of bread with a light brushing of this syrup to keep them moist and impart a delicately sweet flavor.
gift it – homemade syrups make a wonderful hostess gift! Bottle them and label them and you’re set!

ℹ️ troubleshooting tips

not sweet enough – you can add more agave if you prefer a sweeter syrup, but this will also impact any drinks you make with the syrup.

♻️ substitutions & variations

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!

amber, dark, or raw agave – if you know you like the flavor of deeper-tasting agave nectar, you can definitely substitute it in your syrup recipe! If you’re not sure if you like the taste, I recommend tasting it first on its own.

🧰 equipment needed & storage tips

Making syrups at home takes a few specialty tools, but if you cook regularly at home, you likely have what you need. Take a look at my ultimate guide of tools for making simple syrups at home!

small saucepan – for the heating method of making this syrup, you’ll need to use a small saucepan. Opt for a heavy-bottomed, non-reactive saucepan like this 1.5-quart saucepan.
kitchen scale – I use a kitchen scale in all of my recipes, because measuring ingredients with a kitchen scale is a great way to get the same results every time. This is also useful because when measuring by volume, agave is much sweeter than granulated sugar.
measuring cups – I like using these glass measuring cups from Anchor Hocking when making simple syrups with the heat method or room temperature method.
spoon or spatula – you’ll need a spoon or spatula for stirring your syrup, no matter which method you choose to make it.
airtight storage bottle – make sure to use a sterilized airtight storage bottle for storing your syrups.

🫙 storage tips

Store your agave syrup in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 14 days. You can also store it in the freezer for longer-term storage. If you ever see any cloudiness, throw it out.

If you make this recipe, please leave a review in the comments and a star rating!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I read every single comment! I also love connecting on social media, so snap a pic and hashtag it #myrecipeforfun and tag me on Instagram, TikTok, or pin this recipe on Pinterest!

Agave Simple Syrup (Easy Agave Syrup for Drinks)

This agave nectar simple syrup recipe is perfect for using in cocktails and mocktails that benefit from the flavor of agave, without needing the overpowering sweetness that it sometimes adds. It’s a must for your margaritas and can also be used in many non-alcoholic beverages, too.

5 from 1 vote

Print Pin Rate