In this post, I’ll walk you through how to make simple syrup at home. I’ll break down the two most popular methods of making a basic simple syrup and walk you through my preferred method (and why it works every time).
I first learned all about simple syrup when I was in baking and pastry school. Even though it has the word “simple” in the name, there’s actually a whole lot of science behind this sweet syrup.
Many folks don’t realize how easy it is to make your own syrup, but I’m here to help you create delicious homemade syrups you can use to flavor any and all of your drinks, from your morning lattes to happy hour cocktails!
🧐 what is simple syrup?
Simple syrup is made of equal parts of sugar and water. The sugar dissolves in the water, resulting in a sweet syrup that can be added to beverages, hot or cold.
The standard ratio for making homemade syrup is 1:1.
This means if you use 1 cup of sugar, you’ll use 1 cup of water. If you use 2 cups of sugar, you’ll use 2 cups of water, and so on!
🍬preferred way of making simple syrup: stovetop method
Simple syrup can be made a variety of ways. In general, it can be made using heat and without heat. (psst, you can also make simple syrup using the microwave!) I prefer the heating method, which is the way I learned to make it in culinary school. Here’s why:
- 💪 stability – Overall, heating the ingredients results in a much more stable syrup that doesn’t crystallize. The heat helps to actually change the chemical compounds of the sugar crystals, inverting them, and preventing crystallization from happening, even after it’s been in the fridge.
- 👅 deeper flavor – The flavor is deeper and less sharp than a syrup that’s made by just waiting for sugar to dissolve in water.
- 🧽 less chance for contamination – Heating the water to a simmer or low boil before making the syrup can help kill bacteria and microorganisms that can shorten the shelf life of your finished syrup.
🛒 ingredients
- granulated sugar – plain granulated sugar works perfectly in simple syrup recipes. Sometimes, you will see that recipes call for superfine sugar, but if you are heating your syrup over medium-low heat, regular granulated sugar works just fine!
- filtered water – plain filtered tap water works best for this recipe because it has already been filtered of impurities that could affect the flavor of the finished syrup. Using filtered water is especially important if you are using the room temperature method of making simple syrup.
- optional ingredient
- lemon juice – a small amount of fresh lemon juice helps to brighten the flavor of the syrup, and may help it stay fresh longer.
See the recipe card for the exact quantities.
🔥 stovetop method of making simple syrup
1: Pour 1 cup of water into a 1.5-quart saucepan, and place it over medium heat.
2: Add 1 cup of sugar to the pan.
3: Stir occasionally using a non-reactive tool, like a silicone spatula. If you are adding lemon juice to the syrup, do so now.
4: Once the sugar is completely dissolved, remove the pan from heat and allow it to cool slightly.
5: Transfer the mix to a heat-safe container, like a glass measuring cup, to make it easier to pour into your storage container. If you are confident in your pouring skills, you can skip this step!
6: Transfer the simple syrup to your preferred storage container, and allow it to cool completely in the fridge. Once it’s cooled, you can transfer it to the freezer for longer-term storage.
❄️no-heat method of making simple syrup
This method of making simple syrup involves dissolving equal parts of sugar and water in a container at room temperature. It takes a little longer but yields similar results.
Step 1: Measure out one cup of water into a measuring glass. Room-temperature water or warm water works faster than cold water.
Step 2: Add 1 cup of sugar to the 1 cup of water in the mixing glass.
Step 3: Stir the mixture well. The sugar will not completely dissolve during the first stirring.
Step 4: Allow the sugar to settle. Then, give the mixture another stirring after 5 – 10 minutes.
Step 5: Repeat steps 3 – 4 until the sugar is completely dissolved. This can take anywhere from 15-30 minutes, depending on the temperature of your home.
A cooler home will take longer for the sugar to dissolve. If you are adding acid (lemon juice) or alcohol to your mixture, do so now.
Step 6: Once the sugar has dissolved, pour your syrup into your desired storage container and stash it in the freezer for longer-term storage.
💡tips & tricks for getting it right
🍽️ serving tips
Simple syrups are best used in beverages because of their thin consistency. This allows them to easily mix into hot and cold drinks, without pooling at the bottom of the glass like thicker syrups tend to do.
Looking for more ways to use your syrups? Here are some of my favorite ways to use syrups:
- cocktails
- mocktails
- cooking and baking
- gifting
🔆 top tip
If you plan to use your syrup quickly, the no-heat method is a great way to mix up exactly as much syrup as you’ll need for your recipe. That way, you don’t need to worry about it crystallizing overnight in the fridge!
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🍭 How much simple syrup does 1 cup of sugar and 1 cup of water make?
Most people think that 1 cup of sugar + 1 cup of water makes 2 cups of simple syrup.
Actually, one cup of sugar and one cup of water will make anywhere from 1 1/2 to 1 3/4 cups of simple syrup.
- This is because when sugar is dissolved in water, chemical changes happen that result in the volume decreasing to about 3/4 of the overall weight.
- If you heat the syrup to make it, it will evaporate some of the water, resulting in less volume.
🧰 equipment needed & storage tips
🧰 tools needed
If you want to take a deep dive into the best tools to use when making syrups, be sure to take a look at this post here, where I detail each tool I use and why!
- 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.
- 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 –
🫙 storage tips
Once finished, your simple syrup will last up to 14 days in the fridge. Do not store it at room temperature, otherwise it can spoil due to bacteria growth. If you want to keep your syrups longer, you can freeze them! Check out this post here to learn all about how to freeze your syrups!
If you make this recipe, please leave a review in the comments and a star rating!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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How to Make Simple Syrup (Stovetop and No-Heat Syrup Recipe)
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Equipment
- 1 1.5 quart non-reactive saucepan
- 1 storage bottle glass or BPA-free plastic
Ingredients
- 200 grams granulated sugar 1 cup
- 237 grams filtered water 1 cup
- 1 tsp lemon juice optional
Instructions
Heat Method
- Combine 200g of sugar and 237 g of water in a small 1.5-quart saucepan.
- Place the pan on the stovetop burner and heat it on medium heat.
- Stir occasionally using a non-reactive tool, like a silicone spatula. If you are adding lemon juice to the syrup, do so now.
- Once the sugar is completely dissolved, remove the pan from heat and allow it to cool slightly.
- Transfer the mix to a heat safe container, like a glass measuring cup, to make it easier to pour into your storage container. If you are confident in your pouring skills, you can skip this step!
- Transfer the simple syrup to your preferred storage container, and allow it to cool completely in the fridge. Once it’s cooled, you can transfer it to the freezer for longer-term storage.
Room Temperature Method
- Combine 200 g of sugar and 237 g of water in a mixing glass. Room temperature water works faster than cold water.
- Stir the mixture to combine the sugar and water.
- Allow the mix to settle for 5-10 minutes. The sugar will not completely dissolve during the first stirring.
- After 5 – 10 minutes, give the mixture another stirring.
- Repeat steps 3 – 4 until the sugar is completely dissolved. This can take anywhere from 15-30 minutes depending on the temperature of your home. A cooler home will take longer for the sugar to dissolve. If you are adding acid or alcohol to your mixture, do so now.
- Once the sugar has dissolved, pour your syrup into your desired storage container and stash it in the freezer for longer-term storage.
Nutrition Information
The information provided is an estimate based on an online nutrition facts calculator and actual nutrition facts may vary.
