This pineapple simple syrup packs the juicy, sweet, and tropical flavor of real ripe pineapple into a liquid syrup that adds a pineapple punch to all of your favorite drinks! It’s made with a handful of ingredients and comes together in a matter of minutes!
With over 10 years of experience making homemade beverages, I’ve created a lot of simple syrup recipes. My favorite thing about making syrups at home is you can customize the flavors and create an endless amount of custom drinks with them! Use this syrup in cocktail recipes, like a tropical pineapple coconut margarita, or in non-alcoholic beverages for the whole family, like a pineapple mint lemonade or a homemade pineapple soda.
why this pineapple syrup recipe works:
🍍 tropical. This pineapple syrup imparts the fruity tropical flavor of pineapple into anything you put it in! It’s perfect for sodas, iced tea, and cocktails!
🙌 quick & easy. Simple syrups are one of my favorite quick ways to level up homemade beverages. All you need is about an hour of your time, and you can enjoy pineapple drinks all week long!
♻️ less wasteful. This recipe uses the core of the pineapple, which is often thrown away!
🛒 ingredients
optional ingredients
See the recipe card for the exact quantities.
🍳 how to make stovetop pineapple syrup
1: Add 1 cup water to a 1.5-quart saucepan.
2: Add 1 cup of sugar to the water in the saucepan.
3: Cook over medium heat until sugar is completely dissolved.
4: While the sugar dissolves in the water, cut the top and skin off the pineapple, then cut it in half.
5: Cut your pineapple into chunks, about 1-inch big.
6: At this point, your sugar-water mix should be bubbling. Add in pineapple, and cook over medium heat at a simmer for 20 – 30 minutes. Some water will evaporate, this is okay!
7: Add in the lemon juice, if you’re using it.
8: Allow the syrup to cool for up to 20 minutes.
9: Strain the mix using a stainless steel mesh strainer. Discard the solids or use them in a smoothie, or blend them into a sauce for desserts!
10: Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two weeks, or freeze for longer storage.
💡tips & tricks for getting it right
ℹ️ troubleshooting tips
- use the core – this recipe can be made using the entire core of the pineapple! That means you can save more juicy pineapple for snacking!
- lemon juice – lemon juice helps enhance the flavor of the pineapple in this syrup. Be careful to only use a small amount, no more than 1 TBSP, or it can add too much lemon flavor.
- choose a ripe pineapple – Make sure to select a ripe pineapple. Pineapples don’t ripen much after being harvested, contrary to popular belief. The more yellow a pineapple is, the riper it is, so avoid greener fruit if you can. Check the tips below for picking the perfect pineapple!
🍍How to pick the perfect pineapple:
- feel: a ripe pineapple will yield and feel slightly soft when you squeeze it. Under all those spikes, that is. If the pineapple doesn’t squeeze and feels, well…like a rock, pick another pineapple!
- smell: give the base of your pineapple a sniff. Pineapple will smell tropical, fruity, and floral when ripe. If it’s overripe, it will smell kind of funky or sour, maybe even fermented. Skip that pineapple and go for another one!
- color: ripe pineapples are yellow in color. The more golden, the better. Green pineapples won’t turn much more yellow because pineapples don’t ripen after being picked.
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🍽️ ideas for using your tropical syrup
cocktails to make with pineapple syrup
Use this in place of regular simple syrup in any cocktail recipe. It works especially well in rum, tequila, and vodka-based cocktails!
pineapple vodka sodas
Give your classic vodka soda a bit more flair using a splash of this syrup, or pour an ounce of vodka in a pineapple soda pop!
pineapple mules
Traditionally, a Caribbean mule is a Moscow mule made with rum instead of vodka. Switch it up even more by making a mule using rum + this syrup.
pineapple margaritas
Muddle pineapple with pineapple syrup (or agave nectar) for a tropical twist on this strawberry marg.
🍍 pineapple mocktail ideas
You can also use this pineapple fruit simple syrup to sweeten non-alcoholic beverages and mocktails! I love using it in iced coffee and tea for unexpected flavor!
- homemade pineapple soda – this homemade pineapple soda is super easy to make; no fancy equipment required!
- pineapple mojito mocktail – mix up a faux-jito using this syrup for a tropical twist on a classic rum beverage, without the alcohol!
- pineapple iced tea – use this syrup in you favorite iced tea. It would be wonderful with passion tea or green tea!
- shave ice topping – use this syrup as a homemade shave ice topping! Add some haupia coconut foam and toasted coconut for a piña colada twist!
♻️ customize your pineapple syrup
- sweetener – if you only have light brown sugar, dark brown sugar, or a natural less-processed sugar, you can still make this recipe! Your finished syrup will have a more caramelized flavor. You can also use agave or honey if you only have that on hand. Just be mindful that the flavor of the syrup will change slightly. As a general rule, use 1/8 cup less honey than sugar, and 1/4 cup less agave than sugar.
- minty – add in a handful of fresh mint leaves to make the perfect syrup for pineapple mojitos!
- ginger – the spicy flavor of ginger partners beautifully with pineapple. Adding in a bit of fresh grated ginger or a bit of powdered ginger will turn this into a totally new syrup!
- spicy – pineapples and peppers pair well together! Try adding in some jalapeño pepper or habanero pepper if you want a little kick to your pineapple syrup!
🧰 equipment needed & storage tips
Check out this post here for the ultimate guide of tools to use when making your own simple syrups!
🫙 storage tips
Store your pineapple simple 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.
💬 q+a
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Pineapple Simple Syrup (for Drinks + More!)
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Equipment
- 1 1.5-quart saucepan non-reactive, like stainless steel or enameled cast iron
- 1 fine mesh strainer non-reactive, stainless steel
- 1 2-cup glass measuring cup for straining
- 1 kitchen scale optional
- 1 chefs knife
- 1 cutting board
Ingredients
- 500 g pineapple about 1/2 of a whole pineapple, or 3 1/2 cups
- 200 g sugar granulated, 1 cup
- 237 g water filtered, 1 cup
- 1 TBSP lemon juice optional, but helps the flavor POP!
Instructions
- Combine sugar and water over medium-low heat. Add sugar and water in a 1.5-quart saucepan. Cook over medium-low heat until sugar is completely dissolved.200 g sugar, 237 g water
- Prep pineapple. While the sugar is dissolving, cut top and skin off the pineapple, then cut it in half. Cut 1/2 of the pineapple into 1-inch chunks, including the core.500 g pineapple
- Add pineapple to syrup base. Add in the pineapple chunks to the sugar-water mix and infuse the fruit into the syrup over medium-low heat for 20-30 minutes. Don't let the heat get too high or let the syrup boil, a low simmer is okay!
- Cool. Remove from heat and allow to cool for 15-20 minutes.
- Strain. Strain the mix using a stainless steel mesh strainer. Discard the solids (or use them in a smoothie, or blend them into a sauce for desserts).
- Store. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two weeks, or freeze for longer storage.
