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A small bowl of cardamom simple syrup sits next to a bottle of the syrup on a round wooden cutting board.

Easy Cardamom Simple Syrup (with Whole Cardamom Pods)

Lindsey Neumayer
This quick and easy cardamom simple syrup recipe is perfect for adding the warm and cozy flavor of cardamom to any beverage. It's made with whole cardamom pods, which infuse a deeper flavor than ground spices.
5 from 2 votes
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Infusion Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 35 minutes
Course Beverages, Drinks, Simple Syrup
Cuisine American, Indian
Servings 12 ounces
Calories 68 kcal

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Equipment

Ingredients
 
 

  • 20 g cardamom pods 1/4 cup
  • 355 g filtered water 1.5 cups
  • 200 g granulated sugar 1 cup

Instructions
 

  • Heat water. Add water to a small saucepan and heat over medium heat.
    355 g filtered water
  • Add sugar. Add sugar to the water in the pan, and stir gently to distribute.
    200 g granulated sugar
  • Crush cardamom. While the sugar is dissolving, lightly crush 14 g (2 TBSP) of cardamom pods using either a mortar and pestle, the side of the blade of a chefs knife, or a rolling pin.
    20 g cardamom pods
  • Simmer syrup to infuse. Add in the cardamom pods to the pan of simple syrup, and allow the mixture to simmer over medium heat for 15-30 minutes, depending on how intense of a flavor you want.
  • Infuse as it cools. After your mix simmers, turn off the heat but allow the cardamom pods to continue infusing for up to one hour.
  • Strain. Strain the simple syrup through a fine mesh sieve to remove the cardamom seeds and pods. If you used ground cardamom, you may want to also strain your syrup through cheesecloth.
  • Store. Store your finished simple syrup in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks, or freeze for longer storage.

Notes

ℹ️ troubleshooting tips

    • not enough flavor - if you are using spices that are older, the flavor might not be as pungent. You can allow your mixture to steep for longer, or you can add a few more pods of crushed cardamom to the simmering liquid.
    • too much flavor - cardamom is a potent spice, so it is possible for your syrup to have a very bold flavor. If it’s too much to handle, you can make another batch of plain simple syrup to mix with the finished syrup and dilute the cardamom flavor.
    • too thick - if you simmered your syrup for too long, you may have lost quite a bit of liquid. A rich simple syrup is one that is 2 parts sugar to 1 part water, instead of equal parts sugar and water. Rich syrups are still great for making drinks, but they may sink in beverages that aren’t shaken well. To dilute your rich syrup, just add in a bit more water, one ounce at a time!

🔆 top tip

The longer you allow your cardamom to infuse in the syrup, the stronger the flavor will be. Give your syrup a taste at several stages of the infusion process to see which flavor you prefer.

🍽️ serving tips

Check out the "serving tips" section of this post for some of my favorite ways to use this syrup, including in a cardamom latte or my autumn rum punch!

Nutrition

Calories: 68kcalCarbohydrates: 17gProtein: 0.1gFat: 0.1gSaturated Fat: 0.01gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.01gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.01gSodium: 2mgPotassium: 13mgFiber: 0.3gSugar: 17gVitamin C: 0.2mgCalcium: 6mgIron: 0.2mg
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Keyword: cardamom, fall, simple syrup, winter