HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE SIMPLE SYRUPS
Serves: 2
HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE SIMPLE SYRUPS
Ready in: 30 MinTotal time: 30 Min
A well-made cocktail just wouldn’t be complete without a bit of sugar (not to mention, it’s delicious in iced tea and other chilled drinks, too).
Ingredients
RICH SIMPLE SYRUP:
- 2 cups sugar
- 1 cup water
Instructions
- Combine the sugar and water in a small saucepot. Bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally, to dissolve the sugar. Cool and store.
- Sweetness gives any cocktail a well-rounded character, ensuring it’s not too bitter, too sour, or too strong. But you can’t just add sugar to a drink by the spoonful, as it doesn’t dissolve properly or incorporate well.
- Simple Syrup is a flavorful addition to many great cocktails and mandatory to have in a well-stocked bar. Simple (or sugar) syrup is, as the name implies, very simple to make and far more economical than buying it in a bottle. You can make as small or as large a batch as you wish and store it in the refrigerator in a well-sealed bottle for about a month. Plus making homemade simple syrups gives you the tasty opportunity to flavor them with almost anything. Think Jalapeno Simple Syrup for a sweet/spicy cocktail, Mint Simple Syrup for iced tea, or Ginger Simple Syrup for a killer Gin or Vodka based punch!
RAW SUGAR SIMPLE SYRUP:
- Replacing white sugar with Demerara sugar (raw sugar) is a popular alternative because it has a richer sugar flavor. The drawback to using this light brown sugar is that it will alter the color of cocktails, and while the difference is noticeable, the taste makes up for it.
BAR SIMPLE SYRUP:
- The easiest way to make simple syrup does not require a stove and can be made in minutes. Simply combine equal parts (1:1) of sugar and water in a bottle and shake it until the sugar is completely dissolved. The result is a syrup that is thinner than rich simple syrup.
FLAVOR-INFUSED SIMPLE SYRUPS:
- Simple syrup can be infused with fabulous flavor and used in a variety of cocktails to add a unique twist. You can flavor the syrup with herbs, fruits and even rose petals, if you wanted to! Flavored syrups add a unique flavor profile to drinks and they’re a great way to reinterpret a classic cocktail. (Try a Mojito made with basil-lime syrup or a Margarita made with orange-thyme syrup.)
- You can also steep any combination of ingredients you like: herbs (like mint, basil, or rosemary), flowers (lavender, honeysuckle), fruits (any kind, fresh, dried, sliced, or zest from citrus rinds) vegetables (sliced cucumber, jalapenos, garlic), and spices (saffron threads, star anise, cinnamon, cloves) in the sugar/water mixture while bringing it to a simmer. Set aside the syrup until cooled, then strain the ingredients from the pot before transferring the syrup to a squeeze bottle or container.
- My favorite simple syrup flavor combinations are Vanilla Simple Syrup (Heilala Vanilla Paste works wonderfully here!), Candied Ginger, Jalapeno Mint, Tangerine and Basil Lime, but experiment for yourself and see what excites your palate. And, do share your best Simple Syrup ideas…as we’d love to try them. E-Mail us at Live@chefjamie.com