• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Mitten Girl
  • Cocktails
  • Mocktails
  • Recipes
  • Book/Classes
  • Work with Me
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Cocktails
  • Mocktails
  • Recipes
  • Book/Classes
  • Work with Me
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Cocktails
    • Mocktails
    • Recipes
    • Book/Classes
    • Work with Me
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Simple Syrups

    Easy Basil Simple Syrup for Cocktails and Mocktails

    Published: Aug 22, 2023 · Updated: Aug 22, 2023 by Katy McAvoy

    I love when you share my recipes!

    Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe·★★★★★5 from 1 review

    Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links.

    Fragrant basil is a very versatile herb that we're pairing with sugar for this delicious basil simple syrup recipe. It takes minutes to make and is a great way to sweeten and bring fresh basil flavor to your summer cocktails and mocktails.

    A jar of basil simple syrup.
    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • How to Make Basil Simple Syrup
    • How to Use Basil Simple Syrup
    • Looking for other Simple Syrups to Make with Herbs? 
    • How long will Basil Syrup last? 
    • Want to make more flavored Simple Syrups? 
    • More Delicious Recipes You’ll Love 
    • Print the Recipe Card
    • Easy Basil Simple Syrup

    This basil syrup is made with simple ingredients that are easy to find at the grocery store or farmers market. Buy fresh basil or pick your own basil from a basil plant in your garden or porch pot.

    I love growing basil in my herb garden every summer! I make simple syrup out of so many of the herbs that I grow. 

    Basil syrup brings a wonderful addition of flavor to many alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. It pairs well with fresh fruit - especially berries and citrus - and is an easy way to add flavor to your favorite summer treats like lemonade, ice tea, or fruit salad. 

    You can vary the flavor of your syrup by using different types of basil. Sweet basil is the easiest to find here in Michigan and what is readily available in stores, though purple basil, cinnamon basil, Thai basil, and lemon basil would all be delicious varieties to use in this sweet herbal syrup recipe. 

    Ingredients

    Ingredients for basil simple syrup - water, sugar, fresh basil.
    • Sugar - Use white sugar (either cane sugar or beet sugar) for this recipe. Choosing any other sugar will change the flavor of the syrup. 
    • Fresh Basil - Use only fresh basil for this recipe. Do not use dried basil. 

    How to Make Basil Simple Syrup

    Bring water to a simmer in a small saucepan over medium heat. 

    Add sugar and stir until sugar has dissolved. 

    Sugar being poured into a small pot.

    Remove from heat. 

    Add basil leaves and let steep until the mixture has come to room temperature. 

    Basil leaves being dropped into a pot.

    Remove basil leaves using a fork or fine mesh sieve. 

    A hand holding a fork lifting dripping basil leaves out of the syrup.

    Pour basil syrup into a glass, airtight container - like a bottle or mason jar. 

    Basil simple syrup being poured from a pot into a mason jar.

    Cover and place in the refrigerator. Chill completely before using. 

    A jar of basil simple syrup on a small plate.

    How to Use Basil Simple Syrup

    • Use in place of traditional simple syrup in my Frozen Strawberry Daiquiri mocktails. 
    • Make Basil Lemonade - In a tall glass, combine 2 oz basil syrup with 1 oz fresh lemon juice. Fill the glass with ice cubes. Top with club soda or sparkling water. Stir, sip and enjoy!
    • Make a Basil Gimlet - Combine 2 oz gin, 1 oz basil syrup, and 1 oz lime juice in a cocktail shaker with ice cubes. Shake well. Strain into a glass. Sip and enjoy. 

    Looking for other Simple Syrups to Make with Herbs? 

    Fresh herbs make delicious infused simple syrup for all kinds of drinks. Try my lavender simple syrup in these Lavender Lemon Drop Martinis. Or make fresh mint simple syrup for the best iced tea sweetener ever! 

    A jar filled with mint simple syrup.

    How long will Basil Syrup last? 

    When stored in the refrigerator, basil simple syrup will keep for 2-3 weeks. Discard it immediately if it becomes cloudy or you notice any change in color. 

    Looking down on an open mason jar of basil syrup.

    Want to make more flavored Simple Syrups? 

    Some of my favorite flavored simple syrups are the easiest to make! Try my 5 minute vanilla simple syrup recipe or easy cinnamon syrup recipe, both perfect for sweetening hot or iced coffee, tea, and hot chocolate. 

    A small jar of vanilla simple syrup.
    Vanilla Simple Syrup

    More Delicious Recipes You’ll Love 

    • Easy Mocktail Recipes for Non-Alcoholic Drinks
    • Quick and Easy Bacon Avocado Pasta
    • Fresh Strawberry Gin Cocktail with Ginger Beer
    • Non Alcoholic Blueberry Grapefruit Mocktail
    • Quick BBQ Chicken Flatbread Pizza on the Grill

    Print the Recipe Card

    Print

    Easy Basil Simple Syrup

    A jar of basil simple syrup.
    Print Recipe
    Pin Recipe

    ★★★★★

    5 from 1 review

    Basil simple syrup is easy to make and provides fresh, herbal flavor to a variety of cocktails and mocktails, including lemonade and iced tea.

    • Author: Katy McAvoy
    • Prep Time: 2 min
    • Cook Time: 5 min
    • Total Time: 7 min
    • Yield: 12 oz 1x
    • Category: Simple Syrup
    • Method: Stove Top
    • Cuisine: American

    Ingredients

    Units Scale
    • 1 cup of sugar
    • 1 cup of water
    • 1 cup of fresh basil leaves (10-12 large leaves)

    Instructions

    Bring water to a simmer in a small saucepan over medium heat.

    Add sugar and stir until the sugar dissolves. Remove from heat.

    Add basil leaves and let steep until the mixture has come to room temperature.

    Remove basil leaves using a fork or fine mesh strainer.

    Pour basil syrup into a glass, airtight container - like a bottle or mason jar.

    Cover and place in the refrigerator. Let the syrup cool completely before using.

    When stored in the refrigerator, basil syrup will keep for 2-3 weeks.

    Equipment

    Image of Small Saucepan

    Small Saucepan

    Buy Now →
    Image of Fine Mesh Sieve

    Fine Mesh Sieve

    Buy Now →
    Image of Glass Bottles

    Glass Bottles

    Buy Now →

    Nutrition

    • Serving Size: 1 oz
    • Calories: 65
    • Sugar: 16.6 g
    • Sodium: 1 mg
    • Fat: 0 g
    • Carbohydrates: 16.7 g
    • Fiber: 0 g
    • Protein: 0.1 g
    • Cholesterol: 0 mg

    Keywords: basil simple syrup, basil syrup, herb syrups, bail gimlet, basil lemonade, summer drinks

    Did you make this recipe?

    Share a photo and tag me @katymcavoy on Instagram! I can’t wait to see what you made!

    Simple Syrups

    • A jar of vanilla simple syrup.
      Quick Homemade Vanilla Simple Syrup for Coffee and Drinks
    • A bottle of lemon simple syrup.
      Quick Homemade Lemon Simple Syrup Recipe
    • A glass pitcher of orange simple syrup.
      Orange Simple Syrup for Drinks (Cointreau Substitute)
    • A jar of mint simple syrup.
      How to Make Fresh Mint Simple Syrup

    I love when you share my recipes!

    About Katy McAvoy

    Katy is the author, photographer, home cook, mixologist, and Michigander behind MittenGirl.com. Since 2017, she's been crafting easy-to-make cocktails and delicious meals, along with sharing her love of all things Michigan (a.k.a. The Mitten)!

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe rating ★ 5 Stars ☆ ★ 4 Stars ☆ ★ 3 Stars ☆ ★ 2 Stars ☆ ★ 1 Star ☆

    1. Sarah

      August 29, 2023 at 9:52 am

      ★★★★★

      Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    Katy McAvoy

    Hi! I’m Katy (she/her). I’m an author, photographer, home cook, mixologist, Michigander, and lover of all things food and drink. I never turn down a good happy hour and believe that a couple hours of meal prep pays off for days. Follow me on Instagram to check out what I’m working on next!

    More about me →

    Search

    Buy Homemade Happy Hour, a Cocktail Book

    Weekly Newsletter

    Join my email list and get my 5 CLASSIC COCKTAILS EBOOK sent to you immediately!

    Sign Up Now

    Subscribers receive delicious recipes in their inbox each week.

    Halloween Recipes

    • Bloody Ghost Halloween Vodka Cocktail.
      Bloody Ghost Halloween Vodka Cocktail
    • Two glasses filled with Halloween mocktails for kids.
      Quick and Easy Halloween Mocktail (Non Alcoholic) 
    • A tray of candy corn shortbread cookies.
      Slice and Bake Candy Corn Halloween Cookie Recipe
    • Blackberry bourbon cocktail.
      Blackberry Bourbon Cocktail for Halloween

    Most Searched Recipes

    • Pumpkin Spice Syrup
      Homemade Pumpkin Spice Syrup for Coffee and Lattes 
    • Caramel Apple Cocktail
      Caramel Apple Vodka Cocktail with Apple Cider
    • Lavender Lemon Drop Martini
      Easy Lavender Lemon Drop Martini with Vodka
    • BBQ Meatballs in a bowl, garnished with parsley.
      Easy 15 Minute Stove Top BBQ Meatballs
    • Tomato Rice and Beans
      Easy Tomato Rice and Beans on the Stove Top
    • Non Alcoholic Piña Colada Mocktails
      Piña Colada Mocktail Recipe (Without a Blender)
    • Cranberry Mocktail
      Easy Mocktail Recipes for Non-Alcoholic Drinks
    • Homemade Peach Syrup in a bottle.
      Easy Homemade Peach Syrup for Cocktails and Mocktails
    • Glass filled with mocktail drink and garnished with a cherry and orange slice.
      Easy and Delicious Mocktail for Kids (Without Sugary Soda)
    • A Pineapple Mai Tai in a pineapple shaped glass.
      The Best Pineapple Mai Tai Rum Cocktail

    Footer

    Website

    Privacy Policy

    Disclaimer

    Terms & Conditions

    Newsletter

    Sign Up! for weekly emails

    Contact

    Work with Me

    Contact Me

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2023 Mitten Girl LLC

    13 shares