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    Home » Recipes » Simple Syrups

    Homemade Rosemary Simple Syrup Recipe for Drinks

    Modified: Mar 24, 2025 · Published: Sep 9, 2022 by Katy McAvoy

    I love when you share my recipes!

    77 shares

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    Rosemary Simple Syrup for Cocktails and Mocktails.

    This homemade rosemary simple syrup recipe is easy to make and a great addition to many cocktails and mocktails. 

    Looking down on a jar of rosemary simple syrup with sugar cubes and rosemary sprigs next to it.
    Jump to:
    • What's in Rosemary Syrup 
    • How to Make Rosemary Simple Syrup 
    • Recipe Tips 
    • What to Make with Rosemary Simple Syrup 
    • Frequently Asked Questions 
    • Don’t Miss These Flavored Simple Syrup Recipes
    • Print the Recipe Card
    • Homemade Rosemary Simple Syrup

    Made with simple ingredients readily available at the grocery store, creating your own simple syrup is a great way to add sweetness to cocktail recipes, mocktail recipes and other cold drinks. This rosemary syrup will add an earthy and herbal flavor to your favorite cocktail. 

    Classic simple syrup is equal parts water and sugar. Infusing that mixture with fresh herbs is an easy way to create a delicious syrup in a variety of flavors for both hot drinks and cold drinks. Add it to your favorite rosemary cocktails, use it as a delicious way to sweeten iced tea or hot tea, or combine it with lemon juice and water for homemade rosemary lemonade. 

    Using a liquid form of sugar - like a simple syrup - is the best way to sweeten cold drinks since you don’t have to worry about trying to dissolve the sugar into a cold beverage. Using a liquid sweetener also means the sugar won’t cause any grittiness in your drink. 

    What's in Rosemary Syrup 

    Ingredients for Rosemary Simple syrup.
    • White sugar - Either beet sugar or cane sugar will work well here. Both will add sweetness without changing the flavor of the syrup.
    • Water - Filtered water is best to ensure no other flavors sneak in.
    • Sprigs of Fresh Rosemary - Stick to fresh rosemary found in the produce section of your grocery store for this recipe. It has the best and most potent flavor.

    How to Make Rosemary Simple Syrup 

    In a small saucepan, bring water to a boil over medium heat. Add sugar and stir until sugar dissolves. 

    Sugar being poured into a small pot.

    Add fresh rosemary sprigs to the syrup. Remove from heat, set aside and allow the mixture to cool to room temperature. 

    Sprigs of rosemary in a pot of hot syrup.

    Once it’s cooled, remove the rosemary from the syrup with a fork or pour through a fine mesh strainer. 

    Sprigs of rosemary being lifted out of a pot by a fork.

    Discard the rosemary. Pour the cooled syrup into an airtight container and refrigerate. 

    When kept in the refrigerator, the syrup will keep for 2 weeks. 

    Enjoy! 

    A bottle of rosemary syrup.

    Recipe Tips 

    • For stronger rosemary flavor, leave the sprig of rosemary in the syrup longer. This will cause the syrup to spoil faster, so I do recommend removing the rosemary after 24 hours. 
    • Chill your syrup completely before using. Shaking your cocktail with warm or room temperature syrup will cause the ice in the cocktail shaker to melt too quickly, resulting in a watered-down drink. 
    • To make a thicker syrup, continue cooking the syrup for 5-10 additional minutes before removing from heat. Watch it carefully so it doesn't boil over! 

    What to Make with Rosemary Simple Syrup 

    Rosemary syrup is delicious in lots of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. Pair it with lemonade or grapefruit juice, or use your homemade syrup in these Cranberry Gin Cocktails or Ginger Pear Holiday Mocktails. 

    Cranberry Gin Cocktail

    Frequently Asked Questions 

    How long will rosemary syrup last? 

    When kept refrigerated, rosemary simple syrup will keep for at least 2 weeks, and up to 1 month. Toss it if you notice any changes in the syrup's color or if it starts to look cloudy. 

    Can I use dried rosemary leaves in this recipe? 

    While I don’t recommend it, I’ve had people successfully use dried rosemary leaves in this recipe. If you decide to try this, add the dried rosemary in with the sugar to give it more time to soften and steep in the syrup. Once the syrup has reached room temperature, remove the dried rosemary with a small, wire-mesh strainer. 

    Does rosemary simple syrup need to be refrigerated?

    Yes. Storing your syrup in the refrigerator helps it last longer and keeps it from growing bacteria. Plus you should always use cold syrups in your drinks to keep the ice from melting too fast in your cocktail.

    Don’t Miss These Flavored Simple Syrup Recipes

    Simple syrup is one of the easiest and simplest ways to change up the flavors in your favorite cocktails and mocktails. Make a delicious flavored soda by combining club soda or sparkling water with Apple Cider Syrup or Cranberry Orange Simple Syrup. Or swap out the plain simple syrup in a drink like the classic margarita for strawberry syrup or blackberry syrup.

    Apple Cider Syrup in a jar
    Apple Cider Syrup
    Cranberry Orange Syrup
    Cranberry Orange Simple Syrup

    Print the Recipe Card

    A jar of rosemary simple syrup.

    Homemade Rosemary Simple Syrup

    Katy McAvoy
    This homemade rosemary simple syrup recipe is easy to make and a great addition to many cocktails and mocktails.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe SaveSaved! Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Cook Time 5 minutes mins
    Total Time 10 minutes mins
    Servings 12 oz

    Equipment

    • Small Saucepan
    • Glass Bottles
    • Fine Mesh Strainer

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 cup water
    • 1 cup sugar
    • 2 2 inch pieces fresh rosemary

    Instructions
     

    • Bring water to a boil. Add sugar and stir until sugar has dissolved.
    • Add fresh rosemary to the syrup. Remove from heat, set aside and allow the mixture to cool to room temperature.
    • Once it’s cooled, remove the rosemary from the syrup with a fork.
    • Discard the rosemary. Pour the syrup into an airtight container and refrigerate.
    • When kept in the refrigerator, the syrup will keep for 2 weeks.
    • Enjoy!

    Notes

    Note: For stronger rosemary flavor, you can leave the sprig of rosemary in the syrup. This will cause the syrup to spoil faster, so I do recommend removing the rosemary after 24 hours.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1ounceCalories: 64kcalCarbohydrates: 17gProtein: 0.01gFat: 0.1gSaturated Fat: 0.01gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.002gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.002gSodium: 1mgPotassium: 1mgFiber: 0.02gSugar: 17gVitamin A: 5IUVitamin C: 0.04mgCalcium: 1mgIron: 0.02mg
    Tried this recipe?Let me know how it was!

    I love when you share my recipes!

    77 shares

    About Katy McAvoy

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

    Comments

      5 from 1 vote

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Jen says

      November 27, 2024 at 11:19 am

      5 stars
      absolutely tasty!

      Reply
      • Katy McAvoy says

        November 30, 2024 at 11:22 am

        So glad you liked it!

        Reply
    Katy McAvoy, mixologist and photographer

    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 everyone deserves a delicious drink. Follow me on Instagram to check out what I’m working on next!

    More about me →

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