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    Home » Recipes » Simple Syrups

    How to Make Simple Syrup for Cocktails and Drinks

    Modified: Mar 18, 2025 · Published: Aug 21, 2022 by Katy McAvoy

    I love when you share my recipes!

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    Simple syrup is quick and easy to make, and can be used to add sweetness - without flavor - to cocktails, mocktails, coffee, and a variety of other drinks.

    A jar filled with simple syrup surrounded by white sugar.
    Jump to:
    • What's in Simple Syrup 
    • How to Make Simple Syrup in the Microwave 
    • How to Make Simple Syrup on the Stove Top 
    • How to Store Cocktail Simple Syrup 
    • How Long Does Simple Syrup Last in the Refrigerator?
    • How to Use Simple Syrup
    • Frequently Asked Questions About Simple Syrup
    • More Delicious Simple Syrup Recipes
    • Print the Recipe Card
    • How to Make Simple Syrup for Cocktails and Drinks

    Unlike other sugar syrups made from honey or brown sugar, traditional simple syrup is made with white sugar and provides a clean sweetness to a drink without impacting its flavor. 

    Simple syrup is two ingredients and costs pennies to make at home. Sometimes called bar syrup in liquor stores or distilleries, simple syrup is (literally!) simple to make on the stove top or in the microwave. 

    It lasts for weeks in the refrigerator and with so many uses for classic simple syrup, I highly recommend always keeping some on hand. 

    What's in Simple Syrup 

    Ingredients for traditional simple syrup.
    • White Sugar - Either cane sugar or beet sugar works well. 
    • Water

    How to Make Simple Syrup in the Microwave 

    White sugar in a mason jar.

    Place sugar in a pint mason jar. 

    Hot water being poured into a mason jar of white sugar.

    In a microwave safe container, heat water for 2-3 minutes until almost boiling. Carefully pour the hot water over the sugar in the mason jar.

    A hand stirring a jar of simple syrup.

    Stir well until all of the sugar crystals have completely dissolved. 

    Let come to room temperature before covering and storing in the refrigerator. 

    How to Make Simple Syrup on the Stove Top 

    Water being poured into a pot.

    Heat a cup of water in a small pot over medium-high heat. 

    Sugar being poured into a pot of water.

    Bring the water to a near-boil. Remove from heat and add sugar. 

    A spatula stirring sugar and water.

    Stir until the sugar has completely dissolved and no sugar crystals remain.

    Simple syrup being poured into a mason jar.

    Allow to come to room temperature, then pour the syrup into a glass, airtight container. 

    Cover and store in the refrigerator.

    How to Store Cocktail Simple Syrup 

    Always store your simple syrup in the refrigerator. Use an airtight glass container for storing your syrup, like a mason jar or glass bottle. This will prevent any flavors lingering in plastic containers from transferring to your syrup. 

    How Long Does Simple Syrup Last in the Refrigerator?

    Simple syrup will keep for up to 3 weeks in the refrigerator. Discard it immediately if the syrup looks cloudy or you see anything cloudy or dark floating in it. Unlike the store-bought ones, homemade simple syrups don't have a long shelf life when stored at room temperature, so be sure to keep them refrigerated.

    How to Use Simple Syrup

    There are so many delicious ways to use classic simple syrup:

    • Sweeten your morning coffee or tea. It’s ideal as a liquid sweetener for iced coffee or iced tea.
    • Mix with fresh lemon juice and water for an easy lemonade.
    • In cocktails! Try a classic margarita, Paloma cocktail, frozen mango margarita, basil gimlet gin cocktail, classic lemon drop martini, or cherry blossom cocktail.
    • In mocktails! Try a strawberry pineapple mocktail, non-alcoholic margarita (pictured below), or non alcoholic pomegranate punch.
    A glass of margarita mocktail.

    Frequently Asked Questions About Simple Syrup

    Are simple syrup and bar syrup the same thing?

    Yes. Both simple syrup and bar syrup are a 1:1 ratio of white sugar to water.

    Does simple syrup need to be boiled?

    No. Heat the water to a simmer. It does not need to be boiling water. You're only looking for it to be hot enough to easily dissolve the sugar.

    How do you know when simple syrup is done?

    Your simple syrup is ready when all of the sugar crystals have dissolved into the water. While you stir, occasionally lift your spoon out of the mixture and look for sugar crystals. When the syrup looks clear and no crystals are present, it's ready to chill and use.

    What is rich simple syrup?

    Rich simple syrup refers to a heavy syrup made with a 2:1 ratio of sugar to water instead of the 1:1 ratio in a standard simple syrup recipe. It's a very sweet syrup and shouldn't be used as a direct swap for simple syrup in a recipe.

    TIP: If you’re making rich simple syrup, it’s important to let the sugar and hot water sit together for 1-2 minutes before stirring to combine and dissolve the sugar. This will prevent the sugar from recrystallizing as the syrup cools in the refrigerator. 

    How do I make my cocktail syrups last longer?

    You can create a longer shelf life for your homemade simple syrup by adding a tablespoon of vodka to the finished syrup. Since I use my syrups in alcohol-free drinks as well as cocktails, I skip this option and just make sure I pay attention to my syrup's expiration date.

    More Delicious Simple Syrup Recipes

    • A jar of mixed berry syrup sitting on a small plate with strawberries and blueberries.
      Mixed Berry Syrup Recipe for Drinks 
    • A bottle of rhubarb syrup in the middle of 2 glasses of rhubarb drinks.
      How to Make Rhubarb Syrup
    • A bottle of pineapple syrup.
      Fresh Pineapple Syrup Recipe
    • A bottle of honey simple syrup.
      How to Make Honey Simple Syrup 
    • A tall bottle of brown sugar syrup.
      How to Make Brown Sugar Simple Syrup
    • A glass bottle filled with blue Curaçao syrup.
      Homemade Blue Curaçao Syrup Recipe

    Print the Recipe Card

    A bottle of simple syrup.

    How to Make Simple Syrup for Cocktails and Drinks

    Katy McAvoy
    Simple syrup is quick and easy to make, and can be used to add sweetness - without flavor - to cocktails, mocktails, coffee, and a variety of other drinks.
    No ratings yet
    Print Recipe SaveSaved! Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 0 minutes mins
    Cook Time 5 minutes mins
    Total Time 5 minutes mins
    Servings 12 ounces

    Equipment

    • Small Saucepan
    • Pint Mason Jar
    • Glass Bottles

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 cup white sugar
    • 1 cup water

    Instructions
     

    • Heat 1 cup of water in a small pot over medium-high heat. 
    • Bring the water to a near-boil. Remove from heat. Add 1 cup sugar. 
    • Stir until the sugar has completely dissolved and no sugar crystals remain.
    • Allow the mixture to come to room temperature, then pour the syrup into a glass, airtight container. 
    • Cover and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks. 

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1ounceCalories: 64kcalCarbohydrates: 17gFat: 0.1gSodium: 1mgPotassium: 0.3mgSugar: 17gCalcium: 1mgIron: 0.01mg
    Tried this recipe?Let me know how it was!

    I love when you share my recipes!

    68 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)!

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    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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