Learn how to make syrup with this easy syrup recipe guide. Includes simple syrup plus more than 30 fruit, coffee, pancake and flavored syrup variations.
Homemade syrup is surprisingly easy to make and endlessly customizable.
With just sugar, water, and your favorite flavorings, you can create fruit syrups, coffee syrups, cocktail syrups, pancake syrups, and more - all in under 15 minutes.
An easy syrup recipe works for fruit syrup, coffee syrup, pancake syrup, and classic simple syrup.
This guide shows you how to make a basic simple syrup recipe, how to turn it into thick fruit syrups, and how to create over 30 delicious flavor variations using fresh or frozen fruit, spices, herbs, extracts, and more. Our personal favourite syrups include Blueberry Syrup, Chai Syrup, Mint Syrup and Elderberry Syrup!
The natural flavoured simple syrups are so versatile, and we love using them as homemade Sodastream syrups.
Whether you're drizzling syrup over pancakes, stirring it into coffee, mixing cocktails, or adding sweetness to desserts, you'll find everything you need below.
Jump to:
- How to Make Simple Syrup (Basic Recipe)
- How to Flavor Syrup
- Sugar Ratios and Variations
- Fresh vs Frozen Fruit for Syrup
- Types of Syrup
- How to Use Homemade Syrup
- How to Store Homemade Syrup
- Can You Freeze Syrup?
- Troubleshooting
- Simple Syrup vs Fruit Syrup vs Pancake Syrup
- FAQs
- Popular Simple Syrup Recipes
- 💬 Comments
How to Make Simple Syrup (Basic Recipe)
This easy 1:1 simple syrup recipe is the base for most flavored syrups. The easy syrup recipe works for fruit syrup, coffee syrup, pancake syrup, and classic simple syrup.
Ingredients
- 1 cup granulated sugar (200g)
- 1 cup water (235ml)
Method
- Add the sugar and water to a small saucepan over medium heat.
- Stir until the sugar dissolves completely.
- Bring to a gentle simmer for about 10 minutes, then remove from heat.
- Allow to cool before using or storing.
That's it! You now have a classic simple syrup.
How to Flavor Syrup
To create flavored syrups:
- Fruit Syrup: Add 1-2 cups chopped fruit and simmer 5-10 minutes, then strain.
- Herb Syrup: Add fresh herbs (mint, rosemary, lavender) while simmering.
- Spice Syrup: Add cinnamon sticks, chai spices, or ginger.
- Coffee & Dessert Syrup: Add extracts (vanilla, almond, coconut) once cooled.
For thicker pancake-style syrup, simmer longer to reduce and concentrate.
How Long Should You Infuse Syrup?
Delicate herbs like mint only need 5-10 minutes.
Spices like cinnamon or chai blends can simmer longer for deeper flavor.
Always strain solids once the syrup reaches your preferred strength.
Sugar Ratios and Variations
While a 1:1 ratio of sugar to water makes classic simple syrup, you can adjust the ratio depending on how you plan to use it.
- 1:1 (Equal Parts Sugar & Water)
Light, pourable syrup ideal for drinks and cocktails. - 2:1 (Rich Simple Syrup)
Thicker and sweeter. Great for coffee, iced drinks, and longer shelf life. - Fruit-Based Syrup
Fruit releases natural juices, so you may not need as much added water. - Brown Sugar Syrup
Adds deeper caramel flavor and natural thickness.
Adjust sweetness to suit your preference - syrup recipes are very flexible.
Fresh vs Frozen Fruit for Syrup
You can use either fresh or frozen fruit when making fruit syrup.
- Fresh fruit gives brighter flavor and texture.
- Frozen fruit releases juice quickly and works perfectly year-round.
- No need to thaw frozen fruit before cooking.
Both options produce delicious, flavorful syrups.
Types of Syrup
Fruit Syrups
These fruit syrups are perfect for pancakes, yogurt, ice cream, cocktails, and desserts.
- Mango Syrup
- Plum Syrup
- Blackcurrant Syrup
- Kiwi Syrup
- Strawberry Syrup
- Blueberry Syrup
- Cherry Syrup
- Lemon Syrup
- Lime Syrup
- Grapefruit Syrup
- Nectarine Syrup
- Apricot Syrup
- Pear Syrup
- Apple Syrup
- Melon Syrup
- Watermelon Syrup
- Pineapple Syrup
- Pomegranate Syrup
- Cranberry Syrup
- Dragon Fruit Syrup
- Persimmon Syrup
- Rhubarb Syrup
Coffee & Drink Syrups
These flavored syrups are ideal for coffee, tea, cocktails, mocktails, and sodas.
- Pumpkin Spice Syrup
- Coffee Syrup
- Chai Syrup
- Matcha Syrup
- Tea Syrup
- Lavender Syrup
- Honey Lavender Syrup
- Rose Syrup
- Mint Syrup
- Peppermint Syrup
- Ginger Honey Syrup
Breakfast & Pancake Syrups
These thicker simple syrups are perfect for pancakes, waffles, French toast, and oatmeal.
Dessert & Specialty Syrups
These unique syrups add flavor to desserts, baking, and specialty drinks.
- Chestnut Syrup
- Elderberry Syrup
- Biscoff Syrup (Speculoos Syrup)
- Toasted Coconut Syrup
- Mulled Wine Syrup
How to Use Homemade Syrup
Homemade syrup is incredibly versatile. Here are some of the best ways to use it:
Breakfast
Drizzle blueberry syrup or brown sugar syrup over pancakes, waffles, French toast, oatmeal, or yogurt.
Coffee & Drinks
Stir flavored syrups like chai syrup, or pumpkin spice syrup into coffee or lattes. Try Strawberry Syrup in your iced tea, Rose Syrup in your homemade lemonade, or try a variety of flavours in your cocktails.
Desserts
Use fruit syrups over ice cream, cheesecake, pavlova, pound cake, or brownies. Try Biscoff Syrup over ice cream or Plum Syrup on cheesecake.
Baking
Brush simple syrup over cake layers to keep them moist, or swirl flavored syrup into frostings and glazes. Lemon Syrup is delicious over a lemon pound cake.
Cocktails & Mocktails
Simple syrup is essential for balanced cocktails. Infused syrups add flavor depth to margaritas, mojitos (Mint Syrup), and spritzers.
Glazes & Savory Dishes
Syrup isn't just for sweet recipes. Fruit and flavored syrups can be brushed onto roasted vegetables, tofu, or grilled dishes to add a glossy glaze.
- Use Brown Sugar Syrupfor roasted carrots or sweet potatoes.
- Drizzle Pomegranate Syrup and a squeeze of lime over salads for sweet-tart balance.
A small amount of syrup can also enhance vinaigrettes and marinades.
Ice Cream & Frozen Treat Swirls
Swirl fruit syrup into softened ice cream before refreezing to create ripple effects.
Layer syrup into popsicle molds or frozen yogurt for vibrant flavor and color.
Homemade Soda & SodaStream Syrups
You can easily turn homemade syrup into a flavored soda base for sparkling water or SodaStream(TM) machines.
To make homemade soda:
- Add 1-2 tablespoons of syrup to a glass.
- Top with sparkling water.
- Stir gently and adjust sweetness to taste.
Fruit syrups like Mango Syrup, Strawberry Syrup, or Blackcurrant Syrup make excellent homemade sodas.
Herbal syrups like mint syrup or Lavender Syrup create refreshing sophisticated botanical drinks.
Because homemade syrup doesn't contain preservatives like commercial soda syrups, it tastes fresher and more natural.
You can also mix syrups together, for example, lemon syrup and lime syrup or strawberry syrup and mint syrup to create custom soda flavors.
How to Store Homemade Syrup
Simple syrup and flavored syrups should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
- Basic simple syrup: lasts up to 3-4 weeks
- Fruit syrups: best used within 1-2 weeks
- Syrups with fresh herbs: use within 1 week
Always check for cloudiness or unusual smell before using.
Can You Freeze Syrup?
Yes! Syrup freezes well. Pour into freezer-safe containers or ice cube trays for portioning. Thaw in the refrigerator before use.
Troubleshooting
Why Did My Syrup Crystallize?
Crystallization can happen if:
- The sugar ratio is too high.
- The syrup was overheated.
- Sugar crystals remained on the sides of the pan.
To fix it, gently reheat and add a small splash of water or a teaspoon of lemon juice.
How to Thicken Syrup
For a thicker, pancake-style syrup:
- Simmer longer to reduce it more.
- Add fruit puree.
- Use brown sugar instead of white sugar.
Simple Syrup vs Fruit Syrup vs Pancake Syrup
Although all three are sweet liquid toppings, they differ in texture, viscosity, flavor intensity, and how they're typically used.
Simple Syrup
Simple syrup is made from equal parts sugar and water (usually 1:1). It has a thin, pourable consistency and a neutral sweetness.
- Texture: Light and fluid
- Viscosity: Thin
- Best For: Coffee, tea, cocktails, lemonade, soaking cake layers
Because it dissolves completely and stays smooth, simple syrup is ideal for drinks where you don't want grainy sugar.
A richer 2:1 simple syrup (two parts sugar to one part water) is slightly thicker and sweeter, making it better for iced drinks or recipes that need more concentrated sweetness.
Fruit Syrup
Fruit syrup is made by simmering fruit with sugar and water, then straining (or sometimes blending) the mixture.
- Texture: Slightly thicker than simple syrup
- Viscosity: Medium
- Best For: Pancakes, waffles, yogurt, ice cream, cheesecake
These fruit syrups contain natural fruit sugars and pectin, which give them more body and depth of flavor than plain simple syrup.
Because they're fruit-based, they tend to be more flavorful and slightly less sweet than pancake-style syrups.
Pancake Syrup
Pancake syrup is typically thicker and sweeter than both simple syrup and fruit syrup.
- Texture: Thick and glossy
- Viscosity: High
- Best For: Pancakes, waffles, French toast
It's often made with brown sugar, maple flavoring, or reduced syrup for a heavier consistency.
Unlike simple syrup (which is designed to blend into drinks), pancake syrup is meant to sit on top of food and coat it generously. Take a look at these Homemade Pancake Syrup Recipes.
Quick Comparison
- Use simple syrup for drinks and baking.
- Use fruit syrup for flavor-forward toppings.
- Use pancake syrup when you want thickness and richness.
Understanding these differences helps you choose the right syrup recipe for the right purpose - or adjust your homemade syrup to get the exact texture you want.
FAQs
Basic syrup lasts up to 3-4 weeks refrigerated. Fruit and herb syrups last 1-2 weeks.
Yes. Try brown sugar, honey, maple syrup, coconut sugar, or agave.
Yes. Frozen fruit works perfectly and releases juice quickly when simmered.
Most homemade syrups are best refrigerated rather than shelf-stable canned.
Popular Simple Syrup Recipes
Browse all my homemade syrup recipes below, from fruit syrups to coffee syrups and pancake toppings.
Syrup Recipes
Browse all of my homemade simple syrup recipes, including fruit syrups, coffee syrups, pancake syrups, and flavored simple syrups. These easy recipes show how to make delicious syrups at home using simple ingredients like sugar, water, fruit, herbs, and spices.
Homemade syrup is perfect for pancakes, waffles, yogurt, desserts, coffee, cocktails, Sodastream and sparkling drinks. From mango syrup and brown sugar syrup to lavender syrup and pumpkin spice syrup, you’ll find plenty of flavor ideas here.
Make your own, natural homemade blueberry syrup with just blueberries, sugar and water. Delicious on pancakes!
Pumpkin spice soda! Just make a batch of this pumpkin spice simple syrup in minutes, then stir it into sparkling water from your SodaStream!
Turn fresh rhubarb into a tangy sweet soda syrup in just minutes! A tasty way to use up a glut of rhubarb.
Make a zingy and refreshing soda with your SodaStream by adding a simple tangy grapefruit syrup to your sparkling water!
Make a totally tropical pineapple soda by whipping up a batch of pineapple simple syrup in minutes, using fresh, frozen or canned pineapple.
Strawberries make the most delicious summery strawberry syrup. A tasty, natural homemade syrup that's incredible on waffles or French toast, or in sparkling water or cocktails.
For a tasty Fall treat, stir a little of this Cinnamon Brown Sugar Syrup into soda water for a warming, yet cooling, drink!
Honey lavender syrup is easy to make, sweet and fragrant, and it's delicious stirred into sparkling soda water for a sophisticated taste.
Make a peppy peppermint simple syrup, then add it to Sodastream sparkling water for a festive cooling fizzy drink! Perfect for holiday cocktails.
Use up seasonal persimmon with this fragrant and sweet persimmon simple syrup - perfect for adding to homemade soda.
Enjoy a refreshing drink this Christmas with an easy, spiced Mulled Wine Syrup - just add a little to homemade soda for a cold festive beverage! Try adding gin for the grownups.
Sweeten your SodaStream sparkling water with this rich and sweet Brown Sugar syrup!
Enjoy fragrant pear flavour in your soda, with this easy pear simple syrup. Just stir it into your sparkling water for a quick and easy Pear Soda!
Rich and fragrant melon syrup is delicious stirred into fizzy SodaStream water for a melon soda!
Use your seasonal elderberries in this nourishing elderberry syrup - then enjoy it in sparkling water for an elderberry soda.
If you love the rich green tea flavour of Matcha, then use it in this vibrant Matcha Syrup - perfect as a fun flavour for your SodaStream soda water.
Nourishing ginger and honey are a delicious combo in this easy simple syrup. It's refreshing mixed in with homemade soda from your Soda Stream!
This toasted coconut simple syrup is full of big flavour. It's tasty mixed in with Soda Stream fizzy water - and even better if you also add a little pineapple syrup for a pina colada soda!
Make the most of honey's natural flavour in this honey syrup - then use it to flavour soda stream water for a fizzy honey soda!
Homemade pomegranate soda is so easy to make and tastes incredible! Make pomegranate simple syrup in minutes, then use it as a homemade Soda Stream flavour on it's own or combine it with other homemade fruit syrup - like strawberry or honey!
Enjoy the flavour of Christmas with a homemade Cranberry Soda! Boil up cranberry simple syrup, then use it with your homemade soda stream sparkling water to make alcoholic or non alcoholic beverages over the holidays!
Whip up a batch of this bold Dragon Fruit Syrup so you can make dragon fruit soda! So good in cocktails and mocktails.
Make a zingy Lime Soda! This simple syrup is tangy yet sweet and perfect in homemade sodas. Enjoy on it's own, or combine it with lemon syrup, pineapple syrup, and/or toasted coconut syrup!
Tea soda? Yes, it's possible! Brew up this black tea-infused simple syrup, then stir it into homemade Soda Stream fizzy water. You could even add a fruit flavor, such as strawberry or peach syrup.
Watermelon soda is so refreshing and delicious! Whip up watermelon syrup and pair it with sparkling water!
Blackcurrant soda is so easy to make and tastes great - like fizzy Ribena!
Zesty, tangy and sweet, lemon syrup is such an easy way to turn SodaStream water into a fizzy mocktail or cocktail.
Fragrant plums only take a few minutes to turn into this bright plum syrup - perfect for alcoholic or non alcoholic drinks!
Kiwi soda is so tasty and zesty! Ready in minutes, kiwi syrup is a great way to use up kiwi fruits.
Make homemade cherryade! Just simmer cherries with water and sugar to make a cherry simple syrup. Then stir it into sparkling water for a fun homemade fruit drink. We love adding lime syrup along with it!
Use the sophisticated and delicately floral flavour of rose syrup in lemonade, sparkling water or on desserts.
This easy mint syrup recipe is so versatile! We love it in lemonade or mojitos!
Enjoy the warming spice flavours of Biscoff in a simple syrup recipe. We love it in coffee, on vanilla ice cream or other desserts.
Enjoy coffee flavour in this infused simple syrup recipe. It's incredible on ice cream and desserts or in cocktails.
Enjoy chai sipce flavours in this delicious syrup recipe. It's so good in teas, coffee, ice cream and desserts.
Make the most of floral culinary lavender with this delicious simple syrup. Use it in cocktails, lemonade, sparkling water or desserts.
This quick and easy blackberry sryup is a tasty way to use up blackberries. It tastes amazing on pancakes or waffles, but we also love it on vanilla or chocolate ice cream.
Use up seasonal fragrant peaches in this simple peach syrup - you'll love the summery flavour on pancakes, or in cocktails or mocktails.
Fresh or frozen mangoes are turned into a sweet and flavorful mango syrup in under 15 minutes!
Comments
No Comments