Honey Syrup

Create this easy Honey Syrup in just a few minutes and elevate your drinks and desserts. This liquid honey blends smoothly without clumping, making it perfect for iced teas and cold cocktails!

When it comes to versatile kitchen staples, this honey syrup recipe is a true winner. It's incredibly easy to make, requiring just two simple ingredients: honey and water, and 5 minutes.

This honey simple syrup adds a delightful sweetness to a variety of dishes and drinks, from cocktails and teas to baked goods and breakfast treats.

Sure, you could just add straight honey, but it's often a little too thick, or has started to crystallise. That's when this liquid honey syrup comes in handy!

I used to just spoon honey directly into my teas and cocktails, but it isn't very easy to mix it in thoroughly, especially with cold drinks. It would clump at the bottom, leaving me with an unevenly sweetened beverage.

It's much easier to stir into cocktails and iced tea (try this awesome Berry Iced Tea), plus it's incredible drizzled onto desserts, like cheesecake, or drizzled onto yogurt or oatmeal in the morning. I also love serving it with a Fruit Platter or fruit salad.

Fan of honey? Be sure to also try Whipped Honey!

Jump to:

• Why You'll Love This Recipe
• Why Make Honey Syrup When You Can Just Use Honey?
• Ingredients
• How to make Honey Syrup
• Ways to Use It
• Add-in Flavorings
• Storage
• Top tips
• FAQ
• More Simple Syrup Recipes
• 📖 Recipe
• 💬 Comments

Why You'll Love This Recipe

• Natural Sweetener: Honey syrup is a natural alternative to processed sugar syrups.
• Versatile: Perfect for drinks, baking, and more.
• Easy to Make: Requires just two ingredients and five minutes.
• Customizable: Adjust the flavor with different types of honey.
• Long-lasting: Keeps well in the fridge for weeks.

Why Make Honey Syrup When You Can Just Use Honey?

You might wonder why you should bother making honey simple syrup when you can simply use honey straight from the jar. Here are several compelling reasons why honey syrup is worth the minimal effort:

1. Easier to Mix: Honey is thick and can be challenging to mix into cold beverages or even some hot drinks. Liquid Honey Syrup, on the other hand, dissolves easily, making it perfect for cocktails, iced teas, and coffees.
2. Better Texture: In sauces, dressings, and marinades, honey syrup blends more smoothly, preventing the graininess that can sometimes occur when using raw honey.
3. Infusion Opportunities: Making honey syrup opens up a world of flavor possibilities. By heating the honey with water, you can easily infuse it with herbs, spices, citrus peels, and more, creating complex flavors that would be difficult to achieve with plain honey.
4. Reduced Crystallization: Honey tends to crystallize over time, making it difficult to use without re-heating. Honey syrup, due to its diluted nature, is less prone to crystallization, ensuring it stays smooth and easy to pour.
5. Reduce Food Waste: Honey Syrup is a great way to salvage honey that has become too thick or grainy to use effectively. Making it into syrup will re-liquefy it.

Ingredients

• Honey: The star of the recipe. Use local honey for a unique flavor, or try different varieties like clover, wildflower, or orange blossom.
• Water: Essential for diluting the honey to create the syrup. Make sure it's clean and fresh.

See the recipe card for quantities.

How to make Honey Syrup

Follow this step-by-step photo tutorial, then scroll down to the recipe card for the full ingredients list and method.

Add the honey and water to a saucepan.

Heat the honey simple syrup over a medium/low heat for 5 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and allow it to cool slightly. Pour the liquid honey into a sanitized bottle or jar and allow to cool completely. It will thicken slightly as it cools.

Ways to Use It

1. Sweeten Beverages: Stir honey simple syrup into hot or iced teas, coffees, and lemonades for a natural sweetener that dissolves effortlessly. Try it in Strawberry Iced Tea.
2. Cocktail Mixer: Use honey syrup as a sweetener in cocktails like margaritas, mojitos, whiskey sours, and daiquiris for a touch of complexity and depth.
3. Drizzle over Breakfast Foods: Drizzle honey syrup over pancakes, waffles, French toast, oatmeal, or yogurt for a sweet and flavorful topping.
4. Bake with Ease: Use honey syrup as a liquid sweetener in baking recipes such as cakes, muffins, cookies, and bread for added moisture and flavor.
5. Glaze and Marinade: Brush honey syrup over grilled meats, seafood, or vegetables as a glaze, or use it as a base for marinades to add sweetness and depth of flavor.
6. Dress Salads: Whisk honey syrup into salad dressings for a touch of sweetness to balance out acidic or savory flavors in green salads or fruit salads.
7. Enhance Desserts: Use honey syrup to sweeten and moisten desserts like ice cream, fruit salads, custards, and puddings, or drizzle it over sliced fruit for a simple yet delicious treat.
8. Flavor Enhancer: Infuse honey syrup with herbs, spices, citrus peels, or extracts to create custom flavors that complement specific dishes or drinks.
9. Dissolve into Beverages: Use honey syrup to sweeten homemade sodas, flavored waters, or smoothies for a natural sweetener that blends seamlessly without grittiness. Stir a tablespoon into a glass of club soda or sparkling water for a Honey Soda!

Add-in Flavorings

Enhance your honey syrup with these delightful add-ins. Each suggestion includes the recommended amount for a standard batch (1 cup honey and 1 cup water):

1. Vanilla Bean: Add 1 split vanilla bean for a rich, fragrant twist. Split the bean lengthwise and scrape out the seeds, then add both the seeds and the pod to the saucepan.
2. Ginger: Add 3-4 slices of fresh ginger (about ¼ inch thick) for a zesty, warming flavor. Peel the ginger before slicing.
3. Lavender: Add 1 tablespoon of dried lavender for a delicate floral note. Be careful not to overdo it, as lavender can be quite potent.
4. Chili: Add 1 small dried chili pepper or ½ teaspoon of red pepper flakes for a spicy kick. Adjust to taste if you prefer more or less heat.
5. Citrus Peel: Add the peel of 1 lemon, orange, or lime (use a vegetable peeler to avoid the bitter white pith) for a bright, citrusy flavor.
6. Cinnamon Stick: Add 1-2 cinnamon sticks for a warm, spiced flavor. This works particularly well in fall and winter recipes.
7. Cloves: Add 3-4 whole cloves for a deep, spiced note. These can be strong, so use sparingly.
8. Rosemary: Add 1 small sprig of fresh rosemary for a savory, herbaceous flavor. Be sure to remove the sprig after infusing.
9. Bay Leaf: Add 1-2 bay leaves for an earthy, aromatic note. Be sure to remove the leaves after infusing.
10. Thyme: Add 1-2 sprigs of fresh thyme for a mild, savory flavor. Remove the sprigs after infusing.

To use these add-ins, simply add them to the saucepan with the honey and water. Heat over medium/low heat for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally to ensure the flavors are infused evenly. Remove the pan from the heat and allow it to cool slightly. Strain out any solids before pouring the liquid honey syrup into a sanitized bottle or jar. Allow to cool completely before sealing and storing.

Storage

Store: Store your honey syrup in a sanitized bottle or jar in the refrigerator. It will keep for up to a month.

FAQ

More Simple Syrup Recipes

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