Simple Syrup is an easy to make sweetener with so many uses! Many people think that use it think it is only good for making adult beverages. Now, while it is good for that, there are so many other uses for it, this is something you need to know how to make and how to use. Let's begin!
The recipe to make simple syrup is, well, simple! It can be made with sugar, honey or agave nectar. As long as the ratio is 1:1 it will be perfect.
Simple Syrup Using Sugar, Honey or Agave Nectar
- 1 cup sugar, honey or agave nectar
- 1 cup water
- Heat water until it is boiling and then add the sugar, honey or agave
- Reduce heat to medium and stir until syrup is no longer cloudy and immediately remove from heat
- Cool and pour into a container with a tight fitting lid
- Plain simple syrup will last in the refrigerator for up to a month.
You can flavor simple syrup with any number of things. This list is virtually endless:
- Coffee - use black coffee instead of water
- Fruit Juice - use instead of water
- Extracts - a drop or two for each cup of water
- Herbs - like basil, rosemary or mint
- Whole Spices - like cinnamon sticks, cloves or nutmeg
- Chilies - dried or fresh
- Vanilla Beans
- Edible Flowers - like rose petals or lavendar
- Peppercorns
- Ginger - sliced from the fresh root
- Fresh Fruit - see recipe below
You really can flavor simple syrup with anything you want. To flavor your syrup you can either heat the flavorings with the other ingredients on the stove and then strain after it cools, or you can place the flavorings in the jar and pour the cooled syrup over then and then cap the jar and let it steep for 2 or 3 hours and then strain. I prefer the second method, as I think it produces a stronger flavor. Just make sure you remember to remove the flavorings from the jar and strain the syrup. If you don't, it will spoil in a matter of days.
If you use fresh fruit, then it really becomes fruit syrup, which is delicious on pancakes or waffles or even dribbled over fresh fruit salad.
If you use fresh fruit, then it really becomes fruit syrup, which is delicious on pancakes or waffles or even dribbled over fresh fruit salad.
Fruit Syrup
Directions:
Peel, de-stem, or remove seeds from the fruit, as appropriate.
Place the fruit, water, and sugar into a pot.
Cook the fruit with the sugar and water, bringing it to a boil and then lowering the heat to simmer.
Smash the fruit while it is cooking.
Simmer until the mixture has thickened to a syrupy consistency. This should take about 10 minutes.
Once the mixture has thickened, you can press it through a strainer to make a thin syrup.
If you prefer a thicker syrup, process the cooked syrup in a food processor.
Note: You don't necessarily need to thaw frozen fruit before cooking it, but if you can remember to take it out of the
freezer and put it in the refrigerator a few hours before your preparation, it would speed the cooking.
- 1 cup fruit (fresh or frozen)
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1/3 cup water
Directions:
Peel, de-stem, or remove seeds from the fruit, as appropriate.
Place the fruit, water, and sugar into a pot.
Cook the fruit with the sugar and water, bringing it to a boil and then lowering the heat to simmer.
Smash the fruit while it is cooking.
Simmer until the mixture has thickened to a syrupy consistency. This should take about 10 minutes.
Once the mixture has thickened, you can press it through a strainer to make a thin syrup.
If you prefer a thicker syrup, process the cooked syrup in a food processor.
Note: You don't necessarily need to thaw frozen fruit before cooking it, but if you can remember to take it out of the
freezer and put it in the refrigerator a few hours before your preparation, it would speed the cooking.
What Else Is Simple Syrup used for?
Believe it or not, simple syrup is used in making cakes. It is brushed or sprinkled on after the cake is cooled in order to make sure it is moist and to add flavor. The easiest way to put it on a cake is to use a soaker bottle like the one showed in the short video below.
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The soaker bottle on the left is one that I found on Amazon. It is like $5 cheaper than the one in the video, so if you want to buy one, that is where I got mine. It really does make putting simple syrup on a cake a lot easier and more uniform.
I know it seems like a strange thing to do and you would think that spraying your cake with liquid would make it a soggy mess, but it doesn't. It soaks into the cake and keeps it moist. It is also really great to infuse flavor into your cake. I made some syrup using coconut water and a dash of coconut extract and I put it on a pineapple flavored cake and you could really taste it! Voila! Pina colada cake! (you could even put a dash of rum in your simple syrup) |
One of my favorite cakes to make with simple syrup is Sticky Lemon Cake. I don't put any icing on this cake, though you could if you wanted to. In my opinion the simple syrup on top infuses so much flavor into the cake and makes it so moist and delicious, icing is not necessary!
Sticky Lemon Cake
Cake
Syrup
Directions
I serve this cake warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream
Cake
- 3/4 cup white sugar
- 1.5 sticks of softened butter
- 1 1/2 cup self raising flour
- 3 medium eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- Zest of 1 lemon
- 3 tablespoon lemon juice
Syrup
- 1 cup sugar (can use honey or agave nectar)
- Zest of 2 lemons
- 6 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1/2 cup water
Directions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees
- Line a5 x 9 inch baking pan with parchment paper and flour sides
- In a mixing bowl, combine sugar and butter
- Add eggs and flour and stir until well combined (by hand or electric mixer)
- Stir in vanilla, lemon zest and lemon juice.
- Empty mixture into tin and bake for 35-40 minutes.
- Make your lemon infused simple syrup
- When the cake is done, remove from oven and let stand for 5 minutes
- With a fork, poke holes into the top of the cake evenly all over
- Load your soaker bottle with warm syrup and evenly soak the top of the cake, letting the syrup soak in. Do not over use the syrup and make the cake soggy.
I serve this cake warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream
More uses for Simple Syrup
- Make a cocktail
- Sweeten your coffee or hot tea
- Sweeten iced beverages
- Use it on a fruit salad
- Add it to your oatmeal or cold cereal
I could go on and on. Simple syrup is such a versatile sweetner, it can be used on all kinds of dishes. But what if you can't have sugar? If you are a diabetic, or someone that is giving up sugar in their diet, take heart! Simple syrup can be made with stevia sweetener.
Simple Syrup Made with Stevia Sweetener
Ingredients:
Instructions:
Boil the water in a small saucepan.
Add stevia and stir till dissolved and clear
Remove from heat and let cool
Store in a jar in the refrigerator, should stay good for at least 2 weeks
Ingredients:
- 2 cups water
- 1/4 cup stevia (approximately20-25 packets)
Instructions:
Boil the water in a small saucepan.
Add stevia and stir till dissolved and clear
Remove from heat and let cool
Store in a jar in the refrigerator, should stay good for at least 2 weeks
Hope you all have a great weekend and enjoy your simple new sweetener!
Jade :)
Jade :)
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