So, you’re at a restaurant. It’s lunch time. You’re hot. You order iced tea. It arrives and you pour a couple of packets of sugar into your tea and stir and stir and stir and stir, waiting for the sugar to dissolve. It doesn’t so you settle for sipping mostly-sweetened tea, trying hard not to catch those undissolved granules of sugar that linger at the bottom of your glass. If this sounds familiar, I’ve got the solution – Simple Syrup!
How to Make Simple Syrup
Simple Syrup is a syrup (duh) made by combining equal parts sugar and water and heating them until the sugar dissolves. The result is a solution to half-sweetened tea. Stir a splash or two of if into your tea for a sweet tea minus the sugar crystals, like my Lime Sweet Tea!
Bartenders have long known the value of magical elixir. It’s a great way to sweeten cocktails without dealing with undissolved grains of sugar. Dress up your favorite fruit salad with a little or use it as a base for making sorbets.
You can make flavored versions by adding fresh herbs, spices, citrus slices or even sliced jalapeños for a sweet and spicy version. If adding other ingredients, add them once the sugar begins to boil. Let the syrup steep until cool. Strain before using.
TIPS:
Make sure sugar is completely dissolved before removing simple syrup from the heat.
If you add other ingredients to flavor your mix, strain before using.
Store simple syrup in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 month.
TOOLS:
Strainer (optional)
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Simple Syrup
Ingredients
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup water
- Optional: citrus zest or slices
- cinnamon sticks
- peppercorns
- sliced fresh ginger (don't bother peeling it)
- star anise
- sliced peppers (makes a sweet & spicy syrup)
- herbs, spices or other flavoring agents of choice
Instructions
- Combine sugar and water in a small pot. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally, until sugar dissolves.
- Remove pot from heat and set aside to cool.
- If adding other ingredients, add them once the sugar begins to boil. Let the syrup steep until cool. Strain syrup before using.
- Store simple syrup in an airtight container for up to 1 month.
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