Infuse your favorite beverages and desserts with the vibrant taste of summer using this easy-to-make strawberry simple syrup. It’s perfect for sweetening lemonades, flavoring bubble teas, or drizzling over pancakes. With just three ingredients and a few simple steps, you'll have a syrup that's bursting with the juicy, sweet flavor of strawberries in no time!
If you're into fruity homemade syrups (like me), try my Orange Syrup next! It’s bright, zesty, and just as easy to make - perfect for drinks, desserts, or brunch recipes.
Why you'll love this recipe
- Simple ingredients: With an ingredient list of just strawberries, water, and sugar, this recipe is the epitome of easy.
- Quick to make: In under 30 minutes, you'll have a jar of homemade syrup ready to use!
- Versatile: This syrup is perfect for a wide range of uses, from sweetening cocktails to elevating the flavors of your favorite desserts and breakfasts.
- Customizable: Adjust the sugar level to your liking or experiment with adding other fruits for a unique twist.
Sweet strawberry simple syrup
Strawberry simple syrup is one of my favorite flavored syrups to make! It’s bursting with fresh, juicy flavors that remind me of summer, even in the dead of winter. It’s incredibly easy to whip up, requiring just strawberries, sugar, and water.
All you have to do is dissolve sugar in water and add puréed strawberries. In less than 30 minutes, you’ll have a vibrant pink syrup full of sweet notes that make it perfect for cocktails or mocktails like mojitos, daiquiris, and margaritas.
It’s also a great way to add a fruity essence to drinks like strawberry boba, lemonades, iced teas, or this vegan strawberry protein shake. I recommend making a large batch to keep on hand whenever you’re craving some fresh berry flavors.
Ingredients & Substitutions
- Strawberries: Give the syrup its fruity flavor and vibrant color. You can also use other berries like raspberries, blueberries, or blackberries (as I do in my blackberry simple syrup recipe) for a different flavor profile.
- Water: I use a 1:1 water-to-sugar ratio. For a less sweet version, use a 2:1 ratio.
- Sugar: Sweetens the syrup. You can use organic or vegan-friendly granulated sugar or cane sugar with similar results.
How to make strawberry simple syrup
- Step 1: Remove the stems of the strawberries. Place them in a saucepan with water and sugar over medium heat. Once the water starts bubbling, then reduce to a low simmer and cook for 20 minutes to create a strawberry-infused liquid. It's important to use ripe, sweet strawberries for the best flavor.
- Step 2: Strain the liquid through a sieve or cheesecloth. Use a spoon to press down on the strawberries to extracting as much liquid as possible.
- Step 3: After straining your strawberry simple syrup, let it cool before transferring it to a bottle or jar for storage.
How to use strawberry simple syrup
The great thing about strawberry simple syrup is that it’s incredibly versatile! Here are a few ideas of how to use it to spark your imagination:
- Desserts: Drizzle it over vegan peach ice cream or coconut yogurt, or use it as a glaze for vegan olive oil cake.
- Breakfast: Serve it with protein pancakes, flaxseed pudding, or vegan baked oatmeal.
- Cocktails and mocktails: You can use this strawberry simple syrup for cocktails like margaritas, mojitos, or daiquiris.
- Fruit salads: Toss it with fresh fruit for an extra burst of sweetness.
- Teas and lemonades: Sweeten and flavor your favorite iced teas and lemonades with strawberry simple syrup for a refreshing twist.
Storage & Reheating
Storing and reheating homemade strawberry simple syrup is easy! Here’s how:
- Fridge: You can keep homemade strawberry simple syrup in the fridge for up to a month. Just make sure it’s stored in an airtight container.
- Freezer: Once the syrup has cooled, transfer it to a freezer-safe container for up to 6 months. Thaw it in the fridge overnight when you’re ready to use it again.
- Reheating: If the syrup becomes too thick after sitting in the fridge for a few days, you can reheat it in a saucepan over low until it reaches your desired consistency.
Variations
- Mixed berry syrup: Combine strawberries with raspberries, blackberries, or blueberries.
- Citrus twist: Add orange or lemon zest while cooking.
- Spiced syrup: Mix in cinnamon sticks or a vanilla bean during simmering.
- Maple berry: Use maple syrup instead of sugar for a maple-forward flavor.
Top tips
- Use ripe strawberries: For the sweetest, most flavorful syrup I always recommend using fresh strawberries.
- Blend well: Ensure the strawberries are thoroughly blended so you can extract the most amount of flavor.
- Strain thoroughly: Use a fine-mesh strainer or cheesecloth to ensure you end up with a smooth strawberry simple syrup for cocktails and other drinks.
- Let the syrup thicken: You want the syrup to coat a spoon lightly before removing it from the heat. It will also thicken as it cools.
- Simmer, don’t boil: Avoid burning the syrup by simmering, not boiling.
- Shake before using: You may see the syrup settling a bit once it sits. Just give the bottle a good shake before using it again.
FAQ
Yes, you can use frozen strawberries, but I’ve found that ripe, fresh strawberries tend to yield the best results in this simple syrup recipe.
If your strawberry simple syrup is too thin, you can simmer it for a bit longer until it reaches your desired consistency. It should also thicken up slightly when it’s in the fridge.
The best way to avoid crystallization is to store your strawberry simple syrup in the fridge and use clean utensils. Also, try not to stir it too frequently in the saucepan to prevent the sugar from splattering up the sides and hardening.
More syrup recipes
If you enjoyed this strawberry simple syrup recipe, be sure to check out some more flavored simple syrup recipes like these:
- Brown Sugar Syrup: A 2-ingredient recipe full of deep, rich molasses flavor.
- Blackberry Simple Syrup: A summery sweet syrup that will elevate any drink or dessert.
- Rose Simple Syrup:
- Cardamom Syrup: A sweet, spiced recipe perfect for the holiday season.
- Lavender Simple Syrup: Simple syrup infused with aromatic and floral flavors.
- Lychee Syrup: Full of sweet, fruity, and tropical flavors.
Strawberry Simple Syrup
DESCRIPTION
INGREDIENTS
- 1 cup strawberries chopped
- ½ cup water
- ½ cup sugar
METHOD
- Remove the stems off the strawberries
- Heat the saucepan with strawberries, water and sugar over medium heat. Once it starts to bubble, then turn down the heat to a gentle simmer. Let it simmer for 15-20 minutes till the liquid starts to deepen in color.Note: Stirring occasionally to help dissolve the sugar.
- Once the strawberry infused liquid starts to thicken and can lightly coat the back of a spoon, then remove from the heat.
- Strain the strawberry syrup through a mesh sieve or cheesecloth into a clean bowl. Use the backside of a spoon to press down on the strawberries to extract the most syrup.
- Let the syrup cool before transferring to an air-tight glass bottle or mason jar. Refrigerate and use as needed.
NOTES
- Use ripe strawberries: For the sweetest, most flavorful syrup I always recommend using fresh strawberries.
- Blend well: Ensure the strawberries are thoroughly blended so you can extract the most amount of flavor.
- Strain thoroughly: Use a fine-mesh strainer or cheesecloth to ensure you end up with a smooth strawberry simple syrup for cocktails and other drinks.
- Let the syrup thicken: You want the syrup to coat a spoon lightly before removing it from the heat. It will also thicken as it cools.
- Simmer, don’t boil: Avoid burning the syrup by simmering, not boiling.
- Shake before using: You may see the syrup settling a bit once sits. Just give the bottle a good shake before using it again.
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