Citrus or Floral Simple Syrup
Make a small-batch 1:1 flavored simple syrup to sweeten cocktails, iced tea, or desserts. Use when you want a bright citrus or delicate floral syrup that dissolves into cold drinks.
What's inside
Make a small-batch 1:1 flavored simple syrup to sweeten cocktails, iced tea, or desserts. Use when you want a bright citrus or delicate floral syrup that dissolves into cold drinks.
You have sugar, water, and either fresh citrus or edible flowers but no infused simple syrup prepared.
Extracting bright flavor without introducing bitter pith or cooked vegetal notes is tricky; overboiling peels or flowers can make the syrup bitter or loss aromatic character.
You will have a cooled, strained 1:1 simple syrup infused with citrus or floral aroma, stored in a sealed jar in the refrigerator.
- • Granulated sugar — 1 cup
- • Water — 1 cup
- • Citrus peel or edible flowers — 2 fruits or tbsp
- • Small saucepan — 1
- • Wooden or heatproof spoon — 1
- • Zester or vegetable peeler — 1
- • Fine-mesh strainer — 1
- • Clean jar with lid — 1
- 01Prepare flavoringUse a zester or peeler to remove colored peel from 1–2 citrus fruits, avoiding white pith, or measure 2 tablespoons loosely packed edible flowers into a small bowl.⏱ 3 min
- 02Measure sugar and waterMeasure 1 cup granulated sugar and 1 cup water and add both to the saucepan.⏱ 1 min
- 03Heat to dissolve and simmerHeat over medium, stirring until sugar fully dissolves and the liquid reaches a gentle simmer (small bubbles); maintain a gentle simmer for 5 minutes while stirring occasionally.⏱ 10 min
- 04Steep off heatRemove pan from heat, add the citrus peels or flowers, cover, and let steep 10 minutes to extract aroma without overcooking.⏱ 10 min
- 05Strain, cool, and storeStrain syrup through a fine-mesh strainer into a clean jar, let cool to room temperature (about 5–10 minutes), seal and refrigerate; label with date.⏱ 6 min