Yum! This Basil Simple Syrup recipe is a delicious way to flavor cocktails. Just three simple ingredients can take your cocktail from good to great! If you love herbs or creating new cocktail flavors, this is a must-try!
Why this recipe works
Basil simple syrup is an easy way to add the refreshing taste of basil to any cocktail that you already love, like a Strawberry Basil Margarita, or create something totally unique.
Making one batch can flavor several drinks. Instead of making my Shaken Basil Iced Tea, you can easily add a tablespoon of this! Or add it to mocktails to elevate their flavors.
Not a fan of overly sweet drinks? You can modify the amounts of everything in this recipe to make it fit your taste preferences. You could even make this more like my Lavender Tea and leave the sugar out completely!
Making simple syrup can seem intimidating, but it's actually really easy! Once you make it, you'll find tons of delicious ways to use it.
Basil simple syrup would be a great addition to Moscow Mules, or in most drinks that call for a little bit of sweetener.
Ingredient Notes
Fresh basil is key for making that basil flavor stand out and pop. I love to buy fresh basil at the farmer's market on the weekend and enjoy that flavor all week long.
White sugar is the classic sugar to use in this recipe. You could use demerara sugar or a sugar alternative with slightly different taste results.
How to Make Simple Basil Syrup - Step-by-Step Instructions
- Add water, sugar, and basil to a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve sugar.
2. Once the sugar is fully dissolved, allow to simmer for 1 minute. Then remove from heat.
3. Let basil leaves steep in the syrup for 30 minutes, then remove with a slotted spoon. Let the basil simple syrup cool to room temperature.
4. Store the flavored simple syrup in an air-tight container.
This recipe makes a little less than a half a cup because some of the water evaporates. Many cocktail recipes call for 1 ounce or less of simple syrup so you'll get several servings out of one batch.
If you don't want to take the time to make a batch of this simple syrup you can still make a tasty cocktail. Make a Cheater Simple Syrup with a Sugar Cube and muddle fresh basil. The flavor will be more subtle but still tasty!
Tips and Tricks
- If the basil flavor still isn't strong enough for you after making this simple syrup, muddle a few extra basil leaves directly to your cocktail.
- This same base recipe can create different kinds of herb simple syrups. Swap out the basil for thyme, mint or rosemary.
- If you are worried about any small pieces of leaves in your syrup, you can use a fine strainer to get them out before putting it in your storage container.
- This recipe is easy to scale up and because it needs to be made ahead of time is great for a party bar!
Frequently Asked Questions
They are the same thing. Since simple syrup is made from sugar that turns into a syrup, it's the same end result sometimes called by another name.
Although in this case the basil leaves lend to the changing color of this simple syrup, it often turns yellow based on the type of sugar used and if it starts to caramelize while cooking.
Store the completely cooked simple syrup in an air-tight container in the refrigerator.
Traditional simple syrup make with 1:1 parts sugar and water can usually last for about a month if store in the fridge. Because this recipe has fresh herbs, I would only keep it for about a week. As the basil breaks down it may create mold or bacteria.
Related Recipes
Or see my collections of: Easy Cocktails, Moscow Mule Variations, Vodka Cocktails, and Wine Cocktails.
Basil Simple Syrup
Ingredients
- ½ cup water
- ½ cup white sugar
- ½ cup basil, fresh packed
Instructions
- Add water, sugar, and basil to a small saucepan.
- Bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve sugar completely.
- Simmer for 1 minute longer.
- Remove from heat.
- Let basil steep in the syrup for 30 minutes, then remove.
- Let cool to room temperature.
- Store in an air-tight container in the fridge for about a week.
Notes
- If the basil flavor still isn't strong enough for you after making this simple syrup, muddle a few extra basil leaves directly to your cocktail.
- This same base recipe can create different kinds of herb simple syrups. Swap out the basil for thyme, mint or rosemary.
- If you are worried about any small pieces of leaves in your syrup, you can use a fine strainer to get them out before putting it in your storage container.
- This recipe is easy to scale up and because it needs to be made ahead of time is great for a party bar!
Leave a Reply