Sugar Cube Simple Syrup (Cheats Simple Syrup)

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This Sugar Cube Simple Syrup recipe is a fast and easy way to add a touch of sweetness to any drink or cocktail. With just two ingredients needed, this easy simple syrup hack can make just one drink sweeter in a matter of seconds!

Close up of a glass holding a yellow cocktail next to sugar cubes on a plate next to a bottle of club soda. — This cheater simple syrup recipe makes enough for one drink.

This no-cook simple syrup is the COOLEST thing ever! In my research for creating the most delicious punch recipe, I read tons of recipes and bartending books. I learned a ton from one book in particular from a popular bar group: Death & Co.

This simple syrup recipe with sugar cubes idea came straight out of that book, so I do not claim any ownership of the idea. They are pure geniuses and you need to know about this.

This cheater simple syrup is perfect for making just one cocktail at a time!

Why this recipe works

This sugar cube simple syrup is a brilliant hack! Which means it is a great time-saver.

Since I almost never plan ahead, having a batch of simple syrup ready and cooled to use in my cocktails is not likely. So this is the perfect way to sweeten one drink or cocktail quickly.

This also works for sweetening up non-alcoholic drinks like lavender lemonade and tea.

You won’t get that thicker syrup consistency as you do from the traditional simple syrup. But it works perfectly for adding sweetness!

Turn a sugar cube into simple syrup and try it in a Pear Cocktail with Chardonnay or a Tea Gimlet. YUM!

Ingredients

The club soda really is the key to making an easy and quick simple syrup.

While Death & Co. suggests demerara sugar cubes I am using white since they are way easier to find. You lose some nuance of flavor but this will absolutely work for all cocktails.

Are you as excited about this Sugar Cube Simple Syrup as I am?! I usually use agave syrup in my cocktails as my sweetener of choice. But sometimes I don’t want that slight, caramel-esque flavor (which is what you would get using a demerara sugar cube).

Sometimes it’s all about that refined white sugar taste. And this simple syrup with sugar cubes has it!

Directions

Woman adding one sugar cube to a small glass bowl on a counter.

Add one sugar cube to a small bowl.

Adding club soda to a small bowl with a sugar cube.

2. Add 1 ounce of club soda to the bowl.

Hand mixing a clear liquid in a small glass bowl.

3. Mix it up until dissolved. Simple as that!

The bubbles help to break up the sugar cube pretty quickly. It takes less than 30 seconds.

Tips and tricks

If the sugar cube is being stubborn and doesn’t fully dissolve, just use the back of the spoon to crush it, then stir.
I also tried a quick infusion with this method. I scraped some vanilla beans into one batch and it tasted amazing. It wasn’t quite as flavorful as a real vanilla bean simple syrup, but it worked. I also added 2 drops of bitters to the sugar cube before dissolving it which was another great way to get more flavor in there.
This recipe is equal to 1 oz. of simple syrup so plan accordingly depending on how much your cocktail recipe calls for.
You can also use this same method with more sugar cubes and more club soda to make a larger batch if needed. You may have to stir a little bit longer.

A yellow cocktail next to a bottle of club soda and sugar cubes on a counter.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will regular water dissolve the sugar cube?

It would but after a really long time of stirring. The carbonation is what really helps to break down the sugar faster. Using warm water would make it dissolve faster, but as we are making this to sweeten a cocktail, you don’t want to have to wait for the liquid to cool down again.

What drinks could you add this easy syrup recipe to?

This easy simple syrup idea is great for cocktails, non-alcoholic mocktails and drinks like lemonade and tea.

What can I substitute if I don’t have a sugar cube for my cocktail either?

If you don’t have a sugar cube or club soda, you can use honey, agave syrup, or maple syrup to sweeten your drink.

Can you make flavored simple syrups with this sugar cube method?

As I mentioned in the tips, adding vanilla bean (or even extract) or bitters added a little flavor. But because it is made so quickly, it won’t give things like herbs or fruit long enough to steep and add concentrated flavor.

Candy cane martinis on a table with text next to it.

A few more easy recipes you might also enjoy!

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