Use this strawberry syrup for cocktails, pancakes, and so much more. With just three simple ingredients and about 10 minutes, you can make a bright, fruity syrup to stir into cocktails, mocktails, iced tea, or sparkling water. This syrup stores well—refrigerate or freeze it so you always have a strawberry boost on hand. Ready to elevate your drinks and desserts with a fresh pop of strawberry flavor?
Why You’ll Love This Strawberry Syrup for Cocktails
Simple syrup is the backbone of many cocktails—think of it as the sugar that dissolves seamlessly into drinks. Making it with strawberries adds fresh fruit flavor and a beautiful color. It’s quick, versatile, and requires minimal equipment. Once you have this syrup ready, you can easily craft strawberry-forward cocktails like a strawberry gin mojito, a frozen strawberry margarita, or a blood orange strawberry spritz, or swap it into any recipe that calls for plain simple syrup.
Ingredients
This recipe uses only three pantry-friendly ingredients. Add optional aromatics if you want to layer flavors.
- Strawberries
- Water
- Granulated sugar
Strawberry Syrup Flavor Add-Ins
Optional additions can enhance the syrup’s profile. Add them during the simmer step and remove before straining. Ideas:
- Fresh mint leaves
- Lemon peel or zest
- Fresh rosemary
- Other herbs you enjoy
- A splash of citrus for brightness
How To Make Strawberry Simple Syrup
Step 1: Cook
Combine the halved strawberries, water, and granulated sugar in a small saucepan. Heat over medium until the sugar fully dissolves, stirring to help it incorporate. Reduce heat to low and gently mash the strawberries with a spatula or wooden spoon. Simmer for 8–10 minutes to extract the fruit flavor—avoid overcooking, which will make the syrup too thick.
Step 2: Strain
Pour the mixture through a fine mesh sieve into an airtight container, pressing gently on the solids to extract liquid without forcing pulp through the mesh. Let cool to room temperature before refrigerating or freezing.
Uses for Strawberry Syrup
This syrup is incredibly versatile. Use it to sweeten beverages, top breakfast dishes, or finish desserts. A few ideas:
- Mix a splash into sparkling or still water for a refreshing drink.
- Sweeten iced tea or lemonade—strawberry basil lemonade is especially nice.
- Stir into milk for strawberry-flavored milk or use it in recipes like strawberry tres leches.
- Drizzle over ice cream, pancakes, waffles, or French toast.
- Whisk into a vinaigrette for a fruity dressing on salads like kale and quinoa with citrus.
- Use as a finishing syrup for cheesecakes or other desserts.
- Swap in for plain simple syrup in cocktails such as frosé, gin-based drinks, tequila sours, or spritzers.
FAQs
How long does fruit-infused simple syrup last?
Cooled syrup keeps for about 2–3 weeks in the refrigerator when stored in an airtight container. For longer storage, freeze it.
Can you freeze simple syrup?
Yes. Strawberry syrup freezes well for up to 3 months. Freeze in a freezer-safe container or in an ice cube tray for convenient single-use portions; transfer cubes to a sealed bag for storage and thaw overnight in the fridge before using.
What liquor goes well with strawberries?
Strawberries pair beautifully with many alcoholic bases. Sweet sparkling wines like prosecco or rosé accentuate the fruit, while dry sparkling wine or champagne offers contrast. Neutral spirits—vodka, gin, rum, or tequila—also work well depending on the cocktail direction.
Should you stir when making simple syrup?
Stir until the sugar fully dissolves, then let the mixture simmer gently without constant stirring so the fruit can release flavor and the syrup can reduce slightly.
Can you make simple syrup with other fruits?
Absolutely. Use blueberries, raspberries, peaches, citrus, or infuse herbs and aromatics like mint, rosemary, lavender, ginger, or vanilla for variations.
Strawberry Cocktails to Try
- Sparkling Strawberry Lemon Mocktail
- Strawberry Tequila Sour
- Strawberry Peach Frosé
- Sparkling Strawberry Champagne Sangria
- Strawberry Lime Spritzers
If you make this Strawberry Syrup for Cocktails, tag me on social media—I love seeing your creations and hearing how you use the syrup.
Strawberry Syrup for Cocktails
ingredients
- 1 pint strawberries halved
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- Optional flavor additions: fresh mint leaves peel of one lemon, etc.
instructions
-
In a small sauce pot add strawberries, water and granulated sugar. Mix together and heat on medium heat until the sugar has dissolved. Reduce the heat to low and mash the strawberries together with a spatula. Cook for an additional 8-10 minutes. Do not overcook or the syrup will become very thick.
-
Strain syrup with a fine mesh sieve into an airtight container.
notes
Nutrition
Disclaimer: Nutritional values were calculated using a third-party tool and are provided as an estimation only.
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