This homemade raspberry syrup is sweet, tangy, and the most beautiful deep red. It’s perfect for adding fruity flavor to cocktails, mocktails, lemonade, and iced tea, and it’s incredibly easy to make.
About this recipe
Raspberry simple syrup is one of those things that sounds fancier than it is. It’s just raspberries, sugar, water, and a little lemon juice, simmered together until the berries break down and release everything good about them. The result is a concentrated and really colorful syrup that tastes like real fruit rather than artificial flavoring. The base is a 1:1 simple syrup – equal parts sugar and water – with raspberries added and simmered for about 10 minutes to extract the flavor and color. A small squeeze of lemon juice goes in too, which brightens the raspberry flavor and keeps the sweetness from feeling one-dimensional.
Fresh or frozen raspberries both work perfectly here. I actually use frozen more often than fresh because the flavor is consistent all year round and they’re usually cheaper. No need to thaw them first either, just tip them straight into the pan.
Once strained you get a clear, deeply colored syrup with no seeds or pulp. I use it in my raspberry gin sour, my raspberry mint martini, and my raspberry cranberry mocktail – it’s one of the most useful things to have in the fridge.
Key ingredients and why
- Lemon juice: A squeeze of fresh lemon enhances the raspberry flavor and balances the sweetness. Don’t skip this, it really makes a difference.
- Fresh or frozen raspberries: Both work perfectly. Frozen raspberries are just as flavorful as fresh and often more affordable. No need to thaw them first.
- Granulated sugar: White sugar gives you a clean sweetness that lets the raspberry flavor shine. Avoid brown sugar, which will change the color and taste.
- Water: Combined with sugar in equal parts (1:1 ratio) to create the syrup base.
Method
- In a small saucepan, combine the raspberries, sugar, water, and lemon juice and place over medium heat.
- Stir as the sugar dissolves and bring the mixture to a simmer. The raspberries will break down and release their juice.
- Place a fine mesh strainer or cloth over a bowl and pour in the raspberry mixture. Let it drain completely.
- Let the syrup cool to room temperature, then pour into a clean glass jar or airtight container.
Tips
Ways to use raspberry simple syrup
- Cocktails: Use it in a raspberry gin sour, raspberry mint martini, margaritas, or sangria. It’s beautiful drizzled on top of egg white foam.
- Champagne: Pour a little into a glass of champagne or prosecco for a fruity, festive drink.
- Mocktails: Stir into club soda, sparkling water, or lemonade for a refreshing non-alcoholic option.
- Desserts: Brush on cake layers to keep them moist.
More simple syrup recipes
If you love making flavored syrups, check out more of my simple syrup recipes. Here are a few favorites:
Raspberry Simple Syrup
Ingredients
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen raspberries
- 1 1/2 teaspoons lemon juice
Instructions
- In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine the raspberries, sugar, water, and lemon juice. Bring the mixture to a simmer, stirring as the sugar dissolves.
- Once the mixture starts simmering, lower the heat right down. Let it simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Balance a fine mesh strainer over the top of a bowl and tip in the raspberry mixture. Let it drain completely.
- Let the syrup cool down to room temperature, then pour it into a clean glass jar or another airtight container.
- Fresh fruit syrup like this can be stored in the refrigerator in a sealed container for up to 2 weeks.
- For long-term storage, the syrup can be frozen for up to 3 months.
Notes
- Fresh or frozen raspberries both work perfectly. No need to thaw frozen berries first.
- For longer storage, pour the syrup into ice cube trays and freeze for up to 3 months.
- Avoid brown sugar, as it will change the flavor and color of the syrup.
- Try this syrup in a raspberry gin sour or raspberry mint martini.
Thanks for this. Tastes really good. No seeds or pulp. Just pure raspberry simple syrup.