Raspberry Simple Syrup

A raspberry simple syrup is the perfect drink addition. Use it for cocktails, mocktails, or iced tea or simply add it to water!

This homemade raspberry syrup is both tangy and sweet and the most beautiful deep red. This easy raspberry syrup is a great way to elevate your drinks to the next level.

Add it to raspberry cocktails (like a raspberry mint martini or raspberry gin sour), or simply use it to flavor cold drinks like soda water, or lemonade. It has the most beautiful color and flavor.

A simple syrup

A regular simple syrup is exactly what it sounds like – Simple, and it’s a syrup. It’s made of a mixture of water and sugar and in this case the addition of fruit. The ratio of sugar to water in simple syrup is 1 part sugar, 1 part water.

Most often this is measured in volume – 1 cup sugar with 1 cup water. Volume is less consistent than measuring in weight (there is 40g more water than sugar in a cup), but it doesn’t make much difference in a recipe like this.

The addition of the tart raspberries and lemon juice in this recipe adds a little more liquid, but as the syrup will cook for 15 minutes or so, some of the excess liquid will be reduced.

Ingredients

Find the simple ingredients for this simple syrup recipe in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post. Here is a rundown of what you will need.

• Fresh raspberries or frozen raspberries. Both work perfectly in this recipe, so if you don’t have fresh berries, definitely use frozen! They bring just as much rich raspberry flavor.
• White Sugar. Granulated white cane sugar. Avoid brown sugar as this will change the flavor.
• Water
• Lemon juice. Enhances the delicious flavor of the raspberries and helps balance the sweetness.

Method

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 first bubbles appear and the mixture starts simmering, lower heat and let the mixture simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Once it has finished simmering, balance a fine-mesh strainer over a bowl and tip in the raspberry mixture. Let it drain completely. If you want a more clear liquid, avoid pressing down on the raspberry pulp.

Let the syrup cool down to room temperature, then pour it into a clean glass jar or another airtight container.

Storage

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.

Top tip – Pour it into an ice cube tray and freeze it, so you have individual servings!

Ways to use simple syrup

• It’s amazing when used to flavor cocktails like martinis, margaritas and sangria.
• Pour a little in a glass of champagne
• Use this sweet syrup in non-alcoholic drinks too
• It’s a bit runny to add to ice cream, but it’s great in a snow cone!
• Simple syrup can also be used to brush on cake layers to keep them moist.
• You can create syrups with other fruit flavors too!

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