Strawberry Simple Syrup

Y’all, this strawberry simple syrup is gorgeous! It’s a perfect way to preserve the taste of red, ripe, delicious strawberries. Use it for cocktails, mocktails, lemonade, strawberry milk, and much more!

Seriously, I can’t get over how pretty this strawberry syrup is. It’s completely natural. The color and flavor come from red, ripe strawberries. It perfectly complements drinks and desserts by adding a fresh, sweet strawberry flavor. I like making strawberry cocktails for Mama and Dada and pink strawberry milk for the kiddos. Mama might be sneaking sips of the strawberry milk. It reminds me of the powdered stuff from my childhood, but so much better!

Make this 3-ingredient strawberry simple syrup when you have plenty of fresh strawberries!

Ingredients

Use fresh strawberries for this simple syrup to make the strawberry flavor shine. Try making it with locally sourced berries at the peak of strawberry season!

Good old-fashioned granulated sugar turns the beautiful berries into a sweet syrup.

Water to form a solution and extract all the fresh strawberry flavor. 

Variation: Use Frozen Berries

You can use frozen strawberries if you can’t find fresh ones. Try freezing local strawberries for later use to ensure they’re high quality. Thaw them and follow the directions for using fresh berries. Make sure to include any juice that the strawberries lose as they thaw.

How to Make Strawberry Simple Syrup

Add the berries and sugar to a saucier or small pan. Then, use a masher to crush the strawberries into the sugar. They will release their juices and form a liquid. Then add the water and stir to combine.

Now, heat the berry mixture over medium-low and gently stir until the sugar is dissolved. It should take 5 minutes or less. Don’t boil it! Remove it from the heat and let it sit for 20 minutes without stirring.

Line a strainer with several layers of cheesecloth or a straining bag. Slowly strain the syrup into a mason jar.

Don’t stir or squeeze the cheesecloth while it strains. That will cause you syrup to get cloudy. It’s perfectly edible if it does get cloudy, but it looks so pretty when it’s crystal clear!

You can change out the cheesecloth if it gets clogged during the process.

This recipe will make about 3 cups of strawberry syrup. You can save the leftover pulp. It’s sort of like strawberry compote and is delicious when stirred into yogurt or cottage cheese!

Storage

Store in a closed mason jar in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

Freezing

Pour the syrup into ice cube trays or silicone molds and place into the freezer until frozen solid. It will take a while to freeze due to the high sugar content. Transfer the frozen cubes to a freezer-safe container or freezer bag. Then, label and freeze them for up to 3 months. Thaw the cubes in the fridge before using, or use the frozen syrup in drinks.

What to do With Strawberry Simple Syrup

There are so many ways to use strawberry simple syrup. You’ll be ready to make a second batch in no time! From crafting beverages to keeping a cake fresh, this will earn its keep in your fridge! Keep it simple by adding a splash to your favorite drinks and using it as a sugar syrup for cocktails. Check out more ideas below.

Make Crafted Cocktails and Spirits

• Strawberry Daiquiris
• Love Potion Cocktail
• Strawberry Margaritas
• 4th of July Layered Cocktail 
• Strawberry Mule
• Strawberry Spritz

Make Mocktails and Non-Alcoholic Drinks

• Strawberry Milk
• Strawberry Vanilla Frappe
• Strawberry Lemonade
• Strawberry Iced Tea
• Hibiscus and Berry Iced Tea
• Strawberry Ginger Mocktail
• Strawberry Soda

Add it to Baked Goods and Desserts

• Make strawberry milkshakes.
• Use it as an ice cream topping.
• Toss it with sliced strawberries. You can use that for strawberry shortcake or as a cheesecake topping.
• Use it in a fruit salad.
• Use it as a pancake syrup.
• Brush it over cakes and cupcakes to keep them from drying out.

More Cocktail Essentials

How to Make Classic Simple Syrup

What’s your favorite way to use strawberry simple syrup? Let me know in the comments!

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