Are you looking for an easy, delicious way to add something extra to your cocktails, mocktails, drinks, and lattes? Well, look no further! This easy homemade Lavender Simple Syrup for cocktails is quick and easy. It adds the perfect hint of floral notes and lavender flavor to your beverages, cakes, or desserts.
Packed with an amazing aroma and a slightly floral flavor from the dried lavender buds, this unique sweet, homemade simple syrup will elevate your favorite beverage!
This simple syrup recipe only requires three ingredients - sugar, water, and dried culinary-grade lavender buds. Keep reading to learn how to make this classic cocktail ingredient at home!
My vegan Blueberry Coconut Popsicles inspired this lavender simple syrup, and I love using this simple syrup in this Lavender Elderflower Gin Sour or this Meyer Lemon French 75.
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Ingredients
To make lavender simple syrup, you need a few ingredients that you already have in your pantry. Here's what you'll need:
- Organic cane sugar - this is vegan.
- Water - use a cup of filtered water for the best results.
- Culinary dried lavender - make sure your lavender is culinary grade lavender that is food grade. I got mine locally at Natural Grocers; it's fragrant and potent without overpowering, and I can use it for multiple batches. I find purchasing dried lavender simpler than harvesting fresh lavender blossoms. I grow my own lavender, but I need more flowers to make something with it.
See the recipe card for quantities.
How to make this easy homemade lavender simple syrup for cocktails
This is an easy recipe, a variation of a basic simple syrup recipe. Here are the simple steps:
Combine water, organic cane sugar, and culinary dried lavender buds in a small to medium saucepan. Heat on medium heat and occasionally stir gently until the sugar dissolves completely. Do not let the mixture boil.
Remove the simple syrup from the heat, let it sit for 30 minutes, and taste it - if you'd like it to be stronger, wait another 30 minutes, then strain through a fine mesh sieve. Repeat once or twice to capture any lavender that may have slipped through.
Let cool and refrigerate for up to 4 weeks or at room temperature for up to 1 week.
Hint: Do not let the mixture boil to avoid caramelization or crystallization.
Substitutions
- Organic cane sugar - you can use agave syrup, light brown sugar, or coconut sugar instead of organic cane sugar. The sugar color will affect the color of the lavender simple syrup. If you use white sugar, check that it's vegan-friendly and not filtered with bone char.
- Culinary dried lavender - instead, you can use organic fresh lavender blossoms; you will need 3 to 4 tablespoons; be careful of using too much lavender or the simple syrup might turn out bitter or soapy. Do not use lavender essential oil since it is generally made for fragrance and not for internal consumption.
Variations
- Add lemon juice.
- Stir in a pinch of butterfly pea flower powder for a blue hue. Add a touch of lemon juice if you want it to be purple.
How to use lavender simple syrup
Lavender simple syrup can be used in many ways, from making homemade lavender soda to sweetening cold drinks, lemonade, craft cocktails, or iced tea. Or use it to enhance hot beverages and make lavender coffee, lavender lattes, or hot tea.
Use it as syrup on top of a cake to help keep it moist and add flavor. After baking the cake, poke holes in the top with a cake tester and lightly brush on the lavender simple syrup.
Mix lavender simple syrup with lemonade for a refreshing summer drink, or add it to your latte for a sweet and floral twist. You can use it to make lavender lemonade, a lavender elderflower gin sour, a lavender martini, blueberry coconut popsicles, or add it to vegan chocolate buttercream frosting or vegan ice cream.
Equipment
- Small saucepan or medium saucepan
- Spatula
- Fine mesh strainer, cheesecloth, or a nut milk bag.
- Narrow glass bottles such as these ones. You can use a mason jar or any airtight container. Still, I prefer not to use a spoon to keep the lavender simple syrup clean and free from contamination.
Storage
Store the syrup in the fridge for up to two weeks. It will keep for up to one week at room temperature.
Expert tip
Gently heat the water and sugar. Keep the heat low to low medium to avoid boiling the mixture. Stir gently and occasionally; avoid stirring the mixture vigorously or often.
FAQ
Overboiling the lavender buds results in bitter lavender simple syrup.
Lavender extract is stronger than homemade lavender simple syrup. Lavender simple syrup is a better choice for culinary purposes and to add to beverages and cocktails.
The best lavender for cooking is lavender from the species Lavandula Angustifolia, which is culinary lavender.
Related
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
This floral simple syrup is a fun and easy way to elevate your drinks and recipes. You can create a fragrant and delicious syrup in minutes with just a few simple ingredients.
I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we did, and I can’t wait for you to try making it at home so you can enjoy it!
If you make this recipe, please take a moment to ★★★★★ star-rate it and leave a comment below. Follow me on Instagram and Facebook, and share your creation with me! Tag me @resplendentkitchen and hashtag #resplendentkitchenrecipes.
Recipe
Easy Homemade Lavender Simple Syrup for Cocktails
Equipment
- Small or medium saucepan
- spatula
- Narrow glass bottle
Ingredients
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup organic cane sugar
- 1 tablespoon culinary dried lavender buds
Instructions
- In a small saucepan, combine water, organic cane sugar, and culinary dried lavender buds.1 cup water, 1 cup organic cane sugar, 1 tablespoon culinary dried lavender buds
- Heat on medium and occasionally stir gently until the sugar dissolves completely. Do not let the mixture boil.
- Remove from the heat and let sit for 30 minutes. Taste and if needed, let sit for another 30 minutes. Strain through a fine wire mesh strainer. Let cool before storing in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 2 weeks.
Notes
Nutrition
Resplendent Kitchen offers nutritional information for recipes contained on this site as a courtesy. Although resplendentkitchen.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information from online calculators, these figures are estimates.
Colleen
We loved this lavender syrup in lemonade. Easy and versatile recipe. Thank you!
Emily
Thank you for the glowing review, Colleen! I am thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the lavender syrup recipe!
Anjali
This was such an easy syrup to make and it was so floral and aromatic! I added it to my coffee this morning and it was delicious!
Emily
Thank you for your lovely review, Anjali! I am so pleased to hear that you enjoyed making this syrup recipe and that it was the perfect addition to your coffee!
Elisa
Love this Lavender Simple Syrup recipe!! Looks it would taste delicious especially for tea and to relax. Will give it a try. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Emily
Thank you so much for your kind review, Elisa! I'm so pleased that my Lavender Simple Syrup recipe has caught your eye.
Traci
What a gorgeous recipe and so easy to make! This delicious mixture is going into the cocktail stash. Thanks for sharing!
Emily
Thank you so much for the kind words, Traci! I appreciate that you found the recipe gorgeous and easy to make. I'm so glad it is being added to your cocktail stash!