Raspberry Simple Syrup

Your favorite drinks and baked treats deserve an extra touch of fresh fruit flavor with this homemade raspberry simple syrup recipe! Prepared with just three simple ingredients, this fresh raspberry syrup couldn’t be easier to make, and you can use it in so many different ways. If you can’t get enough raspberries in your life, make sure you keep a jar of this simple syrup in your refrigerator at all times — you’ll reach for it over and over again.

Jump to:

• What Is Simple Syrup?
• Why You’ll Love This Recipe
• Ingredients
• Step-by-Step Instructions
• How to Use Simple Syrup
• How to Store and Freeze
• Recipe FAQs
• Variations
• Expert Tips
• Perfect Pairing
• Get More Simple Syrup Recipes
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What Is Simple Syrup?

Simple syrup is a liquid sweetener made by boiling together water and sugar. Muddling or stirring sugar can leave a grainy texture in cold drinks, but a simple syrup perfectly sweetens a beverage and blends in seamlessly, thanks to the sugar dissolving from the boiling process.

Classic simple syrup is a 1:1 ratio of sugar and water. However, a rich simple syrup, which is sweeter and thicker, features a 2:1 ratio. We're sticking with the classic ratio here.

In addition to water and sugar, you can easily infuse simple syrup to make your own customized flavor. Making my own simple syrups is one of my favorite ways to put a unique twist on a cocktail, so if you enjoy making drinks at home, it’s worth your time to learn the basics of making a simple syrup.

These are a few of my favorite homemade syrup recipes. 

• Ginger simple syrup
• Blackberry simple syrup
• Cherry simple syrup
• Spiced cranberry simple syrup
• Gingerbread simple syrup
• Brown sugar-chai simple syrup

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Loaded with fresh, sweet raspberry flavor: This syrup tastes just like the real fruit — I won’t blame you if you want to sip it by the spoonful. Just a touch of this raspberry simple syrup instantly elevates any drink. 

Superior to store-bought syrup: We only use real ingredients — no fake extracts or weird chemicals here. A recipe is only as good as its ingredients, and you’ll craft a much better cocktail with real raspberry syrup.

Easy as can be: Whipping up your own homemade simple syrup couldn’t be easier. If you can boil water, you have the skills to make this syrup. 

Make-ahead preparation: Making drinks for a party? You can make this syrup well ahead of serving time for easy entertaining. In fact, I recommend it. That way, the syrup has time to chill. 

Ingredients

Raspberries: You can use fresh or frozen raspberries. I prefer fresh raspberries, but frozen fruit goes into the freezer at its peak ripeness, so you’re still getting that fresh flavor if you use frozen berries. If you go that route, there’s no need to thaw.

White sugar: This is the typical sweetener for simple syrup and allows the raspberry flavor to shine, but you can play with other options. Honey, for instance, would make a lovely syrup for the spring.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Our first step is to add those tart raspberries, white sugar and water to a small saucepan and boil the mixture over medium-high heat (photo 1). As the syrup heats, we want to stir it every now and then. This helps the sugar dissolve.

Step 2: Once the raspberry mixture comes to a boil and the sugar dissolves, we turn off the heat, mash the raspberries and let the syrup steep for 15 minutes (photo 2). I love to crush the raspberries and give them a little time to steep for even more fruity flavor.

Step 3: After steeping, we’re ready to strain the raspberry simple syrup in a fine-mesh sieve or strainer with a bowl or measuring cup underneath to catch the liquid (photo 3). While straining, I like to press down on the berries with a spoon to get all that syrupy goodness.

All that’s left is to allow our sweet syrup to cool to room temperature, and we’re ready to make some raspberry-flavored drinks and more. It couldn’t have been easier, right?

How to Use Simple Syrup

Cocktails and other drinks are the most common use for simple syrup. All it takes is about 1 ounce for each drink to add the perfect berry touch.

But don’t think you just have to save this simple syrup for drinks. As promised from the beginning, this homemade raspberry syrup is truly a versatile recipe. Here are plenty of ways you can make the most of this syrup.

Mix raspberry cocktails: Use it for even more berry flavor in my raspberry daiquiri, raspberry mojito, raspberry martini and raspberry margarita, or you can replace regular simple syrup to make a raspberry-flavored French 76, Boston sour, Dirty Shirley or tequila lemonade.

Flavor your latte and tea: Who doesn’t love raspberry iced tea? It adds such a fresh flavor. 

Make homemade sodas: You can get fancy and make an Italian soda or go simple and mix the raspberry syrup with club soda. Doesn’t a homemade raspberry soda sound refreshing?

Brush onto cake layers: This adds both flavor and extra moisture. 

Drizzle, drizzle, drizzle: Add a drizzle to your yogurt parfait, oatmeal, fruit salad and ice cream sundae. 

Serve with weekend brunch: Mix it with some maple syrup for your pancakes and waffles. Alternatively, you can add a cornstarch slurry for a thicker syrup if you purely want to use this recipe for pancake syrup.

How to Store and Freeze

You should store this simple syrup in a sterile, airtight container in the refrigerator. If stored properly, it should last two to three weeks.

You know it’s time to whip up a new batch when the syrup starts to turn cloudy. Of course, I’d be shocked if it lasted that long. After one taste, you’ll want to add this to all your drinks.

That said, you can freeze simple syrup if you need a little extra longevity. I recommend freezing the syrup in 1-ounce quantities in an ice cube tray.

Make sure you use an ice cube tray with a cover. If you don’t have an ice cube tray cover, let the cubes freeze until solid and then move them to a freezer-safe bag. For best results, freeze the syrup for up to three months. 

Recipe FAQs

Variations

This raspberry simple syrup is perfect as is, but you can put your own touch on it. Here are just a few ideas. 

• Boil and steep with a big knob of fresh ginger or several sprigs of herbs — mint, basil and rosemary are especially great.
• Stir in 1 tablespoon of dried lavender and cook as directed.
• Add 1 teaspoon of real vanilla extract or a split vanilla bean.
• Use other fruits, such as blackberries, strawberries or blueberries.
• Infuse citrus flavor with 1 teaspoon of freshly grated orange, lime or lemon zest.
• Give it a spicy kick and infuse it with jalapeño or habanero.

Expert Tips

Use a potato masher to crush the raspberries: This is the quickest and easiest way to crush all those berries at once. If you don’t have a potato masher, a fork will work.

Store in a squeeze bottle: While you can certainly use a glass jar, a squeeze bottle keeps the mess to a minimum when mixing cocktails. Plus, it’s more efficient if you’re making multiple drinks at a time.

Keep an eye on the mixture when boiling: It doesn’t take long for this syrup to come to a boil, so don’t turn your back on it. As soon as it boils, we want to turn off the heat right away to maximize our output in this batch.

Use a funnel: When transferring from the measuring cup to your storage container, a funnel prevents us from accidentally spilling that precious fresh fruit syrup. We wouldn't want that.

Perfect Pairing

If you’re sipping a raspberry drink, what could be better than a raspberry dessert? These mini raspberry mojito pies are your perfect accompaniment.

You’ll also love it with a fruity salsa and some light fish tacos. Start with my mango-habanero salsa and pineapple pico de gallo, and then enjoy a big plate of these blackened salmon tacos or lobster tacos with a side of coconut rice.

For the perfect burst of fresh flavor, you will fall in love with this raspberry simple syrup recipe. No matter how you use it, this syrup with its fresh raspberry flavor is sure to become a staple in your kitchen. 

Cheers!

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