Learn how to make Rosemary Simple Syrup! You'll love this homemade syrup's delicious, herbal flavor, and the fact that it's so easy to make. Use it to instantly upgrade coffee, cocktails and mocktails, lemonade, tea, and so much more!
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Ginnie's Take
I love making homemade syrups! They're simple to prepare, delicious, affordable to make, and of course, perfect for sweetening all kinds of drinks and treats. I've made my basic recipe so often that I've memorized it, and I'm always experimenting with different ingredients (like juices, herbs, and spices) to create unique flavors. This Rosemary Simple Syrup is a favorite variation! It's a great way to use up leftover rosemary, and the sweet, piney flavor is simply scrumptious.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Easy + Delicious - You need just two ingredients (plus water) to make this tasty flavored syrup. It really is quite simple (and fast) to prepare, and if you're a rosemary fan, you won't be able to resist its sweet, woodsy flavor!
- Versatile - This Rosemary Flavored Syrup is surprisingly versatile! I love adding it to coffee, using it to sweeten lemonade, and stirring it into cocktails and mocktails. You can use this syrup year round, but it's especially wonderful during the holidays and at Christmas. You'll find lots of ideas below.
- Free Label - I've made a free printable label just for you! This pretty label adds a lovely touch when gifting the syrup (pair it with ingredients to make a tasty drink), and it's ideal for labeling jars in your own refrigerator, too.
Jump to:
Ingredients
You need just a few basic ingredients for this easy recipe:
- Rosemary - You will need some fresh rosemary, of course!
- Sugar - The syrup is sweetened with granulated sugar, although other sugars can also be used. Check out the Variations section below for tips!
- Water - And last, but not least, you will need water to dissolve the sugar.
This recipe is naturally vegetarian, vegan (make sure to use vegan sugar though), dairy free, gluten free, and nut free, so everyone at your table can enjoy it!
You'll Also Need
You will need a small saucepan to cook the syrup, a fine mesh strainer to remove the rosemary, and a storage container (mason jars are perfect for this!). Grab your cooking mallet, if you have one (a rolling pin works, too).
How to Make Rosemary Syrup
This Rosemary Sugar Syrup couldn't be easier to make! You'll find a detailed recipe card below, but here's a quick overview of the steps:
- Combine sugar + water. Start by combining the sugar and water in a small pot.
- Heat the syrup. Warm the sugar-water mixture over medium heat, watching closely and stirring frequently. As it heats, the sugar will dissolve, and the liquid will become clear.
- Prep rosemary. While that cooks, use a kitchen mallet to gently bruise the rosemary. If you don't have a mallet, use can use a rolling pin, or even smack the herb between your hands. Tip: Bruising the rosemary release the its natural oils, which will flavor your syrup.
- Infuse syrup with rosemary. Once the sugar-water mixture is hot, and the sugar has dissolved, remove it from the burner, then add the rosemary. Set the syrup aside to steep the rosemary and cool.
- Strain + enjoy. Run the syrup through a fine mesh strainer to strain out the rosemary. Then transfer it to a jar, cover, and refrigerate until ready to use.
So simple, right? You can easily make a batch of this delicious Rosemary Simple Syrup whenever the craving strikes. And you'll want to, because it's so delicious!
Variations
This homemade syrup recipe is fun and easy to customize! Here are some other ideas to try:
- Sugar - Replace the granulated sugar with brown sugar, honey, or maple syrup for a different flavor. You can use an equal amount of brown sugar, but for the liquid sweeteners I'd recommend using ½ cup honey (or maple syrup) + ½ cup water, or for a stronger flavor, you can use ⅔ cup honey (or maple syrup) + ⅓ cup water.
- Juices - Use lemon, orange, grapefruit, or cranberry juice instead of water (or use juice + water combo) for a fruity flavor.
- Herbs + Spices - Pair the rosemary with other fresh herbs (like thyme, mint, or basil), add a few slices of fresh ginger, mix in warm spices (such as cinnamon sticks, cloves, or cardamom), or infuse dried lavender.
- Vanilla - Stir in a teaspoon of vanilla extract for an additional layer of flavor.
How to Use
There are so many wonderful ways to use this Rosemary Infused Simple Syrup! Here are a few ideas to try:
- Coffee - Add a tablespoon or two to your morning coffee to make a Rosemary Latte. I love adding it to Iced Coffee, too!
- Tea - Use it to sweeten a cup of hot or iced tea.
- Lemonade - Mix with lemon juice and water to make the tastiest Rosemary Lemonade!
- Cocktails - Stir it into your favorite cocktails for an herbal twist. The piney flavor especially wonderful in Christmas drinks and pairs great with pomegranate and cranberry.
- Mocktails - Combine a little juice (try cranberry, pomegranate, apple, or pear) with sparkling water (or ginger beer) and one to two tablespoons syrup for a refreshing mocktail.
- Baking - Drizzle over cakes and cupcakes before decorating, or brush over fresh fruit desserts, like galettes. It's an easy way to make desserts extra moist and flavorful!
Storage
Transfer any unused syrup to an airtight container, such as a mason jar (or decorative bottle), then store in your refrigerator. The syrup will taste best when used within a couple weeks, although it can be refrigerated for up to a month.
Related Recipes
Looking for similar ideas? Try one of my other syrup recipes next:
- My basic Simple Syrup recipe is perfect for sweetening all sorts of drinks!
- For a richer flavor, try this Brown Sugar Syrup, which is just as easy to make as the classic recipe.
- This yummy Cinnamon Brown Sugar Syrup is one of the most popular recipes on Hello Little Home. It adds a warm, cozy flavor to any drink!
- You don't even need to turn on your stove to make this refreshing Watermelon Simple Syrup.
- If you're a rhubarb fan, this tasty Rhubarb Syrup is a must make.
Searching for more rosemary recipes? You'll love my cozy Broccoli Stem Soup, easy Roasted Delicata Squash, mouthwatering Creamy Pumpkin Soup, and mayo-free Herbed Red Potato Salad, too!
Printable Label
To download the free printable labels, click anywhere on the image below (or on the text beneath the image).
For best results, I recommend printing the labels on white cardstock. Attach the labels to your jars with twine or ribbon, or place them under the lid's ring. You can also print the labels on sticker paper, then adhere them right to the jars (either on the front or on the lid).
Rosemary Simple Syrup
Ingredients
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup water
- 4 large sprigs rosemary
Equipment
- Small Saucepan
- Kitchen Mallet (or Rolling Pin)
Instructions
- Combine 1 cup granulated sugar and 1 cup water in a small saucepan over medium heat.
- Cook, stirring very frequently, until sugar is dissolved and mixture is hot. (Do not boil.)
- While simple syrup cooks, place 4 large sprigs rosemary on a cutting board. Hit with a kitchen mallet a few times to gently bruise the rosemary. (If you don't have a mallet, use a rolling pin, or smack between hands.)
- When simple syrup is done cooking, remove from heat. Add rosemary, pressing down to cover in syrup. Set mixture aside for 20 to 30 minutes, allowing rosemary flavor to infuse syrup. (Taste after 20 minutes. Then proceed to next step, or continue steeping rosemary for stronger flavor.)
- Place fine mesh strainer over a bowl or large measuring cup. Strain syrup, then transfer to an airtight container with a lid.
- Refrigerate syrup until ready to use. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
