Use this honey simple syrup to naturally sweeten your cocktails, mocktails, coffee, tea, and homemade salad dressings! It’s easy to make with just 2 ingredients, requires no cooking, and is ready in two minutes.
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As much as I love sugar, I get pretty excited about natural sweeteners.
Dessert is a pretty big priority in my life, so to make things a little healthier for myself I’ve tried to replace sugar with natural sweeteners like honey and maple syrup as much as possible.
One place I definitely love swapping in honey is cocktails. I find that when I drink cocktails sweetened with sugar I just don’t feel great.
That’s why I wanted to share this delicious honey simple syrup recipe with you. It is incredibly easy to make with just two ingredients and two minutes!
Honey simple syrup
What is simple syrup?
Simple syrup is a 1:1 ratio of sugar to water. The sugar is dissolved in the water using heat to create a sweet liquid that you can then use to sweeten your drinks and other recipes.
Can honey replace simple syrup?
Yes! However, because honey is thicker than simple syrup, we need to loosen it up with warm water. Once everything is mixed together, it will remain a pourable liquid that you can use in recipes.
I’m using a higher ratio of honey to water because honey is less sweet than granulated sugar. This will give us a similar amount of sweetness in a more natural form.
Why should I replace simple syrup with honey simple syrup?
Honey is a natural, plant based food that doesn’t spike your blood sugar like granulated sugar does. Sugar has a higher glycemic index than honey, which just means it raises your blood sugar more quickly.
Local, raw honey contains many nutrients that can benefit your body. We’re preserving these nutrients by mixing the honey with warm water instead of cooking it.
Ingredients
- Honey
- Warm water
How to make honey syrup
- Place honey and warm water in a mason jar, cover, and shake until combined. That’s it!
Top questions
What kind of honey should I use for simple syrup?
I like to purchase local, raw honey every chance I get. It should be a liquid, not the more spreadable kind, and not in a honeycomb.
If you can’t purchase local raw honey, you can use any liquid honey that you find at the grocery store.
How long does honey simple syrup last?
Honey never goes bad, but I would recommend enjoying this simple syrup within 3 weeks.
Do you refrigerate honey syrup?
While it’s not entirely necessary to refrigerate honey, refrigerating this syrup can increase its shelf life and make sure whatever you’re mixing it with stays cold.
Can I substitute anything for the honey?
This recipe is just honey and water, so I wouldn’t recommend substituting. If you prefer, you could make regular simple syrup with sugar.
Can I flavor this recipe?
Yes! You can infuse this simple syrup with many flavors including lemon, ginger, jalapeño, turmeric, cayenne, rosemary, and more.
To do so, simply add the extra ingredient (or any combination of them) into the honey mixture before shaking. Allow to sit for at least one hour before using to let the flavors infuse.
Tips for customizing
- You can adjust the ratio of honey to water to make it thicker/sweeter, or less thick/sweet
Use your honey simple syrup for cocktails
More easy recipes
- Cinnamon Honey Butter
- Homemade Basil Pesto
- Quick Ketchup
- Homemade Vanilla Extract
- How to Make a Flax Egg
If you make this recipe be sure to rate it, leave a comment, or tag #theliveinkitchen on Instagram!
Honey Simple Syrup
Ingredients
- ¼ cup raw honey
- 2 tablespoons warm water
Instructions
- Place honey and warm water in a small mason jar, cover, and shake until combined. Use in cocktails, iced tea, salad dressings, etc.
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