Strawberry Basil Simple Syrup

A simple syrup is both simple and extremely versatile. Easy to make, simple syrups typically consist of a base of equal parts sugar and water and then you can get creative! They can be used to flavor cocktails, coffee drinks, or even add a little something extra to a basic fruit salad. I love getting creative with syrups and with such easy and accessible ingredients, the sky really is the limit. A few weeks ago, I had a bunch of strawberries and my basil plants were exploding! I decided to combine the two and make a simple syrup to flavor some basic iced tea and quickly, my easy Strawberry Basil Simple Syrup was born.

There isn’t much to this recipe: just strawberries, basil, sugar, and water! For this recipe, I used 1/2 cup water and 1/2 cup sugar. After the sugar was dissolved, the basic simple syrup was removed from the heat and I added three sliced strawberries and a 4 large basil leaves. I left them to steep while I went out for a run (about 40 minutes) and then strained the beautiful pink liquid into a small airtight jar (I like Weck jars). The mixture will keep for 1-2 weeks in the fridge but I used mine up pretty quickly!

I love to mix flavored simple syrups in basic iced tea or add a teaspoon or two to sparkling water. They’re also fantastic in cocktails. For this particular mixture, I love 1 ounce of simple syrup mixed with 1.5 ounces of vodka and a generous splash of tonic water. Add a few slices of strawberry and a basil leaf for garnish and you’ve got an easy and refreshing cocktail.

This particular simple syrup is also great poured over fresh sliced fruit. The basil isn’t overpowering and it adds just a little hint of flavor to an otherwise basic dish. Give it a try!

5 from 1 vote

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Strawberry Basil Simple Syrup

An easy take on a classic simple syrup.

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 5 minutes

Total Time 10 minutes

Servings 2 /3 cup

Author With Two Spoons

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup water
• 4 Strawberries sliced
• 4 basil leaves rinsed

Instructions

1. In a small sauce pan, dissolve the sugar into the water over medium low heat.
2. Once the sugar is dissolved, remove the pan from the heat and add the sliced strawberries and basil.
3. Allow to steep for 30-60 minutes.
4. Drain the mixture through a fine mesh strainer and place in an airtight jar.
5. Refrigerate until ready to use. Will keep for 1-2 weeks in the refrigerator.