How to Make Your Own Syrup at Home

People may instantly think of maple syrup and pancakes when they conjure up the image of syrup, but the fact is that there are many types of syrup. In essence, syrup is just a thick liquid condiment primarily constructed of sugar and water. Those sugars can come from different sources, as in maple or (horrible) corn syrup, and they can be all sorts of vibrant colors and flavors.

Furthermore, syrup doesn’t just go on pancakes and waffles, however, luxuriously, these things pair. Some syrups go in cocktails, say mint juleps and mojitos. Some syrups go into baking recipes for cakes and cookies and such. Some syrups are meant to be drizzled on ice cream or used as a flavoring for drinks. There are even medicinal syrups to help with coughs and colds.

So, if you thought this article was just about maple syrup, well, that’s whittling it down a bit too much. Making your syrup, whatever kind it may be, is easy to do. It’s a fun project. And it’s time we start getting into how we do it!

Simple Syrup

As the name suggests, simple syrup is incredibly simple to make, and it reduces syrup down to its very core: Sugar and water. In equal parts, these two ingredients are brought to a boil and heated until the sugar completely dissolves, and the liquid thickens into the desired consistency.

Simple syrup can be used as a sweetener for coffee or cocktails. It is a way of adding sugary sweetness to things without having the grittiness of sugar granules.

Herb-Infused Syrup

A good herb-infused syrup begins with an herb decoction. Whether it’s mint leaves or sassafras roots, or rose petals, a pot is filled with the hard ingredients and then topped up with water. This mixture is simmered until the liquid is reduced by about half, creating a liquid concentration of herbal flavors, and often medicinal qualities. Once the solid ingredients are strained out of the decoction, that liquid (the infused water) is used to make a simple syrup, as shown above. This methodology can be used to make cough syrups, soda flavors, or tasty sweeteners.

Golden Syrup

Source: Mr. Paul’s Pantry/YouTube

Golden syrup is much more prevalent in the UK than in the US, but it garners devoted fans. This very thick syrup has a buttery, caramelized taste that plays nicely in everything from pecan pies to oatmeal to barbecue sauce. It consists of sugar (a cup & 2 tbsp) and water (1/2 cup) brought to a boil, a la simple syrup. Then, lemon juice (2 tbsp) is added, and the trio is cooked slowly (on low heat) for about an hour. The syrup gets thick when cooled, so it’s best stored in a jar as opposed to a bottle.

Fruit Syrup

For those of us who feel slightly guilty about the pure sugariness of syrup, fruit syrups offer a tiny bit of solace, something akin to fruit pies or homemade jams. Nonetheless, they are simple to make, involve some nutrient content, and offer up flavor to what we drizzle atop the flapjacks. The basic combination for a fruit syrup starts with a cup of fruit, either fresh or frozen, some water (1/3 cup), and—of course—a good wallop of sugar (3/4 of a cup). After reaching a boil, smash the fruit, and the mixture cooks down for 10-15 minutes. For thicker syrups, stick them in a blender, or for something more liquid, strain out the fruit. This is great for healthier versions of snow cones.

“Maple” Syrup

Actual maple syrup has one ingredient: sap from a maple tree. Making it can get a little involved. But “maple” syrup is doable for the average kitchen endeavor. A cup of water, white sugar, and brown sugar each are brought to a boil. Once bubbling, reduce the heat to low and add maple extract (1 tbsp) while it simmers for a couple of minutes. That’s a quick-fix maple syrup made at home.

Real Maple Syrup

Source: MIgardener/YouTube

For those who like a good project, it is possible to make maple syrup at home if the maple trees are there to do it. The equipment involves a tree-tapping kit (around $30) and some bottles/jars to store the syrup in. The biggest challenge, however, is that it takes about 40 gallons of maple sap to make one gallon of maple syrup. Each tree produces about 10 gallons per season (about a quart worth of syrup), and it is harvested in late winter/early spring when the days are above freezing and the nights below. Once collected, the sap is boiled for hours to reduce the amount of moisture and filtered several times to remove impurities. But, all of this can be done at home.

That’s a magical six versions of syrup to make at home on your own. Of course, once fruit and herbs get into the mix, there are almost limitless flavor combinations that are possible. It can be a lot of fun, and it’s a great way to control the ingredients that go into what you are eating. Oh, yes, and don’t forget to put some vegan French toast in the mix, too!

Related Content:

• Ingredient Spotlight: Blackstrap Molasses, a Robust Syrup That is Rich in Iron and Calcium
• 5 Reasons You Should Avoid High Fructose Corn Syrup at All Costs
• Sweet or Savory, Light and Fluffy! Pour Some Syrup on These 15 Vegan Pancake Recipes

Easy Ways to Help the Planet:

• Eat Less Meat: Download Food Monster, the largest plant-based Recipe app on the App Store to help reduce your environmental footprint, save animals and get healthy. You can also buy a hard or soft copy of our favorite vegan cookbooks.
• Reduce Your Fast Fashion Footprint: Take the initiative by standing up against fast fashion Pollution and supporting sustainable and circular brands like Tiny Rescue that are raising awareness around important issues through recycled zero-waste clothing designed to be returned and remade over and over again.
• Support Independent Media: Being publicly funded gives us a greater chance to continue providing you with high-quality content. Please consider supporting us by donating!
• Sign a Petition: Your voice matters! Help turn petitions into victories by signing the latest list of must-sign petitions to help people, animals, and the planet.
• Stay Informed: Keep up with the latest news and important stories involving animals, the environment, sustainable living, food, health, and human interest topics by subscribing to our newsletter!
• Do What You Can: Reduce waste, plant trees, eat local, travel responsibly, reuse stuff, say no to single-use plastics, recycle, vote smart, switch to cold water laundry, divest from fossil fuels, save water, shop wisely, Donate if you can, grow your own food, volunteer, conserve energy, compost, and don’t forget about the microplastics and microbeads lurking in common household and personal care products!