Three simple ingredients is all you need to make this Lime Simple Syrup and you won’t believe how much you will use it. From margaritas to fruit salad, this simple and delicious recipe will soon be your new secret ingredient.
What is Simple Syrup?
Simple syrup is a liquid sweetener that flavors a number of cocktails, fruit salads and other recipes. It starts with one part water and one part sugar.
To make a delicious homemade simple syrup there are a few things to remember. First of all, you will need to heat the water warm enough to dissolve the sugar into the water but it doesn’t have to boil.
The other thing to think about is that although the recipe is 1 cup of both water and sugar, you will not end up with 2 cups in the end. Once the sugar is dissolved, it will give you about 1 1/2 cups of simple syrup.
Ingredients Needed for this Recipe
- Granulated Sugar- It will give you the perfect sweetness.
- Water- Combined with the sugar it gives you a delightfully sweet mixture.
- Fresh Lime Juice & Lime Zest- Using fresh lime juice and zest gives it a fresh flavor that would be hard to get from lime juice in a jar.
See recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Variations
Instead of adding lime to the simple syrup recipe try using a different citrus fruit. You can also make a key lime syrup by using fresh key limes.
Orange Simple Syrup- Make the same recipe but substitute orange juice and zest for the lime.
Lemon Simple Syrup- Use the same combination of water and sugar with the addition of lemon juice and zest.
Lemon-Lime Simple Syrup- Use a combination of lemon and lime juice in this recipe.
How to Make Lime Simple Syrup
1.Combine sugar and water in a medium saucepan and place on a burner over medium heat. In the beginning you can see the sugar granules in the bottom of the pan.
2. After some time over the heat and a little whisking, the sugar dissolves into the water and the mixture will be clear and not cloudy. That is how you know when it is done.
3. Once the sugar has dissolved completely, pour the sticky syrup into another container and let it cool completely. NOTE: If you add the lime juice and zest while it is warm it changes the taste of the citrus.
After about 30 minutes, add the juice and zest of one lime and stir. Feel free to add a bit more juice if you prefer a strong citrusy flavor. Now the mixture is ready to use.
Uses for Simple Syrup
- Combine with tequila, orange liqueur, lime juice and fresh ice in a cocktail shaker for a fabulous margarita recipe.
- To make non-alcoholic drinks mix with club soda or iced tea.
- Add to sparkling wine for a fabulous wine spritzer.
- Top fruit salad with it for an extra special touch.
- Drizzle over a store bought pound cake with fresh strawberries and whipped cream.
- Pour over the top of vanilla ice cream.
Expert Tips
- Choose brightly colored fresh limes without any brown spots. It will give the end product a deep flavor and gorgeous color.
- You do not need to boil the mixture. It will only take a few minutes on the stove top while whisking to get a great end product.
- If you prefer to not have any zest in the mixture but still want the taste, use a fine-mesh strainer to remove it. Adding it for even a short amount of time will enhance the flavor.
- For a plain simple syrup use the same recipe minus the addition of the lime. Doing so will give you a more versatile sugar syrup.
- Store in a good airtight container like a mason jar. This will ensure that the syrup lasts for weeks.
Recipe FAQs
I suggest keeping it in a glass jar with a lid {or another airtight container} in the refrigerator.
When it is stored well in a good air-tight container this syrup will last for up to one month.
While both can be used as a cocktail mixer, lime cordial gives you a sour and tart lime flavor instead of the sweetness you get from lime syrup.
You can purchase simple syrup from the grocery store in the cocktail aisle. However, this recipe is so simple that you can make your own easily.
The great part about making your own is that you can flavor it with whatever you like for a fun twist.
Do you love lime? Try these recipes…
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Lime Simple Syrup
Ingredients
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large lime {juice & zest}
Instructions
- Combine the water and granulated sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat. Cook and whisk until sugar is dissolved. Note: The mixture will be clear and not cloudy.
- Remove from heat and pour into another heat proof container to cool for 30 minutes.
- Once the mixture is cooled, add lime juice and lime zest. Stir to combine. Store your lime simple syrup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a month.
Video
Notes
- Choose brightly colored fresh limes without any brown spots. It will give the end product a deep flavor and gorgeous color.
- You do not need to boil the mixture. It will only take a few minutes on the stove top while whisking to get a great end product.
- If you prefer to not have any zest in the mixture but still want the taste, use a fine-mesh strainer to remove it. Adding it for even a short amount of time will enhance the flavor.
- For a plain simple syrup use the same recipe minus the addition of the lime. Doing so will give you a more versatile sugar syrup.
- Store in a good airtight container like a mason jar. This will ensure that the syrup lasts for weeks.
Nutrition
