Rosemary Simple Syrup Recipe (With 3 Ingredients)

About Rosemary Simple Syrup

Simple syrup is a liquid sweetener made by dissolving sugar in equal parts water. With a neutral sweet taste, it's a perfect canvas for infusing herbs, like rosemary.

This rosemary simple syrup recipe has a sweet, herbaceous flavor with hints of mint and pine. The rosemary gives it a refreshing, earthy taste that’s both slightly savory and sweet.

Homemade syrups allow you to control the strength and flavor as well as avoid unnecessary additives and preservatives found in store-bought versions. It’s a safer and more budget-friendly option that adds the perfect touch of sweetness.

With just three ingredients and a quick simmer, it’s easy to create a batch of flavored simple syrup. For more recipes like this, try my spicy simple syrup and blackberry simple syrup.

Ingredients

• Fresh rosemary sprigs bring a unique, earthy aroma and flavor to the syrup that’s slightly piney and slightly minty. Using fresh rather than dried rosemary provides a vibrant, natural flavor without bitterness.
• Granulated sugar adds sweetness and balances the robust, herbal notes of rosemary. It dissolves to create a smooth syrup that can easily blend into drinks and recipes.
• Water is essential for dissolving the sugar and infusing the rosemary.

How to Make Rosemary Simple Syrup

Step 1: Add sprigs of fresh rosemary, 1 cup white sugar, and 1 cup water to a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer on medium heat and stir until the sugar dissolves.

Step 2: Remove the pan from the heat and the syrup steep for 10 minutes and strain. Let the syrup cool to room temperature before storing in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Serving Suggestions

Create cocktails with rosemary simple syrup. I suggest using it in gin-based cocktails to double down on the herbaceous flavor profile of each. It would also pair well with vodka cocktails. I especially enjoy this in my French gimlet and I switch out the lavender simple syrup in my lavender lemon drop martini with this herbal simple syrup as it pairs well with citrus, like lime and lemon juice.

Non-alcoholic drinks. Stir into a mocktail, lemonade, iced tea, or sparkling water for a refreshing herbal flavor.

Sweet treats. Drizzle over desserts like cake or fruit salads for a hint of sweetness and rosemary flavor.

Perfect for gift giving. The woodsy and piney flavor profile make this the perfect holiday simple syrup. Bottling syrup in a pretty glass jar makes a thoughtful homemade gift for friends and family, especially during the holidays. For more holiday syrup ideas, try my brown sugar simple syrup and cinnamon simple syrup.

Expert Tips

Fresh is best. Fresh rosemary gives a vibrant, earthy flavor, while dried rosemary can taste overly bitter.

Adjust the flavor. For a milder flavor, steep for a shorter time. For stronger rosemary notes, add a few extra sprigs or let it steep longer.

Simmer, don't boil. Heat the mixture gently with a low simmer. Stir occasionally while simmering to ensure the sugar completely dissolves, resulting in a smooth, pourable syrup.

Storage

Store in an airtight glass jar in the fridge for up to 3 weeks. Glass containers work best for syrups, as they don’t absorb flavors or odors. A mason jar or glass bottles with a lid are ideal.

Label and date the container. Labeling helps keep track of when the syrup was made to ensure you use it while fresh.

Freeze in ice cube trays. For long-term storage, pour syrup into ice cube trays and freeze. This way, you can thaw small portions as needed without compromising freshness.