Lavender Simple Syrup

This lavender syrup has a sweet, delicate flavor and a lovely floral aroma. So easy to make, and perfect for both non-alcoholic drinks and cocktails. 

We love making simple syrups—it’s an easy way to level up your drink-making. If this recipe gets you hooked, try our Hibiscus Simple Syrup next. 

Jump to:

• Why Make This Recipe
• 🥗 Ingredients
• 🥣 Step-by-Step Instructions
• 🧐 Recipe FAQs for Lavender Syrup
• 👩‍🍳 Expert Tips
• How to Use Lavender Simple Syrup
• Delicious Cocktail Recipes
• 📖 Recipe
• More About Molly

Why Make This Recipe

• Only 3 ingredients and takes less than 5 minutes active time to make
• Light, summery flavor that pairs with all kinds of drinks
• Easy to make ahead and keep in your refrigerator for weeks! 

🥗 Ingredients

• Dried Lavender: This sometimes appears in the spice section of your grocery store. Or you can purchase dried culinary lavender online from Amazon. (Make sure whatever you buy is culinary lavender if you want to eat or drink it!)
• Sugar: We prefer granulated sugar for this recipe, but some people prefer to use honey to make a honey lavender syrup. Just replace the sugar with the same amount of honey and reduce the water slightly so that your syrup does not end up too watery. 

🥣 Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1

Combine dried lavender, sugar, and water in a small saucepan. Heat over medium, and stir until sugar is melted. This will take about 2 minutes—the liquid should just start to simmer. 

Step 2

Turn off the heat, and let the syrup sit for 1 hour. Strain into a large liquid measuring cup. 

Step 3

Transfer to a jar for storage. Chill until cold. 

🧐 Recipe FAQs for Lavender Syrup

👩‍🍳 Expert Tips

Don’t skimp on the time you let the lavender syrup steep—there’s really a big difference in flavor between straining right away and leaving the syrup to steep for an hour. That said, don’t forget about it and leave the lavender in there too long—you could cause your syrup to taste slightly bitter. 

For similar reasons, don’t let the lavender/water/sugar mixture come to a full boil. Again, it can make the syrup slightly bitter. 

Want to play with more flavors? Lavender goes well with mint, rosemary, and thyme. You could add one of those herbs as you are steeping the lavender buds. Or add in a vanilla bean. 

Want a quick idea for a holiday gift or hostess gift? Why not make a batch of lavender syrup and package in cute jars with a handmade label. You could even include a recipe on the tag for a drink you could make with the syrup.

Have extra lavender? It can be lovely in baked goods, as in these Lemon Lavender Shortbread Cookies. You can also use it in spice rubs or make it into lavender salt or lavender sugar. Try infusing honey with lavender as well, and adding it into your tea. 

Want to try more summery syrups? You can add this Watermelon Syrup to cocktails, mocktails, or even drizzle over ice cream! Or try this Rosemary Simple Syrup, lovely in iced tea and cocktails.

How to Use Lavender Simple Syrup

For a delicious mocktail, add a tablespoon of the simple syrup to a glass of iced seltzer. Garnish with a sprig of mint or a citrus wedge. Next, add it to iced tea or make it into Lavender Lemonade. It’s a lovely sweetener for coffee or tea as well. 

Other ideas include drizzling lavender simple syrup over a vanilla cake, or making an icing for lemon shortbread cookies. 

And of course, you can use it for cocktails. Replace a cocktail that traditionally uses plain simple syrup with this lavender syrup. Since lavender goes well with mint and citrus, it is particularly nice in a mojito or even just a gin and tonic.

It also makes a lovely lavender champagne cocktail: add a tablespoon of syrup to a coupe glass, then fill with prosecco or champagne. Garnishing with a sprig of lavender really adds a touch of elegance. Add some to this easy Rosé Spritzer too. 

Delicious Cocktail Recipes

We love using simple syrups in cocktails—here are a few recipes to get you inspired for how you might use your lavender simple syrup. 

If you try this recipe, we would love to hear from you! Please rate this Lavender Simple Syrup recipe and leave a comment below—your feedback is invaluable to us.

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