With just three ingredients and under five minutes of active work, this homemade Lavender Simple Syrup transforms everything from your morning coffee to summer spritzes with its sweet, delicate flavor.
As a former personal chef, simple syrups were one of my favorite ways to level up my cocktails and mocktails. I love how the light floral aroma of lavender blooms in this simple syrup that’s sweet but not overpowering. Whether you’re stirring it into iced tea, bottling it for your next cocktail hour, or drizzling it onto vanilla cake, this syrup adds an elegant twist you’ll love. Scroll down for the how-to, along with some creative ways to use this syrup beyond the glass.
When you’re ready for more, don’t miss my Hibiscus Simple Syrup or Strawberry Syrup next.
Jump to:
Why You'll Love This Lavender Simple Syrup 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!
What is Simple Syrup?
Simple syrup is an easy 1:1 mixture of sugar and water. When heated together, the sugar dissolves. The syrup can then be chilled and used to add to both non-alcoholic drinks and cocktails. Simple syrup can be infused with all sorts of flavors by adding herbs or spices.
Lavender Syrup Recipe 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.
How to Make Lavender Syrup
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.
How to Store Homemade Lavender Syrup
Once your lavender syrup has cooled to room temperature, you should refrigerate it. That way, it will keep for several weeks.
Lavender Simple Syrup Recipe FAQs
Culinary lavender buds are not as brightly colored as lavender flowers. That said, you can find ultra-blue lavender online—you will get a stronger color if you use those to make your lavender syrup. Otherwise, you can get exactly the color you want with a little bit of food coloring. Add tiny dots of red and blue food coloring until you find the shade you are looking for.
Yes, you can easily double this recipe! Follow the instructions as written, but double all of the ingredients.
There are two main reasons your lavender syrup might taste bitter. One is that you left the dried lavender in the simple syrup too long (leave in for an hour max!). The other is that you let the mixture of the water, sugar, and dried lavender come to a full boil. Keep it at barely a simmer for the best flavor.
Lavender extract is a liquid that is made by steeping dried lavender into alcohol (usually vodka). It can be used to flavor cakes and cookies (similar to how you would use vanilla extract), and can also be used as a cocktail ingredient. But it is quite strong and does not include any sugar. Lavender simple syrup can also be used to add flavor to both baked goods and cocktails, but it has a much sweeter, more mild lavender flavor due to the amount of liquid and sugar in it.
👩🍳 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. This Vanilla Bean Simple Syrup is fantastic in an iced coffee.
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.
And please follow along on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook or subscribe to our newsletter. We’d love to inspire you with more delicious, healthy, and seasonal recipes!
📖 Recipe
Want to Save This Recipe?
Enter your email & I'll send it to your inbox. Plus, get great new recipes from me every week!
By submitting this form, you consent to receive emails from Vanilla Bean Cuisine.
Lavender Infused Simple Syrup
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons dried culinary lavender
- 1 cup granulated sugar (220 grams)
- 1 cup water
Instructions
- 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.
- Turn off the heat, and let the syrup sit for 1 hour.
- Strain into a liquid measuring cup or jar for storage.
- Chill until cold.
Notes
Lavender Simple Syrup will keep for several weeks in an airtight container in the refrigerator. 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.
Nutrition
Instagram Users: Now that you've made this Lavender Syrup recipe, tag us @vanillabeancuisine or #vanillabeancuisine because we’d love to see your results!
More About Molly
Cooking healthy(ish) meals with seasonal ingredients is my passion. Trained as a French pastry chef, I spent over 10 years as a personal chef. Here you'll find well-tested recipes that you and your family will love!
Leave a Reply