Lavender Simple Syrup

Lavender simple syrup can be used seamlessly in cocktails, mocktails or coffee drinks. It’s easier to make at home than you think! 

Oh, lavender.

Making drinks with a homemade lavender simple syrup has been a huge life upgrade for me in the last year. I hate to sound dramatic but I seriously look forward to making it, gifting it, shaking it up in new cocktails, stirring it into my iced lattes… I could go on!

I’m a person who loves simple pleasures throughout the day and wow does this deliver. It’s especially fitting for spring because it’s a serious mood-lifter and feels very seasonally appropriate (I made a little lavender G&T situation last weekend – perfection).

This post will cover everything you need to know about making your own lavender syrup, so you can also enjoy a lovely seasonal beverage (like this lavender lemonade cocktail) at home.

Ingredients

• water
• sugar
• lavender

That’s it! Yes, really. They don’t call is “simple” just because.

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Like other similar recipes (my jalapeño simple syrup is a favorite!), you dissolve some sugar in water (1:1 ratio) and add in whatever flavor enhancer you choose. I’ve done everything from mint to rosemary to espresso beans. The options really are endless.

Tips for Making Lavender Simple Syrup at Home

While simple syrup is just as the name implies, there are a few things you need to know to make a really great final product.

Buying Culinary Lavender (food grade)

Culinary lavender is different than the type you use for things like soaps, oils or fragrance. The flavor is a bit sweeter and milder which lends itself better for cooking and baking (source). When buying lavender, you should see the words “culinary lavender” clearly on the packaging. It should at least be noted that it’s appropriate for cooking and baking . I wouldn’t recommend buying a bunch of dried lavender in it’s unpackaged form at a market or flower shop.

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Amount and Steep Time

I’ve tested different methods for making this syrup, using different amounts of lavender and varying the amount of time that it steeps in the syrup. The recipe below is my favorite variation of those tests. The flavor is strong enough to come through in a drink but not overpowering or “soapy”.

How to Remove Small Particles from Lavender Simple Syrup

The first time you make lavender simple syrup, you might notice that tiny particles can get through a fine mesh strainer. This is the nature of the product! I prefer a very clear, pure simple syrup so I prefer to run it through a coffee filter to eliminate these impurities. Works like a charm! Just make sure you do this gradually so the filter doesn’t break from the weight of the syrup.

Lavender FAQs

More Simple Syrup Recipes:

• Grapefruit Simple Syrup
• Jalapeño Simple Syrup
• Mint Simple Syrup (scroll down to the recipe card for the syrup details)

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