Basil Simple Syrup
This is the best Basil Simple Syrup for mocktails! Easy to make with 3 ingredients- fresh basil leaves, cane sugar and water, it’s sweet, aromatic and tastes like fresh cut basil. Use it to sweeten summery mocktails like this Strawberry Basil Mocktail or lemonade.
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you. Please read the full disclosure here.
Why This Recipe is So Good
- What is a simple syrup? This is a liquid sweetener made by heating equal parts water and sugar over the stove until the sugar has dissolved and turned into syrup. No more sugar crystals at the bottom of your glass! Honey can be used instead of sugar and these syrups can be infused with fruit or herbs to sweeten and flavor iced tea, lemonade, mocktails, and more!
- This basil-infused syrup is so good with any type of drink! Mocktails and lemonades are usually sweetened with some sort of simple syrup, and this fragrant basil syrup adds the perfect amount of sweetness and delicious summery basil flavor.
- It’s a great way to use up fresh basil from your garden or leftover basil from another recipe. Basil has such a delicious flavor and even though it might seem weird to add it to a sugar syrup or use it in drinks, trust me, it works! You can use the basil syrup by itself to make a basil mocktail or enjoy it with muddled strawberries to make the best Strawberry Basil Mocktail. Or make a Strawberry Basil Simple Syrup by cooking fresh strawberries with the basil and sugar.
Recipe Ingredients
Basil – Use fresh, bright green basil leaves. Roughly chop it to help infuse its herby aroma into the syrup better.
Cane sugar – or white granulated sugar sweetens the syrup. You can replace it with honey if you want to make a refined sugar-free syrup.
Water – I used filtered water.
How to Make Basil Infused Syrup
All ingredients, measurements, and instructions are in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Rinse and roughly chop fresh basil leaves. Add the herbs into a medium pot with sugar and water.
Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer over medium heat. Allow the syrup to simmer for 5 minutes, then cover the pot, remove from the heat, and allow it the steep for 30 minutes.
Strain out the basil leaves using a fine mesh strainer, then transfer syrup into a mason jar.
Use this basil syrup immediately or allow it to cool, then store in the fridge until you’re ready to use it.
Looking For More Recipes?
- Dragonfruit Simple Syrup
- Blueberry Simple Syrup
- Honey Lavender Simple Syrup
- Watermelon Mint Lemonade
- Blackberry Lemonade
If you love this recipe, leave a review and a ⭐️ 5-star rating or 📌 save it to Pinterest for later. Subscribe to The Midwest Kitchen Blog’s Newsletter for more recipes like this delivered straight to your inbox! Visit our sister site for more delicious recipes at Matcha and Kale.
Basil Simple Syrup
Equipment
- 1 Medium saucepot
- 1 Chef knife
- 1 Mason jar or an air-tight jar
Ingredients
- ¼ cup fresh basil leaves packed, 0.4 ounces
- ½ cup cane sugar or white granulated sugar
- ½ cup filtered water
Instructions
- Rinse ¼ cup fresh basil leaves really well, roughly chop then add to a small sauce pot with ½ cup cane sugar and ½ cup filtered water.
- Bring to a gentle simmer on medium heat; this takes about 10 minutes. Allow the syrup to simmer for an additional 5 minutes, then remove the pot from the heat, cover the pot, then allow the syrup to steep for 30 minutes to allow the basil flavor to infuse into the syrup.
- Strain using a fine mesh strainer into a pint-sized mason jar.
- Use immediately or store basil syrup in the fridge until you are ready to enjoy.
Notes
How To Store/ Make Ahead
Store in an air-tight container for up to 2 weeks.Tips and Tricks
- Fresh basil: I found that ¼ cup of fresh basil is enough to make a very fragrant syrup. Usually, simple syrups are made using equal ratios of water, sugar, and add-ins, but in this case, ½ cup of basil might be too strong.
- Ways to use up this basil syrup: Strawberry Basil Mocktail, sparkling water, lemonades and limeade or iced tea. Sweeten frozen desserts, popsicles, or sorbets.
