The simple syrup recipe is just boiling equal parts of sugar and water, and that’s it! Most cocktail recipes require simple syrup as an essential ingredient. But if you’ve run out of simple syrup or looking for an alternative, there are several other options you can consider. Don’t let the absence of this sugary syrup delay your cocktail-making session – let’s take you through some of the best simple syrup substitutes in cocktails.
7 Best Simple Syrup Substitutes In Cocktails
- Brown sugar syrup
- Maple syrup
- Agave syrup
- Honey syrup
- Ginger syrup
- Molasses syrup
- Date syrup
1. Brown Sugar Syrup
Simple syrup certainly is one of the best sweeteners for cocktails. But if you want to add some rich sweetness and a caramel-like flavor to your cocktail, go ahead and make brown sugar syrup at home. One of the best things about this syrup is that it can be made either thick or thin in consistency, depending on your taste. Just remember that the longer you heat your syrup, the thicker it’s going to be.
The recipe for making brown sugar syrup is very simple. You need to mix ½ cup water and ½ cup brown sugar. Let this mixture boil on medium heat. After the sugar has completely dissolved, you can turn off the heat and let the syrup cool down. But if you prefer a thicker consistency, you can simmer the syrup over medium heat for 5-8 minutes longer. There you have it, your brown sugar syrup is ready. You can add it to almost any cocktail, but it works well with cocktails that have whiskey or bourbon as the base.
Also Read: 7 Easy Cocktails To Make At Home
2. Maple Syrup
You must’ve definitely used maple syrup on your pancakes, waffles, cereals, and cinnamon rolls. Now think about it, how would you like the taste of maple syrup in your cocktails? Well, a spoonful of maple syrup is a great substitute for simple syrup and can add a vanilla-caramel flavor to your cocktail. So, if you’re looking for a cocktail syrup to enhance the flavor of your drink, go ahead and make some of this at home.
You’ll need just 4 ingredients to make homemade maple syrup – 1 cup white sugar, 1 cup brown sugar, 1 cup water, and 1 tablespoon maple extract. The recipe for maple syrup is very easy to follow. First, take a medium-sized pot and add the water and sugars in it. Keep the pot on medium heat and let the mixture come to a boil. While it’s boiling, make sure you keep stirring the mixture. After the syrup has come to a boil, you can add the maple extract to the syrup. Let the syrup cool down and then you can use it to make cocktails like Whiskey Sour, Manhattan, etc.
Also Read: 10 Best Martini Recipes
3. Agave Syrup
Agave syrup is also called agave nectar and comes from the agave plant. It is thin in its consistency and serves as a great substitute for simple syrup. This cocktail sweetener has fructose in it which can impact the flavors of your cocktail but won’t necessarily overpower it.
To make agave syrup at home, you’ll need just two ingredients – 1 cup agave nectar and 1 cup hot water. Take a saucepan and combine equal parts of agave nectar and hot water. Stir this mixture well and let it boil on medium heat. After the syrup comes to a boil, you can keep the saucepan aside and let the syrup cool down. You can use it to sweeten classic cocktails like Margarita, Lemon Drop, etc.
4. Honey Syrup
Picture credit: UnsplashOne of the best alternatives for simple syrup is honey syrup. In fact, there are several classic cocktails that demand honey syrup as a key ingredient. It’s known to have more depth than simple syrup, which means its subtle notes will add to the overall complexity of your cocktail.
If you’re making honey syrup at home, you’ll need ½ cup honey and ½ cup water. The procedure to make this syrup is very easy. Take a pot and add equal parts of honey and water to it. Let the mixture heat over medium flame and make sure it comes to a boil. Then, simmer it until the honey gets dissolved. Once that happens, you can keep the pot aside and let the syrup cool down for later use. You can use honey syrup for cocktails like Bee’s Knees, Old Fashioned, Gold Rush, etc.
Also Read: 7 Long Island Iced Tea Recipe And Variations
5. Ginger Syrup
A vast amount of cocktails have ginger as an important ingredient. If you need another substitute for simple syrup, ginger syrup can be one of your best bets! Along with being an excellent sweetener for tea and coffee, it’s equally great in cocktails. Ginger syrup has subtle vanilla and spicy flavors that can make your cocktail taste better.
To help you make ginger syrup at home, we’ve come up with a quick and easy recipe for you. You’ll only need 3 ingredients to make this syrup – ¾ cup thinly sliced and peeled ginger, 1 cup sugar, and 1 cup water. Take a medium-sized saucepan and add the water, sugar, and sliced ginger to it. Make sure that you keep it on medium heat and let the sugar dissolve. Keep simmering the mixture, and after it boils, strain it into a mason jar. Let the ginger syrup cool down and then you can use it for cocktails like Moscow Mule, Hot Toddy, Penicillin, etc.
Also Read: How To Make Classic Irish Coffee
6. Molasses Syrup
Another natural sweetener you can use as a substitute for simple syrup is molasses syrup. It’s best for darker drinks and adds an intriguing depth and complexity to your cocktail. Since molasses is very thick, you can soak 1 cup of molasses in 1 cup of hot water so that it softens a little bit.
If you’re making molasses syrup at home, you’ll need ½ cup of molasses (soaked in warm water and softened), ½ cup water, 1 cinnamon stick, 2 cloves, and 2 allspice berries. Before you start making the syrup, you need to lightly crush the spices. Let all the ingredients warm in a pot over medium heat and make sure that the molasses is dissolved. After that, you can keep the syrup over the heat for 10 minutes more and then take it aside for cooling. You can strain the syrup in a container and then use it for your cocktails like Molasses Bourbon Sour, Ginger Snap, etc.
Also Read: 7 Best Scotch Cocktails You Don’t Want To Miss
7. Date Syrup
Many bartenders have embraced date syrup as one of the best simple syrup substitutes. It is a thick syrup and adds a sweet and caramel-like flavor to your cocktail. Date syrup can be made with just 2 ingredients at home, so you should definitely give it a try! If you’re making date syrup, it’s best if you use Medjool dates as they’re soft and tender, so extracting maximum flavor from them is easy. Apart from that, the other ingredient you need is water.
To make the syrup, you need to take 2 cups of finely-chopped Medjool dates and let them soak in hot water for 20 – 30 minutes. After that, you can drain them, add them to a saucepan with water and boil the mixture. Make sure that you keep simmering it after the mixture reaches a boil. Then, strain it through a cheesecloth bag to collect the liquid. Your date syrup is ready! If you prefer a lighter consistency, you can warm the syrup over medium heat until it reaches the consistency you like.
Summing Up
These were some of the best simple syrup substitutes in cocktails. So, next time you want to improvise a cocktail, try using any of the syrups mentioned above. Depending on the type of cocktail you’re making, you can easily substitute simple syrup with your favorite sweetener and tweak the recipe. Try making these cocktail syrups at home and thank us later!
FAQs
Can You Use Honey Instead Of Simple Syrup In Cocktails?
Honey syrup can be used instead of simple syrup in cocktails. It adds a strong flavor, sweetness, and complexity to your cocktail.
What Is A Healthy Substitute For Simple Syrup?
Honey syrup, agave syrup, and date syrup are some of the best substitutes for simple syrup that are healthy.
What Can I Use To Sweeten Cocktails?
You can use the following cocktail syrups to sweeten cocktails:
- Brown sugar syrup
- Maple syrup
- Agave syrup
- Honey syrup
- Ginger syrup
- Molasses syrup
- Date syrup
Is Agave And Simple Syrup The Same?
Agave syrup is made from agave nectar that is obtained from the sap of an agave plant. Simple syrup, on the other hand, is made from refined white sugar. So both agave and simple syrup are not the same. But you can use agave syrup as a substitute for simple syrup as it acts as a great sweetener to your cocktails.
What Can I Use Instead Of Agave In Margaritas?
You can use simple syrup, honey syrup, or maple syrup instead of agave in Margaritas.
How Do You Sweeten A Bitter Cocktail?
If you want to sweeten a bitter cocktail, you can use rich simple syrup instead of simple syrup as your sweetener. It’s made with 2 parts of sugar and 1 part of water and so has more thickness and sweetness compared to simple syrup.
What Is The Difference Between Simple Syrup And Triple Sec?
Simple syrup is made with equal parts of sugar and water, whereas triple sec is an orange-flavored liqueur that is known to have at least 20-40% ABV.
What Cocktails Use Agave Nectar?
The following cocktails can be made using agave nectar:
- Margarita
- Lemon Drop
- Sidecar
- Cosmopolitan
- Mojito
