Raspberry Simple Syrup

Once you see on easy it is to make your own homemade Raspberry Simple Syrup, but you’ll be trying other flavors too.  I'll show how, with just 3 simple ingredients, to make this yummy raspberry syrup. In the end, you’ll have a delicious way to flavor your cold drinks or add a little more flavor and joy to your pancakes or pound cake. 

This year I discovered the wonderful world of flavored simple syrups.  I’ve made regular simple syrup plenty of times to flavor cakes or for lemonade, but this year it occurred to me that I could use fresh fruit to make delicious fruity simple syrups that can be used in drinks and on food.

Since I love Oregon raspberries I knew I had to make this raspberry simple syrup.  Local raspberries are incredibly sweet, so if you can’t get local berries I recommend using frozen raspberries which are picked at the peak of ripeness and quickly frozen.

What is Raspberry Simple Syrup

So let’s start with the basics.  A classic simple syrup recipe is usually made with equal parts water and granulated sugar. The mixture is typically heated just until the sugar dissolves which creates a sugar syrup that can be used to sweeten and flavor a variety of drinks and food.

Raspberry simple syrup is the same as simple syrup except we’re using fresh or frozen raspberries in addition to sugar and water. We’re letting the berries steep for a few minutes to draw out as much flavor and color as possible. The final syrup has a bright fruity fresh raspberry flavor with just the right amount of sweetness. Plus it’s so much better than any store-bought syrup.  Not only does it taste better, but you know exactly what you’re consuming.

In addition to raspberry simple syrup I’ve also made a blackberry simple syrup, which just may be my favorite to date; and a strawberry simple syrup which was great in this homemade strawberry soda.

Ingredients You'll Need for Raspberry Simple Syrup

Here are the ingredients you'll need for the easy simple syrup:

• Fresh Raspberries: Since this recipe is all about the raspberries use fresh local raspberries.  My preference is for fresh berries, but frozen raspberries which are usually picked and frozen at the peak of flavor will also work for this recipe.
• Granulated Sugar: Make sure to use granulated sugar and not powdered sugar. 
• Water: Use distilled or bottled water for the best flavor.

Full ingredients, measurements, and instructions are in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

How to Make Raspberry Simple Syrup

I really enjoy making my own simple syrup.  It’s not only easy, but I love the flavor and experimenting with other flavors.  If this is your first time making flavored simple syrup, I hope you’ll try out my other flavors, like strawberry or lemon, or try your own experiments with different flavors.

Step 1: Clean the container for the raspberry simple syrup by washing it with soap and hot water, and thoroughly rinsing it. Next, pour boiling water into the container twice to ensure it is thoroughly clean.  

Step 2: Wash the raspberries, by placing them in a colander and spraying them with cold water.  Remove any stems any raspberries that have mold on them.

Step 3: Place the raspberries, water, and sugar together in a 3 or 4-quart saucepan.

Step 4: Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat making sure the sugar dissolves and then reduce the heat to low and let it simmer.

Step 5: Remove the saucepan from the heat, cover it up with a lid, and let it steep for 15 minutes to draw out the most flavor from the raspberries.  

Step 6: Pour the warm raspberry syrup through a fine-mesh sieve (aka strainer) into a medium-sized bowl.  Don't press the berries.  You don’t want the raspberry solids in the simple syrup.   

Step 7: Let the simple syrup cool to room temperature before storing it in a clean glass jar.

The final syrup will have a beautiful jeweled tone clear color and a sweet fruity raspberry flavor.

How to Use the Raspberry Simple Syrup

• Use this raspberry simple syrup for cocktails or add club soda for delicious homemade strawberry soda.  Or combine it with a spicy ginger beer for a very refreshing treat.
• Combine it with fresh lime juice for raspberry limeade
• Use to flavor and sweeten iced tea or hot tea.
• Use it to brush cake layers with a silicone brush to add raspberry flavor to the cake and to help keep the cake layers moist

How to Store the Raspberry Syrup

Unlike plain simple syrup (sugar and water)  homemade raspberry syrup has a shorter shelf life. While store-bought syrup lasts longer, there are lots of ways to maximize your homemade raspberry simple syrup's life span.

• Use an airtight container. While you may be tempted to use any type of container, I highly suggest going with a sealed glass jar. Glass canning jars really are best.
• Clean the container well. Be sure to thoroughly wash the container you plan to use for storage. I'd suggest going as far as washing the glass jar with dish soap, then emerging it in a boiling water bath for a few minutes before adding your tasty raspberry syrup.
• Freeze the simple syrup. A great way to prolong the life of the simple syrup is to freeze it in either a single container or in an ice cube tray.  Use the ice cubes to chill and flavor your favorite drinks.

Pro Tips for Making This Simple Syrup

• When selecting the raspberries use raspberries that have a naturally sweet flavor with a little bit of tartness.
• Discard raspberries that are moldy or have white fuzz on them.  The mold is not good for you 
• If there are white spots on the raspberries, that is most likely due to sun exposure or excessive sunlight.  The berries are still safe to eat.

Recipe - Frequently Asked Questions

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Raspberry Simple Syrup

5 from 2 votes

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes minutes

Cooling Time: 1 hour hour

Total Time: 1 hour hour 30 minutes minutes

Take your drinks, cocktails, and desserts to the next level with this homemade raspberry syrup. Made with only three ingredients it's the perfect way to infuse your drinks and food with an all natural and delicious fruity flavor

Servings: 7

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Course: Drinks

Cuisine: American

Author: Cheryl Norris

Ingredients

• ▢ 10 ounces (300) grams fresh raspberries
• ▢ 1 cup (240 ml) distilled or filtered water
• ▢ 1 cup (200 grams) granulated sugar

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Instructions

• Place a 2 or 4-cup measuring cup with a fine mesh strainer next to the stove.
• Wash the raspberries. Place them in a colander and spray them with water. Remove any leaves and any raspberries that have mold on them. If raspberries are moldy it will typically be a white fuzz.
• Place the raspberries, water, and sugar in a 3 or 4-quart saucepan. Stir together until the sugar starts to dissolve. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low heat and let it simmer for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes remove the saucepan from the heat, and let them steep for 15 minutes. (Simmering and then steeping the raspberries will further break down the raspberries and draw out more color and flavor.)
• If you want a thicker syrup for pancakes or waffles, bring the mixture to a boil then reduce the heat to medium and let it cook until the syrup is reduced by one-third. Remove the syrup from the heat source and let them steep for 15 minutes.
• Strain the raspberries through a fine mesh strainer into a medium-sized bowl, separating the raspberries from the liquid. Do not press against the raspberries. You do not want the raspberry pulp in the raspberry syrup. Let the raspberries drain for 15 minutes. The syrup should be dark red and look clear.
• Let the raspberry cool to room temperature. Pour the syrup into a clean glass jar or container with a lid and store it in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. The syrup can also be frozen in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months or as ice cubes that can be added to drinks.

How to Use the Raspberry Simple Syrup

• This syrup is great for drinks and cocktails. Add 2-4 tablespoons to your drinks depending on the other ingredients. Add about 2 tablespoons to a glass of iced tea for a nice fruity flavor. To add raspberry flavor to your layer cake, brush the layers with the cooled raspberry syrup right before you frost the cake.

How to Make Raspberry Ice Cubes

• Refrigerate the raspberry syrup overnight. Pour the syrup into an ice cube tray and freeze. Add the raspberry ice cubes to your favorite drinks or cocktails.

Notes

Raspberries: For the best flavor make this syrup with in-season raspberries or frozen raspberries if making this syrup before or after raspberry season.

Ingredient Amounts: For the sugar and water I’m using near equal amounts of water and sugar by weight. This will be a little different than some of my other simple syrup recipes as I have learned more about simple syrups since then.

Optional Lemon Flavor:  To add citrus flavor to the raspberry syrup, add three lemon slices to the raspberry mixture after the saucepan is removed from the heat.  Let the lemon slices sit in the syrup for 15 minutes.  Discard the lemon slices after straining the syrup.

Nutrition

Calories: 49kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 0.5g | Fat: 0.3g | Saturated Fat: 0.01g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.03g | Sodium: 2mg | Potassium: 61mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 13IU | Vitamin C: 11mg | Calcium: 11mg | Iron: 0.3mg

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