Do you enjoy homemade sodas, cocktails, or coffee drinks? Then you’ll want to give this easy Ginger Syrup Recipe a whirl. With just three ingredients: fresh ginger root, water, and sugar, it’s an easy fix for a delicious, refreshing syrup for ades, ales, coffees, teas, and other tasty beverages.
We love using this homemade Ginger Syrup in sparkling Ginger Ale as well as crisp Ginger Lemonade. It’s delicious drizzled over ice cream or on slices of Lemon Loaf. Be sure to give a jar as a hostess gift next time you visit friends.
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Flavored syrups are what give some of your favorite beverages their zip and zing, sweetness, and flavor. More than just sugar water, simple syrup is what fuels the fast food soda bars and what the bartender uses to give your cocktail just the right flavor.
A simple syrup is, by virtue of its name, simple to make, and a great thing to have on hand during the summer months when you want to dissolve sweetener easily in a cold drink. Ginger Syrup is handy all year-round to add bright ginger flavor to beverages.
Why Make Ginger Syrup at Home
It’s delicious. One of my kids’ favorite syrups that I make is this Ginger Syrup Recipe. It comes together in about 30 minutes and has a shelf life of a few weeks in the fridge — if the kids don’t use it up first!
It’s a great alternative to commercial sodas. Ten years ago soda was a regular thing at our house. I drank one Vanilla Coke a day and let the kids have pop on Pizza Night. Since I started making homemade syrups, we’ve quit the regular soda habit and enjoy making homemade sodas and mocktails. You can make homemade sodas with a flavored simple syrup and some club soda to meet your taste and ingredient preferences. Plus, you can choose what kind of sweetener to use: sugar, brown sugar, or honey.
Homemade tastes fresher. You can buy jars of simple syrups, but making them homemade ensures fresh flavors. We see this in my Peppermint Syrup, the ever-popular Mocha Sauce, and this simple homemade ginger syrup.
What You’ll Need for Ginger Syrup
Here’s what you’ll need to make this Homemade Ginger Simple Syrup recipe:
granulated sugar – This recipe uses sugar but you can substitute honey or brown sugar for the white sugar if you prefer. The color and flavor will be slightly different, but still, a syrup ginger-infused.
water – The basic ratio for simple syrup is to heat equal parts of water and sugar over medium heat and let it simmer.
fresh ginger root – Since you’ll be straining out the ginger root, you don’t need to peel it. Chop it, simmer, and strain. The leftover bits that you strain will be infused with sugar and while piquant, are an interesting little snack. In fact, you’re halfway to candied ginger. Fresh ginger lasts about a month so if you buy more than you will use for this recipe, be sure to freeze it, well-wrapped.
Variations: Ginger complements a number of flavors such as vanilla, lemon, or lime. Consider adding a vanilla bean or a few strips of citrus zest to the syrup as it steeps.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Here’s how to make Ginger Syrup:
In a medium saucepan, combine the sugar, water, and ginger. Bring to a low boil over medium heat, stirring to dissolve the sugar completely. Simmer for 30 minutes, uncovered, stirring occasionally.
Strain the syrup through a fine mesh sieve, pressing on the ginger to extract as much liquid as possible. Discard the solids.
The syrup will thicken as it cools to room temperature. Store the syrup in a covered jar or flask in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. Freeze it for longer storage.
Leftover Alert!
If you don’t think you’ll use up your Ginger Syrup within the 2-week time frame, freeze it in ice cube molds for perfect portions.
Ways to Use Ginger Syrup
To use: add 1 to 2 tablespoons syrup or more to taste to favorite beverages and cocktails.
- Add sweet ginger flavor to beverages such as tea or coffee.
- Homemade ginger ale is super refreshing on a hot summer day.
- Add it to fresh lemonade.
- Stir it into popsicle mix.
- Use as the sweetener in margaritas, Moscow mules, and other cocktails or mocktails.
- Drizzle on ice cream, cake, or even pancakes.
FAQs
A simple syrup made with equal parts sugar and water will last for 2 weeks covered in the refrigerator. Since ginger syrup has the addition of a fresh root, it can go bad, either molding or fermenting. If it smells off or starts to bubble, it’s time to discard it.
I freeze it all the time, especially when I make a large batch. Just divide it into portion-sized containers, chill, and freeze. To use, thaw prior to preparing your drink.
Simply substitute honey for the sugar in the recipe.
More Syrups to Make Yourself
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Ginger Syrup Recipe
Equipment
- sauce pan
- fine mesh sieve
- wooden spoon
- glass bottle with lid
Ingredients
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup water
- 2 inches fresh ginger root , peeled and chopped for ⅓ cup
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, combine the sugar, water, and ginger. Bring to a low boil over medium heat, stirring to dissolve the sugar completely. Simmer for 30 minutes, uncovered, stirring occasionally.1 cup granulated sugar, 1 cup water, 2 inches fresh ginger root
- Strain the syrup through a fine mesh sieve, pressing on the ginger to extract as much liquid as possible. Discard the solids.
- Store the syrup in a covered jar or flask for up to 2 weeks.
- To use: add 1 to 2 tablespoons syrup or more to taste to favorite beverages and cocktails. It is delicious in lemonade, ice tea, and simply added to soda water.
Notes
Nutrition
This post was originally published on July 4, 2016. It has been updated for content and clarity.
Brighid
I’m not sure if you end up with candied ginger at the end of this recipe but it’s essentially the same process to make candied ginger. In that case, the ginger syrup is a bonus by-product. Candied ginger is great to add to granola; I’ve been making a homemade version of Trader Joe’s Ginger Granola for years. And while chopping and peeling a lot of ginger is time consuming, it smells heavenly while cooking and is pretty frugal when you compare it to already prepared, small diced candied ginger.
Jessica Fisher
Well, that is really interesting. How do you get the ginger bits dried?
Brighid
You simply coat the candied ginger in granulated sugar! The original recipe that I found on the web for candied ginger bits is gone but I think this should work. A test of a couple pieces is probably a good thing first!
Jessica Fisher
Good to know. Sounds so good!
MCL
I make a fruit salad in ginger syrup that is so delicious and the fruit salad lasts day in the fridge.
Jessica Fisher
Sounds delicious!