Made with only three ingredients and just a few minutes of active prep time, this homemade Lavender Simple Syrup adds a soft floral sweetness to coffee, tea, lemonade, cocktails, mocktails, cakes, and more.
Lavender simple syrup is one of the easiest ways to make everyday drinks feel special. As a former personal chef, I have always loved using flavored simple syrups to bring depth and balance to cocktails and alcohol-free drinks. This version has a gentle lavender aroma, a clean sweetness, and a delicate floral flavor that feels elegant without being overpowering.
Stir it into iced tea, splash it into sparkling water, mix it into lemonade, or use it to sweeten your morning coffee. It also works beautifully in cocktails and can even be brushed over cake layers or whisked into a simple glaze. The process is quick, the ingredients are simple, and the finished syrup keeps well in the refrigerator, making it a useful make-ahead recipe for entertaining or everyday sipping.
When you are ready to try more homemade syrup recipes, you may also enjoy my Hibiscus Simple Syrup, Strawberry Syrup, or Vanilla Bean Simple Syrup.
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Lavender Simple Syrup Recipe
- It uses only three basic ingredients: dried culinary lavender, sugar, and water.
- The active prep time is less than five minutes, making it an easy recipe for beginners.
- The flavor is light, floral, and summery, with just enough sweetness to enhance drinks and desserts.
- It can be made ahead and stored in the refrigerator for several weeks.
- It works in coffee, tea, lemonade, sparkling drinks, cocktails, mocktails, and baked goods.
What is Simple Syrup?
Simple syrup is a mixture of sugar and water that is gently heated until the sugar dissolves. The classic ratio is one part sugar to one part water. Once cooled, the syrup blends easily into cold and hot drinks, which makes it especially useful for iced tea, iced coffee, lemonade, cocktails, and mocktails.
Simple syrup can also be infused with herbs, spices, citrus peel, flowers, or fruit. In this lavender simple syrup recipe, dried culinary lavender steeps in the warm syrup, giving it a soft floral fragrance and a subtle lavender flavor.
Lavender Syrup Recipe Ingredients
- Dried Lavender: Use dried culinary lavender for this recipe. Culinary lavender is intended for food and drinks, so make sure the package clearly says it is suitable for eating or drinking.
- Granulated Sugar: Granulated sugar gives the syrup a clean, neutral sweetness that lets the lavender flavor shine. If you prefer, honey can be used to make a honey lavender syrup. Replace the sugar with the same amount of honey and slightly reduce the water so the finished syrup is not too thin.
- Water: Water dissolves the sugar and helps extract the flavor from the dried lavender as the syrup steeps.
How to Make Lavender Syrup
Step 1
Combine the dried culinary lavender, granulated sugar, and water in a small saucepan. Place the pan over medium heat and stir until the sugar dissolves. This should take about two minutes. The liquid should just begin to simmer, but it should not come to a full rolling boil.
Step 2
Turn off the heat and let the lavender steep in the syrup for one hour. This resting time is important because it allows the floral flavor to develop fully. After one hour, strain the syrup through a fine-mesh strainer into a liquid measuring cup or clean jar.
Step 3
Transfer the strained lavender syrup to a jar or airtight container. Let it cool, then refrigerate until cold before using.
How to Store Homemade Lavender Syrup
Once the lavender simple syrup has cooled to room temperature, store it in an airtight container or jar in the refrigerator. It will keep for several weeks when properly chilled. Always use a clean spoon or measuring utensil when serving to help keep the syrup fresh.
Lavender Simple Syrup Recipe FAQs
Dried culinary lavender buds are usually not as brightly colored as fresh lavender flowers, so the syrup may be pale rather than purple. If you want a more vivid color, you can add tiny amounts of red and blue food coloring until you reach the shade you like.
Yes. To double the recipe, simply double the dried lavender, sugar, and water. Follow the same heating, steeping, straining, and chilling instructions.
Lavender syrup can become bitter if the dried lavender steeps for too long or if the mixture comes to a full boil. For the best flavor, keep the syrup at a very gentle simmer and steep the lavender for no more than one hour.
Lavender extract is typically made by steeping dried lavender in alcohol and is used in small amounts to flavor baked goods or drinks. It is strong and does not contain sugar. Lavender simple syrup is made with sugar, water, and lavender, so it is sweeter, milder, and easier to mix directly into beverages.
👩🍳 Expert Tips
Let the lavender steep for the full hour. Straining too soon will give you a much lighter flavor. One hour gives the syrup time to develop a pleasant floral note without becoming too strong.
Do not steep for too long. Leaving the lavender in the syrup for much more than an hour can make the flavor slightly bitter.
Avoid boiling the syrup. Heat the mixture only until the sugar dissolves and the liquid barely starts to simmer. A full boil can bring out bitter notes from the lavender.
Try gentle flavor variations. Lavender pairs well with mint, rosemary, thyme, citrus, and vanilla. You can add a small amount of one of these ingredients while the syrup steeps, but keep the additions modest so they do not overwhelm the lavender.
Use extra lavender creatively. Dried culinary lavender can be added to baked goods, mixed into lavender sugar, blended into lavender salt, or infused into honey for tea.
How to Use Lavender Simple Syrup
Lavender simple syrup is a beautiful addition to both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. For a quick mocktail, add a tablespoon of syrup to a glass of ice and sparkling water. Garnish with mint, lemon, or lime for a refreshing floral drink.
You can also stir it into iced tea, hot tea, iced coffee, lattes, lemonade, or Lavender Lemonade. Because the sugar is already dissolved, it blends easily into cold drinks without leaving gritty sugar at the bottom of the glass.
For desserts, brush lavender syrup over vanilla cake to add moisture and flavor, or whisk it into a glaze for lemon shortbread cookies. The floral flavor works especially well with lemon, vanilla, berries, and cream.
For cocktails, use lavender syrup anywhere you would normally use plain simple syrup. It is especially nice with citrus, mint, gin, vodka, sparkling wine, and light rum. To make a simple lavender champagne cocktail, add a tablespoon of syrup to a coupe glass and top with prosecco or champagne. A small sprig of lavender makes a pretty garnish.
Delicious Cocktail Recipes
Simple syrups are an easy way to customize cocktails. If you are looking for inspiration, these drink recipes can help you think of creative ways to use homemade lavender syrup.
- Strawberry Mimosa Cocktail
- Blackberry Mojito
- Apple Cider Bourbon Cocktail
- Hibiscus Margarita
If you try this recipe, we would love to hear from you. Please rate this Lavender Simple Syrup recipe and leave a comment below. Your feedback helps other readers and supports the recipes shared here.
📖 Recipe
Lavender Infused Simple Syrup
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons dried culinary lavender
- 1 cup granulated sugar (220 grams)
- 1 cup water
Instructions
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Combine the dried lavender, sugar, and water in a small saucepan.
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Heat over medium heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves. This should take about 2 minutes. The liquid should just begin to simmer.
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Turn off the heat and let the syrup steep for 1 hour.
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Strain the syrup into a liquid measuring cup or clean storage jar.
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Chill until cold before using.
Notes
Storage Tips: Lavender simple syrup will keep for several weeks in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Expert Tips: Let the syrup steep for the full hour for the best flavor, but do not leave the lavender in too long. Avoid bringing the mixture to a full boil, as this can make the syrup taste slightly bitter.
Nutrition
Carbohydrates: 25g
Sodium: 2mg
Sugar: 25g
Instagram Users: If you make this Lavender Syrup recipe, tag us @vanillabeancuisine or #vanillabeancuisine so we can see your results.
More About Molly
Cooking healthy(ish) meals with seasonal ingredients is my passion. Trained as a French pastry chef, I spent over 10 years as a personal chef. Here you will find well-tested recipes that you and your family will love.
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