Cooking Tips: Use Simple Syrup for Your Fave Iced Drinks
Submitted by
Andrey Ragozin
Love a cold beverage but don't love trying to beat granulated sugar into it to get that sweet fix? Mix up a batch of simple syrup instead to sweeten iced drinks. Here are tips for cooking up a batch of cool refreshment.
The simplest simple syrup is equal parts sugar and water heated until the sugar is completely dissolved. For a richer combo that is less likely to water down your iced coffee or fresh-squeezed lemonade (or let's be honest, that margarita you've been craving), try this recipe:
Rich Simple Syrup
Combine sugar and water in a medium saucepan over high heat. Let mixture come to a boil, stirring until sugar is completely dissolved. Remove from heat and cool. Refrigerate mix. It should keep for several months.
Don't have access to a stove? You can mix equal parts of sugar and water in a glass or a bowl, just be prepared to stir for a while.
Here's a fancy, shmancy tip for cooking up some simple syrup: Try using demerara or turbinado sugar in your simple syrup. These sugars are less processed than their table sugar cousin and have a lovely flavor, though they may alter the color of your drink.
If you want to get really fancy, try this tip: infuse your syrup with your favorite herb or spice. Add 1/4 cup of cardamom or fresh ginger to the mix, let it sit for a few days and remove the solids before serving. Substitute rose water (the edible kind) for some of the water for a sophisticated addition to a wine spritzer.
Enjoy your sweet drink, tip a glass and happy sipping!
The simplest simple syrup is equal parts sugar and water heated until the sugar is completely dissolved. For a richer combo that is less likely to water down your iced coffee or fresh-squeezed lemonade (or let's be honest, that margarita you've been craving), try this recipe:
Rich Simple Syrup
- 2 parts sugar
- 1 part water
Combine sugar and water in a medium saucepan over high heat. Let mixture come to a boil, stirring until sugar is completely dissolved. Remove from heat and cool. Refrigerate mix. It should keep for several months.
Don't have access to a stove? You can mix equal parts of sugar and water in a glass or a bowl, just be prepared to stir for a while.
Here's a fancy, shmancy tip for cooking up some simple syrup: Try using demerara or turbinado sugar in your simple syrup. These sugars are less processed than their table sugar cousin and have a lovely flavor, though they may alter the color of your drink.
If you want to get really fancy, try this tip: infuse your syrup with your favorite herb or spice. Add 1/4 cup of cardamom or fresh ginger to the mix, let it sit for a few days and remove the solids before serving. Substitute rose water (the edible kind) for some of the water for a sophisticated addition to a wine spritzer.
Enjoy your sweet drink, tip a glass and happy sipping!
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