Flavored simple syrup is a great way to elevate your favorite drinks and desserts and making simple syrup at home couldn’t be easier. Tart and bright, cranberry simple syrup jazzes up everything from my morning cup of tea to some of my favorite classic cocktails. With just three ingredients cranberry simple syrup is easy to make and perfect for the holiday season.
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What is Simple Syrup?
Simple syrup is a combination of sugar dissolved in water. Traditional simple syrup is an equal parts 1:1 of sugar and water. Thin simple syrup is less sweet with a less viscous texture with a 2:1 ratio of water to sugar. Thick simple syrup is 2 parts sugar to 1 part water with a sweeter flavor though you may have to worry about crystallization. You can use use a variety of sugars to change the dynamics of your simple syrup. Granulated white sugar makes a good standard simple syrup but you can also use demerara sugar, honey or coconut sugar to suite your tastes.
How to use Cranberry Simple Syrup
You can use cranberry simple syrup anywhere you’d like to add a bit of slightly tart sweetness and a pop of vibrant color. Add cranberry simple syrup to your favorite hot or iced tea, or use it make a cafe-style latte or cranberry white hot chocolate. You can also use cranberry simple syrup to make a number of delicious cocktails like my Cranberry Old Fashioned and Cranberry Orange Whiskey Sour or drizzle cranberry simple syrup over cake or ice cream.
Ingredients for Cranberry Simple Syrup
- fresh cranberries
- water
- sugar
How to Make Cranberry Simple Syrup
In a medium saucepan combine sugar, water and cranberries. Simmer for 10-15 minutes or until the sugar has dissolved and the cranberries have popped. Strain out the cranberries (these syrupy cranberries make a great jam or compote for desserts!) and transfer the simple syrup to a clean glass jar (I absolutely love these adorable tulip jars!). Cranberry simple syrup can be stored at room temperature for one week or in the refrigerator for up to a month.
If you like this Cranberry Simple Syrup be sure to take a look at some of my other recipes!
Cranberry Sauce with Apple Cider
If you make this Easy Cranberry Simple Syrup please be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Be sure to follow me on Facebook and Pinterest for my latest recipes. Also, if you do make this recipe please tag me on Instagram, I’d love to see what you guys are making!
Easy Cranberry Simple Syrup
Equipment
- medium saucepan
- mesh strainer
- glass jars
Ingredients
- 1 12 oz bag cranberries fresh or frozen
- 1 ½ cups water
- 1 cup sugar
Instructions
- Combine water, sugar and cranberries in a medium saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Simmer for 15 minutes or until sugar is fully dissolved and cranberries have popped and softened.
- Pour the mixture through a fine mesh strainer. Transfer the syrup into glass containers and serve as desired.
Notes
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nancy says
this cranberry infused simple syrup is awesome for cocktails
Adena says
How can this longer than a month? Can you water bath can the syrup?
Brianna Simmons says
I usually make simple syrup in smaller batches as needed. If kept too long there is a chance of mold growing in the sugary syrup. I read that you can also freeze simple syrup but I personally have not tried that.
Kathleen says
I fid if I add a 2 tablespoons of Vodka to the syrup I can get it to go longer before getting moldly
Eva Berzins says
Easy recipe for a tasty cranberry simple syrup to make my party drinks tasty and pretty in pink.
Wendy Pleasants says
Taste great but mine looks thicker than these pictures. Should I have done something different?
Brianna Simmons says
I’ve found some cranberries naturally have more pectin and that can result in a thicker consistency with your syrup. It should still integrate well with your drink, or you could also try thinning it out b stirring in a little water, try 1 teaspoon of water at a time until you get the consistency you’d like. Thank you for trying my recipe 🙂