Infuse drinks and baked goods with this easy recipe for homemade honey lavender simple syrup– easily prepared with soothing lavender buds and sweet honey.
What is Simple Syrup?
Simple syrup is a delicious sweetener that can be easily prepared by mixing equal parts of honey (or sugar) and water. Enhance it with flavors like cardamom, vanilla, citrus, or lavender. The syrup is easy to make and keeps well in the fridge for several weeks.
Key Ingredients
- Water: Use water to dissolve honey and create a tasty syrup.
- Sweetener: Simple syrup requires a sweetener of some kind, and for this recipe, we use raw honey. You can also use sugar or agave.
- Lavender: Dried culinary lavender is full of flavor– they add a fragrant, slightly sweet, and earthy taste to whatever you include them in, whether it’s syrup, tea, or baked goods. I may be biased, but I love them in our lavender-infused honey syrup.
How to Make Honey Lavender Simple Syrup
The full recipe with measurements is in the recipe card below.
Step 1: Combine honey, water, and lavender buds in a saucepan and warm it over medium heat. Stir the mixture until the sugar completely dissolves.
Step 2: Remove the pan from heat and set it aside to steep for 1-2 hours.
Step 3: Pour the mixture through a mesh strainer into an airtight container.
Expert Tips
- Use fresh petals. Check that your lavender petals are fresh and fragrant before using them.
- What ratio should I use? A classic simple syrup uses equal parts water and sweetener—like 1 cup of water and 1 cup of honey for balanced sweetness. Want it sweeter? Add more sugar. Prefer it lighter? Use less.
- Let it steep. Once the sugar dissolves, remove the saucepan from heat and let the syrup cool for 1-2 hours before straining.
If you enjoy honey lavender simple syrup, pair it with one of these coffee recipes!
How to Use Lavender Simple Syrup
Simple syrup is a versatile and easy-to-use sweetener widely used in beverage and dessert recipes. Use the honey lavender simple syrup to flavor cocktails, mocktails, and coffee drinks, and you can also use it to sweeten iced tea, lemonade, and other cold beverages.
1. Cocktails and Mocktails
Honey lavender simple syrup is a fantastic addition to cocktails. It pairs well with drinks like lavender mojitos, martinis, or lavender-infused gin and tonic. Add a splash or two of lavender simple syrup to your favorite cocktail recipe, and enjoy!
2. Coffee or Tea
You can also use lavender-flavored simple syrup to enhance non-alcoholic beverages like lattes, iced tea or coffee, and even sparkling water.
4. Baked Goods and Dessert
Use lavender simple syrup to sweeten desserts by brushing it onto cake layers or cupcakes to infuse them with flavor and keep them moist. It’s also a tasty addition to sorbet, frosting, glazes, or drizzles. Add a drop or two of the simple syrup to muffin, pancake, or waffle batter – careful not to use too much, as it can be overpowering.
What To Do With Leftovers
- Storage: Let the mixture cool and transfer it to a clean, airtight container. Store the syrup in the refrigerator for one month.
Frequently Asked Questions
What pairs well with lavender honey?
I am all about getting creative in the kitchen, and you can pair our lavender honey simple syrup with bread and pastries or enhance the flavor of tea and coffee. Drizzle a small amount of simple syrup over yogurt or oatmeal for a tasty breakfast option, or incorporate it into a glaze or salad dressing.
Why is my lavender syrup bitter?
Bitterness in lavender syrup can be the result of over-infusion or cooking the syrup for too long. Additionally, the variety of dried lavender leaves you use can alter the taste; Hidcote, munstead, and lady are less likely to become bitter.
Should I use fresh lavender leaves or dried lavender?
For crafting honey lavender simple syrup, I prefer using dried lavender. Why? Because I don’t have access to an edible lavender plant (though I should consider growing one).
However, culinary-use dried lavender offers a more concentrated flavor than fresh lavender leaves. Plus, since the leaves are dried, they store better – meaning you can always keep them on hand for delicious recipes.
What kind of honey should I use?
I use raw honey because that’s what I usually have in my pantry, and I believe in using what you have. Regular clover honey (the most widely available), wildflower, or orange blossom honey tastes delicious.
Honey Lavender Simple Syrup
- 1 cup honey
- 1 cup water
- 2 tablespoons lavender buds, culinary-grade
- Combine honey, water, and lavender leaves in a saucepan and warm it over medium heat. Stir the mixture until the sugar completely dissolves.
- Remove the pan from heat and set it aside to steep for 1-2 hours.
- Pour the mixture through a mesh strainer into an airtight container.
- Use fresh petals. Check that your lavender petals are fresh and fragrant before using them.
- What ratio should I use? A classic simple syrup uses equal parts water and sweetener—like 1 cup of water and 1 cup of honey for balanced sweetness. Want it sweeter? Add more sugar. Prefer it lighter? Use less.
- Let it steep. Once the sugar dissolves, remove the saucepan from heat and let the syrup cool for 1-2 hours before straining.