How to Make Syrup

Syrup adds a shot of flavor to desserts and drinks.

Whether you want maple syrup to pour over waffles, a simple syrup to brush cake layers with or a fruit syrup to add the final touch to ice cream or custard, consider making your own. The process is easy and once you know the basic method you can vary the flavors to suit any occasion.

Things You'll Need

• Sugar
• Water
• Flavoring (anything from fruit to chocolate to flavored oil extracts)

Instructions

1. Learn to make a basic syrup to which you can add an infinite variety of ingredients to customize it to the occasion at hand. The general rule is to use 2 parts of sugar to 1 part of water, stirring them together in a saucepan and bringing to a slow boil. Allow the liquid to simmer for 2 or 3 minutes and remove from the heat.

2. Add prepared liquid flavoring to your syrup. You can use maple or vanilla flavoring or any other extract or flavored oil but be sure to add it after you remove your syrup from the heat. Boiling reduces the strength of the flavoring.

3. Reduce fruit to a liquid for delicious syrup to use on pancakes, over ice cream or blended in ice-cold smoothies. Substitute the water called for in the original basic syrup recipe with an equal amount of liquid derived from reduced fruit. See Step 4.

4. Wash and boil your choice of strawberries, blueberries, peaches or another fruit until the fruit is soft and falls apart when you stir the liquid. Strain to remove fruit pieces and use the liquid in your basic syrup recipe, preparing it in the same way.

5. Add chocolate liquor to the basic syrup recipe for adult syrup to flavor hot or iced coffee. Alternately, use different liquor, such as rum or schnapps and use as an ingredient in an after-dinner drink.

6. Surprise your summer guests with ice cream sundaes, slathered in marshmallow syrup by adding 1 package of unflavored gelatin to ¼ cup of water in a mixer bowl while cooking your basic syrup. Turn the mixer on high and pour the syrup into the gelatin mixture, taking care to pour it down the side of the bowl. Mix on high for 5 minutes and serve warm.

Tips & Warnings

• Store homemade syrups in the refrigerator for up to one week or process in a water bath for 10 minutes in sterile glass jars to seal and store up to 6 months. Follow traditional canning precautions if your choose the latter method.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish