Ginger Simple Syrup
Our Ginger Simple Syrup has the perfect depth of ginger flavor, without being overly pungent. It’s delicious in hot tea, a wonderful sweetener for cocktails, and a refreshing change to regular syrup when drizzled on pancakes. Unlike other ginger simple syrup recipes that can sometimes be overpowering, we opted for a more subtle approach for this recipe. Whether you like a light touch, or a major punch of ginger, this recipe is easily customizable.
Accurately named, this Ginger Simple Syrup recipe is as simple as it gets! This 2-ingredient recipe takes only minutes to prep. This simple recipe also produces candied and crystalized ginger, which are great snacks! Give it a try in your dessert recipes to add a hint of ginger. Want to read more about the health benefits of ginger root and how to customize this recipe three ways? Visit our Blog Comments & Tips for details.
Sign up for a free subscription to our monthly newsletter and access to exclusive content.
To browse some of our favorite kitchen essentials, gadgets, and pantry items, visit our Recommended Products page.
RECIPE
(Check out our Step by Step Instructions below the recipe card.)
Recipe Updated: 3/31/22
GINGER SIMPLE SYRUP
Ingredients
Instructions
- Peel and thinly slice ginger root - about ⅛ inch thickness.
- Add water, sugar, and sliced ginger to a 1.5 quart saucepan on medium heat. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally until sugar dissolves (about 5 minutes). Cover, and simmer on low heat for about 15 minutes. Remove from heat, and leave covered to steep for another 30 minutes. Remove the lid and let cool to room temperature (another 30 minutes or so). Strain into a measuring cup, then pour completely cooled syrup into an airtight glass container (bottle or jar - 12 to 16 ounces).
- Optional: Reserve the candied ginger for snacking. You can also make a preservative free crystallized ginger, which is really easy. For details Notes Section below (Notes #3 & #4).
Notes
- This is a moderately flavored ginger simple syrup. If you desire a stronger simple syrup, increase sliced ginger to ¾ cup, and simmer for 30 minutes. If you prefer a more mild ginger flavor, decrease to ¼ cup, and simmer for 15 minutes.
- Recipe can be made ahead and stored in an airtight glass container for up to 1 month.
- For Candied Ginger: You can eat them right away (as is), or store the candied ginger in the fridge for later use. Just place reserved ginger into an airtight glass container with enough simple syrup to cover the ginger, then store in the fridge, until ready to use.
- For Crystallized Ginger: Place reserved pieces of cooked ginger on a wire cooling rack, making sure they are all separated and in one layer, then cool for about 1-2 hours until they are sticky, but no longer wet. Add about 2 tablespoons of sugar (or more, if needed) to a small bowl, add the ginger (in batches), and toss until each piece is coated with sugar. Place each piece back onto the wire cooling rack, and allow them to dry overnight. If you like a drier texture to your ginger, then you may want to use a food dehydrator to dry them out a bit. Store in an airtight container.
- Yields 20 servings (1 tablespoon per serving). Makes a total of about 1 ¼ cups.
- See our Blog Comments & Tips for ideas on how to customize this recipe.
Nutrition Facts
Calories
40.62Fat (grams)
0.02Sat. Fat (grams)
0.01Carbs (grams)
10.42Fiber (grams)
0.05Net carbs
10.38Sugar (grams)
10.02Protein (grams)
0.04Sodium (milligrams)
0.89Cholesterol (grams)
0.00Nutritional information provided is strictly an estimate and will vary based on ingredient brands and cooking methods.
Step by Step Instructions
PREPARATION
Organize all your tools and ingredients before you begin. Getting all your ingredients in one place at the beginning will shorten your prep time.
STEP 1
Peel (using edge of a spoon, so as not to take off too much of the root) and thinly slice ½ cup fresh ginger root (about ⅛ inch thickness).
Note: This is a moderately flavored ginger simple syrup. For a stronger simple syrup, increase sliced ginger to ¾ cup. For milder ginger flavor, decrease to ¼ cup.
STEP 2a
a) Add 1 cup water, 1 cup granulated sugar (using a dry measuring cup for sugar), and sliced ginger to a 1.5 quart saucepan on medium heat.
b) Stir occasionally until sugar dissolves (about 5 minutes).
c) Bring to a boil, cover, and turn heat down to low.
d) Simmer on low for about 15 minutes (see Note below).
Note: For a much stronger simple syrup, simmer for a full 30 minutes, remove from heat, and let steep covered for another 30 minutes.
STEP 2b
a) When finished simmering, syrup will still be pale and a bit transparent. Remove from heat and leave covered to steep for another 30 minutes.
b) After 30 minutes, syrup will become a bit darker and more opaque. Remove the lid and let cool to room temperature (about 30 minutes).
c) Strain into a measuring cup, then pour completely cooled syrup into an airtight glass container (bottle or jar - 12 to 16 ounces). Reserve the candied ginger for snacking.
STEP 3 - Optional
If you decide to reserve the candied ginger, it’s great for snacking! You can also make a preservative free crystallized ginger, which is really easy.
For Candied Ginger: You can eat them right away (as is), or store the candied ginger in the fridge for later use. Just place reserved ginger into an airtight glass container with enough simple syrup to cover the ginger, then store in the fridge, until ready to use.
For Crystallized Ginger: Place reserved pieces of cooked ginger on a wire cooling rack, making sure they are all separated and in one layer, then cool for about 1-2 hours until they are sticky, but no longer wet. Add about 2 tablespoons of sugar (or more, if needed) to a small bowl, add the ginger (in batches), and toss until each piece is coated with sugar. Place each piece back onto the wire cooling rack, and allow them to dry overnight. If you like a drier texture to your ginger, then you may want to use a food dehydrator to dry them out a bit. Store in an airtight container.
SERVE & STORE
Use in cocktails, dessert recipes, and delicious in hot tea. Refrigerate in an airtight glass container for up to 1 month.
Note: Try our Butterfly Martini cocktail recipe, which uses this ginger simple syrup.
Notes:
See our Blog Comments & Tips below for ideas on how to customize this recipe.
Recipe can be made ahead!
Makes about 1 ¼ cups, which is 20 servings (1 tablespoon per serving).
VIDEO
How to Make this Easy 2 - Ingredient Ginger Simple Syrup Recipe!
Blog Comments & Tips
Just the perfect depth of ginger flavor!
Unlike other ginger simple syrup recipes that can sometimes be overpowering, we opted for a moderate approach for this recipe. Whether you like a light touch, or a major punch of ginger, this recipe is easily customizable.
Our Ginger Simple Syrup has just the perfect depth of ginger flavor, without being overly pungent. It’s delicious in hot tea, a wonderful sweetener for cocktails, and a refreshing change when drizzled on pancakes.
The motivation to create this unobtrusive version of a ginger syrup recipe was our Butterfly Martini. We wanted the natural flavor of ginger in that cocktail, without overpowering the other ingredients in the drink. And, we didn’t want to use a ginger extract or ginger liqueur, for fear it would lend an artificial taste to the cocktail. This Ginger Simple Syrup turned out to be just right for this exotic drink. Now if you really love the taste of ginger, we recommend checking out the tip to make it stronger, in our Pimp Our Recipe section below.
Accurately named, this Ginger Simple Syrup recipe is as simple as it gets! This 2-ingredient recipe takes only minutes to prep, and the sweet spicy aroma fills your kitchen as you are slicing this funny looking little ginger root. And,
BONUS…you end up with candied ginger to snack on, or you can make crystallized ginger!
Although this is a sugary syrup recipe, the addition of fresh ginger offers some healthy reasons to consume this spice and add it to your other recipes. Ginger root has many health benefits and is among the most healthy and flavorful spices on earth. It’s known to reduce nausea and relieve indigestion. Due to the gingerol (main bioactive compound in ginger), ginger also has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, helps reduce bad cholesterol (LDL), and can halt or reduce the growth of some bacteria, and so much more. So remember to add fresh ginger root to your cooking and cocktail recipe repertoire!
It’s time to customize and Pimp Our Recipe.
Pimp Our Recipe:
Make it Milder: Decrease the quantity of thinly sliced ginger from ½ cup to ¼ cup. Then continue the steps as instructed.
Make it Stronger: Depending on your preference for flavor, increase the quantity of thinly sliced ginger from to ½ cup to ¾ cup or 1 cup. Then simmer for a full 30 minutes, remove from heat, and let steep covered for another 30 minutes.
Make it Healthier: Replace sugar with ⅔ cup agave nectar.
Make it Keto: Replace granulated sugar with 1:1 granulated sugar-free sweetener.
Enjoy and let us know what you think by commenting below, rating our recipes, subscribing, following, and liking us on Pinterest, Instagram, and YouTube!
Santé!
Mich
Every editorial product is independently selected. We may be compensated or receive an affiliate commission if you purchase products via our links. As Amazon Associates, we earn from qualifying purchases.
