This simple homemade strawberry basil simple syrup is the perfect addition to cocktails, lemonades, or even spooned into iced tea. You’ll love how easy it is to make your own homemade flavored simple syrup!
It’s finally summertime! Do you know what that means? Fresh, beautiful strawberries bursting with sweetness are ripe and ready to be picked.
This strawberry basil simple syrup is perfect for cool, refreshing cocktails, like my strawberry basil gin rickey. It’s my go-to for summer parties!
You could also use this syrup in fresh lemonades or iced tea. It takes all of your favorite icy cold drinks and turns up the volume on flavor!
Trust me, you’ll be reaching for this strawberry basil simple syrup all summer long.
Craving even more simple syrup in your life? I got you covered! Try all of these – Mint Simple Syrup, Copycat Starbucks Brown Sugar Syrup, or this rosemary simple syrup.
Table of Contents
Ingredients for strawberry basil simple syrup
- Water – We need water to help loosen the syrup’s consistency so the sugar doesn’t burn.
- Sugar – This is where our syrup will get all of its sweetness! I use white sugar, but you could also use light brown sugar.
- Strawberries – These sweet and tangy berries are bursting with flavor. I use fresh berries, but feel free to use frozen.
- Basil – Basil is herbaceous and sweet and pairs perfectly with strawberries. It will give the syrup a faintly floral and savory taste.
How to make strawberry basil simple syrup
Step 1:
First, have a clean jar or squeeze bottle to put your finished syrup in.
A funnel is a great tool that makes pouring the syrup into containers easy and mess-free.
Step 2:
Combine the sugar, water, sliced strawberries, and basil leaves in a small pot over medium heat.
You can stir this a bit to combine the water and the sugar, but you do not need to stir this the entire time.
Step 3:
Bring the mixture to a simmer, and cook until the strawberries have broken down and are mushy and the syrup has thickened. This should take around 15 minutes.
Step 4:
Remove the pot from the heat and let it cool completely.
To speed up the process, you could put the pot in a large bowl of ice water and stir vigorously for 5 minutes. This will cool the mixture quickly!
(Optional step):
If you’d like your syrup to be free from strawberry seeds, pass it through a fine-mesh strainer now. Otherwise, continue to Step 5.
Step 5:
Remove the basil leaves (if you haven’t already strained them out from our previous optional step) and pour your mixture into your container of choice!
Can I use frozen berries?
Absolutely!
Frozen produce is picked at the peak of freshness, and using frozen strawberries would be acceptable here because they will be simmering/breaking down, so their shape/appearance is not essential.
Using dried herbs
This recipe would not do well with dried herbs.
We’re looking for that green, fresh flavor that fresh herbs have to offer.
Dried basil also has a slightly different, more intense flavor profile than fresh basil, and it is not a 1:1 ratio.
Storage for strawberry basil simple syrup
This syrup is stored quickly in a clean jar with a lid or in a squeeze bottle in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
More strawberry recipes
- Looking for a sweet jam for breakfast? Try my Vanilla Bean Strawberry Jam.
- Craving something cold and creamy? Try my No-Churn Strawberry Cheesecake Ice Cream.
- Want an easy no-bake dessert? Try my Cheesecake Stuffed Strawberries.
- Love fresh bread? Try my Fresh Strawberry Bread.
Strawberry Basil Simple Syrup
Ingredients
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup water
- 1-1/2 cup sliced strawberries
- 10 basil leaves
Instructions
- To a medium-sized saucepot add granulated sugar, water, sliced strawberries, and basil leaves. Stir to gently combine.
- Set over medium heat.
- Bring to a simmer and cook until the strawberries are mushy and the syrup has thickened, about 15 minutes.
- Remove from heat and let it cool down.
- Over a fine mesh strainer, strain the simple syrup, add to an airtight container or jar and keep in the refrigerator for up to a week.