Homemade Ginger Simple Syrup Recipe

Homemade ginger simple syrup is an easy way to add a little sugar and spice to your cocktails and homemade sodas. Great drizzled on top of ice cream, too!

Take your vodka soda or your gin and tonic to the next level with a bit of ginger simple syrup.

A home bar should include multiple varieties of homemade simple syrup. Homemade cocktails are tastier when you use your own supply of ginger syrup. 

Many people realize ginger and cocktails go together the first time they make a moscow mule with ginger beer at home.

Homemade ginger simple syrup allows you to control the ingredients and tailor the flavor to your liking, often resulting in a fresher taste than some commercial options at the grocery store.

It’s so easy to make and can be stored in the refrigerator for a month or two in an airtight container, like a mason jar.

Add it to carbonated water like soda or club soda for homemade ginger ale. 

Add it to iced tea – extra refreshing on summer days! Add it to hot tea for a spicy ginger kick. There are so many options!

How to Make Ginger Simple Syrup

I combine sugar, water, and fresh ginger slices for my simple syrup recipe below. 

Ginger gives a spicy touch to the sugary sweetness of simple syrup. Preparing fresh ginger root for homemade ginger syrup involves a straightforward process:

Peeling the Ginger: Start by using a vegetable peeler or the edge of a spoon to peel the skin off the ginger root. The thin skin can be easily removed to reveal the pale yellow flesh underneath.

Slicing the Ginger: Once peeled, use a sharp knife to slice the ginger into thin, uniform slices. The thickness can vary based on personal preference, but thin slices allow for a better infusion of flavor.

For ginger syrup, smaller, thinner pieces are generally preferred. I recommend slices that are ⅛ inch thick.

Uniformity for Even Infusion: Aim for uniform ginger pieces to ensure an even extraction of the ginger’s flavor. This is especially important when making ginger syrup, as it helps achieve a consistent taste throughout the syrup.

The ginger slices are typically combined with water and sugar in the syrup-making process. The mixture is simmered to allow the ginger’s essence to infuse into the liquid, creating a flavorful and aromatic ginger syrup.

After boiling and simmering everything in a small sauce pan, I strain the ginger slices using a fine-mesh strainer. What’s left is an easy-to-use ginger syrup.

While simmering the ginger enhances flavor extraction, you can create a raw ginger syrup by combining grated ginger with sugar and water, allowing it to infuse without heat.

What Can I Use Ginger Simple Syrup For?

Cocktails: Ginger syrup is a versatile ingredient in cocktail-making. It adds a zesty and spicy kick to classics like Moscow Mule, Dark and Stormy, and Margarita. Try adding some to a Kentucky Mule for an extra gingery kick!

Experiment with creating your signature ginger-infused cocktails. Make an easy ginger vodka soda by combining 1 ounce of ginger simple syrup, 1 ½ ounces of vodka, and soda water in a glass filled with ice.

Mocktails: For non-alcoholic beverages, ginger syrup is a star player. Use it to craft refreshing mocktails, like ginger lemonades, iced teas, or ginger-infused sodas. It provides a unique flavor without the alcohol content.

Ginger Tea and Infusions: Enhance your tea-drinking experience by adding a spoonful of ginger syrup to hot or iced tea. It blends well with black, green, or herbal teas, creating a soothing and flavorful infusion.

Marinades: Ginger syrup makes an excellent addition to marinades for meats, poultry, or tofu. Its sweet and spicy profile adds depth to the marinade, infusing the dish with a delightful ginger taste.

Dressings and Sauces: Create vibrant dressings for salads or drizzles for vegetables by incorporating ginger syrup. It adds a touch of sweetness and heat to vinaigrettes, teriyaki sauces, or stir-fry sauces.

Desserts: Use ginger syrup to sweeten cakes, cookies, and ice creams. It pairs well with flavors like lemon, orange, and chocolate, creating a dynamic taste in your sweet treats. 

Baking: Infuse your baked goods with the warmth of ginger by including ginger syrup in muffins, scones, or glaze recipes. It brings a unique twist to traditional baked goods.

Smoothies: Add a spoonful of ginger syrup to your morning smoothies for a burst of flavor. It pairs well with fruits like pineapple, mango, and berries, creating a refreshing and energizing beverage. Add fresh mint leaves to the blender for a balanced taste.

Hot Beverages: Stir ginger syrup into hot beverages like coffee or hot chocolate to create a comforting and aromatic drink with a spicy kick.

How Long Does Homemade Simple Syrup Last?

Try to use the ginger syrup shortly after you make it. It will have the best flavor this way!

If I do not use the syrup immediately, I store it in an airtight container that I keep in the refrigerator for up to 1 month. 

Can I freeze homemade simple syrup?

You can freeze ginger syrup in ice cube trays for convenient portioning. Thaw individual cubes as needed.

Can I Use Sugar Substitutes?

This easy recipe uses simple ingredients. That means you can substitute sugar to suit your tastes or dietary needs. Also, you can adjust the sweetness by adding more or less sugar during the syrup-making process.

Many of my other simple syrup recipes use honey instead of granulated white sugar (honey ginger syrup is delicious!)

I have also used agave nectar and organic cane sugar like sugar in the raw. Brown sugar, molasses, or maple syrup would add extra depth of flavor.

Artificial sweeteners can also be used; read the package instructions to ensure you are using an equivalent amount of regular sugar – too much will make the syrup too sweet, so you may have to adjust as you go.

What should I do with the leftover ginger?

Check out my candied ginger recipe for a great way to use the ginger slices you would otherwise discard.

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