Lemon-Ginger Simple Syrup

Lemon-Ginger Simple Syrup

The Spruce Eats / Eric Kleinberg

Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 10 mins
Total: 20 mins
Servings: 12 servings
Yield: 3/4 to 1 cup

Lemon-ginger simple syrup is easy to make ahead of time and then use to whip up a quick pitcher of lemonade, to flavor cocktails or iced tea, or to drizzle over cakes or fresh fruit. It is so easy and quick, taking less than a half-hour, to make your own lemon-ginger simple syrup, once you make this, you will find yourself keeping a bottle of this on hand at all times.  

Simple, easy, and delicious, simple syrups base is just sugar and water, from there you add the choice of your sweetness or spiciness. This recipe uses fresh lemon juice and ginger for additional flavoring. Fans of fresh mint can replace the fresh, chopped ginger with fresh, chopped mint leaves to make a lemon-mint simple syrup.

"I love ginger. Sometimes I like to have it with a bit of sweetener but not too much. This is perfect to add to seltzer or hot tea. I added a little extra ginger for a bit more spice." —Renae Wilson

Tester Photo- lemon-ginger-simple-syrup-766041-Renae-Wilson-2021_1
A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup sugar

  • 1/2 cup water

  • 1/2 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice

  • 2 tablespoons peeled and chopped ginger

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Lemon-Ginger Simple Syrup ingredients

    The Spruce Eats / Eric Kleinberg

  2. Bring all ingredients—sugar, water, lemon juice, and ginger—to a boil over medium-high heat.

    Bring all ingredients to a boil in a pot

    The Spruce Eats / Eric Kleinberg

  3. Reduce heat. Stirring often, simmer the mixture for 7 to 10 minutes, or until the mixture has reduced to about half its original volume.

    mixture in a pot

    The Spruce Eats / Eric Kleinberg

  4. Filter through a strainer, discarding the gingerroot.

    Filter the mixture through a strainer, discarding the ginger root

    The Spruce Eats / Eric Kleinberg

  5. Store in a clean jar with a tight lid (such as a Mason jar). Refrigerated, this syrup will keep fresh for up to six months.

    Lemon-Ginger Simple Syrup

    The Spruce Eats / Eric Kleinberg

Recipe Variations

Use 2 tablespoons of chopped fresh mint instead of ginger for a lemon-mint simple syrup.


You can leave out the lemon and it will make ginger simple syrup.


If you find it too sweet, use less sugar, and if not sweet enough, adjust and add more sugar. It is up to your taste.


You can also use honey in place of the sugar, but if you do use less than the 1:1 ratio since honey is sweeter than sugar.

Simple Syrup Uses

Add a teaspoon or so per serving to chilled drinks for a lemon-ginger flavor. Add about 2 teaspoons per cup of water or sparkling water to make a quick lemon-ginger lemonade. Drizzle over pancakes, fresh fruit, or other sweet treats for added flavor.

How to Store

This lemon ginger simple syrup should be stored in a clean jar with a lid. Make sure the lid is tightly sealed and refrigerate the syrup for up to six months.


Freeze the simple syrup in ice cube trays, making sure to measure out in increments of teaspoons for ease of putting in drinks or to thaw out for your use.

Where can you buy simple syrup?

Simple syrup is available in grocery stores usually near the cocktail mixes, or baking aisles. It is also available in liquor stores. You can find it in plain or flavored versions.

How do you know is simple syrup has gone bad?

If you see your simple syrup getting cloudy, this means the syrup has gone bad and should be thrown away.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
35 Calories
0g Fat
9g Carbs
0g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 12
Amount per serving
Calories 35
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 3mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 9g 3%
Dietary Fiber 0g 0%
Total Sugars 8g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 2mg 8%
Calcium 2mg 0%
Iron 0mg 0%
Potassium 16mg 0%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)