How to Make Rose Simple Syrup

Homemade Rose Simple Syrup is a versatile and fragrant addition to any cocktail enthusiast’s bar cart. Made by infusing dried rose petals into sugar and water, this sweet syrup adds a delicate floral flavor to drinks like lemonade, iced tea, or cocktails. Bonus: Use this rose simple syrup recipe as a base for making floral syrups featuring other edible flowers.

There are so many ways to use flavoured simple syrups… almost as many as there are ways to add flavour enhancers! From the mint syrup in a Mint Julep or Mojito Cocktail to the lime infused syrup that softens the ladyfingers in Strawberry Charlotte, the sky’s the limit with simple syrups!

Rose Simple Syrup

Here we are, in the thick of summer and my roses are loving this sunshine. In the evening, I can close my eyes and follow their heady scent down the garden path. Today, I’m sharing this sensual floral experience with you today through this rose syrup recipe.

This is one of the simplest recipes you’ll ever make and it’s under 5 minutes of prep time. The combination of sugar water is as easy as it gets, and an infused simple syrup is a mere step farther. There is no skill involved, and all you need is a saucepan, a stove, a strainer, and a glass jar.

This rose simple syrup is not overpowering or overly floral. However, it’s best if you start with a small amount, taste, then go from there. You’ll be pleasantly surprised at the unique yet subtle flavour of this rose syrup in cocktails and other recipes.

What is Simple Syrup?

Chemically speaking, simple syrup is a solution of water and sugar, meaning sugar (a solid) is dissolved into water (a liquid). By definition, simple syrup is so named because it’s THE most common ratio; a simple one-to-one recipe of one part sugar to one part water.

Heavy syrup or rich simple syrup has a lower ratio of water to sugar (usually 1:2) and the light version includes more water than sugar (2:1).

In general, no matter what the ratio of sugar to water, any sugar syrup is “simple syrup.” 

Finally, many simple syrup recipes contain steeped or infused flavours from a variety of ingredients, including fresh herbs, citrus, spices, and edible flowers.

How to Use Simple Syrup

The most common way to use simple syrup is as a cocktail sweetener. Most home bartenders keep a jar of classic or infused simple syrup in their fridge at all times. Of course, some make it on the fly, but a full batch of simple syrup takes time to cool down.

However, rose syrup is not just for cocktails and mocktails. Add it to lemonade, iced tea, hot or cold coffee or tea beverages, and milkshakes such as the south Asian falooda. It is also a popular addition to Mediterranean pastries, like Baklava and Indian sweets such as Ladoo and Barfi.

Dessert lovers will love drizzling it over ice cream or sorbet as a flavour enhancer. It pairs especially well with white chocolate, raspberries, strawberries, peaches, rhubarb, citrus, cardamom, or pistachio.

Use homemade rose syrup to flavour and moisten freshly baked cakes. Brush or drizzle it on or use a toothpick to poke holes in a warm cake so the syrup goes farther into the cake. Finally, simple syrup is also delicious on French toast, pancakes, waffles, and even oatmeal. 

Ingredients in Rose Simple Syrup

This is a three ingredient recipe featuring water, granulated sugar, and edible rose petals. When selecting rose petals or any other edible flower, ensure they are unsprayed and suitable for human consumption, or food grade.

Instead of roses, try the following edible flowers to make your own unique floral simple syrup:

• Pansies – Use 1 cup fresh pansy petals (not stems or middles)
• Lilac – Add 1 cup fresh lilac blossoms, stems removed
• Peony – Use 1 cup pesticide free peony petals
• Tulips – Add 1 cup fresh tulip petals
• Lavender – Use 3 tablespoons lavender buds to make lavender simple syrup
• Carnations – Add 1 cup fresh carnation petals
• Orchids – Use 1 1/2 cups fresh orchid petals
• Roses – 1/4 cup dried or 1 cup fresh rose petals

How to Make Rose Simple Syrup

To make this Rose Simple Syrup recipe, place one cup water and one cup graduated sugar in a small saucepan. Bring to a slight simmer over medium heat

When sugar is dissolved add dried rose petals* and allow mixture to simmer on low for 8 – 10 minutes. When liquid has visibly reduced, remove from heat and set aside to cool to room temperature.

*If using fresh flower petals, remove hot syrup from the heat and add the flower petals. Allow to steep until it reaches room temperature.

Strain out the rose petals and place Rose Simple Syrup in a jar or container with a lid. Store syrup in the fridge for up to one month.

Hi! I’m Bernice Hill and I am the sole recipe developer, photographer, and writer at Dish ‘n’ the Kitchen. It is my pleasure to share easy to follow recipes that are delicious, nutritious, and approachable for the whole family.

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