Simple Syrup is both super easy to make and very versatile. While most would associate Simple Syrup with cocktails, it's also very useful to sweeten cold drinks. Iced Tea, Iced Coffee and any other drink you'd like to sweeten because the sugar is already dissolved in the syrup. So you can add pure sugar to a cold drink but not have to worry about trying to get it all to dissolve.
Beyond straight sugar, you can also add flavorings to the syrup to create an entire array of syrups for different applications.
Ingredients
Equal Parts Water and Sugar, such as 1 cup of water + 1 cup of sugar.
Panela, unrefined brown sugar, makes an outstanding, almost smoky brown sugar syrup that is amazing in Old Fashioneds.
For Honey Simple Syrup, switch to 3/4 cup honey to 1 cup of water. Follow the same instructions as below.
Instructions
Add water and sugar to a small saucepan.
Bring the water to a boil, stir occasionally with a whisk.
When the water has come to a boil and all of the sugar is dissolved, remove the pan from the heat.
If you are going to add flavorings, see additional instructions below.
Allow the pan to cool completely.
Store the syrup in an airtight bottle in the fridge. It should last at least a month in the fridge.
Flavorings
As soon you remove the pan from the heat, add the flavorings.
Ginger: Remove the skin and roughly chop 2-4 Tablespoons worth of fresh ginger into the pan. Allow the pan to cool completely, stirring occasionally as the pan cools. Then strain the ginger and store as described above.
Mint: Roughly chop 2-4 Tablespoons worth of fresh mint into the pan. Allow the pan to cool completely, stirring occasionally as the pan cools. Then strain the mint and store as described above.
There's almost no limit to the flavors you can create with Simple Syrup, just follow the same basic amounts as above and experiment to find the flavors you like the most.