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    Home » Recipes » Syrups, Sauces & Essentials

    Orange Simple Syrup

    Published: Dec 18, 2022 · Modified: Nov 15, 2024 by Emily Laurae · This post may contain affiliate links.

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    Orange Simple Syrup.
    Orange Simple Syrup.

    This cheerfully bright and sweet Orange Simple Syrup is a flavorful addition that’ll add zippy flavor to everything from cocktails and coffee to breakfast and dessert. Best of all, this DIY simple syrup is made with just 3 ingredients and 5 minutes of active time. Simple, indeed!

    Orange simple syrup in a container.
    Jump to:
    • ⭐ Why You’ll Love This Recipe 
    • 🍴Ingredients
    • ⚒️ Equipment
    • 📖 Step by Step Instructions
    • ⏲️ Substitutions & Variations
    • 👩🏻‍🍳 Expert Tips
    • 💭 Recipe FAQs
    • More Simple Syrup & Sauce Recipes
    • Orange Simple Syrup
    • 💬 Comments

    ⭐ Why You’ll Love This Recipe 

    If you’re looking for a tasty way to add citrus flavor to your favorite recipes, you can stop your scrolling. This orange-infused simple syrup is:

    • Quick & Easy - All you need is a saucepan, a stovetop, and 5 minutes of active time to make this sunshiny sweetener.
    • Made With Only 3 Ingredients - All you need is sugar, water, and a piece of fruit. Orange you glad you stumbled on this easy recipe? 🤓
    • Versatile - Whether you add a splash to your favorite cocktails (hi, Hot Toddy, Gin Sour & Margarita), use it to sweeten your coffee or tea, add moisture to your layer cakes, or give flavor to your breakfast, one thing is certain: if you make this orange simple syrup recipe, you’ll have LOTS of ways to use it up.
    • Endlessly Customizable - Add extra pizzazz by infusing your simple orange syrup with herbs, spices, and edible flowers. Your imagination is the limit!

    Give these delicious syrups a try once you get a hand for making your own syrups at home: Passion fruit syrup, blackberry simple syrup, demerara syrup, lemon syrup and strawberry syrup!

    🍴Ingredients

    As promised, this orange homemade syrup recipe requires just 3 ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need:

    • Orange - Any type of orange will work well here, but make sure it’s nice and fresh. Since we’re using both the zest and the juice, I also recommend washing it thoroughly and opting for organic fruit to avoid exposure to pesticides. Use any extra to make a few cups of orange posset!
    • Granulated Sugar - Plain white sugar is the most neutral-flavored sweetener around. Feel free to swap in light or dark brown sugar, unrefined sugars like demerara, turbinado, or grated jaggery or piloncillo for more of a molasses undertone. You can also swap in your favorite liquid sweetener here, including but not limited to honey, maple syrup, or agave nectar.
    • Water - If possible, try to grab filtered water for the clearest, cleanest, and brightest citrus taste.
    Ingredients needed to make Orange Simple Syrup.

    ⚒️ Equipment

    Making this orange simple syrup (or really any infused or flavored simple syrups) is a snap. All you need are basic kitchen tools. Here’s what I suggest you grab:

    • Saucepan - Every kitchen needs a saucepan. If possible, splurge a little bit for one with a heavy bottom — it’ll last much longer than cheap versions and will also help to minimize the chance of scorching.
    • Mesh Strainer - You’re welcome to fish out the zest peels using a slotted spoon if you prefer, but placing the mesh strainer over the funnel leading into your squeeze bottle is the quickest, most direct method I’ve tried.
    • Squeeze Bottle & Funnel - These are optional, but they are the easiest way I know how to store simple syrup without making a sticky mess of your fridge. The squeeze bottle also makes it easy to measure exactly what you need. You’re also welcome to use a mason jar, delitainer, or any other container with a tight-fitting lid.

    📖 Step by Step Instructions

    Homemade simple syrup couldn’t be easier to make, and this orange syrup is no different. Here’s how it’s done:

    Step 1: Mix Sugar & Water. Pour your equal parts water and sugar into a small saucepan and heat on medium heat. Cook, stirring the mixture until your sugar has completely dissolved.

    Step 2: Add Flavor. Add orange juice and peel (or orange zest) and continue heating at a simmer for 5 minutes before removing from heat.

    Step 3: Infuse. Allow syrup to infuse for half an hour as the simple syrup cools completely. There’s nothing to be done here except wait!

    Step 4: Strain syrup into an airtight container and store in the fridge until you’re ready to use it for cocktail recipes, cold drinks, salad dressing and cake layers to add a bright orange flavor!

    Orange juice and peel in saucepan with simple syrup.
    Orange juice and peel in saucepan with simple syrup
    Finished infused Orange Simple Syrup.
    Finished infused Orange Simple Syrup

    ⏲️ Substitutions & Variations

    When you make your own simple syrup at home, anything goes! Feel free to get as creative as you like to make a cocktail and coffee sweetener worth writing home about. Here are a few ideas to get your wheels turning:

    • Consider Add-Ins. Pretty much anything that is edible and aromatic can be infused into simple syrup. Here are some of my favorite things to pair with orange:
    • Cinnamon Stick, Cloves, and/or Star Anise - Spiced orange syrup sounds like a heavenly match with whisky. 🤷‍♀️ 
    • Orange Blossom Water - For a more complex orange flavor that borders on floral. 
    • Jasmine - Another floral flavor that pairs well with everyone’s favorite citrus. 
    • Try An Alternate Citrus. Blood oranges, Lime, lemon, tangelo, mandarin, pomelo, and grapefruit simple syrup can all be made using the same method. And don’t forget blood orange simple syrup for a punch of bright color!
    Container of Orange Simple Syrup.

    👩🏻‍🍳 Expert Tips

    • Zest first, then juice. If you try doing it in the opposite order, you’re bound to get sticky.
    • Zest only the bright orange parts of the peel. Once you get to the white pith, you’re in the bitter territory. After making the simple syrup, you can use the orange peels as a garnish for the cocktail of your choice if you'd like!
    • To get the most juice from your fruit, give it a quick 10-second zap in the microwave, then roll it firmly on the counter for about 10-15 seconds before slicing it open.
    Cranberry & Chai Spiced Tea Hot Toddy with Gin
    Cranberry Hot Toddy
    Aperol Negroni with Orange Simple Syrup.
    Aperol Negroni with Orange Simple Syrup

    💭 Recipe FAQs

    Does simple syrup go bad?

    Eventually, this orange simple syrup will grow mold and go bad. However, because of their high level of sugar, most simple syrups will last in the fridge for at least a month as sugar is a natural preservative. Please note that a rich syrup (that is, made with double the sugar) will last for even longer. You’re also welcome to add about an ounce of vodka to the syrup to inhibit bacterial growth. 

    Can you freeze simple syrup?

    Yes! You’re also welcome to freeze any simple syrup to extend its shelf life to around 6 months. 

    What’s the best way how to store simple syrup?

    I find that using a squeeze bottle with a cap is easily the best way to store simple syrup. That way, you can grab it from the fridge whenever you need a splash of flavor and direct it to wherever you’re using it with minimal spilling.

    Can I make sugar-free orange simple syrup?

    Sure! If you are watching your sugar intake, simply swap in your favorite sugar alternative. I don’t use them much, but research seems to indicate that any cup-for-cup sugar alternative should do a good job of dissolving into the water. Note that storage times may vary for non-sugar-based simple syrups.

    More Simple Syrup & Sauce Recipes

    • Rose simple syrup on the counter next to fresh roses.
      How to Make Rose Simple Syrup: A Floral Sweetener for Drinks, Desserts & More
    • Almond cream in a bowl with a spatula on the counter.
      Almond Cream (French Almond Frangipane Recipe)
    • Cinnamon cream cheese frosting in a bowl.
      5 Minute Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe
    • Blueberry Preserves in a glass container near toast and butter.
      Easy Blueberry Preserves without Pectin

    If you try this recipe for Orange Simple Syrup, please leave a 🌟 review and share your creation with me on social media! You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, Youtube and Pinterest - for more delicious recipes sent straight to your inbox, sign up for my newsletter! 📧 

    Orange Simple Syrup.

    Orange Simple Syrup

    This cheerfully bright and sweet Orange Simple Syrup is a flavorful addition that’ll add zippy flavor to everything from cocktails and coffee to breakfast and dessert. Best of all, this DIY simple syrup is made with just 3 ingredients and 5 minutes of active time. Simple, indeed!
    5 from 3 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate Recipe
    Course: Cocktails
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 35 minutes minutes
    Servings: 8
    Calories: 97kcal
    Author: Emily Laurae

    Equipment

    • Saucepan
    • Spatula
    • Strainer
    • Paring Knife
    • Cutting Board

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup (240 g) Water
    • 1 cup (200 g) Granulated Sugar
    • 1 Orange, peeled/zested and juiced

    Instructions

    • Pour your measured water and sugar into a saucepan and heat on medium
      1 cup Water, 1 cup Granulated Sugar
    • Cook, stirring the mixture until your sugar has completely dissolved.
    • Add sliced orange peel and orange juice from one orange and continue heating for 30 seconds before removing from heat
      1 Orange
    • Allow syrup to infuse for half an hour as the simple syrup cools completely
    • Strain syrup into an airtight container and store in the fridge

    Notes

    Frequently Asked Questions
    Does simple syrup go bad? Eventually, this orange simple syrup will grow mold and go bad. However, because of their high level of sugar, most simple syrups will last in the fridge for at least a month as sugar is a natural preservative. Please note that a rich syrup (that is, made with double the sugar) will last for even longer. You’re also welcome to add about an ounce of vodka to the syrup to inhibit bacterial growth. 
    Can you freeze simple syrup? Yes! You’re also welcome to freeze any simple syrup to extend its shelf life to around 6 months. 
    What’s the best way how to store simple syrup? I find that using a squeeze bottle with a cap is easily the best way to store simple syrup. That way, you can grab it from the fridge whenever you need a splash of flavor and direct it to wherever you’re using it with minimal spilling.
    Can I make sugar-free orange simple syrup? Sure! If you are watching your sugar intake, simply swap in your favorite sugar alternative. I don’t use them much, but research seems to indicate that any cup-for-cup sugar alternative should do a good job of dissolving into the water. Note that storage times may vary for non-sugar-based simple syrups.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 97kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Sodium: 2mg | Potassium: 1mg | Sugar: 25g | Calcium: 1mg | Iron: 1mg
    Enjoyed this recipe?Mention @emilylaurae or tag #emilylaurae!

    More Syrups Sauces and Essentials To Try

    • Strawberry puree in a small bowl next to fresh strawberries.
      Easy Strawberry Purée Recipe (For drinks, desserts and more!)
    • Jar of honey syrup on the counter with a bowl of honey.
      Easy Homemade Honey Simple Syrup (Liquid Honey Recipe)
    • Caramel whipped cream in a pastry bag with a tip.
      Two-Ingredient Caramel Whipped Cream Recipe
    • Blueberry cream cheese frosting in a bowl.
      5 Minute Easy Blueberry Cream Cheese Frosting

    About Emily Laurae

    Emily is the recipe developer, writer, and food photographer behind Emily Laurae. After finishing Pastry School and working as a chef in the restaurant industry, she created this blog to share those skills with home bakers and creators all over the world!

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