Jalapeño simple syrup is the easiest way to spice up your cocktail game! It's sweet, lightly spiced and the perfect way to change up your routine if your drinks are getting a little bit boring.
With only 4 ingredients and 15 minutes, you can enjoy delicious cocktails at home. The best part, this recipe takes less than 5 minutes of active time.
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Why This Recipe Works
Everyone has tried the classic cocktails, and sometimes you just want to spice it up (😉) a bit! Jalapeño Simple Syrup is
- Incredibly quick (ready in 30 minutes)!
- Endlessly customizable
- Only uses 4 ingredients
I love dishes that are a little bit classic but a little bit modernized, see Elderflower Gin and Tonic, Blueberry Cinnamon Rolls, Matcha Banana Bread and Asparagus Ends Soup. There's something so freeing about taking a classic recipe and changing it just enough to keep it fun. This is one of those recipes!
Ingredients
Simple syrup is traditionally only 2 ingredients. Sugar and water. It's essentially dissolved sugar ready to step up your cocktails and caffeinated drinks with endless flavour possibilities. This simple syrup contains:
Sugar. I like a mix of both white and brown sugar because they're accessible. Some recipes call for raw sugar, but truthfully, the mix of sugars is perfect. If you only have one, you can do white or brown sugar only. More brown sugar will make the drink taste more caramelized.
Water. Any water will do here! No need for special store-bought waters that are distilled or purified. All tap water is good as long as you would feel comfortable drinking it.
Jalapeños. Adjust the level of jalapeños as well as the cooking time to account for how spicy you want the syrup. The more jalapeños and the longer you steep the peppers, the spicier the concentrate will be.
How to Make This Recipe
1. Slice up your jalapeños. Set aside.
2. In a small saucepan, add your water and bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
3. Once boiling, add in your sugar. Stir the mixture until the sugar is completely dissolved.
4. Lower the heat to low and add in your sliced jalapeños and steep for 3-5 minutes, stirring frequently.
5. Remove the pan from the heat and allow the jalapeños to steep in the syrup mixture for 10-15 minutes, testing every 5 minutes for the desired level of spiciness.
6. Once the syrup is to your liking, drain the syrup through a fine mesh strainer.
7. Store the syrup in an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to a month.
FAQs and Expert Tips
There's two ways to lessen the spice of the syrup. Either use less jalapeños, or steep the peppers in the sauce for less time.
It's really easy to substitute the sugar 1:1 to make this sugar-free. Keep in mind, some sugar-free sweetness are sweeter than sugar. I recommend Monkfruit or Swerve as a 1:1 sweetener. You may have a hard time finding brown sugar - feel free to use all white.
The best way to store simple syrup is in the fridge. It will last in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a month.
Yes! It's very easy to freeze. I personally like to free the syrup in ice cube trays and then remove them to a freezer bag. This way you only need to thaw small amounts at a time and not waste any.
The typical ratio of simple syrup is 1:1 for sugar to water. For this recipe, I like to use a 3:2 ratio for sugar to water. This ensures that the syrup will be sweet enough for the drinks without the drinks becoming too spicy to drink.
I choose a blend of 1 part brown sugar to 2 parts white sugar for this simple syrup. The brown sugar gives the syrup a subtle caramel flavour that works incredibly well with the use of jalapeños.
ZERO WASTE TIP! If you're a regular here, you know I hate food waste. If you feel bad like I do about throwing out the steeped jalapeños, take them and pickle them! I love this Quick Pickled Jalapeño recipe from Gimme Delicious! This recipe calls for 7-8 jalapeños, so just use 5 and supplement with the already steeped peppers here and halve the sugar.
How to Use This Syrup
I'm a sucker for finding a cool new recipe that I want to try, making it, and then having absolutely no idea how to use it. Here are a few ways to spice up your routine (and they aren't all cocktails)!
- Jalapeño Gin and Tonic (substitute Elderflower Liqueur for Jalapeño Syrup).
- Jalapeño Lime Margarita (substitute agave nectar & jalapeños for the syrup).
- Drizzle it over homemade buttered Corn Bread.
- Use it on Chicken and Waffles instead of maple syrup.
- Replace sugar in a Mojito with 1-2 tablespoons of the syrup.
- Jalapeño Club Soda: Fill a glass with ice, pour over club soda & sweeten with 1-2 tablespoons syrup.
- Spicy Lemonade: 1 cup of water, 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, 2 tablespoons of simple syrup.
More Recipes You'll Love
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📖 Recipe
Equipment
- Saucepan
- Knife
- Cutting Board
Ingredients
- 1 cup White Sugar
- ½ cup Brown Sugar
- 1 cup Water
- 3 Jalapenos medium
Instructions
- Slice up your jalapeños. Set aside.
- In a small saucepan, add your water and bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
- Once boiling, add in your sugar. Stir the mixture until the sugar is completely dissolved.
- Lower the heat to low and add in your sliced jalapeños and steep for 3-5 minutes, stirring frequently.
- Remove the pan from the heat and allow the jalapeños to steep in the syrup mixture for 10-15 minutes, testing every 5 minutes for the desired level of spiciness.
- Once the syrup is to your liking, drain the syrup through a fine mesh strainer into an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to a month.
Notes
Nutrition
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