Description
Sweet summer strawberries mingle magically in this homemade Strawberry Syrup, creating a luscious liquid gold perfect for cocktails, desserts, and morning pancakes. Drizzle this ruby-red elixir over anything for an instant flavor boost that connects you with seasonal freshness.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Fruits:
- 2 cups fresh or frozen strawberries, hulled and chopped
Sweeteners:
- ½ cup (100 grams) granulated sugar
Flavor Enhancers:
- ½ cup (120 milliliters) water
- 1 teaspoon (5 milliliters) lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon (2.5 milliliters) vanilla extract (optional)
Instructions
- Select ripe, vibrant strawberries and place them in a medium saucepan alongside granulated sugar and fresh water.
- Elevate the heat to medium, allowing the mixture to transition into a rolling boil, stirring periodically to ensure even sugar dissolution.
- Decrease the temperature to a gentle simmer, maintaining a soft bubbling motion that will gradually break down the strawberries and concentrate their natural sweetness.
- While simmering, gently crush the strawberries using a potato masher or wooden spoon, releasing their intense flavor and helping to create a more integrated syrup consistency.
- Continue cooking for approximately 10-12 minutes, observing the transformation as the liquid thickens and the berries soften into a rich, ruby-colored mixture.
- Remove the saucepan from the heat source and introduce fresh lemon juice and fragrant vanilla extract, which will brighten and enhance the syrup’s complex flavor profile.
- Choose your preferred texture: strain the syrup through a fine mesh sieve to create a smooth liquid or leave some berry fragments for a more rustic, chunky consistency.
- Allow the syrup to cool slightly at room temperature, then transfer to a clean glass jar or bottle with a secure lid.
- Refrigerate the syrup, where it will maintain its vibrant taste and quality for up to one week, ready to elevate desserts, beverages, and breakfast treats.
Notes
- Boost the fruity flavor by using ripe, in-season strawberries for maximum sweetness and depth.
- Experiment with alternative sweeteners like honey or maple syrup for a different flavor profile and dietary options.
- Prevent crystallization by stirring occasionally and ensuring sugar dissolves completely during the cooking process.
- Transform this syrup into a versatile ingredient by using it as a topping for pancakes, yogurt, cocktails, or as a glaze for desserts.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks, Drinks
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 118
- Sugar: 23 g
- Sodium: 1 mg
- Fat: 0 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg