Homemade Hibiscus Syrup
Did you know that hibiscus is not just a beautiful flower but it can also make a delicious substitute for regular simple syrup? Homemade hibiscus syrup is perfect for creating vibrant pink cocktails and desserts, especially for Valentine’s and Mother’s Day. The floral syrup only takes 3 ingredients and 15 minutes to make and is a delicious way to step up your mixology game.
Why you’ll love this simple syrup recipe
- Unique flavor: Hibiscus flowers add a unique fruity, sweet-tart flavor to your drinks and desserts.
- Versatile: Just like my strawberry puree, this versatile syrup can be used in a variety of ways, from sweetening iced tea to creating the prettiest pink cocktails.
- Easy recipe: With just three simple ingredients and minimal effort, you can whip up this flavorful syrup in no time.
- Natural dye: Dried hibiscus flowers are natural food dyes and give your syrup a deep pink coloring.
Ingredients and substitutions
Hibiscus: You’ll need 1/2 cup dried hibiscus flowers. If dried flowers are not available, you can use hibiscus teabags, hibiscus powder, or fresh hibiscus petals instead.
Sugar: Granulated white sugar works best but you can also experiment with natural sweeteners like agave syrup, maple syrup, or honey for a richer flavor. I don’t recommend using brown sugar.
Water: Filtered, still water works best.
Variations
- Citrus: Add lemon or lime peel during the infusion for a citrusy kick.
- Spice it up: Incorporate a cinnamon stick or cloves while simmering to add warm, spicy notes into your syrup.
- Hibiscus lavender: Combine dried lavender flowers with hibiscus for a floral simple syrup.
- Herbs: Infuse your syrup with fresh herbs like mint or basil for an extra layer of flavor.
- Hibiscus Rose: Add culinary rose petals or rose water to the infusion.
How to make
- Dissolve the sugar.
- Add dried hibiscus flowers.
- Let it simmer for 5-10 minutes until you have reached the desired color and flavor.
Tips
- Low temperature: Make sure the mixture doesn’t get too hot or the syrup can get bitter.
- Straining: Use a fine wire mesh strainer to remove any solids from the syrup for a smooth texture.
- Storage: Store the syrup in an airtight container in the refrigerator to maintain freshness and flavor.
How to use hibiscus syrup
You can add hibiscus syrup to a variety of delicious recipes. Here are some of my favorite ways to use this vibrant syrup:
Simple syrup: Use it as a substitute for simple syrups in mocktails and cocktails like hibiscus margarita or whiskey sour.
Sweetener: Add as a sweetener to iced tea, herbal tea, or lemonade.
Sauce: Drizzle over whey pancakes or a variety of waffle types for a delicious breakfast treat.
Topping: Pour over ice cream, cakes, or mousse for a sweet and floral dessert topping.
FAQs
You can find dried hibiscus flowers at select grocery stores or trusted health food stores.
When stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator, homemade hibiscus syrup can last up to a month.
Yes, you can use fresh flowers to make hibiscus syrup by infusing the petals only with water and sugar as per the recipe instructions.
More syrup recipes
For more homemade syrups and topping ideas, check out the following recipes:
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Homemade Hibiscus Syrup
Ingredients
- 1 cup water filtered
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup dried hibiscus flowers
Instructions
- In a saucepan, combine water and sugar.1 cup water, 1 cup sugar
- Place the saucepan over medium heat and stir until the sugar dissolves.
- Once the mixture reaches a gentle simmer, reduce the heat to medium-low and add the dried hibiscus flower. Let everything simmer for 5-10 minutes to infuse.1/2 cup dried hibiscus flowers
- Remove the saucepan from heat and let the syrup cool to room temperature.
- Strain the syrup through a fine wire-mesh strainer into a mason jar or another airtight container.
- Store the syrup air-tight in the refrigerator for up to a month.
Notes
- Low temperature: Make sure the mixture doesn’t get too hot or the syrup can get bitter.
- Straining: Use a fine wire-mesh strainer to remove any solids from the syrup for a smooth texture.
- Storage: Store the syrup in an airtight container in the refrigerator to maintain freshness and flavor.
