Easy Lavender Syrup Recipe

Want to spice up your cocktails or coffee? Look no further than this easy Lavender Syrup, made right at home and packed with flavor for a delicious addition to any beverage. It comes together quickly and holds, so you no longer have to buy store-bought lavender syrup!

Lavender is quite a popular scent, but my love for lavender goes beyond potpourri. I could eat or drink lavender every day. I know not everyone is into the taste of lavender, but for me it’s the ultimate taste! C knows this and has thankfully given in to me a few too many times as I’ve hauled him to lavender farms and left bushels of lavender to dry in our garage.

I’ve collected culinary lavender from all over the world, but two of my favorite lavender farms are Los Poblanos in New Mexico and Wanaka Lavender Farm in New Zealand. Breathing in the scent of the flowers, trying out all the flavors of different lavender recipes, and buying way too much lavender honey is something of my jam.

You could say I was on cloud nine when I discovered a whole bunch of lavender growing in the house we stayed in last year. My only regret is not picking and drying more! Luckily I still have a stash and it was a perfect use for this easy lavender syrup and in my favorite lavender coffee and cocktail recipes. Buckle up because I have a lavender flavored bomb coming your way!

What is simple syrup?

It’s pretty self-explanatory, but if you’ve never heard of plain syrup, the name says it all: It’s a very plain sweet syrup. Traditionally, plain syrup is used in cocktails, but you can add it to so many other things as well. I’m personally a fan of adding it to my lattes and have included a lavender coffee recipe below. Making simple syrup is, you guessed it, very simple. However, I will break down all the steps below to make it easier for you.

Ingredients in lavender syrup

To make plain syrup, the recipe is super simple: it’s just a 1:1 ratio of water to sweetener. In this case, we’re going to use 1/2 cup water with 1/2 cup raw honey. You can also trade in any other type of sugar. You will also add your dried lavender to infuse into the simple syrup. Here’s what you need:

• Water
• raw honey [or other sweetener]
• Dried Lavender Flower*

*There are different types of lavender. Ultimately, you want to select a culinary lavender that is safe for consumption

How to make plain lavender syrup

STEP 1: PUT IN LAVENDER

In a small saucepan, combine water, honey, and lavender buds and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Once it boils, stir and let the heat simmer for 15 minutes. Remove from the heat and allow to cool to room temperature (about 1 hour) to allow the flavors to infuse.

STEP 2: WORRY

Strain the lavender from the syrup using a small strainer, fine-mesh strainer, or cheesecloth.

STEP 3: STORAGE

Store plain lavender syrup in a sealed jar in the refrigerator for up to 1 month.

How to use lavender syrup

This easy lavender syrup is great for any recipe you want to add a sweet lavender flavor to! It’s particularly good in coffee, hot chocolate or cocktails, but also makes a great addition Lemonade, smoothies, and even your morning oatmeal! Here are two of my favorite ways to use this easy lavender syrup.

1. Lavender Coffee Latte Recipe

For the lavender latte, combine 1-2 shots of espresso with 1 tablespoon of plain lavender syrup. Top up with 1 cup of frothed milk (plain, almond, or oat milk work great). For a lavender twist on a regular coffee, you can brew your coffee as desired and add 1 tbsp plain lavender syrup + milk if desired.

2. Cocktail recipe infused with lavender

You can replace any plain syrup cocktail recipe with this plain lavender syrup. Here are two variations you might like:

Lavender Martini: Combine 1 ounce vodka, 1/2 ounce lemon juice, and 1/2 ounce plain lavender syrup in a cocktail shaker with ice.

Lavender Margarita: Combine 2 ounces of tequila, 1 ounce of triple sec, 1 ounce of lime juice, 1/2 ounce of plain lavender syrup and pour over ice.

Lavender Tom Collins: Combine 1 ounce gin, 1/2 ounce lemon juice, 1/2 ounce plain lavender syrup, and 2 ounces sparkling water in a cocktail shaker with ice.

Frequently asked questions and helpful tips

Where can you get dried lavender?

Being able to grow and dry your own lavender is always a plus, but if not, it’s fairly easy to find online or at most health food stores. Here are a few links to dried lavender you can buy online: Mountain Rose Herbs, Los Poblanos, Amazon.

Reminder – be sure to buy culinary lavender, as non-culinary lavender is often sprayed with pesticides and other chemicals.

Can you use different sugars?

Instead of honey, you can use any other wet or dry sweetener. I prefer using raw honey because it’s unrefined, but white sugar, brown sugar, maple syrup, agave, or coconut sugar work. Just replace with the exact same 1:1 ratio of water to sugar.

Can you trade different herbs?

Yes! I made this with chamomile, but you can use rosemary or other dried herbs as well.

Can you double or triple this recipe?

Yes. You can easily double or triple this simple lavender syrup recipe. Just stick to the basic 1:1 water to sugar ratio and adjust your lavender or other herbs to suit your preferences.

Here’s how to store your plain lavender syrup

Store your plain lavender syrup in a sealed jar in the refrigerator for up to 1 month. You can also freeze it and it will keep for several months. Because of the sugar-to-water ratio, it must not freeze completely. You need to take it out of the freezer about an hour before use.

Why isn’t my lavender syrup purple?

I know – wouldn’t it be fun if this simple lavender syrup turned purple? Unfortunately, if you don’t use food coloring, it just won’t have that purple hue. What you get is a nice amber hue from the sugar in the honey (or other sweetener). However, the taste will be just as good.

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