This Red Currant Syrup has just 3 ingredients, and it's ready in less than 30 minutes! It has a bright, tart flavor and a beautiful, vibrant red color. You can use it in cocktails, matcha, lemonade, or other drinks and more! It's super easy to make, gluten-free, and freezer-friendly.
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Why You'll Love This Syrup
A unique flavor - Red currants are such an underappreciated summer berry. It has more uses than it gets credit for, and it absolutely shines as a syrup! The syrup has a delicious sweet-and-tart flavor and a beautiful, vibrant red color. You might've come across it sold in bottles as "groseille syrup", which is just the French word for red currants.
Simple and easy - I highly recommend making it at home instead of buying it! All you need are 3 ingredients and less than 30 minutes. Just red currants, sugar, and water - it really doesn't get easier than this! Plus, you can freeze the syrup for later, or use frozen red currants in the off-season.
Lots of uses - We've been making this syrup for as long as I can remember, and my favorite way to enjoy it was stirred into still water as a kid. Now I like it in sparkling water and a little lemon, but there are so many other ways you can use it! It's absolutely delicious in iced matcha lattes, cocktails, mocktails, iced teas, lemonades, and more!
Ingredients
- Red currants - You can make this syrup with both fresh and frozen red currants. I actually like to freeze them in the summer (without the stems) and add them to my oatmeal, smoothies, or make syrup with them when they're not in season. This way you can enjoy the syrup all year long!
- Cane sugar - I like using cane sugar for most of my syrups, especially the ones where I want the flavor to really stand out. It's less processed than white sugar but still very neutral in taste.
- Water - Use filtered water whenever possible for the best flavor.
Variations and Substitutions
- Sugar-free - You can use a sugar substitute that can be used in a 1:1 ratio instead of white sugar. Keep in mind that this will not only change the flavor, but it will also shorten the syrup's shelf life. Sugar is what preserves it, so if you omit it, it won't last as long.
- Different currants - You might come across white currants and black currants at the farmer's market. They all have different flavors; especially the black currants, which have a very bold flavor. While you can't use them interchangeably, you can make separate syrups with each variety if you want to try something new!
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Add the sugar, water, and red currants without stems to a medium saucepan.
- Bring the mixture to a boil while stirring constantly, just until the sugar dissolves.
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- Lower the heat and simmer it for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Take it off the heat and cool for 10 minutes. This helps to infuse the syrup with even more flavor.
- Strain the syrup through a fine mesh strainer into a large measuring cup or a bowl. Use the back of a spoon to press on the red currants to get as much juice out as you can.
- Transfer the syrup to an airtight jar and cool to room temperature before closing with a lid.
- Store in the fridge or use in drinks right away.
How to Use Red Currant Syrup
- Sparkling water - My favorite way to use it, and the way we used to use it when I was a kid, is just adding it to water. It was always still water when I was a kid, but now I really like it in sparkling water with a squeeze of lemon and lots of ice!
- Cocktails and mocktails - Here is where you can get most creative! There are endless cocktails and mocktails you can add this syrup to. It's delicious with light spirits like silver tequila, vodka, gin, or white rum.
- Lattes - This syrup works really well in matcha lattes! The combination of earthy matcha and tangy red currants is surprisingly good! I haven't tried it in coffee, but since raspberry coffee lattes are popular, especially with chocolate, I can imagine swapping the raspberry syrup for this one could be just as good!
- Lemonades and tea - Use it to sweeten tea or add a flavor to your homemade lemonade. It would be delicious with fruit teas as well as black tea or green tea.
- Food - Brush the syrup on cake between each layer for added flavor and moisture, or drizzle it over ice cream or even pancakes!
Storing
Refrigerator: Store the syrup in an airtight jar in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. The syrup might settle a little, so stir it briefly before each use. Always use a clean spoon to prevent any cross-contamination and discard it if it changes color, smell, or consistency. Do not store it at room temperature; it needs to be refrigerated.
Freezer: You can also freeze the syrup in a freezer-safe container for 3-4 months. The lower and more stable the temperature of your freezer, the longer it will last.
I don't recommend an ice cube tray because the syrupwon't freeze completely solid due to its high sugar content. I learned this the hard way when all of my syrup defrosted before I could ever scoop it out of the tray.
FAQs
Yes, and there's no need to defrost them! Freezing is a great way to preserve them and make the syrup fresh any time of the year.
Yes, but I always recommend using cane sugar for the best results. A substitute like granulated monk fruit will change the flavor, and the syrup might also be thinner. Sugar also helps to preserve the syrup, and without it, its shelf life will be much shorter.
Similar Fruity Syrups
Below are a few more fun homemade syrups you can make in the summer if you liked this one! The passion fruit is my favorite! To see all the latest ones, head over to Flavored Syrups; there's a lot more to choose from!
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Have you tried this Red Currant Simple Syrup? Please leave a star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below!
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Print📖 Recipe
Red Currant Syrup
This Red Currant Syrup has 3 ingredients; it has a delicious, tart flavor and a beautiful, vibrant red color! Ready in 30 minutes! You can use it in cocktails, matcha, lemonade, or other drinks and more! It's super easy to make, gluten-free, and freezer-friendly.
- Total Time25 minutes
- Yield1 ⅔ cups 1x
- DietVegan
Ingredients
- 1 cup cane sugar
- 1 cup water
- 1 ½ cups red currants, stems removed (fresh or frozen)
Instructions
- Add the sugar, water, and red currants without stems to a medium saucepan.
- Bring the mixture to a boil while stirring constantly, just until the sugar dissolves.
- Lower the heat and simmer it for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Take it off the heat and cool for 10 minutes.
- Strain the syrup through a fine mesh strainer into a large measuring cup or a bowl. Use the back of a spoon to press on the red currants to get as much juice out as you can.
- Transfer the syrup to an airtight jar and cool to room temperature before closing with a lid.
- Store in the fridge or use in drinks right away.
Notes
Storing: Store the syrup in an airtight jar in the fridge for up to two weeks. You can also freeze it for 3-4 months in a freezer-safe container. Avoid an ice cube tray because the syrup never freezes completely solid.
How to use it: In sparkling water, cocktails, mocktails, matcha lattes, drizzled over ice cream, or brushed on cake layers.
The syrup makes approx. 14 servings if you use 2 tablespoons per serving. The nutritional info is only an estimate.
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Chill time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 10 mins
- Category: Flavored Syrup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
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