This Lime Simple Syrup is bright, tangy, and so easy to make! It takes less than 30 minutes to make and calls for just 3 ingredients. You can use the syrup for cocktails, mocktails, iced tea, and more! It's great for summer parties and it's freezer-friendly! Make a double batch and freeze it to have it on hand for drinks all summer long!
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Why You'll Love This Lime Syrup
Double lime flavor - This syrup is made with both lime juice and lime zest. It makes it tangy, zesty, and so full of flavor! I highly recommend using freshly squeezed lemon juice for the best flavor!
Easy and quick - You only need cane sugar, freshly squeezed lemon juice, and fresh lemon zest to make this syrup. It takes less than 30 minutes to make, including 10 minutes of cooling time, and requires minimal work! I like using an electric citrus juicer for this recipe to make juicing the limes much easier!
Lots of uses - You can use this syrup for various cocktails, like Margaritas, mocktails, hot or iced teas, limeade, and more!
Freezer-friendly - This syrup freezes really well, I actually recommend making a double batch and freezing it so you always have it on hand! Due to the high sugar content, the syrup doesn't actually fully freeze so it's pourable right from the freezer! It's just very thick so it's best to leave it out for a few minutes first or in the fridge for 30 minutes.
Ingredients
- Lime juice - Freshly squeezed lime juice will give the syrup the best flavor. Avoid bottled lime juice whenever possible. This syrup doesn't have any water, just 1 cup of lime juice, but you can add ½ cup of lime juice and ½ cup of water for less tart syrup.
- Lime zest - Fresh lime zest gives the syrup a ton of flavor. I like grating it on a Microplane rather than adding thick strips because it allows the zest to release more flavor into the syrup. I highly recommend using organic limes for this to avoid unnecessary chemicals.
- Cane sugar - I like using cane sugar for most of my syrups but you can use white sugar as well. Cane sugar is darker than white sugar but not as dark as brown sugar.
Variations and Substitutions
- Sugar-free - You can use a sugar substitute that can be used in a 1:1 ratio instead of regular sugar to make this syrup. Keep in mind this will change the flavor of the syrup and the syrup might not last as long because regular sugar acts as a preservative in this recipe.
- Different sweetener - If you don't need the syrup to be sugar-free but want to use a different sweetener, maple syrup, coconut sugar, or even agave will all work but they will change the color and the flavor as well.
- Bottled lime juice - While I always say freshly squeezed citrus is the best, you can use bottled lime juice in a pinch as well, it just won't taste as fresh.
- Less lime juice or just the zest - If you want to make the syrup less tangy or only use the zest, you can replace some or all of the lime juice with water. Don't worry if you don't have enough lime juice, you can easily make it with just ½ cup lime juice and ½ cup water for a very similar flavor, it just won't be as tangy and strong.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Add cane sugar and lime zest into a small saucepan.
- Stir the lime zest into the sugar until the two are completely mixed and the sugar resembles wet sand. This releases the oils from the zest and it makes the syrup more flavorful. I don't recommend skipping this step for the best flavor!
- Add the lime juice and bring the mixture to a simmer over medium-high heat stirring it constantly until the sugar dissolves.
- Simmer the syrup for 5-8 minutes.
- Take it off the heat and allow it to cool for 10 minutes.
- Strain it through a fine mesh strainer into a bowl or a large measuring cup.
- Pour the syrup into an airtight glass jar and wait for it to cool completely before closing with a lid.
- Use immediately or store in the fridge until ready to use.
Tips & Tricks!
- Don't skip mixing the dry sugar with lime zest first before adding lime juice. This helps release the fragrant oils in the lime zest and the finished syrup will have more flavor. Just use a spoon to mix the two together, pressing the sugar down. You know it's done when the sugar resembles wet sand.
- Let the syrup cool for 10 minutes before straining it. This helps release more of the lemon zest flavor into the syrup.
How to Use the Syrup
- Cocktails - The best way to use this syrup is for cocktails! While a Classic Margarita is made with plain simple syrup and fresh lime juice, you can use this lime syrup instead of the two in case you're missing either one of them or want to speed things up. You can also try it in this Pineapple Coconut Margarita instead of the agave and lime juice, Mojitos, or in a Moscow Mule! It's great with tequila, gin, vodka, or white rum drinks.
- Mocktails - You can use the syrup for non-alcoholic drinks as you would for cocktails. It will shine in this Blueberry Mocktail or anything with tropical fruits like pineapple, mango, passion fruit, dragon fruit, coconut, or berries!
- Tea - It's a great sweetener for both hot tea and any iced tea! It's especially delicious with any herbal or fruit-based teas. Try it in this Iced Raspberry Passion Tea!
- Limeade - It makes a delicious limeade which is a lemonade made with lime juice instead of lemon. Because the syrup has both lime juice and sugar, you can simply mix it with water and you're done! It would be delicious in this Cucumber Lemonade!
- Flavored sparkling water - Mix the lime syrup with plain sparkling water, club soda, or any flavored sugar-free soda to add extra flavor.
- Food - You can drizzle the syrup over ice cream, fruit salad, or any pound cakes or desserts that call for syrup.
Storing and Make Ahead Options
Fridge: You can store the syrup in an airtight jar in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Wait for the syrup to cool before closing the jar with a lid.
The syrup may naturally separate as it sits in the fridge. This is normal, just stir it with a spoon before each use, and always make sure to use a clean spoon to avoid it spoiling.
Freezer: You can also freeze the syrup to store it for longer. It can be frozen for 3-4 months. Because of its high sugar content, it usually doesn't freeze completely so you can use it straight from the freezer. I like to freeze the syrup in small 2-4 serving containers to always know how much I have or need to transfer to the fridge when needed.
I highly recommend making this lime syrup and any other syrups always ahead of time, not right before you want to make your drinks or anything you use the syrup in. This way it's already ready for you and it saves a ton of time!
FAQs
I highly recommend investing in an electric citrus juicer, I promise you it will save you so much time! It find doesn't have to be expensive, they all work pretty much the same! I recommend this electric citrus juicer, it's cheap, easy to use, and simple.
Yes, while you can use a sugar substitute, keep in mind this will change the flavor. It's also important to note that sugar acts as a preservative in syrups so if you skip it, it won't last as long in the fridge.
More Simple Syrup Recipes
If you want to try other fresh fruity syrups for spring and summer, check out any of the five recipes linked below! They're perfect for cocktails, mocktails, or any iced teas, and more! To see all the latest ones, head over to Simple Syrup Recipes.
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Did you try this Lime Syrup? Please leave a star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below!
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Print📖 Recipe
Lime Simple Syrup
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cooling time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 8 mins
- Total Time: 28 minutes
- Yield: 1 ½ cup 1x
- Category: Flavored Syrup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegan
Description
This Lime Simple Syrup is bright, zesty, and so easy to make! Use it for cocktails, mocktails, iced tea, and more! It's great for any party and it's freezer-friendly!
Ingredients
- 1 ¼ cup cane sugar
- 2 tbsp freshly grated lime zest (2-3 limes)
- 1 cup freshly squeezed lime juice
Instructions
- Add cane sugar and lime zest into a medium saucepan.
- Stir the lime zest into the sugar until the two are completely mixed and the sugar resembles wet sand. This releases the oils from the zest and it makes the syrup more flavorful.
- Add the lime juice and bring the mixture to a simmer stirring it constantly until the sugar dissolves.
- Simmer the syrup for 5-8 minutes.
- Take it off the heat and allow it to cool for 10 minutes
- Strain it through a fine mesh strainer into a bowl or a large measuring cup.
- Pour the syrup into an airtight glass jar and wait for it to cool completely before closing with a lid.
- Use immediately or store in the fridge until ready to use.
Notes
Less tangy syrup: ½ cup lime juice and ½ cup water instead of 1 cup of lime juice. If you use less lime juice, you only need 1 cup of sugar instead of 1 ¼ cup because the syrup will be less tangy.
Storing: Store the syrup in an airtight jar in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. The syrup may separate as it sits, just stir it before every use and always use a clean spoon.
Freezer: You can freeze any leftover syrup in a freezer-safe container for up to 3-4 months. I like to freeze it in small 2-4 serving containers so I don’t have to defrost too much at once. One serving is 1-2 tablespoon of syrup.
The syrup makes about 1 ½ cup of syrup which is 12 servings if you use 2 tablespoon per person.
Veronika Sykorova says
This is one of my favorite syrups for summer drinks! It's great in simple soda or in margaritas!