This Thyme Simple Syrup has only 3 ingredients and takes just 15 minutes to make! It's perfect for cocktails, mocktails, tea, lemonades, and more! It's delicious any time of the year and amazing for cocktails during the holiday season, especially when combined with other syrups or fruit juices.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
Quick and easy - This syrup takes only 15 minutes to make and you only need water, cane sugar, and fresh thyme to make it! Making your own flavored syrups at home is much easier than you may think, it's so much cheaper than using store-bought syrups, so much more delicious!
Fresh thyme flavor - Fresh thyme packs a ton of flavor and makes for an amazing syrup. Thyme flavored syrup is something most people probably haven't tried before which makes this the perfect thing to make for holiday parties or any get-togethers. Add it to your selection of syrups at a party or make it your special cocktail of the night! It's sure to be a hit.
Many uses - The best way to use this syrup is in cocktails and mocktails. It's especially delicious with other fruity syrups and juices but it works on its own as well. It goes well with most spirits, it's delicious in anything from vodka and gin to bourbon and cognac! You can also use it in non-alcoholic drinks like lemonades and teas (both hot and cold) for a fun herbal flavor.
Ingredients
- Fresh thyme - You'll need fresh thyme to give this syrup its amazing flavor. Dried thyme won't work in this recipe. You'll simmer the thyme with sugar and water and then steep it as you would tea.
- Cane sugar - I use cane sugar for most of my syrups but regular white sugar works as well. I like cane sugar because it's less processed but it still has a neutral flavor. Keep in mind that cane sugar is a little darker than white sugar so it yields darker, less clear syrup than white sugar would.
- Water - I recommend you use filtered water whenever possible for the best flavor.
Variations and Substitutions
Sugar-free - You can try making this syrup sugar-free by using a sugar-free sweetener that can be used instead of white sugar in a 1:1 ratio. I haven't tried it so I can't guarantee results. Keep in mind this will change the flavor of the syrup and it won't last as long because sugar preserves it.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Add cane sugar, water, and fresh thyme to a medium saucepan.
- Bring it to a simmer stirring constantly until the cane sugar is dissolved.
- Simmer the syrup for 5 minutes.
- Take the syrup off the heat and allow it to cool for 5 minutes before removing the thyme.
- Taste the syrup (be careful, it's hot) and steep the thyme for longer if you want it to be stronger.
- Pour the syrup into an airtight jar and store it in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
- Wait for the syrup to cool before closing the jar with a lid.
Serving Suggestions
Cocktails - You can use this syrup in any gin, vodka, blanco or reposado tequila, or even whiskey, bourbon, and rum cocktails - so practically anything! It goes really well with berries and citrus. Try it in this Limoncello Spritz, this Cranberry Orange Margarita, or this Blackberry Margarita.
Mocktails - Thyme syrup is delicious in any berry mocktail. Try it in this Blackberry Mocktail, this Pomegranate Mocktail, or this Blueberry Mocktail.
Tea - You can use this syrup to sweeten both hot and iced tea for a new fun flavor your guests might have not tried before!
Lemonade - Use this thyme syrup instead of some or all of the sugar when making homemade lemonade. Thyme goes really well with citrus and all you need is water, some lemons, and this syrup!
Storing and Make Ahead Options
Fridge: Store the syrup in an airtight jar or a container in the fridge for up to two weeks. Always use a clean spoon to keep bacteria away.
Freezer: Freeze any leftover syrup you won't be able to use up in a freezer-safe container and store it in the freezer for 2-5 months. I try to freeze the syrup in 1-4 serving containers so that I know how much I need to defrost.
Make ahead: Since simple syrups store so well, I always recommend making them ahead. That way it's ready for you when you're making your drink and it comes together super quickly!
FAQs
You probably took the thyme out of the syrup too soon. Leave it in for a little longer after you take the syrup off the heat. You don't want it to be too strong though so it doesn't overpower your drinks too much.
Theoretically yes but I highly recommend using fresh thyme for the best flavor. I haven't tried making the syrup with dried thyme so I can't guarantee good results.
Similar Herbal and Floral Syrups
If you like this thyme syrup, I highly recommend trying out other herbal syrups as well. My favorite is the mint syrup linked below but there are many other options to choose from as well as some floral ones (perfect for lattes and matcha!). If you want to see all the latest ones, head over to Flavored Syrups.
📖 Recipe
Thyme Simple Syrup
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 5 mins
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 1 ⅓ cup 1x
- Category: Flavored Syrup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegan
Description
This Thyme Simple Syrup is perfect for cocktails, mocktails, tea, lemonades, and more! It's delicious any time of the year and amazing for cocktails during the holiday season, especially when combined with other syrups or fruit juices.
Ingredients
- 1 cup cane sugar
- 1 cup water
- 10-12 springs fresh thyme
Instructions
- Add cane sugar, water, and fresh thyme to a medium saucepan.
- Bring it to a simmer stirring constantly until the cane sugar is dissolved.
- Simmer the syrup for 5 minutes.
- Take the syrup off the heat and allow it to cool for 5 minutes before removing the thyme. Taste it and steep the thyme for longer if you want it stronger.
- Pour the syrup into an airtight jar and store it in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. Wait for the syrup to cool before closing the jar with a lid.
Notes
Storing: Store the syrup in an airtight jar in the fridge for 2 weeks or you can freeze it in a freezer-safe container for 2-3 months. Defrost in the fridge overnight.
Fresh herbs don’t need as much cooking time to release their flavors as fruits do. I find 5 minutes of cooking and 5 minutes of resting is plenty to give the syrup enough flavor but if you want it extra strong, keep the thyme in the syrup for longer.
Veronika Sykorova says
This may be an unusual flavor for a syrup but it's so good! It's amazing with blackberries or cherries.