11 simple syrup recipes

Homemade pineapple liqueur made by steeping fresh pineapple in vodka for a week, then sweetening with simple syrup. A tropical, sippable spirit that ages beautifully.

Pretty in Pink blended cocktail with sweet and sour, cranberry juice, lime, simple syrup, and orange liqueur. A tart, fruity pink drink served in a sugar-rimmed glass with a lemon wheel.

Slow-braised red cabbage with apples, red wine, lemon juice, and butter. Sweet, tangy, and deeply savory after a long, gentle simmer. A classic European side dish for 6.

Vietnamese fruits in syrup (trái cây) with orange, pineapple, and lychees in a sherry-citrus sugar syrup. A simple, elegant tropical dessert chilled to perfection.

Crisp biscotti soaked in flavored simple syrup until soft, then topped with fresh whipped cream and fruit. A quick Italian-inspired dessert with endless variations.

This simple fruit salad works at the start of the meal or as a dessert. The fruit is lightly glazed with either a simple syrup or agave syrup. Ginger, a bit of lemon, and some savory thyme which pairs amazingly with summer fruits accents the tartness of the berries and the sweetness of the stone fruit.

Ogwissimanabo is a traditional Tuscarora yellow squash soup with shallots, cucumber, and a touch of maple syrup. A simple Native American summer soup ready in 30 minutes.

Sparkling pineapple punch with cinnamon-infused simple syrup, lime juice, pineapple juice, and sparkling white wine. A fizzy, crowd-sized party punch served from a punch bowl.

Peach iced tea made with brewed black tea and peach syrup. A simple three-ingredient summer drink you can sweeten to taste or make sugar-free with a substitute.

Mangos poached in a brown sugar and cinnamon syrup with vanilla, served cooled over vanilla ice cream. A simple, elegant tropical dessert with warm spice notes.

Boozy whiskey cake made from a doctored box mix with vanilla pudding and walnuts, then soaked in a hot butter-whiskey-brown sugar syrup. Outrageously moist and dead simple to pull off.