Homemade Hibiscus Syrup Recipe {not just for co*cktails} (2024)

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This recipe for All-Natural Hibiscus Simple Syrup adds a delightful subtle floral, lemony and slightly tangy flavor to craft co*cktails. But you can also use it for Italian sodas, iced-teas, buttercream, pancakes, yogurt, ice cream and more.

Simple syrups are the best, because they are…SIMPLE! 🙂 Easily infuse sugar and water with your favorite florals, fruits, herbs and more! And this simple syrup makes the most delicious drink and the prettiest pink co*cktails.

My basic All Natural Cane Sugar Simple Syrup, is great for sweetening co*cktails, drinks and hot drinks too!

I’ve been waiting ALL summer for my beautiful hibiscus plant to bloom, it brings a little bit of the tropics to Colorado, I love it!

All you need for this beautiful simple syrup are dried hibiscus flowers, now I haven’t tried drying my own, I bought these wonderful All-Natural Dried Flowers.

I love making passion tea concentrate with them as well, SO GOOD FOR YOU! High in antioxidants, these flowers are amazing, in fact it’s the primary ingredient in Tazo’s Passion Tea bags. And so very flavorful.

Simple Ingredients Hibiscus Syrup Recipe

Full recipe and measurements in the printable recipe card at the end of this post.

• Hibiscus Flowers | Dried hibiscus flowers can be found online as well as in grocery stores like Whole Foods and Natural Grocers, try your local health food store.
• Sugar | For this simple syrup, I like to use organic, unbleached cane sugar.
• Water | Told you it was simple!

How to make Hibiscus Syrup Recipe

Start by placing organic cane sugar (honey or agave), water and dried flowers into a medium pot and bring it to a boil, slowly, over medium heat. Stirring occasionally to help the sugar dissolve.

As it comes to a boil, reduce the heat to a simmer and cook on low for 15 minutes, until slightly reduced and thicker.

Remove from heat and cool completely on the stove. It took about 45 minutes to an hour in the middle of summer for me. Once cooled, place a large glass bowl in the sink, fit with a fine wire-mesh strainer and strain the homemade hibiscus syrup from the liquid into the bowl.

Using a jar or other airtight container (a mason jar would work great too), placing a funnel on top of the jar, slowly pour your cooled hibiscus syrup into the jar.

If desired, label the jar, I love cute labels and these chalkboard labels work perfectly. I love jars, I’ve had this jar for 9 years, I picked it up at a little dairy store while on vacation in Maine!

How to store Hibiscus Syrup

Can hibiscus syrup recipe go bad? Sure, they can get moldy, so it’s best to store your simple syrup in the fridge. I’ve had them last for up to 6 months.

Variations

• Mint (fresh, 1 cup) | same ratio of sugar and water
• Lavender (dried, 1 tablespoon) | Food grade lavender
• Lemon (about 4 lemons, squeezed for ½ cup juice, zest from 1 lemon reduce to ½ sugar, omit water)
• Replace the sugar with equal amounts of agave or use honey

Ways to Use Simple Syrup

Here are a few of our favorite ways to enjoy this floral flavor:

• A replacement for grenadine syrup in a Shirley Temple or other drinks, iced teas, punch and craft co*cktails
• Pour over ice cream, sorbet or sherbet (perhaps over Old-Fashioned Vanilla Bean Ice Cream, or a lemon gelato, or rose pistachio??)
• Freeze it into small ice cubes for iced tea’s and other drinks
• Flavor Italian Sodas, it’s the prettiest pink color!
• Make a Skinny co*cktail | Add a touch of sweetness to a glass filled with ice and club soda or sparkling water with a squeeze of lemon juice and/or lime juice.
• Bottle some for hostess, teacher, Christmas and food gift baskets. Don’t forget the gift tags!
• Drizzle a little into your buttercream for both flavor and pink coloring, naturally!
• But probably my favorite is in a hibiscus co*cktails, such as this amazing Hibiscus Mojito, Healthy Hibiscus Margaritas {co*cktail or Mocktail}.
• Try creating a new co*cktail by adding a splash to your Moscow Mules or .

frequently asked questions

More simple syrups:

• Blueberry Syrup | Another naturally flavored and colored syrup! WOW! Try it over pancakes, waffles, on ice cream and yogurt!
• Cranberry Simple Syrup | Again a WOW looker to add pizazz to any drink, even non-alcoholic drinks like this Cranberry Spritzer.
• Mint Simple Syrup | Wouldn’t this be amazing in any Mojito or Mint Julep?
• Gingerbread Simple Syrup | Now we are talking! You can become a barista in your own home with this all-natural and delicious syrup.
• Lavender Simple Syrup | I think I could just sit and smell this delicious syrup. I could see drizzling this in a cup of Earl Gray tea or brushing on a lemon cake.

Have you made some unusual simple syrups, if so I’d love to hear what they are?

If you made this new recipe I’d love to hear what you thought of the hibiscus flavor.