This Lavender simple syrup recipe has so many uses! Add a splash of lavender syrup to sweeten drinks or to add a hint of lavender flavor to cocktails, iced tea, and lattes. Or, use it to flavor frosting or icing for lavender shortbread cookies. It's sweet, fragrant, and really easy to make!
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Recently, I was on the phone with my friend Becca while she was going through a drive-through. Becca ordered a lavender latte, and I was so intrigued that I knew I had to make one!
Luckily, the lavender plant in my garden was in full bloom. I have all kinds of plans for these delicate beauties, but first up, this yummy lavender syrup!
Within a few hours, I was drinking an AMAZING lavender latte! Thanks to my son, who makes great lattes, and this easy-to-make lavender syrup recipe! You can also use this syrup to glaze orange lavender shortbread cookies or to sweeten lavender tea!
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🔖 Ingredients & Substitutions
- Lavender: Many lavender recipes call for dried lavender. I guess the main reason is convenience. Not many people have access to fresh lavender. If you do decide to use dried lavender, you'll only need ¼ cup since the flavor is more concentrated. Make sure to use food-grade or culinary lavender and not the kind that's dried for flower arrangements, potpourri, and other crafts. The green leaves are sometimes compared to mild-tasting rosemary; I didn't add them to the syrup
- Sugar: You'll need one cup of granulated white sugar to make this recipe. You can use brown sugar, coconut sugar, or honey as other sweeteners if desired. Although simple syrups are made with a 1-1 ratio of sugar to water, I used ¾ cup of water to 1 cup of sugar because I wanted the syrup sweeter and thicker.
- Citrus: I added a few fresh orange slices to my syrup, but you can try dried orange slices, lemon slices, or a teaspoon of lemon juice or vanilla extract instead.
- Herbs: Some recipes call for herbs such as rosemary and basil to be added to the syrup along with the fresh lavender blossoms. I chose to leave them out because I really wanted to focus on lavender's natural calming properties and pronounced lavender flavor. If I were to add an herb, I'd probably choose mint since lavender and mint are part of the same family.
🌸 How to Make Lavender Simple Syrup
Step 1: Strip the lavender flower petals from the stems and add them to a fine mesh strainer. Give them a quick rinse under cool running water. Discard the stems and leaves.
Pro Tip: Lavender buds are very delicate and fall off the stems easily. For this reason, I recommend stripping them from the stem, then washing them so that you don't lose any while you're washing them.
Step 2: Add the lavender flowers, water, sugar, and orange slices to a small saucepan. Stir over low heat to dissolve the sugar. Allow the mixture to come to a boil for a few minutes, then turn down the heat.
Step 3: Remove the orange slices from the syrup and simmer the syrup for an additional 10 minutes over low heat. Allow the lavender flowers to steep in the syrup for at least a few hours or, preferably, overnight.
Step 4: Strain the syrup using a soup bag or sachet bag. Squeeze all the syrup out of the lavender before discarding it. Pour the lavender syrup into an 8.5-ounce flip-top bottle and store it in the refrigerator. It should last you quite a while, as long as there is no cross-contamination.
🤷🏻♀️ Recipe FAQs
Lavender syrup can be used in so many ways! Use it to sweeten and flavor iced tea, mixed cocktails, or to make lavender lemonade. You can also add it to hot tea and coffee drinks, especially lavender lattes.
Lavender syrup can also be used to flavor frosting or icing for lavender cookies. It can be drizzled over ice cream or to back-sweeten wine. You can also freeze some of the syrup and flowers into ice cubes and use them to flavor plain water or other drinks.
Lavender syrup is prepared by simmering and steeping fresh or dried lavender in a simple syrup made with water and sugar. Once the flavor of the lavender is extracted, the lavender flowers are discarded. 
Lavender syrup is sweet and aromatic with a light and subtle lavender scent, with notes of citrus and a wonderful floral flavor.
Lavender syrup should be refrigerated unless it's canned and processed in hot water.
👩🏼🍳 Pro Tips
- When picking lavender, be sure it has not been treated with pesticides.
- If you're a winemaker like me, you can use the syrup for back-sweetening your wine and give it a hint of lavender flavor and aroma.
- Use some of the dried lavender in your tea mix. It's heavenly!
- If you have a lot of lavender growing in your garden, you can either freeze it fresh or dry it for later use. The dried lavender can be used in your cookie batter, in sachets, in lavender bath salts, soaps, or in bath bombs.
🍯 More Syrup Recipes
If you enjoy this lavender simple syrup recipe, check out these other syrup recipes!
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📖 Recipe
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Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Strip the lavender flower petals off of the stems and add them to a fine mesh strainer. Give them a quick rinse under cool running water. Discard the stems and leaves.
- Add the lavender flowers, water, sugar, and orange slices to a small saucepan. Stir over low heat to dissolve the sugar. Allow the mixture to come to a boil for a few minutes then turn down the heat.
- Remove the orange slices from the syrup and simmer the syrup for an additional 10 minutes over low heat. Allow the lavender flowers to steep in the syrup for at least a few hours or preferably, overnight.
- Strain the syrup using a soup bag or sachet bag. Squeeze all the syrup out of the lavender before discarding it. Pour the lavender syrup into an 8.5-ounce flip-top bottle and store it in the refrigerator. It should last you quite a while, as long as there is no cross-contamination.
Nutrition
Notes
- Lavender buds are very delicate and fall off the stems easily. For this reason, I recommend stripping them from the stem, then washing them so that you don't lose any while you're washing them.
- When picking lavender, be sure it has not been treated with pesticides.
- If you're a winemaker like me, you can use the syrup for back sweetening your wine and give it a hint of lavender flavor and aroma.
- Use some of the dried lavender in your tea mix. It's heavenly!
- If you have a lot of lavender growing in your garden, you can either freeze it fresh or dry it for later use. The dried lavender can be used in your cookie batter, in sachets, in lavender bath salts, soaps, or in bath bombs.
Agnes says
This worked exactly as written, thanks!
Hilda Sterner says
Thanks, Agnes, I appreciate the review!
Bailey says
Hi Hilda, thank you for the recipe! I adore lavender syrups for my morning latte, and lavender grows abundantly here in the PNW. I seem to consistently have issues with my simple syrups crystallizing to some degree after they've cooled and have been sitting, and experienced this again with your lavender recipe. Do you have any advice or thoughts to help prevent crystallization?
Hilda Sterner says
Hi Bailey, I know what you mean, I love lavender lattes! Especially the ones my son makes! Unfortunately there's not much that can be done about crystallization of syrups, similar to honey. If you use a lower ratio of sugar to water it lowers the chances of crystalization, but has the disadvantage of not being shelf-stable.
Cate says
Honey will not crystallize if frozen. Therefore, freeze the syrup.
Amber says
Hi, excited to try this for the first time. My lavender flowers have already dried up on the plant, can I still use them for
The syrup?
Hilda Sterner says
Hi Amber,
Yes, you sure can, good luck!
Megan Garland says
Made lavender simple syrup years ago and loved it! Want to give your method to go. Could I use coconut sugar?
Hilda Sterner says
Hi Megan, I haven't tried it myself, but you should be able to!
Dave Sweet says
Will fresh lavender tint the lavender syrup a lavender color?
Hilda Sterner says
Hi Dave, I used fresh lavender in this recipe. The colors in the post reflect the color you can expect. Make sure to check out the step by step photos too, thanks!
Kaylee says
Hi! When you let the buds steep overnight do you leave it on the counter or refrigerate it? Thank you!
Hilda Sterner says
I just leave it on the stovetop.
Anya says
Do I need to cover it with plastic wrap or anything while it sits on the stove?
Hilda Sterner says
Hi Anya, I just cover the pot with its lid. That should be just fine. If you don't have a lid for it, you can use foil.
Tara says
has anyone ever used lemon instead or orange?
Hilda Sterner says
Hi Tara,
You can totally use lemon instead. I just always have dehydrated orange slices on hand so I use them in a lot of my recipes!
Karen says
Hi, Hilda!! I've been making lavender syrup for about 6 years. It is wonderful!! But I've never added orange slices. Thanks for the tip!!!
Hilda Sterner says
Thank you, Karen! I appreciate the comment and yes, I love to add a few orange slices to most of my syrups!
Kelly Methey says
I love lavender! I will be making this very soon! I love the picture of the bottle sitting in the flowers! Beautiful!
Hilda Sterner says
Thanks, Kelly, I think you'd really love the lavender latte too!