This Orange syrup recipe is perfect for enhancing teas, lattes, cocktails, desserts, and more. You only need four ingredients to make this sweet and citrusy simple syrup! Try it in a matcha latte, or drizzled over this orange bundt cake.
It's no secret we love a flavorful syrup around here, and this orange simple syrup is one of my favorites!
You can use it to make super refreshing lattes, add sweet and citrusy flavor to your favorite drinks and desserts, and even use it in vinaigrettes and marinades! I also like to use it to make a glaze for these orange lavender shortbread cookies!
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🧐 Why This Recipe Works
- This orange syrup recipe only requires a couple of ingredients.
- Orange simple syrup works with savory dishes too. Use it to make vinaigrettes, marinades, salad dressings, and more!
- This syrup can be used to enhance the flavor and sweetness of teas, lemonades, cocktails, mocktails, and more!
🛒 What You Need For This Recipe
🔖 Ingredients & Substitutions
- Oranges: Navel or Cara Cara oranges work best. You can also use blood oranges or tangerines, but you'll likely need to increase the quantity in order to yeild enough juice.
- Sugar: I like to use a combination of granulated white and brown sugars to add depth to the flavor, but you can just use the white sugar or substitute it for cane sugar.
- Optional Ingredients: Cinnamon, cardamom, or cloves
🍊 How To Make This Recipe
Step 1: Pour water and sugar into a saucepan. Sprinkle in the zest of 1 orange and one lemon.
Step 2: Thoroughly juice 2 oranges and 1 lemon. This should yield about 1 cup of juice. Pour juice into saucepan.
Pro Tip: It's okay if some pulp gets in, we're going to strain it later!
Step 3: Place over medium heat and give ingredients a quick stir until sugar is thoroughly dissolved. When orange syrup comes to a low boil, reduce to a gentle simmer for 10 minutes.
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Step 4: Leave orange simple syrup to cool for 30 minutes. Pour through strainer to remove zest, then store in a mason jar or flip-top bottle and refrigerate.
☕️ Serving Suggestions
- Use orange simple syrup to add the refreshing flavor of fresh oranges to your morning matcha.
- Stir it into green, herbal, or black teas.
- Sweeten sparkling water or coffee soda with it.
- Mix syrup into your hot cocoa for a Chocolate Orange effect.
- Use it to flavor desserts like cupcakes and ice cream.
- Add a touch of citrus to your lavender latte!
🌸 More Easy Syrups To Try
Looking for more easy syrups you can make to add flavor to drinks and desserts? Check out these simple recipes!
- Honey Syrup
- Lilac Syrup
- Jasmine Syrup
- Rose Hip Syrup
- Huckleberry Syrup
- Lavender Simple Syrup
- Elderberry Syrup
- Easy Date Syrup
- Earl Grey Syrup
- Chokecherry Syrup
🤷🏻♀️ FAQs
When stored in the fridge in an airtight container, orange simple syrup will last up to a month!
Triple sec is not a syrup but a colorless liqueur made from orange peels. While both triple sec and orange syrup can be used in the making of cocktails, they serve very different purposes.
👩🏻🍳 Pro Tips
- If you want a thicker syrup, you can increase the ratio of sugar to water from 1:1 to 2:1.
- You can use a vegetable peeler if you prefer to peel the oranges, rather than zest them. However, you will need to remove the pith (the white part of the rind) away from the peel to keep the syrup from absorbing its bitter flavor. This is why I prefer to use a zester.
- Some pulp may make it through even a fine mesh strainer. If you want a perfectly smooth texture you can strain it through cheesecloth.
- When thickened, this orange syrup recipe is not only great with drinks but also works well drizzled over pumpkin spice pancakes, waffles, cakes, etc!
- Another option is to store it in a plastic squeeze bottle for even easier dispensing!
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🍎 Related Recipes
📖 Recipe
Orange Syrup
Equipment
- fine mesh sieve
- mason jar or flip-top bottle
Ingredients
- 1 cup water
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 2 large navel oranges
- 1 lemon
Instructions
- Pour water and sugar into saucepan. Sprinkle in the zest of 1 orange and one lemon.
- Thoroughly juice 2 oranges and 1 lemon. This should yield about 1 cup of juice. Pour juice into saucepan.
- Place over medium heat and give ingredients a quick stir until sugar is thoroughly dissolved. When orange syrup comes to a low boil, reduce to a gentle simmer for 10 minutes.
- Leave orange simple syrup to cool for 30 minutes. Pour through strainer to remove zest, then store in a mason jar or flip-top bottle and refrigerate.
Notes
- It's okay if some pulp gets in, we're going to strain it later!
- You can use a vegetable peeler if you prefer to peel the oranges, rather than zest them. However, you will need to remove the pith (the white part of the rind) away from the peel to keep the syrup from absorbing its bitter flavor. This is why I prefer to use a zester.
- Some pulp may make it through even a fine mesh strainer. If you want a perfectly smooth texture you can strain it through cheesecloth.
- When thickened, this orange syrup recipe is not only great with drinks but also works well drizzled over pumpkin spice pancakes, waffles, cakes, etc!
- If you want a thicker syrup, you can increase the ratio of sugar to water from 1:1 to 2:1.
Kathy Fisher says
There's simply nothing better than the fresh smell of orange and/or lemon. It can set a lethargic person back on it's (my) feet. Totally invigorating....really good for what's ailing you.
Hilda Sterner says
Yes, one of my favorite scents for sure! One of the things I miss about California, that and figs!