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.
Would you like to save this recipe?
We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!
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 Moka Pot 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!
Jump to:
😍 Why You'll Love This Recipe
- 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 pineapple weed tea, this easy lemonade recipe, cocktails, mocktails, and more!
🔖 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 yield 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 the juice into a 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 the orange syrup comes to a low boil, reduce to a gentle simmer for 10 minutes.
Step 4: Leave the orange simple syrup to cool for 30 minutes. Pour through a strainer to remove zest, then store in a mason jar or flip-top bottle and refrigerate.
☕️ Serving Suggestions
- Use the orange simple syrup to add the refreshing flavor of fresh oranges to your morning matcha or drizzle it over baked protein oats.
- 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
- Cardamom syrup
- Huckleberry syrup
- Lavender simple syrup
- Elderberry syrup
- Earl grey syrup
- Chokecherry syrup
🤷🏻♀️ FAQs
When stored in the fridge in an airtight container, the 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) 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!
Did you make this recipe?
🍎 Related Recipes
📖 Recipe
Would you like to save this recipe?
We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- 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.
Nutrition
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.
Veda Maas says
I added some ginger and cinnamon sticks - absolutely delicious!
Hilda Sterner says
Great additions, Veda! Thanks so much for your comment.
Hope B says
Thank you so much for this recipe! I had an orange white mocha recently at a coffee shop while traveling and was hoping to be able to recreate it at home! This recipe is spot on and makes a very tasty, very orange-y syrup that isn’t fake or too sweet!
Hilda Sterner says
Aww thank you so much, Hope! I’m so happy you loved it! Orange white mocha sounds like a cozy treat, and I’m thrilled this recipe helped you recreate that coffee shop flavor at home. Thanks again for taking the time to leave such a kind review!
Haley says
this tastes SO good! i used fresh Florida oranges from a neighbor. how long does it last in the fridge?
Hilda Sterner says
Hi Haley, I would say around a month or so.
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!