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How to Make A Simple Sugar Syrup

How to Make A Simple Sugar Syrup

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A simple syrup sugar is made with crystal sugar and water.  Usually the ratio is one part sugar and one part water,  for a medium, not very sweet syrup.

Sugar syrup ready image

This syrup can be used for all Greek pastries which are made with syrup, such as galaktoboureko, baklavas, kantaifi, ekmek kataifi, revani, samali, Cypriot loukoumades, halvas, etc.

galaktoboureko (semolina pudding in phyllo)
Galatoboureko

We can also use it to make liqueurs and other drinks, such as lemonades or vyssinada, to moisten sponge cakes etc.

Cherry Pit Liqueur photo
Cherry Pit Liqueur

The ingredients will vary from recipe to recipe, depending if you want it denser or lighter.

In some recipes, you can substitute sugar with honey or make it with both with one part sugar and on part honey.  See BaklavasMelomakarona or pastelli.  Try other versions such as replacing white or caster sugar with demerara or raw sugar for a richer flavour.

simple syrup with sugar image

You can adjust the ratios and make it more dense and sweeter by adding more sugar or honey or lighter by adding more water.

Chocolate Baklavas Tart image
Chocolate Baklavas Tart

In Greek desserts we usually flavour syrups with a cinnamon stick, whole cloves and thinly cut lemon peel. 

In some Cypriot recipes we also add some blossom water or rose, which brings the dessert to another dimension.  See Daktyla.

Daktyla image
Daktyla

Fragrant geranium leaves also give a wonderful aroma and flavour syrups and, therefoe, we use them a lot in Greek fruit preserves and jams.

You can replace water with fruit juice.  Fore example if you are making an orange cake which needs a syrup, adding syrup made with orange juice will give more flavour and colour to the cake.  However, here you will not add the same ratio of sugar to water, as the fruit juice contains natural fructose, so it will be much sweeter.

syrup with frangrant geraniums leaves image

The cooking time for a normal syrup is 5 minutes after the syrup starts boiling.  If you boil it more, the water will evaporate and make a thicker syrup.

We add the lemon juice for three reasons:

a)  It adds flavour to the syrup.

b)  The lemon helps balance the sweetness of the syrup.

b)  It prevents the sugar from crystalizing again.

simple syrup with sugar image

How to Make A Simple Sugar Syrup

Yield: 3 cups
Prep Time: 1 minute
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 6 minutes

A simple syrup sugar is made with crystal sugar and water. Usually the ratio is one part sugar and one part water, for a medium, not very sweet syrup.

Ingredients

  • 3 parts sugar
  • 3 parts water
  • 3 tbsp lemon juice

For aroma, depending on the recipe:

  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 3 - 4 cloves
  • 1 lemon peel
  • or 1 tablespoon blossom water or rose water
  • or 2 - 3 rose geranium leaves

Instructions

  1. Put all ingredients, except the lemon juice, in a pot and stir to dissolve the sugar.
  2. Bring to boil and stir occasionally until the sugar dissolves.
  3. Simmer for 5 minutes.
  4. If you want the syrup more dense, simmer for a few more minutes, up to ten minutes.
  5. Add the lemon juice, stir and remove from the heat.

Notes

Leftover syrup can be stored in the fridge for a long time.

Nutrition Information
Yield 3 Serving Size 1
Amount Per Serving Calories 196Total Fat 0gSaturated Fat 0gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 0gCholesterol 0mgSodium 35mgCarbohydrates 15gFiber 2gSugar 12gProtein 1g

"These values are automatically calculated and offered for guidance only. Their accuracy is not guaranteed."

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