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Lemon Simple Syrup

By America's Test Kitchen

Published on August 22, 2007

Yield

Makes about 1 cup

Lemon Simple Syrup

Ingredients

1 cup sugar 1 cup water 1 tablespoon grated lemon zest

Before You Begin

In the test kitchen, we keep sugar syrup in the refrigerator at all times during the summer. This recipe makes enough syrup for two pitchers of iced tea and can be doubled if you go through a lot of iced tea in your household.

Instructions

  1. Heat sugar, water, and lemon zest in small saucepan over medium-high heat until sugar completely dissolves, about 5 minutes. Cool to room temperature. Strain and discard zest. Syrup can be refrigerated for 1 week.
Lemon Simple Syrup
Photography by Carl Tremblay. Styling by Chantal Lambeth.

Lemon Simple Syrup

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By America's Test Kitchen
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Yield

Makes about 1 cup

Ingredients

1 cup sugar
1 cup water
1 tablespoon grated lemon zest

Ingredients

1 cup sugar
1 cup water
1 tablespoon grated lemon zest

Ingredients

1 cup sugar
1 cup water
1 tablespoon grated lemon zest

Why This Recipe Works

Simple syrup is the best way to sweeten cold beverages from lemonade to iced tea. Unlike granulated sugar, which won’t dissolve readily in beverages, liquid simple syrup doesn’t make cold beverages gritty. Simple syrup is equal parts water and sugar heated long enough to dissolve the sugar. The syrup can be flavored with citrus zest or spices like stick cinnamon, and it can be refrigerated for up to one week.

Before You Begin

In the test kitchen, we keep sugar syrup in the refrigerator at all times during the summer. This recipe makes enough syrup for two pitchers of iced tea and can be doubled if you go through a lot of iced tea in your household.

Instructions

  1. Heat sugar, water, and lemon zest in small saucepan over medium-high heat until sugar completely dissolves, about 5 minutes. Cool to room temperature. Strain and discard zest. Syrup can be refrigerated for 1 week.

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