An easy homemade simple syrup this Lemon Syrup will add sweetness and citrus flavor to coffee, tea, cocktails, dressings, cakes and more!

Sweet with citrus notes, this Easy Lemon Syrup Recipe will add just the right amount of sweetness and zesty flavor to your favorite drinks.
This simple syrup will especially come in handy during the warm summer months when you want to sweeten an iced beverage.
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Lemon Syrup
With just two ingredients, you will have a simple lemon syrup on hand to brush on cake layers, add to a cold beverage and more.
Add some syrup to club soda and make yourself a homemade lemon soda.
Granulated sugar and fresh lemons are all it takes.
Peel the lemon zest, avoiding the white pith, squeeze the fresh lemon juice and combine with the white sugar. Simmer until the sugar dissolves, strain and your sweet syrup is ready.
And if you prefer a thicker syrup, just decrease the amount of liquid when making your recipe.
Add lemon flavor to a fruit salad, cocktail recipes such as a lemon drop martini and, of course, to hot tea and iced tea.
There are so many uses for Lemon Syrup. It is a great way to add sweetness with citrus flavor to your favorite recipes.
Check out how to make simple syrup, ways to add flavor to your simple syrup, how to store the syrup and more!
My homemade ginger syrup is delicious too and gingerbread syrup will be a welcome addition to your holidays.
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How to make lemon syrup
Scroll down for the full recipe instructions and ingredient amounts in the recipe card below
- Step 1: Combine the granulated sugar and lemon juice in a saucepot over medium heat.
- Add the lemon rinds to the saucepot.
- Step 3: Heat until the sugar has dissolved. Let cool.
- Step 4: Using a mesh strainer, transfer the cooled syrup into a mason jar. Discard the lemon rinds.
Hint: Be sure to let the simple syrup cool to room temperature before transferring it to a container.
Recipe tips
- To avoid a bitter flavor, do not peel the white pith of the lemon when slicing off the lemon peel.
- A citrus juicer makes juicing those fresh lemons quick and easy!
- I do not recommend using bottled lemon juice to make this recipe. Freshly squeezed lemon juice will give your sugar syrup the best flavor.
- Use this recipe as a simple syrup for lemonade. It will intensify the lemon flavor of your lemonade!
- You can easily double this recipe to make a big batch of syrup.
- You can also halve this recipe to make a smaller amount of simple syrup.
Substitutions
- Substitute limes for the lemons and make lime syrup
- For a sweeter and milder lemon flavor, substitute meyer lemons for regular lemons and make meyer lemon syrup
Variations
You can give additional flavor to this lemon syrup by adding the following to the saucepot when heating the mixture:
- Lime - replace the lemon juice and lemon rinds with lime juice and lime rinds and make yourself a lime simple syrup
- Ginger - add thin slices of fresh ginger for a lemon ginger syrup
- Honey - replace the granulated sugar with honey for a honey lemon syrup
- Honey and Ginger- replace the granulated sugar with honey and add thinly sliced fresh ginger for a honey lemon ginger syrup
- Meyer Lemon - replace the regular lemons with meyer lemons for a milder and sweeter citrus taste
Ingredients
You will need the following ingredients to make lemon simple syrup recipe:
- granulated sugar
- lemon juice
- lemon peel
FAQ
Yes, you can easily freeze a simple syrup and have it on hand whenever you need some.
I recommend freezing it in silicone ice cube trays with tops for easy removal.
Frozen simple syrup will last in the freezer for up to 3 months
Simple syrup will stay fresh for up to one month when properly stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container.
Storage
- Store the cooled syrup in a mason jar or an airtight container in the refrigerator.
- This recipe will last for about one month in the refrigerator.
- If you make a thicker syrup it will last for about six weeks in the refrigerator.
Simple Syrup Recipes
Looking for more easy simple syrup recipes? You'll want to give these recipes a try too:
Recipes with Simple Syrup
These are my favorite recipes to add a simple syrup to:
Lemon Syrup
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Ingredients
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup fresh lemon juice
- yellow peel from one lemon
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Instructions
- In a small saucepan combine the granulated sugar, lemon juice and lemon peels and heat over medium heat until the sugar has dissolved complately.
- Remove from the heat and let the simple syrup cool to room temperature.
- Pour the syrup through a fine mesh strainer to remove the lemon peels.
- Discard the lemon rinds and store the lemon simple syrup in a mason jar or airtight container in the refrigerator.
Notes
-
- To avoid a bitter flavor, do not peel the white pith of the lemon when slicing off the lemon peel.
-
- A citrus juicer makes juicing those fresh lemons quick and easy!
-
- I do not recommend using bottled lemon juice to make this recipe. Freshly squeezed lemon juice will give your sugar syrup the best flavor.
-
- Use this recipe as a simple syrup for lemonade. It will intensify the lemon flavor of your lemonade!
-
- You can easily double this recipe to make a big batch of syrup.
-
- You can also halve this recipe to make a smaller amount of simple syrup.
I tried your Easy Lemon Syrup recipe this morning, and it was a hit! I drizzled it over my pancakes, and the burst of lemon flavor really brightened up the breakfast table!
I am a lemon lover!! This would make a great food gift. Perfect for adding to drinks.
So happy to hear that you enjoyed my recipe! Happy cooking, Gwynn
This came out sooo good and perfect for summer drinks! Loving the addition of lemon zest for the added flavors.
I made this last night and loved it! I had a bowl of vanilla ice cream with fresh blueberries and drizzled it over the top. Can't wait to make it again!!
Sounds delightful! So happy you enjoyed this recipe Angela!
This is a big win for a lemon enjoyer like me, is is sweet and tangy, the aroma is sensational!