How To Make Rosemary Simple Syrup – This homemade rosemary syrup recipe adds gorgeous flavor to mocktails and cocktails of all kinds. (Don’t miss all the yummy ways to use it!)

A small glass bottle of rosemary simple syrup with a plate of colorful citrus in the background

Does the idea of rosemary simple syrup sound totally strange? I get it. Rosemary is usually used for savory dishes, like soups, stews, vegetables, and seasoning blends. BUT. It’s also actually amazing used in modest amounts in sweet dishes and cold drinks.

Used sparingly like other fresh herbs, rosemary adds warmth and depth and coaxes out nuanced flavor from whatever it touches. That’s why I love using it in mocktails!

As the name implies, this rosemary simple syrup recipe, is super simple to make. It only takes 3 ingredients, lasts a while in the fridge, and can be used for all sorts of delicious sips and celebrations.

Here’s all you need to make this homemade rosemary cocktail syrup recipe…

Our Easy Rosemary Simple Syrup Recipe, At A Glance:

Ingredients For Rosemary Simple Syrup
How To Make This Simple Syrup, Step By Step
Flavor Variations To Try
5 Ways To Use Rosemary Syrup
FAQ + Tips And Tricks For The Best Rosemary Cocktail Syrup
More Easy Mocktail Recipes To Try
RECIPE: Homemade Rosemary Simple Syrup

Ingredients for rosemary simple syrup on a white background

Gather Your Ingredients!

Sugar. Brown sugar is delightful, but it’s not great for this recipe. Use white sugar or cane sugar for rosemary simple syrup. It dissolves easily and easily creates that sugar-water solution we’re going for.
Water. Most simple syrup recipes use the same basic formula: equal parts water and sugar, plus whatever it is you’re using to infuse the syrup with flavor. In this case, that’s…
Fresh Rosemary. Last, but not least is a few sprigs of fresh rosemary. It adds rich, vibrant rosemary flavor that’s tough to beat!

Dissolving sugar in water in a white saucepan

How To Make Rosemary Simple Syrup, Step By Step:

Combine Sugar And Water. In a small saucepan, combine water and sugar.
Dissolve Over Medium Heat on the stove, stirring as needed to help the sugar dissolve. You don’t need the mixture to boil, just bring it to almost a simmer until the sugar dissolves.
Add Fresh Rosemary. Then, add fresh rosemary sprigs to the hot simple syrup and gently press it into the syrup a bit with your spoon. (The heat will make it start to color and wilt a bit, and pressing it gently helps release some of the rosemary oil into the syrup for better flavor.
Steep A Least 30 Minutes. Let the rosemary steep in the simple syrup at least 20-30 minutes up to 1 hour for the best flavor. (The longer it steeps, the stronger it will taste. I like mine at about the 25 minute mark.)
Strain The Syrup. Remove the rosemary sprigs and discard them. Place a small sieve/mesh strainer over a mason jar or bowl and pour the rosemary simple syrup through the sieve to strain out any stray rosemary leaves or debris.
Serve & Store. Cool the syrup and store in a glass jar or airtight container in the refrigerator up to 2 weeks. Add to your favorite drink recipes and more!

Try One Of These Tasty Twists:

Ginger. I love the warmth this adds to the earthy rosemary. It’s especially nice with cranberry or pomegranate drinks!
Citrus. Add lemon, lime, or orange juice for part of the water in the syrup, or add a bit of citrus peel to steep along with the rosemary. (Avoid the white pith, as this will make your syrup bitter.)

A small bottle of rosemary simple syrup on a plate with grapefruit and fresh lime

Two grapefruit mocktails garnished with grapefruit wedges, lime slices, and fresh rosemary

5 Ways To Use Rosemary Syrup:

Make A Mocktail (Or Cocktail!). Rosemary simple syrup adds warmth and depth to all kinds of mocktails and cocktails. Try it in a moscow mule mocktail, cranberry lime mocktail, or grapefruit mocktail (my favorite), for instance, or use in one of these rosemary cocktail recipes.
Mix Up A Batch Of Limeade Or Lemonade. It sounds crazy, but it works! Add a little rosemary simple syrup to a batch of lemonade or limeade for some extra depth. I love it in berry lemonade or berry limeade!
Mix Into A Cozy Hot Drink Or Tea. Add a splash of this liquid sweetener and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice or grapefruit juice to a mug of hot water. Or, stir a drizzle into a cup of iced tea or hot tea, like herbal tea. It’s lovely with ginger tea and lemon!
Macerate Berries. Pour a tablespoon or two of rosemary simple syrup over fresh berries and let them sit to make a quick berry topping. The berries will soften and go syrupy! Mash or puree for a smoother texture. It’s lovely on ice cream, waffles, or with pound cake, white cake, angel food cake, or yellow cake and whipped cream!
Make Sorbet. A lot of sorbet recipes use fruit and simple syrup to create their flavor. Add rosemary simple syrup to give your sorbet even more fresh flavor! It works great in citrus sorbet (lemon, lime, orange or grapefruit) or berry sorbet.

FAQ + Tips And Tricks For The Best Rosemary Simple Syrup:

Can You Use Dried Rosemary To Make Simple Syrup? I don’t recommend it, since it’s more difficult to strain and the flavor isn’t as fresh or vibrant. It’ll be muted and almost a little dusty, rather than the fresh, crisp flavor from using fresh rosemary.

How Long Does Rosemary Simple Syrup Last? Infused simple syrups (like rosemary simple syrup) will stay fresh at least 1-2 weeks in the refrigerator. Our big storage tip is to keep it chilled in an airtight jar, rather than leaving it out for long stretches of time at room temperature. You’ll know it’s not fresh anymore when it takes on a cloudy appearance, smells off, or hisses when you open the container. (Simple syrup is clear when fresh.)

Can You Freeze Rosemary Simple Syrup? Mostly, yes! Because of the high sugar content, sometimes simple syrup doesn’t freeze completely solid. But you *can* freeze it in a freezer-safe container or ice cube trays and transfer the cubes to an airtight bag. It’ll stay fresh 2-3 months in the freezer. (I freeze it in 1 Tablespoon portions, so I can just add one to a drink!)

What Flavors Go Well With Rosemary?

At first, it might seem that rosemary is only for savory uses, like pot roast, stew, or roasted veggies, but it’s got a long history of being used for sweet & fruity recipes, and baking projects, too! Rosemary pairs well with a variety of flavors. Our favorites are citrus fruits (lemon, lime, grapefruit, orange), berries (blackberries, raspberries, strawberries), apple, pear, cranberries, figs, pomegranate, grapes, and pineapple. It’s also paired with walnuts, honey, vanilla, olive oil cakes, and chocolate!

More Easy Mocktail Recipes To Try:

two cranberry lime mocktails in rocks glasses garnished with sugared cranberries and fresh mint

WE ♥

Leave a star review below when you try this simple syrup recipe. We’d love to know how it goes! Tag us @sweetsandthankyou on Instagram to share photos–we love to see your creations!