Lemon Syrup

Oct 9, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Pantry Sauces syrups glazes Vanilla: Extract Easy

A small glass bottle of lemon syrup with a pour spout, beside an iced latte sweetened with it

Equal parts sugar and fresh lemon juice with zest rubbed into the sugar: an instant lemonade base (1 part syrup to 4 parts water) that also sweetens iced tea and sodas.

Prep 15 min

Cook 6 min

Cooling 15 min

Total 36 min

Servings 12

Diet Dairy free, Gluten free, Vegan

Ingredients

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servings

1.0 cup (200.0 g)granulated sugar
1.0 tbsp (6.0 g)finely grated lemon zest
1.0 cup (240.0 ml)fresh lemon juice (from about 6 lemons)
½ tsp (2.5 ml)pure vanilla extract (optional)

Fresh ingredient guides

LemonsHow to pick, season & nutrition · 24 kcal per 84 g

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Instructions

Rub the lemon zest into the sugar with your fingertips until it looks like damp sand.
Combine the zest sugar and lemon juice in a small saucepan.
Warm over medium heat, stirring, until the sugar dissolves and the syrup just simmers, then simmer for 3 minutes; longer makes it too thick to mix into cold drinks.
Remove from the heat and steep for 15 minutes.
Strain through a fine-mesh sieve and stir in the vanilla, if using.
Cool and refrigerate in a clean bottle.

Tips

For lemonade, mix 1 part syrup with 4 parts cold water or sparkling water and adjust to taste.
Zest the lemons before juicing them; it's much easier.

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Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make lemon syrup?

Plan on 15 minutes of prep and 6 minutes of cooking, plus 15 minutes to rest. The recipe makes about 1 1/2 cups (12 servings).

How should I store lemon syrup?

Refrigerate in a clean, airtight bottle for up to 2 weeks, or freeze for up to 4 months.

Can I make lemon syrup ahead?

Make it up to 2 weeks ahead.

Can I use a different form of vanilla?

Yes. This recipe uses 0.5 tsp pure vanilla extract (optional) (2.5 ml). Each teaspoon of pure vanilla extract can be swapped for 1 teaspoon of vanilla bean paste, the seeds of half a vanilla bean, or 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla powder. Paste and seeds add the classic dark specks.

Is this recipe vegan?

Yes, as written. Check that packaged ingredients such as chocolate, sprinkles and plant butter are labeled vegan.

Equal parts sugar and fresh lemon juice with zest rubbed into the sugar: an instant lemonade base (1 part syrup to 4 parts water) that also sweetens iced tea and sodas.

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 12 servings this recipe makes.

71 Calories / serving

0.1g Fat

18.6g Carbs

0.2g Protein

17.2g Sugar

Whole recipe (12 servings): ~852 cal · 1g fat · 223g carbs · 2g protein · 206g sugar

Estimated values per serving, calculated from standard ingredient data. Not verified Nutrition Facts; actual values vary with brands, measurements, and preparation.