Sugar-Free Simple Syrup

Sugar-free simple syrup is an easy, two-ingredient sweetener made with a dissolvable sugar substitute instead of granulated white sugar. It’s gently heated on the stovetop or in the microwave until dissolved, then cooled and stored for use in cocktails, mocktails, coffee and tea. This quick, affordable recipe comes together in under 10 minutes and requires no special equipment — just a small saucepan or heat-safe bowl.

About this Sugar Free Simple Syrup recipe

One of the great things about modern grocery shelves is the variety of sweeteners available. Some are traditional sugars, while others are zero-calorie substitutes, and they vary in sweetness, flavor and how they’re used.

Sugar is sweet and wonderful, but many people choose to limit it for personal or dietary reasons. It’s made from sugar cane, which is processed into a brown syrup with molasses, which is then run through a centrifuge to separate the molasses from the sugar crystals, and is then filtered to make white sugar.

Sugar substitutes can be great for lightening up baked goods and drinks, especially! From stevia to monkfruit, there are so many ways to tailor sweetness to your preferences and dietary needs. One of my family members has Type 1 diabetes, so I know firsthand how wonderful it is to have sugar substitutes on hand. It has opened a ton of doors for them!

I have had several requests over the years to make a sugar-free syrup option to stand in for regular simple syrup in my drink recipes. I used Stevia to make the recipe below, but there are others out there that can work just as well. If it will dissolve in water, you can likely make it into a simple syrup, but you may need to experiment with certain substitutes.

Why you’ll love this recipe

Sugar-free simple syrup is a great recipe to have in your back pocket, either for yourself or for a guest who might not consume regular sugar. Plus, it’s easy to flavor with different fruits, spices and herbs. You can use your creations in cocktails, mocktails, desserts, on breakfast foods… the options are endless!

• You can make it with any sugar substitute that can dissolve in water.
• With just two ingredients, it comes together in less than 10 minutes.
• It’s an easy homemade alternative to many store-bought cocktail syrups.

What is simple syrup?

Picture this. You’ve ordered a glass of iced tea and you want to sweeten it. Pure sugar will take forever. Packets of Sweet-n-Low and Equal have always been easier to mix into a glass of iced tea, but plain sugar is a different story.

A liquid sweetener made with sugar and water, simple syrup is an easy solution to this problem. It is mainly used to sweeten drinks. But you can also flavor it and drizzle it over pancakes or ice cream.

Most simple syrups are made with granulated white sugar, though other types of sugar can be used, including brown sugar. So what do you do if you want the benefits of traditional simple syrup without using refined sugar? Enter the sugar substitutes. There are a number of alternative ways to make simple syrup without pure sugar.

Types of sugar substitutes for drinks

There are a few types of sugar substitutes that work well for making simple syrup, as well as stand on their own. Let’s talk about them.

Honey

Made naturally by bees, honey works well as a natural sweetener for drinks and one of the more simple ingredients in the pantry. But it’s too thick and viscous to stir in on its own. It seizes up when it meets something cold, like an ice cube.

The best thing is to make a honey syrup that uses equal parts honey and water. Be sure to check the label to make sure you are using pure honey and there are no added sugars or ingredients like corn syrup.

Agave nectar

Made from the same plant as tequila, agave nectar ^* is a sweet and natural sugar substitute. It is slightly thinner than honey, so it mixes into drinks like the margarita quite well.

Be sure to check the label to make sure you are using pure agave nectar ^* and there are no added ingredients.

Maple syrup

Everyone knows pure maple syrup ^* because of pancakes, but this amazing sap of the maple tree works well in drinks and as a coffee syrup too. You don’t need to make a special syrup since it’s already a liquid — it works so well in this maple old-fashioned cocktail.

Not all tree-based syrup comes from the sugar maple though. There are other types of trees that can be tapped to make delicious syrup, such as hickory, walnut, pine or birch syrup.

Once again, be sure to check the label to make sure you are using pure maple syrup and there are no added sugars.

Coconut sugar

Also called coconut palm sugar, this sugar comes from the coconut palm tree. Some people prefer coconut sugar because it’s often described as having a different nutritional profile than white sugar, though it is still a form of sugar. You can use it 1:1 with water to make coconut sugar simple syrup.

Stevia

Stevia is a plant-based sweetener that’s widely available in grocery stores today. It’s much sweeter than traditional sugar, so you only need a small amount to sweeten drinks.

Most packaged stevia products dissolve easily in water, which makes them a convenient option for simple syrup. Because it’s a zero-calorie sweetener, many people choose it when they’re following low-carb (or keto) diets or are otherwise looking to reduce or avoid sugar in their drinks.

You can use this stevia syrup anywhere you’d normally use classic simple syrup — in cocktails, mocktails, coffee or tea.

Other types

Natural sweeteners like monk fruit, date syrup, sweet potato syrup and tapioca syrup can all work in drinks, though some will add more flavor and color than others.

You’ll also find a variety of zero-calorie and artificial sweeteners on store shelves, including aspartame, sucralose, acesulfame K, saccharin and xylitol. Many of these are sold under brand names, so check the label if you’re unsure.

As always, choose the sweetener that fits your taste preferences and dietary needs.

How to make sugar-free syrup

While there are store-bought syrups on the market that mimic classic simple syrup but with less sugar, sometimes they contain corn syrup or artificial ingredients. And if you buy them regularly, they can be expensive, too — homemade syrups are often friendlier on the wallet.

I used Stevia to make this syrup, but feel free to experiment with other types of sugar substitutes
.

1. Add 1 cup of water to a small saucepan over medium heat. (You can also do this in the microwave — all you need is hot water for the stevia to dissolve in.)
2. Stir in about 10 packets of Stevia sweetener.
3. Stir until dissolved. Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature.
4. Store airtight, food-safe container such as a mason jar for up to 1 month.

See? That’s how quick it is to make this easy stevia simple syrup. It works especially well in low-carb or reduced-sugar drinks. You will soon see what a great replacement it is for regular simple syrup.

Flavored sugar-free syrup

Want to try some other flavors? Go for it! Flavored syrup is always a great addition to drinks. Here are a few of my favorites — simply sub in the sugar for your favorite sugar-free substitute:

• Blueberry syrup
• Mint syrup
• Strawberry syrup
• Peach syrup
• Vanilla syrup
• Cinnamon syrup
• Pumpkin spice syrup

A great thing to keep in mind is that even though flavored syrups work well for cocktails, coffee and tea drinks but you can also drizzle them over pancakes, waffles, French toast and ice cream!

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