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Next post in my holidays series…Holiday Gifting: Homemade Simple Syrups.
Hey, hi! Happy Sunday everyone! Today we’re talking homemade holiday gifts! And as usual these days, I am pretty excited about it. I truly get into the holiday season every single year. But this year feels like I’m embracing it even more than usual. I’m trying to find other ways to connect with the season, as we still have almost no snow here in Colorado. Normally by December we have a thick solid coat of snow on the ground. Everyone in our little mountain town is impatiently waiting for that first big snow fall. Well technically second. The snow from the storm on October 1-2 is long gone…hoping for snow on Monday!
Anyway, back to gifting…in my opinion nothing beats something that you spent time putting together for someone. I mentioned this a bit last week, but I love holiday gifts that are thought out and take a little time to prepare. I think it shows when you put some effort into creating a gift you feel your recipient will love. Plus, I really just love any excuse to get a little crafty and make things look cute. Especially, cute and Christmassy.
I saw this idea of gifting simple syrups in the December issue of Martha Stewart. When I came across the idea I knew I wanted to create some of my own syrups to share with you. It’s such a fun gift idea, and I have so many syrup ideas in my head…choosing just four was really hard.
If you’re new to simple syrups, making them at home is actually so easy to do. And the syrups I’m sharing with you can be mixed into so many different cocktails, the options are really endless.
First, Pomegranate Ginger Syrup. You guys know I am head over heals obsessed with pomegranates. So I wanted to create a syrup that was pomegranate flavored. I love the combo of pomegranate and ginger, so naturally this one needed to come to be. I love using this syrup to make a pomegranate paloma (use as the syrup in the recipe).
Second, Cinnamon Spice Syrup. This is sweet, cinnamony and touched with just a little spice. It’s perfect for a warm cocktail, like yesterday’s naughty and nice toddy (use in place of the honey) or a hot buttered rum.
Third, Vanilla Chai Syrup. Could not be more in love with this. It’s chai tea in a sweet syrup form and it makes mixing up this chai white Russian an easy thing to do any night of the week. This would also be delicious in just about any bourbon based cocktail like this old fashioned or a warm chai bourbon tea.
Forth, Cranberry Orange Syrup. This is December in syrup form. It’s sweet, spiced with winter citrus, and hinted with just a little bit of thyme. I LOVE using it in this cranberry orange margarita (use in place of the sugar) or this cranberry thyme spritz (use as the syrup for the recipe).
A few notes, I prefer to use honey to sweeten my syrups, but I also gave you the option to use sugar. Honey does add a little flavor, but sugar will sweeten the syrups without adding any flavor. Both work equally well. I used glass jars that I found at Target, but any jar with a lid will do. I also finished each jar off with a gift tag to label the syrups and then decorated them festively.
Obviously.
Holiday Gifting: Homemade Simple Syrups
Ingredients
pomegranate ginger simple syrup
- 2 cups pomegranate juice
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar or honey
- 2 inches fresh ginger, sliced
cinnamon spice simple syrup
- 2 cups water
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 2 teaspoons crushed cardamon pods
- 1 vanilla bean, split
- pinch of crushed pink or black peppercorns
vanilla chai simple syrup
- 2 cups water
- 8 chai tea bags
- 1 1/2 cups honey
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
cranberry orange simple syrup
- 2 cups water
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar or honey
- 2 cups fresh cranberries
- 2 sprigs fresh thyme
- 4 orange slices
Instructions
pomegranate ginger simple syrup
- 1. In a medium pot, bring the pomegranate juice, honey (or sugar), and ginger to a boil over high heat. Once boiling simmer 1-2 minutes and then remove from the heat. Let cool completely. Strain out the ginger. Transfer to glass jar. Store in the fridge for up to 1 month.
cinnamon spice simple syrup
- 1. In a medium pot, bring the water, honey (or sugar), cinnamon, cardamom, and vanilla bean to a boil over high heat. Once boiling simmer 3-5 minutes and then remove from the heat. Add the peppercorns. Let cool completely and then strain into jars. I like to add the cinnamon sticks and vanilla bean to the jars as well. Store in the fridge for up to 1 month.
vanilla chai simple syrup
- 1. In a medium pot, bring the water to a boil. Remove from the heat, add the chai tea bags, cover and steep 10-15 minutes. Remove the tea bags and add the honey. Bring to a boil over high heat. Boil 3-5 minutes, then remove from the heat. Stir in the vanilla. Let cool and then pour into jars. Keep in the fridge for up to 1 month.
cranberry orange simple syrup
- 1. In a medium pot, bring the water, the honey, cranberries, thyme, and orange slices to a boil over high heat. Boil 5 minutes or until the cranberries begin to burst, then remove from the heat. Let cool. Remove the thyme and orange. If desired, strain out the cranberries. Pour into jars. Keep stored in the fridge for up two weeks (even with the cranberries) or up to 1 month (without cranberries).
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Did you make this recipe? Please rate & comment below.
Have a great Sunday!
I’m really impressed with your ideas. thank you for sharing us…
Thank you! xTieghan
Excellent post. Keep posting such kind of info on your site.
Thank you Alisha! xTieghan
This is a wonderful idea. thanks for sharing us…
Thank you Anita! xTieghan
I just want to say thanks for your wonderful homemade recipe post, it images a lot of knowledge and information that I needed right now. Thank for sharing with us this great post.
Thank you! I am so glad you liked this post! xTieghan
Nice information about homemade syrup. Thank you for this great list with us.
Thank you so much! xTieghan
Brilliant and fantastic Recipe. More, please… Your site always goes beyond unique Recipe list. Thanks for sharing this great holiday gifting us.
Thank you! xTieghan
Amazing Recipe post!! Thanks for sharing with us. It is really beneficial to me …. keep it up..
Thank you so much! xTieghan
Your Home Made syrup recipe list is awesome and helpful. You mentioned all things so, your blog awesome and beautiful and literally admiring. Thank you so much…
Thank you so much! xTieghan
this is very nice food. I eat this food.
Thank you!
Really this good gift idea. thanks you
I am glad you liked this! Thanks!
I just made the Cranberry simple syrup yesterday! So simple and pretty!!. I removed the cranberries since I wanted to give some as gifts. I could not bear the thought of throwing away those beautiful syrupy berries so I removed the orange peel and thyme and then made myself a breakfast parfait! Layer plain greek yogurt with sliced banana and some of the cranberries and topped it with granola! Best breakfast treat!! Can’t wait to make the cocktails tonight!
I have 2 more bags of cranberries calling my name! Thank you for the great recipes!
That sounds like such a good breakfast! I am so glad you like this recipe! Thanks!
holiday is the best season my life.
That is great!
holiday is very funny.
I receive this holiday Gift. It is very fan testy.
I found your blog and am a big fan! I am inspired to make the syrups. question – you left out the orange liquor in the margarita recipe attached to the bottle but it is in your recipe. do you need this ingredient? if you use the syrup do you still need sugared cranberries or is that a garnish? thanks for clarifying
HI! Because of the orange in the syrup you don’t NEED the extra dash of orange flavor, so that is why I left it out. I do still like to garnish the drink with sugared cranberries, but again, you don’t have to add those. I add them more for a visual effect/garnish. Please let me know if you have other questions. Hope you love this recipe! Happy Holiday’s ? ?
Merry Christmas!! About how many jars does each individual recipe fill/create? Thanks brightly & warmly, Tieghan!
HI Katie! Each jar will create around 16-20 drinks. Please let me know if you have other questions. Hope you love this recipe! Happy Holiday’s ? 🙂
What gorgeous gift ideas! I’ve already ordered those lovely jars from Target! Just a few questions: did you use a whole orange in the cranberry syrup? I see the directions say “4 slices,” so I wasn’t sure if that means one whole orange cut up into quarters? And you don’t keep the orange slices in the jars, right? Can you add fresh pomegranate seeds to the jars or will they get mushy? Last one, sorry! What are those cute little star-shaped guys i see pictured?! Any feedback would be helpful and appreciated!
HI! Answers below! Please let me know if you have other questions. Hope you love this recipe! Happy Holiday’s ? 🙂
1.) I just used 4 slices of fresh orange from about halve a medium size orange.
2.) I don’t like to add fresh pomegranate arils to the syrups as they can get a little mushy over time. It’s best to just add the pomegranate arils to the drinks before serving.
3.) I believe the stars you are referring to are star anise, which is a spice!
These are fabulous! I know you said they all have a month(ish) shelf life in the fridge, but can they be stored at room temperature at all? Trying to figure out the logistics of giving them as a gift or shipping them to friends in other states.