How to Make Light Simple Syrup

Many beverages call for a simple syrup, so I figured why not lighten it up by cutting the sugar in half. As a dietitian, I like to keep my intake of added sugar to a minimum for preventative health. Traditionally simple syrup is prepared with a 1:1 ratio, being 1 cup sugar to 1 cup water. Simple syrup is so easy to make. If you can boil water you can make this recipe. Plus it can be made in less than 10 minutes and stored for later use.

Why Make Light Simple Syrup?

The American Heart Association recommends limiting added sugar to no more than 6 teaspoons (25 grams or 100 calories) per day for most women. For men, the recommendation is no more than 9 teaspoons (36 grams or 150 calories). With this light version, you still get great flavor with a subtle sweetness to use in all your drink making.

Let’s face it added sugar is unnecessary extra calories. Although our bodies need sugar, it does not need it in excess. Extra calories from sugar can lead to weight gain and may contribute to many health conditions such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease including high triglyceride levels. There is no shortage of added sugar in many of the products found in the grocery stores. But it’s important to limit your added sugar by making conscious choices. Reducing the sugar in a recipe by half or swapping for a natural zero calorie sugar may be better choices.

Variations of Light Simple Syrup

You can use different sugars. I’ve made this recipe three different ways. The first time I used granulated sugar which is how it’s traditionally made. The second time, I tried using Splenda Naturals Stevia sweetener which is a mixture of stevia and erythritol. This would be a good choice for anyone looking to keep added sugar at its lowest such as diabetics. Lastly, I used Sugar In The Raw, which is turbinado cane sugar. Its brown color was beautiful, and I’m sure I’ll be making it again as the flavor was great. You could also try making with your sugar of choice or even honey.

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Light Simple Syrup

Lighter version of traditional simple syrup for beverages.

Prep Time2 minutes mins

Active Time3 minutes mins

Cooling Time5 minutes mins

Total Time10 minutes mins

Course: Drinks

Keyword: beverage, light, simple syrup

Yield: 4

Equipment

• small saucepan

Materials

• ½ cup sugar
• 1 cup water

Instructions

• Add sugar and water to sauce pan and bring to a light boil over medium high heat. Stir until dissolved, about 2 minutes.
• Allow to cool before adding to beverage or store in the refrigerator in a covered container.

Notes

Can be stored up to 1 month,  however I recommend using within 2 weeks.