Every year I buy a case of strawberries, maybe 2….of course I make jam, and freeze some for the winter. This year as I was getting my usual recipes completed, I was looking at the bowl of strawberry tops that was accumulating and I had an idea.
What if I made a simple syrup from these tops? Well friends, I did, and it doesn’t disappoint.
Why Make Homemade Strawberry Syrup?
Do you NEED a homemade strawberry syrup? No, of course not. But I would love it if you did make one.
This simple syrup is made using ingredients that would typically end up in your compost pile. It is a fun way to make your ingredients go a little bit further.
How to Make Strawberry Syrup
This syrup requires no special ingredients. No extra equipment. No extra trip to the farmer’s market.
It is made using the tops trimmed off from strawberries, cane sugar and water. That’s it.
Simple Homemade Strawberry Syrup
- 1 cup of strawberry tops (at least… feel free to use more)
- 1 cup of cane sugar
- 1 cup of water
In a saucepan you are going to add AT LEAST a cup of strawberry tops. You could use more but please don’t use less. The more you have, the more flavour your syrup will have.
Then you are going to add 1 cup of cane sugar and 1 cup of water.
Place the sauce pan on the stove, over medium – medium-high heat. Bring to a boil to dissolve the sugar.
Once the sugar is dissolved, turn off the heat and cover with a lid. The lid is really just to keep things from falling into the pot. Then leave to cool.
Once cool, pour through a fine mesh strainer and store in a glass jar in the fridge.
Optional: once the syrup is cool, add a teaspoon of homemade vanilla extract to make a strawberry cream soda.
How to Use Homemade Strawberry Syrup
Our favourite way to use this homemade strawberry syrup is to add it to sparkling water. My children are old enough to know what pop is and this is a delicious alternative to store bought beverages.
Some other ways to use the syrup are:
- add to milk for strawberry milk
- add to lemonade or ice tea
- pour on top of pancake or waffles
- spoon over ice cream
- add to youghurt or oatmeal.
How to Make Strawberry Cream Soda
Once you have this homemade strawberry syrup in your fridge, you are just a few step away from a delicious, homemade, strawberry cream soda.
The key to the strawberry cream soda is to add vanilla to your syrup. Vanilla is what gives cream soda its distinctive flavour.
To make a homemade strawberry cream soda, you simply:
- add ice to a glass
- put a 1-3 tablespoons of homemade strawberry syrup into the glass
- top with club soda
For a fun adult twist, you could top your glasses with sparkling wine instead of club soda
For a fun, child friendly twist, add a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a fun float!
How to Store Strawberry Syrup
Your homemade strawberry syrup will keep in the fridge for a 2-3 weeks. Just be sure to discard if you see any signs of mold.
I am experimenting with freezing some. I say this so that you will feel confident to try freezing it as well. Will it turn out? Hopefully….
If you do decide to freeze the syrup, be sure to thaw completely in the refrigerator before using.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use whole strawberries to make strawberry syrup?
Absolutely! I created this recipe to find a use for the strawberry tops, but if you find your self with extra berries (or ones that are past their eating prime) you can use them to make this syrup.
Can I freeze homemade strawberry syrup?
Most likely. I put some in my freezer, and I have no reason to believe that it won’t freeze well. If you would like to freeze some homemade strawberry syrup for the winter, I recommend making a test batch, and defrosting it before you commit to freezing a large quantity.
I really hope that you all give this delicious homemade strawberry soda a try. It is a great way to use up leftovers from other projects. And it makes a delicious treat you can feel good about serving to your family.
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