Grapefruit syrup is quick, easy and cheap to make at home, and perfect for cocktails, mocktails and desserts. Infuse it with herbs for an extra flavour dimension.
Try it in a grapefruit negroni - grapefruit and Campari are naturals together.
Save This Recipe
We’ll send the link straight to your inbox and you'll receive my trusted recipes each week!
Why I love This Recipe
- Bold flavour: This bittersweet cocktail syrup blends the sharpness of grapefruit juice with aromatic, bitter zest and just enough sugar to balance those flavours.
- Ready in minutes: It takes 30 minutes to make a 125ml batch.
- Easy to scale up: Hosting a crowd? Double, triple or quadruple the recipe to ensure you have enough syrup for your cocktail-making needs.
- Many uses: Your homemade red or pink grapefruit syrup can be used in mocktails, cocktails, baking and even savoury recipes.
Jump to:
Is This Grapefruit Simple Syrup?
That is debatable. For all intents and purposes, given that simple syrup is used to sweeten cocktails and mocktails, this could be classed as a recipe for grapefruit simple syrup.
Purists might argue that simple syrup is equal measures water and sugar and this recipe does not include water. Grapefruit juice is used instead. If this tallies with your line of thought, I can't argue with you there.
However, I'm not one to get hung up on technicalities. It's a fluid world we live in now and I say: call it what you prefer, just enjoy the recipe.
If you love inventive syrups to include in cocktails and mocktails, pick up my recipes for rosemary syrup recipe (gorgeous in a blood orange sour) and masala chai syrup (works a treat in a spiced espresso martini).
Ingredients Notes
Fresh grapefruit: Use the freshly squeezed juice from either red grapefruit or pink grapefruit to make your syrup. Cartoned/ bottled juice tends to be more concentrated, making it unsuitable for this recipe. In addition, you would still need to buy a grapefruit for the zest, so you would be adding un-necessary expense to your shopping basket.
Grapefruit zest: Helps develop a fuller flavour. Ensure you remove the white pith from the back of your zest as this is very bitter.
Sugar: White sugar is best, do not use brown sugar as it will affect the colour and flavour.
Herbs (optional): A sprig of fresh herbs will add extra depth and interest to your homemade grapefruit simple syrup. Rosemary, thyme and mint are all strong contenders to consider.
How To Make Grapefruit Syrup (Step-By-Step Instructions)
Full instructions and measurements are given in the printable recipe card at the end of this post.
Step 1. Squeeze the juice from 1-2 grapefruits and pour 100ml in a small pan. Add the sugar and the strips of grapefruit peel.
Step 2. Heat gently to dissolve the sugar then bring up to simmering point. Take off the heat, add the herbs (if using) and leave to infuse for 30 minutes.
Step 3. Strain the liquid through a sieve and decant into a sealable bottle.
Storage & Shelf-Life
Store your grapefruit simple syrup in the fridge for up to 4 weeks. Shake gently before using.
Expert Tips
- Do not let the syrup boil: When syrup boils it thickens. Thick syrup is harder to blend into drinks.
- Vary the sweetness: If your syrup is too tart for your tastes, add a little more sugar and reheat gently to dissolve it.
- Thicken it: If you need a thicker syrup for a specific purpose let the syrup simmer gently for 5 minutes.
- Too thick: Add a splash of additional grapefruit juice and stir in to loosen your syrup.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can. This recipe had been created using red grapefruit, which is a little sweeter than white grapefruit. As such, it make be necessary to adjust the sugar content. I recommend the following:
White grapefruit syrup: Use 100g sugar per 100ml juice.
Red grapefruit syrup: Use 75g sugar per 100ml juice.
Pink grapefruit syrup: Use 75g sugar per 100ml juice.
If pith (the white, spongy part between the flesh and the peel) is included in your infusion the result will be a bitter syrup. Remove the pith by cutting it away with a sharp knife.
Yes, you can. If you want to you could pour it into ice cubes trays so you can pop a serving out as required.
Variations
- Rosewater: Add a small dash to create a gorgeous concoction of floral notes alongside citrus edge.
- Lavender grapefruit simple syrup: Drop in a ½ teaspoon of fresh lavender buds and leave to infuse for 30 minutes.
- Spiced pink grapefruit syrup: There are a few options (infuse them all for 30 minutes once the syrup comes off the heat):
- Cinnamon: 1 x 5cm piece (bashed up).
- Star anise: Drop 1 piece into the syrup.
- Cardamom: Split a cardamom pod open and drop it in.
- Cloves: Add 2 cloves (lightly crushed).
- Black pepper: Add 2-3 peppercorns (lightly crushed).
- Ginger: 1 slice of fresh ginger (no need to peel it).
- Herbs: Go with a sprig of fresh rosemary or thyme. Alternatively, try 5 mint leaves or 3 basil leaves. Again, add the herbs when the pan comes off the heat and leave them in for the full 30-minute infusion.
Serving Suggestions
- Cocktails:
- Try a grapefruit paloma.
- Make a grapefruit daiquiri (follow my recipe for violet daiquiri but swap the sugar cane syrup for red or pink grapefruit syrup.
- Fix a grapefruit-laced negroni sour (follow my recipe for negroni sour but swap simple syrup for grapefruit simple syrup).
- Iced tea mocktail: Make your favourite iced tea (still or sparkling) then add a dash of grapefruit simple syrup to sweeten and add a citrus twang.
- Baking: Use it to pour over a loaf cake in place of traditional drizzle topping or mix it into icing.
- Pouring: Drizzle it over ice cream or yoghurt.
- Baste: Brush it onto roasted vegetables, chicken or white fish.
More Fruit Syrups for Cocktail
Have you made this pink grapefruit syrup recipe? Please rate the recipe or leave a comment - I love hearing how you get along with my creations.
Stay in touch: sign up to receive LittleSugarSnaps newsletters to hear when new recipes are published. Or follow me on social media:
📖 Recipe
Grapefruit Syrup
Ingredients
- 100 ml Red/ Pink Grapefruit juice freshly squeezed from 1-2 grapefruits
- 2 Strips grapefruit zest pith removed
- 75 g White sugar
- 1 Rosemary sprig optional
Instructions
- Squeeze the juice from 1-2 grapefruits and pour 100ml in a small pan. Add the sugar and the strips of grapefruit peel. from 1-2 grapferuits100 ml Red/ Pink Grapefruit juice, 2 Strips grapefruit zest, 75 g White sugar
- Heat gently, stirring often, to dissolve the sugar then bring up to simmering point. Take off the heat, add the herbs (if using) and leave to infuse for 30 minutes.
- Strain the liquid through a sieve and decant into a sealable bottle.
Notes
- Do not let the syrup boil: When syrup boils it thickens. Thick syrup is harder to blend into drinks.
- Vary the sweetness: If your syrup is too tart for your tastes, add a little more sugar and reheat gently to dissolve it.
- Thicken it: If you need a thicker surup for a specific purpose let the syrup simmer gently for 5 minutes.
- Too thick: Add a splash of water and stir in well to loosen your syrup.
- Freeze: If you want to you could pour it into ice cubes trays so you can pop a serving out as required.
Variations
- Rosewater: Add a small dash to create a gorgeous concoction of floral notes alongside citrus edge.
- Lavender grapefruit simple syrup: Drop in a ½ teaspoon of fresh lavender buds and leave to infuse for 30 minutes.
- Spiced grapefruit syrup: There are a few options (infuse them all for 30 minutes once the syrup comes off the heat):
- Cinnamon: 1 x 5cm piece (bashed up).
- Star anise: Drop 1 piece into the syrup.
- Cardamom: Split a cardamom pod open and drop it in.
- Cloves: Add 2 cloves, (lightly crushed).
- Black pepper: Add 2-3 peppercorns (lightly crushed).
- Ginger: 1 slice of fresh ginger (no need to peel it).
- Herbs: Go with a sprig of fresh rosemary or thyme. Alternatively, try 5 mint leaves or 3 basil leaves. Again, add the herbs when the pan comes off the heat and leave them in for the full 30-minute infusion.
Comments
No Comments