This lower sugar jalapeño simple syrup is made with simple ingredients: jalapeño peppers, sugar, water, and stevia. It's the perfect liquid sweetener to add a little bit of heat to all spicy cocktails. My favorite way to enjoy this spicy simple syrup recipe is in a skinny spicy margarita recipe, garden city cocktail, or southside gin cocktail. All you need is this syrup, your favorite tequila, and fresh lime juice. It's the perfect cocktail for Cinco de Mayo, happy hour, or lounging by the pool!
Making your own simple syrup is a fun way to up your cocktail game! Standard simple syrup usually uses equal parts water and sugar. Since this recipe is lower in sugar (and calls for stevia), there is more water than sugar. The end result is a thinner but still flavorful syrup! This jalapeno simple syrup really takes on the flavor of the jalapeno and is the perfect balance between a subtle sweet and spicy. I also love making a honey lavender simple syrup to add to cocktails, tea, and lattes!
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Equipment
- Small saucepan - a small saucepan should be the perfect size to make this homemade simple syrup! If you're going to double or triple the recipe, I would suggest using a medium or even large saucepan.
- Rubber spatula - a rubber spatula is necessary for stirring the syrup mixture while cooking.
- Fine mesh sieve - the easiest way to strain the peppers and their seeds out from the spicy syrup is with a fine mesh sieve! You can use any sort of small strainer, just be sure the seeds won't fall through.
Ingredients
Full ingredients, measurements, and instructions can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Water - this is a big part of the recipe! The sugar and stevia will dissolve into the water, resulting in a thin syrup.
- Granulated sugar - white sugar (or cane sugar) is a staple ingredient in homemade simple syrup. You can use turbinado sugar instead of white sugar!
- Stevia - this will add sweetness without calories.
- Fresh jalapeno peppers - these are the star of the show! They add the perfect amount of heat to the recipe. You can use serrano peppers or habanero peppers if you'd like.
How to Make Jalapeño Simple Syrup
1: Combine the water and sugars in a small saucepan on the stove.
2: Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat. Once the sugar dissolves, add the fresh jalapeño slices.
3: Lower the stove temperature to medium heat and continue boiling for 4-5 minutes, stirring frequently. The longer you cook the jalapenos in the sugar water, the stronger the jalapeno flavor will be.
4: Remove the pot from the heat and let it sit for 30 minutes. Once it's cooled, strain the sliced jalapeños out from the sweet syrup using a fine mesh sieve or small strainer. Gently press the cooked peppers with the back of a spoon to release as much syrup as possible. I recommend using an airtight glass jar to store this jalapeno syrup in!
5: Add to your favorite cocktail like a skinny spicy margarita (pictured above) or mocktail and enjoy!
Substitutions & Pro Tips
- If you like extra spicy syrup, you can substitute serrano peppers or habanero peppers for jalapeños.
- Use less jalapenos for a more mild syrup.
- If you like a sweeter syrup, you can use ½ cup or ⅔ cup granulated sugar. Note this will affect the nutrition information below!
- You can use turbinado sugar in lieu of granulated white sugar if you'd like. The syrup will just have a browner color but still taste great!
- This jalapeño simple syrup goes well in any cocktail recipe: a classic margarita, frozen margarita, pineapple jalapeño margaritas, etc.!
- I recommend keeping the candied jalapenos after straining them from the syrup. These are delicious on charcuterie boards, tacos, burrito bowls, salads, avocado toast, etc.!
Storage
Store this jalapeno syrup in an airtight container, like a mason jar, in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. I don't recommend keeping it at room temperature for longer than a few hours, as bacteria can grow!
Recipe FAQ
Eventually yes. I don't recommend keeping it longer than a couple of weeks! To prolong it's freshness, I recommend storing it in an airtight container like a mason jar, in the refrigerator.
Absolutely! This recipe uses a combination of stevia and granulated sugar. Be mindful of the amount of stevia you use as it can give the simple syrup a bitter taste.
I would let the peppers age a little bit before using (they get spicier as they ripen!), as well as cooking the jalapeno slices in the sugar water longer (closer to 5 minutes) to really let out the heat. You can even add an extra pepper to this recipe!
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PrintJalapeño Simple Syrup
This lower sugar jalapeño simple syrup is made with simple ingredients: jalapeño peppers, sugar, water, and stevia. It's the perfect liquid sweetener to add a little bit of heat to all spicy cocktails. My favorite way to enjoy this spicy simple syrup recipe is in a skinny spicy margarita recipe, garden city cocktail, or southside gin cocktail. All you need is this syrup, your favorite tequila, and fresh lime juice. It's the perfect cocktail for Cinco de Mayo, happy hour, or lounging by the pool!
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 5 ounces 1x
- Category: Drinks
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 1 cup (240g) water
- ⅓ cup (74g) granulated sugar
- 3 Tablespoons Stevia
- 4 fresh jalapenos, sliced (including seeds)
Instructions
- Combine water and sugars in a small saucepan on the stove.
- Bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
- Once the sugar is dissolved, add sliced jalapenos.
- Lower heat to medium and continue boiling for 4-5 minutes, stirring frequently.
- Remove from heat and let sit for ~30 minutes.
- Once cooled, strain jalapeños (and seeds) out of simple syrup into an airtight container or mason jar. Gently press the cooked jalapeno slices with the back of spoon while in the strainer to release as much syrup as possible.
- Add to your cocktail of choice and enjoy!
Notes
- Store this jalapeno syrup in an airtight container, like a mason jar, in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. I don't recommend keeping it at room temperature for longer than a few hours, as bacteria can grow!
- If you like extra spicy syrup, you can substitute serrano peppers or habanero peppers for jalapeños.
- Use less jalapenos for a more mild syrup.
- You can use turbinado sugar in lieu of granulated white sugar if you'd like. The syrup will just have a browner color but still taste great!
- This jalapeño simple syrup goes well in any cocktail recipe: a classic margarita, frozen margarita, pineapple jalapeño margaritas, etc.!
- I recommend keeping the candied jalapenos after straining them from the syrup. These are delicious on charcuterie boards, tacos, burrito bowls, salads, avocado toast, etc.!
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1oz
- Calories: 51
- Sugar: 13
- Sodium: 2
- Fat: 0
- Saturated Fat: 0
- Unsaturated Fat: 0
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 19
- Fiber: 0
- Protein: 0
- Cholesterol: 0
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