If you love sweet, tart, citrusy flavors, you’re going to fall head over heels for my homemade Blood Orange Syrup recipe. With just 2 natural ingredients, you can make a week’s worth of this cheerfully bright sweetener—the perfect antidote to the winter blues.
Even if you don’t love winter, there’s always a silver lining—citrus season! I’ve always marveled at how what is arguably the most sunshine-y fruit’s growing season syncs up with the darkest part of the year. That, my friends, is Nature at her finest.
So, next time you’re in need of a reminder of sunnier days ahead, try making this easy blood orange simple syrup recipe! All you need are blood oranges, sugar, and about 15 minutes of active prep to make a batch.
This nearly neon concoction is the ideal addition to everything from mochas to matchas, Starbucks refreshers to stay-at-home cocktails, breakfast bowls to smoothies. In other words, this sweet-tart citrus simple syrup is the kitchen workhorse you’ve been looking for!
Jump to:
- What is blood orange simple syrup?
- What does it taste like?
- Why You’ll Love This Blood Orange Syrup Recipe
- Ingredients Needed
- Substitutions
- How To Make Blood Orange Simple Syrup
- Optional Variations & Dietary Adjustments
- Serving Suggestions
- Recipe Success Tips
- FAQs
- Homemade Blood Orange Syrup Nutrition
- Other Homemade Syrup Recipes
- Homemade Blood Orange Syrup
What is blood orange simple syrup?
This blood orange syrup is a fun twist on normal simple syrup, which is just a mix of equal parts water and sugar. Here we use freshly squeezed blood orange juice in lieu of the water, adding a zesty punch of raspberry citrus flavor to the mix. Much like other infused simple syrups, this beauty has dozens of uses, from flavoring drinks of all stripes to adding flavor to your favorite breakfasts and baked goods.
What does it taste like?
My blood orange syrup tastes like an extra-sweet blood orange in liquid form. If you’ve yet to try one of these amazingly beautiful citrus fruits, you’ve been missing out. They taste a bit sweeter than a typical naval orange, but carry the same familiar taste. The real magic, though, comes from the anthocyanins, which are not only responsible for the ruby hue of blood orange flesh, but also impart a mild berry flavor that is divine.
Why You’ll Love This Blood Orange Syrup Recipe
- Fresh & Flavorful - Starting off with freshly pressed juice makes this sweetener taste extra special—especially right now, when blood oranges are at their best!
- Quick & Simple - Just 2 ingredients and a few minutes of effort are all that stand between you and a bottle of blood orange deliciousness.
- Cheaper & Better-For-You - It always blows my mind when I see bottles of Torani or Monin being sold for upwards of $10 apiece—especially considering they’re not even made with real orange juice! This DIY version will only cost as much as your citrus and a few pennies worth of sugar, and you get to skip out on the artificial colors and preservatives.
Ingredients Needed
- Blood Orange Juice - While you can sometimes find bottled blood orange juice, I generally find that squeezing my own is cheaper and tastes better. In total you’ll need about 5-6 oranges.
- Granulated Sugar - Plain white sugar has no detectable flavor other than sweetness, meaning the blood orange is the star of the show.
Substitutions
- Blood Orange Juice - If you can’t get your hands on blood oranges, not to worry. This syrup recipe works just as well with regular orange juice. If you want to replace some of that berrylicious flavor, add a handful of raspberries to the mix and strain them out at the end.
- Granulated Sugar - Pure cane sugar is a great alternative if you prefer a less-processed product. Note that it does have a faint molasses flavor, giving your simple syrup a bruléed orange vibe.
How To Make Blood Orange Simple Syrup
This spectacular flavoring syrup might be packed to the brim with citrusy flavor, but it takes just a few minutes to throw together. Here’s how:
Step 1: Juice your oranges until you have 1 cup of blood orange juice.
Step 2: Mix & Simmer. Stir together the blood orange juice and granulated sugar in a medium saucepan and heat over medium-low heat. Stir until all sugar is dissolved and everything is combined, then remove from heat.
Step 3: Strain the syrup through a fine mesh strainer to remove pulp.
Step 4: Cool & Store. Transfer to a syrup bottle or mason jar and store in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
Optional Variations & Dietary Adjustments
- Reduced-Sugar - Oranges of all stripes all contain natural sugars, so you can’t make this completely sugar-free. However, you’re welcome to swap in the sugar-free alternative of your choice (e.g. monkfruit) to make it less caloric and lower-carb.
- Other Citrus - This recipe will work with any variety of orange, including Cara Caras, mandarins and clementines. Have fun experimenting throughout the season!
Serving Suggestions
There are tons of drinks and snacks you can add bright blood orange flavor to with a drizzle of this homemade syrup. Here are just a few ideas to get you started:
- Blood Orange Mocha Latte - Chocolate and orange are a lovely pairing (remember those chocolate oranges you smash??), and they’re even lovelier during a coffee break.
- Homemade Soda - Make a delicious Italian-style soda by mixing this blood orange syrup with club soda or the seltzer of your choice. Try adding a splash of cream for richness—you can thank me later. 😉
- Creamsicle Sundae - Drizzle this ruby red liquid over a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a grown-up version of the childhood favorite. (It’s also great over chocolate ice cream.)
- Cocktail Hour - Swap blood orange simple syrup for the plain kind when making your favorite drinks. It’s particularly yummy in an Old Fashioned.
- First Light - Add some cheer to your breakfast by drizzling orange syrup over your morning oats, into plain greek yogurt, or on top of your pancakes or waffles.
Recipe Success Tips
- Juicy Fruit - To get the most juice from your oranges, roll them firmly on the counter in all directions for about 20 seconds before slicing them open. This helps to release the juice from the flesh, making it easier to get every last drop.
- Freezer Friendly - Freezing citrus whole feels so wrong, but it works beautifully if you’re just using them for the juice and zest! In fact, a spell in the freezer makes the cell structures rupture, making them even easier to juice.
- Shortcut - Feel free to use pre-squeezed juice to cut your prep time down to zero.
FAQs
Since this blood orange simple syrup is made with no preservatives other than sugar, it should be kept in the refrigerator and used within 2 weeks. You can also freeze it for up to 6 months. For longer fridge storage, double the amount of sugar you use to make a rich simple syrup, which will last for up to 6 months in the fridge or a year in the freezer.
Unfortunately, not anymore—at least not at the time of publication. But not to worry—now that you know how to make it at home, you can have it whenever you want!
Yes! I love soaking my naked cake layers with simple syrup before frosting to help them stay super moist. This blood orange syrup works beautifully for vanilla, chocolate, or orange-flavored cakes. You can also use the syrup to sweeten some frostings!
Homemade Blood Orange Syrup Nutrition
Each 2-tablespoon serving of this simple syrup clocks in at 94 calories. As could be expected from the ingredients list, it’s mostly sugar—there are 24 grams of carbs, 23 of which are from sugar. There is no fat, protein, or sodium.
However, since we’re starting with real orange juice, you are getting some moderate levels of nutrients like Vitamin C, anthocyanins and folate. Not too shabby for a sweetener! So, enjoy every sip without any guilt—just do it in moderation. 😉
Total nutritional content per serving is:
- Calories: 94 calories
- Total Fat: 0 grams
- Protein: 0 grams
- Sodium: 0 grams
- Carbohydrates: 24 grams
- Sugar: 23 grams
*This nutritional information is an estimate and calculated based on the ingredients used to create the recipe. The nutritional value of your ingredients may differ slightly. Furthermore, this food is not intended to prevent, diagnose, cure, or treat any disease.
Other Homemade Syrup Recipes
Homemade Blood Orange Syrup
Equipment
- 1 juicer
- 1 medium saucepan
Ingredients
- 1 cup blood orange juice (about 5-6 oranges)
- 1 cup granulated sugar
Instructions
- Juice your oranges until you have 1 cup of blood orange juice.
- Stir together the blood orange juice and granulated sugar in a medium saucepan and heat over medium-low heat. Stir until all sugar is dissolved and everything is combined, then remove from heat.
- Strain the syrup through a fine mesh strainer to remove pulp, then transfer to a syrup bottle or mason jar and store in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
Nutrition
xoxo Megan
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