One of my favorite parts about summer is that it’s stone fruit season, and this easy, 3-ingredient Nectarine Syrup recipe is a fantastic way to celebrate! This delightfully juicy simple syrup is essentially liquid sunshine—it’ll add a lovely sweet-tart brightness to anything it touches.
By now you have probably noticed my penchant for seasonal simple syrups. Between this nectarine syrup and my watermelon syrup, blueberry syrup, blackberry syrup, cherry syrup, peach syrup, and fresh mint simple syrup, I’d say I’ve got summer pretty well sorted!
This brightly colored, juice-based addition to my fruity favorites is an homage to summer’s favorite fuzz-free, honey-sweet stone fruit. It’s made with just nectarine slices, fresh lemon juice, and sugar—there’s not even any added water—so you know the sun-ripened flavor will shine brightly.
Whether you add it to your favorite iced tea recipes, homemade lemonade recipes, DIY coffee creamers, breakfast bowls, or dessert recipes, one thing is certain: a drizzle of this beautifully balanced syrup will add a splash of sweet, summery flavor to your day!
Jump to:
- What does it taste like?
- Why You’ll Love This Fruit-Infused Simple Syrup Recipe
- Ingredients Needed
- Substitutions
- How To Make Nectarine Syrup
- Optional Variations & Dietary Adjustments
- Serving Suggestions
- Recipe Success Tips
- FAQs
- Nectarine Simple Syrup Nutrition
- Other Homemade Syrup Recipes
- Homemade Nectarine Syrup
What does it taste like?
Nectarine syrup tastes like summer in a bottle—bright, juicy, and irresistibly fragrant. It captures the sun-ripened sweetness of fresh nectarines, with a delicate balance of tart and tangy notes from the lemon juice.
The sugar draws out the fruit’s natural juices, creating a silky syrup with a lush, jammy texture and a golden-orange hue that just begs to be drizzled. It’s light and refreshing—like the nectar of a perfectly ripe nectarine, only more concentrated and versatile.
Why You’ll Love This Fruit-Infused Simple Syrup Recipe
- Fresh & Natural - Unlike store-bought drink syrups, this fantastically fresh DIY is free from any artificial flavors, preservatives, and colors.
- So Easy - Just slice some fruit, toss it with sugar, and let it rest. It couldn’t be easier to make my nectarine syrup recipe.
- Versatile - One of my favorite things about flavored simple syrups is that you can use them in a gazillion different ways. Not sure where to start? Swirl some into your drinks, drizzle it on your cakes, flavor your whipped cream or yogurt, or use it as a replacement for maple syrup.
Ingredients Needed
As promised, you only need a handful of ingredients to make this juicy syrup recipe:
- Fresh Nectarines - Look for nectarines that feel heavy for their size with smooth, vibrant skin and a sweet, fragrant aroma. They should give slightly when gently pressed, indicating ripeness without being overly soft or mushy.
- Fresh Lemon - While bottled juice is undoubtedly convenient, the fresh stuff tastes so much better and brighter! Roll your lemons firmly on the counter for 10-15 seconds before slicing them open to help extract all their juice.
- Granulated Sugar - Plain white sugar adds sweetness without any extra flavoring, ensuring the sweet-tart taste of nectarines shines brightly.
Substitutions
- Fresh Nectarines - Feel free to swap in defrosted frozen nectarines, or use peaches or plums.
- Fresh Lemon - Bottled lemon juice will work, it’ll just taste slightly more bitter than fresh. You’re welcome to use fresh limes instead. You could also swap in a small sprinkle of citric acid for a shelf-stable alternative.
- Granulated Sugar - Cane sugar is a good less-refined option that can be used in a 1:1 ratio.
How To Make Nectarine Syrup
Step 1: Add the sliced nectarines to a non-reactive mixing bowl with the sugar & lemon juice.
Step 2: Toss the fruit with a wooden spoon. Make sure to get the sugar all over as evenly as possible—this is what helps draw out the natural juices.
Step 3: Rest. Cover the bowl and let the fruit sit for 2 hours. Be patient! It takes time for the maceration process to work.
Step 4: Strain the nectarine slices from the syrup using a mesh strainer.
Step 5: Decant the nectarine simple syrup into an appropriate storage container—preferably one that is airtight and has a pour spout lid. It should keep in the fridge for up to a week.
Optional Variations & Dietary Adjustments
- Refined Sugar-Free - Feel free to swap in your favorite cup-for-cup sugar alternative (e.g. monk fruit) for a diabetic-friendly option. Note that nectarines have naturally occurring sugars, so there is no way to ensure the syrup is ever completely sugar-free.
- Peach Syrup - Aside from their skin, I think peaches and nectarines taste remarkably similar. You can easily use sliced peaches (or a mix of the two) if needed.
Serving Suggestions
This nectarine syrup is endlessly versatile—use it to add a splash of sunshine to all kinds of drinks and more:
- Iced Tea & Lemonade – Stir a spoonful into a glass of black tea or lemonade for a fruity twist.
- Homemade Soda – Mix with sparkling water over ice for a quick DIY nectarine soda. If you want a bit of decadence, make a French-style soda by drizzling in a bit of cream.
- Cocktails & Mocktails – Shake it into bourbon, vodka, or gin-based drinks—or add to a zero-proof spirit for a fresh and fragrant mocktail.
- Pancakes, Waffles & Yogurt – Drizzle it over breakfast favorites or swirl into Greek yogurt for a sweet, tangy lift.
- Desserts – Brush it over cakes or shortbread, mix into whipped cream, or use as a glaze for fruit tarts.
This is one of those pantry gems that brightens everything it touches. Let me know your favorite uses for nectarine syrup in the comments below!
Recipe Success Tips
- Use ripe, fragrant nectarines - The riper the fruit, the more flavorful your syrup will be. Slightly soft nectarines with a sweet aroma work best.
- Don’t rush the maceration - Let the fruit and sugar sit for at least a few hours (or overnight if you can). This slow extraction draws out all the juicy, aromatic goodness.
- Strain well - For a smooth, pourable syrup, use a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth and avoid pressing the fruit too hard, which can make the syrup cloudy.
- Reuse the fruit - After macerating, don’t toss those nectarines! They make an excellent addition to smoothies and yogurt bowls. You can also simmer them down a bit to make more of a jam—delightful spooned over vanilla ice cream.
- Scale it up or down - This recipe is flexible! Just maintain the basic ratio of fruit to sugar to lemon juice, and you should be good to go.
Storage Instructions
- Keep your nectarine syrup in an airtight jar in the fridge and use within a week for the freshest flavor.
- For longer storage, freeze it for up to 6 months. I recommend freezing it into ice cubes so you can pull out what you need when you need it.
FAQs
Nectarines pair beautifully with warm flavors like vanilla, honey, cinnamon, and ginger, as well as tart flavors like lemon and lime. They also complement herbs like mint and basil, and taste great alongside other fruits like berries, citrus, and stone fruits like peaches and plums.
The syrup in fruit cocktail is typically simple syrup—a mixture of water and sugar, sometimes with added fruit juice or natural flavoring. It can range from light syrup (less sugar) to heavy syrup (more sugar), depending on the brand or label.
Interestingly, a nectarine is not a hybrid of two fruits—it’s actually a natural mutation of a peach. The key difference is in the skin: nectarines have smooth skin, while peaches are fuzzy. Genetically, they're nearly identical!
Nectarine Simple Syrup Nutrition
Each 2-tablespoon serving of this homemade nectarine syrup contains approximately 92 calories, with 24 grams of carbohydrates and 23 grams of sugar (both naturally-occurring and added). While it’s free of fat, protein, and sodium, it offers more than just sweetness.
Because the syrup is made by macerating real nectarines and lemon juice, you’ll get trace amounts of beneficial nutrients—like vitamin C, potassium, and antioxidants such as beta-carotene from the nectarines. Lemon juice also contributes a small boost of vitamin C.
So, while this syrup is still a source of added sugars, it’s a more wholesome and flavorful alternative to commercial syrups when enjoyed in moderation. Cheers!
Total nutritional content per serving is:
- Calories: 92 calories
- Total Fat: 0 grams
- Protein: 0 grams
- Sodium: 0 mg
- 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 Nectarine Syrup
Equipment
- 1 large bowl
Ingredients
- 2 ½ lbs fresh, ripe nectarines
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 3 tablespoon lemon juice
Instructions
- Slice your nectarines in ½ inch slices and place in a large bowl.
- Toss with sugar and lemon juice until well coated and the sugar is completely moistened.
- Allow the nectarine mixture to sit at room temperature for 2 hours, tossing halfway through.
- After 2 hours, strain the nectarine syrup from the nectarine solids using a fine mesh strainer. Allow the mixture to strain for about 30 minutes, tossing halfway through to get the most syrup. Reserve the syrup, discard or save the nectarines for another use.
- Transfer the nectarine syrup to an airtight container or syrup bottle, and store in the fridge for up to 7 days.
Notes
Nutrition
xoxo Megan
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