Easy Lavender Simple Syrup For Coffee

Sweet, floral, and just in time for spring, this easy Lavender Simple Syrup Recipe is the coffee and pastry workhorse you didn’t know you needed. Simply made with just 4 ingredients and 2 minutes of active prep, this DIY lavender syrup adds a layer of sophistication to any drink or dessert that it touches.

While we’re still in the throes of winter (it is only February, after all), I’m ready for the warmth, sunshine, and new growth that spring promises. I might be jumping the gun a bit with this lavender syrup recipe, but I’m having one of those “build it and they will come” kind of moments. If I pretend the season has already changed, maybe it’ll change faster! 🤷🏻‍♀️

If you’re also ready to turn the page on a new chapter, this lavender-infused simple syrup is just the thing to put you in a blooming state of mind. If this pale purple flower is calling your name, come join me in the kitchen. Making a bottle is a snap, and there are so many fun ways to put it to use.

Just to give you a few ideas, I’ve been using it to make my Starbucks copycat iced lavender cream oat milk matcha, a cheerful lavender latte, lavender-scented whipped cream, lavender lemon layer cakes, lavender iced tea, and anything else I can think of. This lavender coffee syrup is real, honest-to-goodness Flower Power distilled into an easy-to-use liquid form, and it’s here to brighten your day and improve all your cold drinks.

Jump to:

• What is Lavender Simple Syrup
• What does it taste like?
• Why You’ll Love This Lavender Syrup For Coffee, Tea, & More
• Ingredients Needed
• Substitutions
• How To Make Lavender Syrup
• Optional Variations & Dietary Adjustments
• Serving Suggestions
• Recipe Success Tips
• FAQs
• Homemade Lavender Syrup Nutrition
• Other Simple Syrup Infusions
• Easy Lavender Simple Syrup For Coffee

What is Lavender Simple Syrup

As I’m sure you already know, simple syrup is a liquid sweetener that is typically made with equal parts granulated sugar and water. While that is the *most basic* recipe, there are TONS of fun variations on the theme. 

You can swap in different sweeteners (like with my honey simple syrup or brown sugar syrup), add flavored extracts (like my vanilla syrup or peppermint syrup), OR you can infuse the syrup with flavors from solids like cinnamon sticks, tea bags, or — you guessed it — dried lavender petals.

This particular recipe for lavender flavor simple syrup uses both dried lavender flowers AND a splash of vanilla extract for a deliciously well-rounded yum-booster that can be used in dozens of dazzling ways.

What does it taste like?

If you’re familiar with how lavender smells, you’ve probably got a pretty good idea of how this syrup tastes. Like any simple syrup, the first taste is sweet — but it has a lot of complexity behind it. The lavender brings floral undertones and has notes of rosemary, mint, and a touch of camphor. I also added some vanilla for aromatic warmth, which helps emphasize the dessert vibes. 😋

Why You’ll Love This Lavender Syrup For Coffee, Tea, & More

My homemade lavender syrup is:

• So simple to make. All you need is a handful of pantry ingredients and a few minutes! It’s so dang easy, you’ll be shocked at what a powerful flavor booster it is.
• Perfect for adding floral sweetness to anything you can think of! This simple syrup lavender mash-up is my go-to sweetener for a London Fog and most herbal or black teas. It’s lovely in coffee drinks, and also shines in tons of desserts!
• Your ticket to making a DIY Iced Lavender Cream Matcha Latte from Starbucks. My copycat recipe comes together in just a few minutes, tastes JUST like the fancy pants coffee shop drink, but costs only pennies on the dollar to make at home. 🤑

Ingredients Needed

To make lavender simple syrup, you only need a few shelf-stable items. Here’s what to grab:

• Water - If possible, reach for filtered water for the purest taste.
• Granulated Sugar - The neutral flavor profile of white sugar adds sweetness while letting the lavender shine brightly.
• Dried Lavender Buds - Make sure you’re reaching for food-grade/culinary lavender buds here, as many crafting items are treated with harmful chemicals. 
• Vanilla Extract - Adding a splash of vanilla gives this syrup a more welcoming flavor profile.
• Purple Food Color - Totally optional, but pretty for added color. There is very little natural purple color in this simple syrup recipe.

Substitutions

Need to adjust the recipe? Not to worry! Here are a few easy swaps to try:

• Granulated Sugar - If you want to make your lavender syrup sugar-free, swap in your favorite cup-for-cup sugar alternative (e.g. Swerve, Stevia, Lakanto). You can also use coconut sugar or organic cane sugar if desired.
• Dried Lavender Buds - If you can’t find loose lavender, check the tea aisle — lavender-flavored herbal tea bags should do the trick! Just note that they may also bring some additional flavors (most often chamomile) to the table. You can also use your own lavender from a lavender plant or fresh lavender blossoms, but be sure they have not been treated with pesticides or sprayed with other chemicals.
• Vanilla Extract - You’re welcome to use an equal amount of vanilla paste, or you can use about a quarter of a spent vanilla pod. If you use the pod, make sure to let it steep in the syrup with the flower buds.
• Purple Food Color - You can omit this, swap in a drop each of red and blue coloring, or use some powdered butterfly pea flowers for a natural alternative.

How To Make Lavender Syrup

Making lavender simple syrup is a snap. Here’s how it’s done:

Step 1: Stir together the water, sugar, and lavender buds in a small or medium saucepan.

Step 2: Simmer & Steep. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring as the sugar dissolves. Once simmering, remove from heat and allow the sugar mixture to steep for 5 minutes.

Step 3: Add Vanilla. After 5 minutes of steeping, stir in the vanilla extract and food color (if using).

Step 4: Strain & Store. Strain out the lavender buds in a fine mesh strainer, squeezing any excess syrup out of the lavender as you strain it. Discard the lavender, and transfer the syrup to a glass bottle, mason jar, or airtight container. Store in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.

Optional Variations & Dietary Adjustments

I think this recipe for lavender simple syrup is spot-on, but there are plenty of ways for you to make it your own. Here are just a few ideas to get you started:

• Sugar-Free Lavender Syrup - Keep it diabetic-friendly by using a cup-for-cup sugar alternative to make the simple syrup base.
• Honey Lavender Simple Syrup - Take a page from my honey simple syrup for an added layer of flavor. Make the syrup as directed, then follow the steeping instructions over here. If you use honey as your sweetener, the vanilla extract is optional.
• Lavender Lemon Syrup - Lemon pairs beautifully with lavender, so if you’d like a bit of citrusy goodness, add a drop or two of food-grade lemon essential oil. You can also take a few wide peels of a fresh lemon and use them to steep with the flower buds. Use this magical concoction to sweeten your lemonade (or green tea Arnold Palmer’s!) for a delightful floral twist.

Serving Suggestions

There are more lavender syrup uses than I can count, but here are just a few to get your creative wheels spinning:

• Drinks with lavender syrup: since this is a coffee site, you knew I had to start with some slurp-worthy drinks. Here are just a few ideas:
  • Lavender syrup coffee drinks - Add a splash of this syrup to a plain latte with your favorite type of milk. It’s also great in cold brew coffee topped with some lavender cold foam!
  • Lavender Creamer - Use this lavender syrup to make 3-ingredient lavender coffee creamer!
  • Lavender tea lattes - Lavender pairs well with a variety of black, herbal, and green teas and tea lattes. It’s lovely in my Starbucks-inspired iced matcha latte with lavender cream cold foam, but is also super delicious in Earl Grey or English Breakfast lattes.
  • Lavender syrup cocktails - It’s 5 ‘o clock somewhere, so feel free to use this floral sweetener in your favorite cocktails or other drinks. I think it pairs especially well with gin, and makes a stellar twist on the classic French 75 or a lavender martini.
  • Lavender lemonade - Seriously, friends. You’ve gotta try this combo. Then if you’re feeling extra, add some blueberries to the mix. 
• Lavender simple syrup in the kitchen:
  • Lavender desserts - Everything from ice cream to cupcakes, scones to cookies can be made with lavender. Use this syrup to moisten layer cakes, sweeten frostings, or add floral notes to batter and dough. It pairs beautifully with lemon, blueberry, raspberry, and white chocolate.
  • Savory lavender dishes - It might sound weird at first, but lavender is actually a key component of the French herb blend known as herbes de provence. Use this syrup in marinades and glazes for lamb, chicken, turkey, fatty fish, sweet potatoes, and more! Also, since lavender is related to mint and rosemary, it is a great counterpoint to these flavors in other dishes.

Recipe Success Tips

• Food-Grade or Bust. Not all lavender is supposed to be used in the kitchen. If it came from a sachet you store in your sock drawer or is part of a bag of potpourri, back away. Any lavender you use should clearly state that it is for eating or drinking, otherwise, you may unwittingly be adding chemicals you don’t want in your body.
• Don’t Oversteep. Make sure you strain out the lavender after no more than about 10 minutes of steep time. Leaving it too long can activate some of the more bitter camphor undertones, leaving you with less flavor of the lavender and much more bitterness.
• Use Cheesecloth or DIY Tea Bags. You can easily make a little sachet for the lavender before adding it to the syrup to make straining that much easier. Just lift out the bag, squeeze it to get all the goodness out, and you’re good to go!
• Store Syrup Properly. A syrup bottle with a pour nozzle makes a world of difference in terms of accuracy of measurement, avoiding spills, and keeping the sticky icks from getting on your countertops or fridge shelves. 

FAQs

Homemade Lavender Syrup Nutrition

Nutrition-wise, each serving of this liquid flower bouquet is pretty light on the calorie scale, with just 56 calories. The calories come entirely in the form of 14 grams of carbohydrates, all of which come from sugar. While it's on the sweeter side, remember, it's all about moderation. 

Aside from that, there's no protein, no fat, and only a negligible 1 mg of sodium. All told, it's a wonderful option when you want to add a hint of sweetness to your day without going overboard.

Total nutritional content per serving is:

• Calories: 56 calories
• Total Fat: 0 grams
• Protein: 0 grams
• Sodium: 1 mg
• Carbohydrates: 14 grams
• Sugar: 14 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 Simple Syrup Infusions

xoxo Megan