Cardamom Simple Syrup Recipe

By
Colleen Graham
Photo of Colleen Graham
Colleen Graham
Freelance writer and cocktail book author Colleen Graham is a seasoned mixologist who loves sharing her knowledge of spirits and passion for preparing drinks.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 08/3/21
Tested by
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Tested by Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Cardamom Simple Syrup

The Spruce / Preethi Venkatram

Prep: 5 mins
Cook: 20 mins
Infusion: 72 hrs
Total: 72 hrs 25 mins
Servings: 32 servings
Yield: 2 cups

Cardamom simple syrup is an interesting flavor, and it is the quickest way to add this spice to your favorite beverages. From a sweetener for coffee and tea to cocktails, it makes for a useful flavored syrup for any kitchen or bar.

Making your own simple syrup is extremely easy and economical. Very similar to any other, this recipe simply adds a little cardamom for flavor. It is just one example of spiced syrups that you can make at home that add a sweetly spiced taste to any drink you pour it in.

Cardamom syrup is surprisingly versatile. Try using your first batch in a variety of beverages so you can get a feel for its full potential. For instance, it's a featured ingredient and paired with pomegranate in the spiced pomegranate martini, or it makes a tasty lemonade. Get creative and throw it in your flavored shots for a change of pace too. Cardamom is also an essential ingredient for Turkish coffee, so adding this syrup to your morning coffee is a fantastic idea.

"The syrup was excellent and had plenty of flavor after the three days in the fridge. Make sure you give it the full three days to develop flavor. If you have extra after using it in cocktails, it would be very good in coffee or brushed over freshly baked muffins, cupcakes, or cake." —Diana Rattray

Cardamom Simple Syrup Tester Image
A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Cardamom Simple Syrup ingredients

    The Spruce / Preethi Venkatram

  2. In a medium saucepan, combine the water and cardamom. Bring to a boil.

    water and cardamom in a saucepan

    The Spruce / Preethi Venkatram

  3. Stir in the sugar until fully dissolved.

    sugar added to the cardamom mixture in the saucepan

    The Spruce / Preethi Venkatram

  4. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for about 15 minutes.

    syrup cooking in a saucepan

    The Spruce / Preethi Venkatram

  5. Remove from the heat and allow to cool.

    Cardamom Simple Syrup in a saucepan

    The Spruce / Preethi Venkatram

  6. Transfer to a container with a tight-sealing lid and infuse in the refrigerator for three days.

    Cardamom Simple Syrup in a jar

    The Spruce / Preethi Venkatram

  7. Strain out the cardamom using a fine-mesh strainer, and bottle the syrup. Keep it refrigerated and use within three weeks.

    Cardamom Simple Syrup strained, in a bottle

    The Spruce / Preethi Venkatram

Tip

  • The flavor intensity may vary depending on whether you are using cardamom seeds or pods. Either will work, though the seeds tend to lose their flavor faster than whole pods. Taste the syrup each day until it reaches your desired level of flavor.

How to Use

  • Coffee Sweetener: Cardamom is often brewed directly with coffee beans. It's only natural that you can use your cardamom syrup to sweeten a cup of coffee. You will be amazed at how well this works.
  • Sweeten Masala Chai and Other Teas: Cardamom is a key spice in masala chai, and you can enhance that flavor and bring sweetness into the tea with a splash of cardamom syrup. It works particularly well with some of the just-add-water chai varieties that leave little to be desired. Use it to sweeten and spice up other teas as well.
  • Lemonade: Cardamom and lemonade is another great combination. Try substituting one-third of the simple syrup in homemade lemonade with cardamom simple syrup. Enjoy it as is or mixed into a variety of cocktails and mocktails.
  • Apple Martinis: Apple and cardamom are fantastic together. Add a splash of this syrup to your favorite apple martini recipe. It's best with the recipes that use apple cider or juice, but not so great in sour appletinis.
  • Flavored Whipped Cream: Add a splash of cardamom syrup to whipped cream and blend it with your kitchen mixer. Use this spiced cream to top coffee and hot chocolate drinks.
  • Plums, Pears, Apricots: These three fruits are also nice with a little cardamom spice. Pear cocktails are increasingly popular, and there are a number of apricot drink recipes as well. Though rare, you can find plum in cocktails, too.
  • Baked Goods: Brush cardamom syrup over the layers of a layer cake before frosting or brush it on cupcakes or muffins.

Recipe Variations

  • Switch from white sugar to raw sugar (e.g., demerara, turbinado) or your favorite granulated alternative. To give the syrup a semi-dark, slightly richer base, replace half of the sugar with brown sugar.
  • Build on the flavor of this syrup by adding a complementary flavor while boiling. Add a splash of fresh orange or lemon juice, or a piece of peel from either citrus fruit. A teaspoon of vanilla extract will work, too.
  • Cinnamon and cloves are also a good match, though the three-day infusion may be too much for those two spices. Instead, use a whole cinnamon stick or 1 tablespoon of whole cloves (or both) and remove those before starting the cardamom infusion. They should be easy to separate out, and the syrup will have a balanced spice flavor.

What Is the Flavor of Cardamom?

Cardamom is fragrant, with complex flavor. It is often described as spicy, minty, herbal, and citrusy in flavor.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
27 Calories
0g Fat
7g Carbs
0g Protein
×
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 32
Amount per serving
Calories 27
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 1mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 7g 3%
Dietary Fiber 0g 1%
Total Sugars 6g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 0mg 1%
Calcium 4mg 0%
Iron 0mg 1%
Potassium 10mg 0%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)