Coconut Simple Syrup Recipe

Ready for the easiest and best-tasting coconut simple syrup recipe ever? This quick syrup will have you mixing all kinds of yummy tropical drinks in no time – everything from elegant Coconut Daiquiris to family-friendly Coconut Lemonade!

I love making different syrups to add unique and interesting flavors to my cocktails, mocktails, and punches. Making syrups at home doesn’t have to take a lot of time or effort!

It’s fun and easy, and a no-cook recipe like this is even kid-friendly. My five year old is more interested in my work than ever, and making syrups is a great way to involve her in the drink making process and let her create her own special, all-natural sodas. More on non-alcoholic summer recipes with this syrup below.

Simple syrup basics

If you want a full refresher on some basics, check out my Complete Guide to Simple Syrup. TLDR: don’t boil your simple syrup. Just stir together equal parts sugar and water. Warm water will dissolve the sugar more quickly, but it’s not a requirement. Sugar will dissolve in any temperature water more quickly than you think.

You can create flavored simple syrups very easily by adding fruits, herbs, or even tea bags to the mixture. Some syrup recipes require a bit of cook time to extract enough flavor from the fruit (like apple or quince).

However, you can add flavorful, high quality extracts to replicate some flavors without sacrificing taste. Another added benefit is that these syrups don’t require any straining and they won’t have a cloudy appearance.

For this recipe, we’re going to use an organic coconut extract, which means no cracking fresh coconuts! If you want a recipe for making your own cream of coconut (sweetened coconut cream), I’ll add instructions for that at the bottom as well.

Ways to use coconut simple syrup

Coconut has a distinct and recognizable taste that is often described as mildly sweet, creamy, and slightly nutty. It has a tropical flavor that is somehow both rich and fresh, with a lasting, deeper, nutty note.

This quintessential tropical flavor adds a little something extra to many drinks and dishes – try it drizzled over waffles with berries, or swirled into oatmeal with chopped nuts! You can even use it in stir-fries, marinades, or more savory dishes that benefit from a touch of tropical sweetness.

Some of my favorite ways to use this easy coconut syrup are in a basic summery lemonades or limeades, daiquiris, mojitos, simple rum cocktails, and my favorite – my Coconut Orange Blossom Margarita.

You can substitute this crystal clear syrup in any recipe calling for basic simple syrup. It mixes well with pretty much any spirit, but especially rum, tequila, and vodka.

Ingredients you’ll need

• Water
• Sugar
• Coconut extract

Just three simple ingredients! You can find coconut extract in the spice aisle in your local grocery store, but my favorite coconut extract for the best flavor is Flavorganics, which I buy on Amazon. It’s not very expensive and because it’s so potent, one bottle will last a long time.

You can use regular white table sugar, pure cane sugar, organic sugar, demerara, turbinado, brown sugar, etc. It’s completely up to you and what you have on hand. Just keep in mind that different sugars will give the syrup a slightly different flavor.

For example, brown sugar has molasses added, so it will have a deeper, more complex flavor. Also remember that less refined sugars won’t produce a crystal clear syrup, so if that’s important for you, you’ll want to stick to regular old white sugar.

For another interesting variation on this recipe, try using honey instead sugar! Honey simple syrup is one of the most versatile drink sweeteners you can easily make at home and it goes great with the flavor of coconut.

Tip: Use warm water for the quickest results, but it doesn’t need to be boiling or even hot.

Make the syrup in three easy steps:

1. Combine one cup of sugar with one cup of warm water.
2. Stir until the sugar has dissolved.
3. Add one tablespoon of coconut extract to the mixture, then stir to incorporate.

That’s it! You just made a delicious and incredibly easy tropical simple syrup. Use it in your favorite drink recipes immediately and be sure to store leftovers in a closed container in the refrigerator. I like to store my syrups in glass swing top bottles or mason jars.

How much coconut extract to use

Keep in mind that different brands of coconut extract may vary in strength of flavor. For Flavorganics, I use 2-3 teaspoons (about 1 tablespoon) of extract per cup each of water and sugar. For other brands, you might be able to use less.

With McCormick, I find that about 1 teaspoon is enough. When making your syrup, start with 1/2 teaspoon of extract, stir it in, then taste the syrup. If you want more coconut flavor, simply add another 1/2 to 1 teaspoon.

Want more easy simple syrup recipes? Check out my full list of Syrup Recipes or learn all about creating your own in my Ultimate Guide to Cocktail Syrups.

Bonus: How to make coconut syrup from coconut milk

Sweetened coconut milk, also known as “cream of coconut,” is a popular ingredient for drinks like the classic Pina Colada. It’s also super easy to make at home, rather than having to purchase brands like Coco Lopez or Coco Real (that have added preservatives).

To make cream of coconut, mix 1 can of coconut milk with 3/4 cup – 1 cup of sugar and a pinch of salt. You’ll need to heat this mixture in a small saucepan over low heat to be sure that all of the sugar has dissolved and to melt down any coconut oil solids.

Ingredients:

• 1 can of coconut milk (full fat is best)
• 3/4 – 1 cup of sugar
• Pinch of salt (about 1/4 tsp)

Instructions:

1. Combine all ingredients in a small saucepan.
2. Gently heat the mixture over low heat, stirring frequently.
3. Once the mixture is smooth and the sugar has dissolved, remove the pan from the heat and allow the syrup to cool.
4. Store in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.

Homemade cream of coconut is wonderful in my 2 Ingredient Whipped Lemonade (the perfect summer treat!)