• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Breakfast
    • Desserts
    • Drinks
    • Entrees
    • Lunch
    • Side Dishes
    • Snacks
    • Dog-Friendly
  • Life
    • Travels
    • Gift Guides
  • About
    • About Sues
    • Work With Me
    • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
    • Newsletter

We are not Martha logo

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Life
  • About
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Home
    • Recipes
    • Life
    • About
    • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Home » Drinks » Jalapeño Simple Syrup

    Apr 26, 2021 · Modified: Aug 26, 2022 by Sues · This post may contain affiliate links, uses cookies, and generates income via ads · View privacy policy + disclosure statement linked in footer · 3 Comments

    Jalapeño Simple Syrup

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe

    Looking for a fun way to add a little spice to your cocktails and mocktails? This homemade Jalapeño Simple Syrup requires just 3 ingredients and is so easy to make. I recommend keeping a jar in your fridge at all times!

    Head-on view of a mason jar filled with jalapeño simple syrup with sliced jalapeños in it and on the table in front with recipe title at top

    If you were to come to my house and open my fridge, you'd probably ask me why I have so many mason jars in there. And I'd tell you it's because I have a simple syrup problem.

    Not only do I always have a jar of plain simple syrup in my fridge, but I also have at least two flavors... And sometimes up to five. Having homemade simple syrup made and ready to go means I can make delicious craft cocktails any time I want.

    Jalapeño simple syrup is the flavor I make most... Mainly because it is so delicious in margaritas!

    What is Simple Syrup?

    Simple syrup is essentially just equal parts sugar and and water that's boiled until the sugar dissolves and the mixture thickens. Once it's chilled, it can be used in all kinds of ways.

    It's an essential ingredient for so many cocktails and though you can purchase bottles of it, it's so simple to make at home (ahem, they don't call it "simple" syrup for nothing!).

    Not only does simple syrup allow you to add a little sweetness to drinks, but it's easy to infuse with different flavorings to make your cocktails and mocktails even more dynamic.

    With everything from lavender to blueberry to mint to totally unique flavors like bubblegum, simple syrup flavor options are endless, but in this post, I'll be showing you how to make a slightly spicy, totally yummy jalapeño simple syrup.

    Ingredients

    This jalapeño simple syrup requires just 3 ingredients. It doesn't get any easier than that! You'll need:

    • 1 cup water
    • 1 cup granulated Sugar
    • ⅓ cup sliced Jalapeño Peppers

    How to Make Jalapeño Simple Syrup

    Once you have your 3 ingredients ready, the simple syrup is incredibly easy to make. Use the step-by-step instructions I have below and be sure to check out my video for this recipe!

    Just add the water and sugar to a saucepan and bring to a boil. Then add sliced jalapeños in.

    Sliced jalapeño peppers simmering in sugar water

    Lower the heat and let the mixture simmer for about 10 minutes until the sugar has completely dissolved and the mixture has thickened into a syrup.

    Sliced jalapeños that have been simmering in sugar water mixture and thickened into syrup

    Now, pour the syrup into a heatproof bowl or mason jar and place in the fridge to cool completely.

    I like to keep the peppers in the jar, but you can strain them out if you want. Keeping them in will allow the spice to keep infusing into the syrup making it a bit spicier. Remove the peppers if you want a more mild syrup.

    Head-on view of a mason jar filled with jalapeño simple syrup with sliced peppers in the syrup and all around jar

    This recipe will make about 1 ¼ cups of simple syrup. Most drinks I make call for about 1 oz. of the syrup in each of them, so I can get quite a few drinks out of one batch!

    The syrup is the BEST combination of sweet and spicy and adds so much flavor to whatever you add it to.

    How to Make Bigger Batch

    It's really easy to double or triple (or even quadruple!) the amount of simple syrup you make. Since the syrup uses a 1:1 water and sugar ratio, you can increase as you see fit.

    If you want to double this recipe, use 2 cups of water and 2 cups of sugar, along with ⅔ cup of sliced jalapeños.

    If you want to triple this recipe, use 3 cups of water and 3 cups of sugar, along with 1 cup of sliced jalapeños.

    How to Store

    You should always store your simple syrups in the fridge in an airtight container. When stored properly, it should stay fresh for at least a month.

    When left too long, it can form mold, so I always check it before I use it to make sure it still looks and smells fresh.

    Lanscape head-on view of a mason jar of jalapeño simple syrup with sliced jalapeños and a whole pepper in background

    How to Use

    Like I've mentioned, cocktails are probably the most common use for simple syrup, but this jalapeño simple syrup has so many uses!

    Jalapeño Parsley Sour Martini -- This Jalapeño Parsley Sour Martini brings a little bit of heat, a little bit of sweet, and a little bit of sour and is the ultimate jalapeño vodka martini. | wearenotmartha.com
    • Spicy margaritas
    • Spicy martinis
    • Mocktails: Use the syrup to jazz up any alcohol-free drink. Or even just add it to a little bit of sparkling water for your own homemade flavored seltzer!
    • Cocktail rim bonder: I love brushing a little simple syrup on the rims of my glasses so I coarse salt and/or sugar easily sticks to them. Only use this jalapeño simple syrup if you really love spice as you'll get a little kick with every sip!
    • Drizzle over pancakes or waffles instead of maple syrup. It would be especially delicious on these Jalapeño Bacon Corn Pancakes.
    • Add to a marinade: Add a little bit of this simple syrup to a marinade you want to give a sweet kick to, whether it's for shrimp, steak, or chicken.
    • Drizzle it over ice cream or add it into ice cream, like in this Mango Jalapeño Ice Cream.
    Overhead view of cranberry jalapeño margaritas

    Where to Buy

    If you don't feel like making your own, there are lots of options for purchasing jalapeño simple syrup. But it's definitely pricey and much more economical to make it yourself!

    Store-bought simple syrup will have a longer shelf life than homemade. Here are the best options for purchasing (but seriously, try making it yourself first!):

    • Gris Gris Jalapeño Hex
    • Fire Syrup Jalapeño Infused Syrup
    • Addition Jalapeño Cocktail Spice
    • Muddle and Wilde Lime Jalapeño Syrup

    More Simple Syrup Flavors

    As part of a series on simple syrups, I'll be sharing many more flavored simple syrup recipes with you over the next several months. I'll update this space and add links as recipes are available.

    In the meantime, here are some other simple syrup flavors I love making and the recipes they go best in:

    • Mint
    • Blueberry
    • Lavender
    • Strawberry
    • Apple
    • Peach
    • Pumpkin Spice
    • Bubblegum
    • Candy Corn
    • Vanilla
    • Pear
    • Ginger
    • Raspberry
    • Rhubarb
    • Pink Peppercorn
    • Holiday Spice
    Head-on view of a mason jar filled with jalapeño simple syrup with sliced jalapeños in it and on the table in front

    Once you make this easy recipe just once, you'll always want to have a jar of it in your fridge, too!

    And your cocktails and sparkling water will never be boring again.

    What would you add jalapeño simple syrup to?

    Head-on view of a mason jar filled with jalapeño simple syrup with sliced peppers in the syrup and all around jar

    Jalapeño Simple Syrup

    5 from 3 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Drinks
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: Cocktail Ingredients, Mixology, Simple Syrup Recipes
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 15 minutes
    Chill Time: 1 hour
    Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
    Makes: 1 ¼ cups
    Author: Sues

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup water
    • 1 cup granulated sugar
    • ⅓ cup sliced jalapeño (from 1-2 jalapeño peppers)

    Instructions

    • Put water and sugar in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil. Add sliced jalapeños.
    • Lower heat and let simmer for about 10 minutes, until syrup has thickened. 
    • Pour mixture into a heat-proof bowl or mason jar (strain peppers out if you want to keep the spiciness level down). Place bowl or jar in fridge to cool completely before using.

    Video

    Notes

    • Simple syrup should last for about a month when stored in an airtight container in the fridge.

    Useful Products

    Share a Photo of Your Finished Recipe!Mention @wearenotmartha and share a photo if you've made the recipe!

    View Web Story for this recipe.

    Jalapeño Simple Syrup
    Tweet
    Share
    Pin1K
    Yum1
    Share
    1K Shares
    « Raspberry Lemonade Cupcakes
    Coconut Sugar Cookies »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Brooke says

      August 21, 2022 at 1:14 pm

      5 stars
      Delicious and super easy to make!

    2. Anne Castner says

      November 04, 2022 at 5:51 am

      5 stars
      Do you have a recipe to make jalapeño juice without the syrup? I like hot and
      dirty martinis and do not want the sweetness. Thank you

    3. Sues says

      November 05, 2022 at 12:53 pm

      Great question! I would actually just slice a jalapeño and put the slices in a shaker with the martini ingredients. Shake really well and strain into a glass. This should add some heat without sweetness. Leave the seeds in if you want extra heat! Otherwise, you could puree jalapeño and add some of the puree to your drinks, but I think shaking the martini with sliced jalapeños should be sufficient!

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Meet Sues

    Hi and thanks for visiting! I started We are not Martha to show you how to make recipes that impress without stress, including easy weeknight dinners, delightful desserts, + lots of cocktails.

    Learn More...

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • Popular Now

    • Basil Chicken in Coconut Curry Sauce
    • Momofuku Milk Bar's Cornflake Chocolate Chip Marshmallow Cookies
    • Blueberry Vodka Lemonade
    • Chicken Dog Treats

    Footer

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter

    Footer

    ^ back to top

    About

    • About Sues
    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclosures
    • Web Stories

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Work with Me

    BE SURE TO CHECK OUT MY AMAZON SHOP TO DISCOVER SOME OF MY FAVORITE COOKING AND BAKING ITEMS THAT I USE IN MY OWN KITCHEN. WE ARE NOT MARTHA IS A PARTICIPANT IN THE AMAZON SERVICES LLC ASSOCIATES PROGRAM, AN AFFILIATE ADVERTISING PROGRAM DESIGNED TO PROVIDE A MEANS FOR SITES TO EARN ADVERTISING FEES BY ADVERTISING AND LINKING TO AMAZON.COM. ORDERING ANY PRODUCTS MENTIONED HERE ARE AT NO EXTRA COST TO YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

    Copyright © 2022 WE ARE NOT MARTHA