Want to feel like you're on a tropical island any time of year? This Pineapple Syrup has so many uses and with just 3 ingredients, tastes just like a freshly cut pineapple! Use it to add tropical flavor to drinks, breakfast, desserts, and more.
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Doesn't it feel like pineapple is a bit underrated? Unless you're on a tropical vacation, it feels like all things pineapple flavored can sometimes be ignored.
I blame it on that icky dried out pineapple you so often find in pre-made fruit salads.
But really, there's nothing quite like a seriously juicy, fresh, and ripe pineapple. And while I could happily sit and eat slices of pineapple as is, I also love pineapple flavored drinks and treats.
With this pineapple syrup, you can add pineapple flavor to pretty much anything you can imagine!
One of the top reasons to make it? It's needed for the copycat versions of the Starbucks Pineapple Passionfruit Refresher and The Paradise Drink!
❤️ Why you'll love this recipe
If you love pineapple, this recipe is going to be SO up your alley. The simple syrup is SO easy to make (hence the word "simple") and can be used for so many things (see a full list of ideas further down in this post).
Unlike what you may see in other recipes, there's no reason to macerate the fruit to make this syrup. I like to keep it simple, especially when simple works so well!
Pineapple syrup is especially useful as a quick and easy way to add pineapple flavor to cocktails and mocktails.
🗒 Ingredients
You only need 3 ingredients to make this syrup! They include:
- Water
- Granulated sugar
- Chopped pineapple (I recommend fresh, though you can use canned if preferred)
🍍 How to make pineapple syrup
If you've made your own simple syrup before, you'll know exactly how to do this. If not, don't worry; it couldn't be easier!
Lots of recipes will tell you to macerate the pineapple (which basically means to let it sit in sugar to draw out the juices), but I find that simple boiling the cubed pineapple in water and sugar for about 15 minutes does more than enough to draw the juices out of the pineapple and infuse the syrup in the best way possible.
Start by putting all the ingredients (water, sugar, and pineapple) in a medium-size saucepan and bringing the mixture to a boil.
Once boiling, lower heat and let simmer for about 15 minutes, until mixture has thickened a bit and pineapple is breaking down.
Strain mixture into a bowl, being sure to press down on the pineapple to extract as much juice as possible.
You can discard the pineapple or keep it for another use... It makes a delicious ice cream topping!
Keep the syrup in bowl or pour into a mason jar and place in fridge to cool completely before using. Syrup will continue to thicken as it cools.
And be sure to give it a taste before you start adding it to everything in your life (or at least in your fridge and pantry). I love that this syrup tastes just like pineapple and has a matching color, too!
But don't take too many spoonfuls of this as is because you're going to want to put it to good use, too!
👩🍳 How to use
There's so much you can do with this pineapple syrup to instantly make your life feel like a tropical vacation! Here are some of my favorite ideas, but feel free to let me know if you come up with other uses!
- Cocktails: Pineapple cocktails are some of my favorites and this syrup goes well with so many liquors and in so many different drinks. It's fabulous in a pineapple vodka soda, but I love love pineapple mojitos and pineapple gin and tonics.
- Homemade Pineapple soda: For a drink the kids will love, just mix a little of this syrup into seltzer water for an instant homemade soda.
- Mixed into coconut milk: For a piña colada type drink, just stir a little of this into coconut milk!
- Pineapple Passionfruit Refresher: This pineapple syrup is a requirement for making a copycat Starbucks Refresher!
- Paradise Drink: But you can also use it to make their Paradise Drink, which is basically a Refresher with coconut milk instead of water.
- Yogurt or oatmeal topping: Drizzle some pineapple syrup over your healthy morning breakfast to make it more of a sweet treat.
- Shave ice syrup: Drizzle this over shave ice or a snow cone for an instant tropical vacation.
- Ice cream topping: Or just top your vanilla ice cream with it.
- Pancake, waffle, and french toast topping: Bored with maple syrup? Try using this pineapple syrup over your brunch foods instead! It's especially delicious with a sprinkling of coconut.
- Tea sweetener: Add a little to your tea instead of honey for a sweetly tropical touch.
- Cake moistener: You can brush a homemade cake with simple syrup to keep it moist and add sweetness and flavor. I especially like this pineapple syrup on vanilla cake.
- Salad dressing ingredient: Add a yummy pineapple flavor to your homemade salad dressings with this syrup!
⏲ How to store
If you don't use all your pineapple syrup at once (I mean, didn't I give you more than enough ways to use it??), it's super easy to store!
I recommend storing in a mason jar, but you can really use any airtight container. The jars pictured here are 8 oz jars, but you can also use 16 oz jars.
When stored in an airtight container in the fridge, this syrup should stay fresh for about a month.
💡 Variations on recipe
I love the simplicity of this recipe, but I also love how many ways there are to easily switch things up. So many flavors go with pineapple, so feel free to combine other ingredients into the syrup for a whole different profile. Here are some ideas:
- Lime: I love the pineapple citrus combo and it's easy to squeeze a little fresh lime juice into the syrup once it's done cooking.
- Habanero, serrano, or jalapeño: Love pineapple and spice? Simmer slices of the spicy pepper of. your choice into the syrup.
- Vanilla: Vanilla and pineapple go well together, too, so try adding a vanilla bean to the jar when you store the syrup.
- Strawberry, orange, banana, etc.: On that note, lots of fruits complement pineapple and you can stir a little extract of your choice into the syrup before you pour it into the jar.
- Coconut: You can either use coconut extract or even simmer the syrup with shredded coconut before straining it out.
- Basil, rosemary, mint, etc.: Herbs are great pairings, too! You can add fresh herbs to the syrup as it's simmering and then remove them before storing.
🛍 Where to purchase
If you don't feel like making your own pineapple syrup, you can easily purchase a bottle instead! Here are a few options:
- Torani Pineapple Syrup
- Monin Pineapple Syrup
- Liber & Co Pineapple Gum Syrup
- DaVinci Sugar-Free Pineapple Syrup
🥣 More simple syrup recipes
If you love this pineapple syrup, you make want to try more simple syrup recipes! They'll majorly up your drink-making game, along with their many other uses!
Some favorites include jalapeño, blueberry, cherry, and bubblegum. But be sure to check out my entire arsenal of recipes, which I'm always adding to.
I personally can't pick a favorite syrup (they're like children in that I love them all in different ways!), but this pineapple version may become one of the syrups I end up making most often.
If you make it, please let me know in the comments below!
📖 Recipe
Pineapple Syrup
Ingredients
- 1 cup water
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup chopped pineapple
Instructions
- Put water, sugar, and pineapple in a medium-size saucepan and bring mixture to a boil.
- Once boiling, lower heat and let simmer for about 15 minutes, until mixture has thickened a bit and pineapple is breaking down.
- Strain mixture into a bowl, being sure to press down on the pineapple to extract as much juice as possible.
- Keep syrup in bowl or pour into a mason jar and place in fridge to cool completely before using. Syrup will continue to thicken as it cools.
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