3-Ingredient Sugar Free Simple Syrup Recipe
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This sugar free simple syrup lets you skip the sugar but keep the sweetness you love! Made with 3 ingredients and a few minutes, one try and it will become your go-to guilt-free way to sweeten everything. Use it as an everyday liquid sweetener at home for your favorite drinks or baked goods, or as an upgrade for cocktails and desserts for special occasions.
Ditch the overpriced store-bought syrups and whip up this easy keto simple syrup instead. It has that smooth, sweet flavor you love in classic simple syrup, but won’t give you a sugar crash. No crystallized mess or weird aftertaste either.
The consistency may be slightly different from traditional simple syrup and the color may be clear, slightly cloudy, or a light amber color, depending on water quality and the type of sweetener you use. I always have a jar on hand because my kids love it on their lemonade, my husband puts it in his morning cup of bone broth latte, and it’s what I use when I bake my homemade treats.
Bonus? It’s way cheaper than store-bought and gives you full control over ingredients. So whether it’s a quiet night at home relaxing with a mug of hot chocolate or Friday night with friends enjoying cocktails, this sugar free simple syrup recipe will sweeten your life while staying true to your diet or sugar-free goals.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- 3 ingredients: All you need is water, a sweetener, and xanthan gum.
- Budget-friendly: Skip pricey store-bought syrups and make your own with pantry staples.
- Easy cleanup: Everything cooks in one pan which means less to clean up after.
- Smooth, crystal-free consistency: This syrup stays silky and pourable, even after chilling.
- Customizable: Add vanilla, cinnamon, citrus zest, or herbs to make it your own.
- Great for batch prep: Make a bottle and store it in the fridge for instant sweetness all week long.
How to Make Sugar Free Simple Syrup
You’ll love how simple this from-scratch recipe is. With just 15 minutes of active time, you’ll have sugar free simple syrup ready to enjoy. Don’t skip the cooling time, though! It gives the syrup a chance to thicken slightly and allows the flavors to settle for a smoother, more consistent taste in every pour. It also helps prevent condensation when storing.
Scroll to the bottom of this post for a printable recipe card with a full list of ingredients, measurements, and step-by-step instructions.
Ingredients You Need
- Water: Dissolves the sweetener. For best results, use distilled water.
- Powdered sweetener: Use powdered erythritol or allulose to create a smooth and consistent syrup without graininess. Granulated sweetener may not dissolve adequately in liquid. If you only have granulated sweetener, grind it first in a Magic Bullet, coffee grinder, or blender.
- Xanthan gum: The thickening agent that helps stabilize the simple syrup, preventing unwanted crystallization. Xanthan gum helps the syrup retain a viscous texture without the sweetener separating and settling at the bottom of the bottle.
Step-By-Step Instructions
Making keto simple syrup is as easy as 1, 2, 3! Simply dissolve the sweetener in water, mix in the xanthan gum, and let the mixture cool. Follow the step-by-step instructions below to get started!
Step 1: Dissolve the sweetener
Combine the water and sweetener in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir until the sweetener dissolves completely.
Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and maintain a simmer for 10 minutes while the liquid thickens.
Step 2: Add the xanthan gum
Once you see the volume reducing, add the xanthan gum, and whisk vigorously to dissolve. The syrup will thicken and should be smooth. Whisk out any remaining clumps.
Step 3: Cool
Remove from the heat and let cool for 15 minutes before transferring to a clean glass jar or recycled syrup bottle. It will continue to thicken slightly as it cools.
Substitutions
Even though this is such a simple recipe, you might be missing one of the key ingredients. Review the recommendations here for quick and clever substitutions.
- Powdered sweetener: Use a liquid sweetener like stevia or liquid monk fruit. Just adjust amounts since they’re more concentrated.
- Xanthan gum: Use guar gum in the same amount for a similar thickening effect. You can also try a pinch of unflavored gelatin.
Expert Tips
- Whisk vigorously: When adding xanthan gum, whisk well to prevent clumps from forming and to make sure the xanthan gum is evenly distributed.
- Prevent scorching: Reduce heat to medium after bringing to a boil to prevent scorching and ensure proper thickening as the syrup cooks.
- Add flavor boosters: Infuse your syrup with sugar-free add-ins like vanilla extract, cinnamon sticks, citrus zest, fresh herbs like mint or rosemary, or even a splash of almond or coconut extract. These simple extras add flavor without adding sugar.
- Taste and adjust: Taste the syrup before bottling so you can adjust as you like best.
- Store in a glass container: Use a clean, airtight glass bottle or jar to keep the syrup fresh and avoid absorbing unwanted flavors from plastic.
- Label with a date: Homemade syrups typically last 2 to 3 weeks in the fridge. Labeling the date helps you track freshness.
How to Store This Recipe
Store sugar free simple syrup in an airtight container like a bottle or mason jar at room temperature for 1 day, then transfer to the refrigerator for up to 1 month. Keeping the syrup at room temperature may help prevent crystallization. If however, you see signs of crystallization, feel free to gently reheat in a small saucepan.
To freeze, allow the syrup to cool completely then transfer to freezer-safe containers and seal tightly. If using glass containers, I recommend wide-mouth mason jars and leaving a one-inch headspace to allow room for expansion.
You can also portion the syrup into small servings using ice cube trays. After freezing, pop them out and transfer them to a freezer bag. You can thaw overnight at room temperature or gently reheat in a small saucepan.
What to Serve with Sugar Free Simple Syrup
You can use keto simple syrup to sweeten anything you like. Add it to a cold brew coffee, tea, mocktail, or delicious cocktails like espresso martini, mint julep, and lemon drop martini.
Drizzle it over pancakes, waffles, or chia pudding for a touch of sweetness, or mix it into yogurt, smoothies, and even salad dressings that call for a hint of sweet balance.
More Easy Condiments To Try
- Sugar-free pumpkin spice syrup
- Keto balsamic glaze
- Homemade mayonnaise
- Keto tzatziki sauce
- Roasted garlic butter
Keto Simple Syrup Recipe (Keto, Low-Carb)
Ingredients
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup powdered erythritol or allulose
- 1 teaspoon xanthan gum
Instructions
- Combine the water and sweetener in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir until the sweetener dissolves completely.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and maintain a simmer for 10 minutes while the liquid thickens.
- Once you see the volume reducing, add the xanthan gum, and whisk vigorously to dissolve. The syrup will thicken and should be smooth. Whisk out any remaining clumps.
- Remove from the heat and let cool for 15 minutes before transferring to a clean glass jar or recycled syrup bottle. It will continue to thicken slightly as it cools.
Notes
- When adding xanthan gum, whisk well to prevent clumps from forming and to make sure the xanthan gum is evenly distributed.
- Reduce heat to medium after bringing to a boil to prevent scorching and ensure proper thickening as the syrup cooks.
- Add sugar-free flavor boosters to your keto simple syrup (see Expert Tips for recommendations)
- Taste the syrup before bottling so you can adjust as you like best.
- Use a clean, airtight glass bottle or jar to keep the syrup fresh and avoid absorbing unwanted flavors from plastic. Label the jar with the date to help you track freshness.
Nutrition & Macros
To obtain the most accurate representation of the nutritional information in a given recipe, please calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients and amounts used, using your preferred nutrition calculator. Under no circumstances shall the this website and the author be responsible for any loss or damage resulting for your reliance on the given nutritional information.
