The secret ingredient in many professional layer cakes and a kind of magic to the home baker is called simple syrup and it’s precisely that: a syrup made simply of equal parts water and sugar.

In a small saucepan over medium heat, bring sugar and 3/4 cup water to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until sugar is dissolved, about 3 minutes. Add optional ...

Any self-respecting gourmand will likely share several interests: eating, cooking and drinking. When two or three of these can be creatively combined, the fun more than doubles. We’re sure you’ve ...

The bar cart’s hardest working bottle, simple syrup might be the most-used ingredient when it comes to making cocktails. It rounds out the sharp acid in citrus-based drinks like a Whiskey Sour, adds ...

Making simple syrup is ridiculously easy — boil sugar and water — but most cocktail formulas call for only a spoonful. Do I really want to wash a pot just to have a splash of plain liquified sugar? I ...

Making simple syrup is ridiculously easy — boil sugar and water — but most cocktail formulas call for only a spoonful. Do I really want to wash a pot just to have a splash of plain liquefied sugar? I ...

Yield: 2 to 2 1/2 cups (depending on added ingredients) 2 cups granulated sugar 1 cup water Flavoring (see options below) 1. In a small saucepan, combine sugar and water. Bring to a boil over medium ...