With just 3 ingredients, this Lime Simple Syrup is the perfect simple syrup recipe for making mojitos, margaritas, moscow mules and adding to many other kinds of cocktails, mocktails, smoothies and more. Just add a splash to your favorite drink to give it a sweet and zesty citrus twist!

Easy Homemade Simple Syrup

If you love making classic cocktails, mocktails, smoothies, or other drinks at home, this lime simple syrup is a recipe you’ll want to keep close by! While a traditional simple syrup combines sugar and water to be used as a liquid sweetener in cocktails (and mocktails), this recipe infuses that liquid sugar with zesty kick of lime flavor, that may just be a game changer in your cocktail arsenal.

I originally created this lime simple syrup for my virgin Moscow mule, and quickly found it was just as good in classic cocktails as it was in the mocktail version. Add a splash to your favorite drink, spice up a blackberry gin and tonic or raspberry mojito, or swap it in for regular simple syrup in your favorite mojito or margarita to add a boost of lime flavor while sweetening the drink at the same time. If it tastes good in the mocktail version, it tastes just as great in the classic cocktail version too.

Beyond drinks, this simple syrup can be used any place you need lime with a little sweet. Drizzle it over a fruit salad, use it as a glaze over shortbread cookies, throw it into a homemade vinaigrette, or use it between layers in a cake.

Recommended Kitchen Tools

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Check out my Amazon shop to see all of my recommended kitchen tools.

How to Make Lime Simple Syrup

It’s easy to make simple syrup – once you try it, you’ll never grab bottled simple syrup again!

Tips for Success

Here are a few things to keep in mind when making this homemade simple syrup.

Always use equal parts water and sugar. The main ingredients in simple syrup are granulated sugar and water, always at a 1:1 ratio. If you halve or double this recipe, you can do so easily – just make sure to keep the appropriate 1:1 sugar to water ratio by using the same amount of sugar and water by volume.
Don’t boil the mixture. You should keep the mixture at a medium heat and whisk constantly so that the sugar dissolves and the mixture doesn’t boil. Boiling will lead to the evaporation of more water than you want.
Allow to cool completely. Before transferring the simple syrup to the glass container or adding it to your drink, be sure to allow it to cool completely. I like to plan for at least an hour of cooling time.

How to Store

Store your lime simple syrup in a tightly sealed glass bottle or other closed container. Don’t worry if you don’t have bottles like the ones in the photos, you can also use mason jars with lids or reuse a cleaned and sanitized condiment bottle.

Sanitizing is simple to do and will maximize the shelf life of any simple syrup. To sanitize, simply submerge your glass bottle in boiling water for a couple minutes to kill any bacteria. Carefully remove from the water, then allow to air dry and cool.

Simple syrup should always be refrigerated and as long as it’s stored in a tightly sealed sanitized glass container, it will last for up to 6 months in the fridge!