How to Make Pineapple Syrup for Your Drinks

Making your own syrups using fresh fruit is one of the easiest way to add layers of flavors to the drinks you make.

And sure, you can buy pre-made versions from the supermarket (or good ol' Jeff Bezos) but they are usually easy to make yourself. Plus there's a certain satisfaction that comes from eating or drinking something you made from scratch.

So let's get into it.

The method I use for fruit syrup

The method I use is really simple, and is the same way you would make most other fruit syrups like raspberry or banana.

There are three common methods to make fruit syrup:

1. Use fruit juice
2. Macerate the fruit 
3. Infusing the syrup

I make the majority of fruit syrups using the maceration method, a.k.a. letting the fruit sit covered in sugar to extract the flavors. 

There are a few reasons I choose this way.

Using fruit juice can make really nice syrups, but not everybody has a juicer so it's just easier to avoid juicing when possible. The reason I avoid the infusing method is because I like to try and keep a fresh fruitiness and when you infuse the syrup while it's cooking you are also cooking the fruit giving it a more fruit jam flavor.

The process of making pineapple syrup

The maceration method I use will take a little bit of time, but for almost all of it you don't have to do anything!

First, cut the fruit into 1/4 inch cubes. The smaller the pieces the easier it is for the sugar to pull out the flavorful liquids in the fruit. Then toss the pieces into a small sauce pan, dump in the sugar and stir it so that all of the fruit is coated, cover, and let it rest for at least 2 hours or up to overnight.

Wait until the sugar starts to dissolve and it begins looking like a syrup.

The sugar helps pull the juice and flavor out from the fruit which gives you a more flavorful syrup without having to cook the syrup with fruit in it or wait for an infusion.

What ingredients to use

It's just pineapple and sugar so you can't screw it up too bad.

But, I would suggest you use cane sugar!

I use cane sugar in place of standard granulated sugar for just about anything I can. Cane sugar ads a really nice mellow caramel type flavor that works well with just about anything. So unless there is a recipe that needs sweetness without adding any flavor whatsoever, I use cane.

And then choose a nice pineapple.

You're looking for something with a golden and brown outside and a little bit of give when you press on one of the "eyes".

A pineapple that is past its' prime can also still make a nice syrup, but avoid anything on the under ripe side since they wont' give you as much flavor. 

How to store cocktail syrups

To help extend the storage life of cocktail syrups at home I like to add a little splash of Everclear.

Why would you add Everclear to a syrup?

No, not so you can catch an extra buzz. Adding a little neutral spirit like a high proof vodka or Everclear helps preserve the syrup a little longer.

Always store fruit syrups in the fridge.

They will stay good for a few weeks, but sometimes you will notice the flavor start to change over time. It won't be bad but it could seem less bright/fresh after about a week, so make small batches and use it up!