Embrace low and zero waste cooking by giving your strawberry tops a second life. This strawberry top simple syrup is delicious, beautiful, and made with no added sugar for a truly unique simple syrup!
zero waste • vegan • no sugar added • simple
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Jump to:
- ❤️ what you'll love about this strawberry top simple syrup recipe
- 🥣 ingredient notes
- 🔪 equipment notes
- 🧑🏽🍳 instruction notes
- 🧊 storage
- ✅ acceptable substitutions and variations
- 💡 tips for the best strawberry top simple syrup
- Recipe
- ♻️ sustainability profile
- ❓ frequently asked questions
- 🍓 more strawberry recipes
- 🕰️ the latest...
Strawberry tops don't deserve to end up in your trash can! They're delicious and useful in their own right, including this strawberry top simple syrup recipe. When making your summer strawberry dishes, add your tops to a freezer-safe container and store in the freezer so they're ready for your next batch of strawberry syrup.
Most strawberry top simple syrup recipes you see available today use LOTS of sugar. While that is a traditional preparation, this version offers a unique alternative to avoid added sugar without losing the beauty and delicious flavor.
Below are additions we make this recipe regularly!
❤️ what you'll love about this strawberry top simple syrup recipe
Delicious, beautiful, and versatile. There are SO many ways to use this simple syrup because it's delicious and really pretty. You can use this to infuse a subtle strawberry flavor into your dishes and add a hint of color. Some of our favorite uses include:
- Toppings for breakfasts like oatmeal, plant-based yogurt, and even pancakes or waffles
- Infuse in baked goods like granola or quick bread
- Use as a topping for desserts, such as drizzling over vegan ice cream
- Add as a mix-in for drinks, like seltzer water for a refreshing strawberry soda
Supports low-waste cooking by using your strawberry scraps and creating no new waste. So many delightful strawberry recipes never talk about what to do with your strawberry top scraps. Big missed opportunity! Use your tops to make this easy simple syrup and support low and no-waste cooking.
No added sugar, since this recipe is sweetened with Stevia extract. Skip the heaps of sugar and turn to a natural alternative. This version uses stevia extract (specifically, Truvia's scoopable option - affiliate link), but you can use Sugar in the Raw as a 1:1 replacement. You deserve to enjoy a delicious product without tons of added sugar.
Only 4 ingredients and completely plant-based. Simple is always helpful and one of the four ingredients is optional. Of course, this recipe is completely powered by plants.
Note: Remember that not all granulated sugar in the U.S. is vegan. IF you opt for granulated sugar and are purchasing in the U.S., opt for an organic version.
🥣 ingredient notes
Strawberry tops. This includes the strawberry pulp AND the leaves. Store in your freezer until ready for use. The strawberry tops can be either fresh or frozen. Either way, it is best to make sure they were rinsed before consuming.
Note: As you can see, some leaves were missing from some of my tops. You can make this without the leaves, but we prefer incorporating them to keep this zero waste.
Water. Keep in mind that some of the water will boil away during the cooking process.
Stevia extract. Use the brand of your choice. I prefer Truvia (affiliate link) for this recipe to avoid maltodextrin that's used in other stevia blends.
Arrowroot starch. Please note that arrowroot starch is completely optional! We use a small amount just to thicken the sauce a little, since we aren't using granulated sugar.
🔪 equipment notes
Below are the items you need for a successful simple syrup. I'm including some affiliate links for the products I use and recommend.
- Small saucepan
- Liquid measuring cups
- Fine mesh strainer
- Measuring spoons
- Spatula or spoon
- Airtight container for storage
🧑🏽🍳 instruction notes
Bring strawberry tops and water to a boil before reducing to a simmer. You'll notice the strawberry tops lose their color, but the liquid takes it all and turns a beautiful red!
Strain out the strawberry tops. But don't throw them out! Add them to your home compost as their final act of service.
I strain the liquid into a liquid measuring cup after letting it cool down for just a few minutes.
Dissolve stevia and arrowroot starch into the syrup. You can stir the stevia and arrowroot starch into the liquid measuring cup before pouring back into the saucepan.
Simmer once more for 3-5 minutes until liquid achieves a relatively clear consistency. The liquid won't be as clear as it was before adding the final ingredients, but it will be very close. You will also notice the "bubbles" as it simmers look a little heavier. This indicates thickening from the arrowroot starch.
There isn't a need to simmer for very long at this stage. The goal is simply to make sure the stevia and arrowroot starch are fully dissolved.
Transfer to an air tight container for storage. Again, allow to cool for a few minutes before transferring the simple syrup to an airtight container and either enjoying immediately or refrigerating for longer-term storage.
🧊 storage
Easy to refrigerate. Keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up 2 weeks.
✅ acceptable substitutions and variations
Swap strawberry tops with your favorite fruit. You can choose your favorite fruit if you want to put your own spin on the recipe. Try different berries, or even peppers like jalapeño!
Use sugar in place of stevia extract. Use a 1:1 ratio of granulated sugar to water, meaning you would need one and a half cups of granulated sugar for this particular recipe.
Add herbs to the infusion. Consider tossing some fresh herbs in the saucepan when simmering the water and strawberry tops, such as fresh basil leaves for a twist on the fruit-only version.
💡 tips for the best strawberry top simple syrup
Keep your strawberry tops in the freezer to maintain freshness before making the syrup. They will start to turn brown after a few days in the refrigerator and freezing prevents this, keeping them fresher longer.
Taste at the end to determine if you want more stevia and make any desired adjustments to thickness. You can stir in more stevia extract, if desired.
For those who would prefer a thicker syrup, add more arrowroot starch ¼ or ½ teaspoon at a time. If you decide to thin the syrup, add water a tablespoon at a time.
Limit the amount of arrowroot starch you use. A little goes a long way in this recipe. The starch will start to make the syrup too thick and a little more cloudy if you add too much.
Recipe
Strawberry Top Simple Syrup
Equipment
- 1 fine mesh strainer the size of your strainer depends on the size of the jar you're pouring into
- liquid measuring cups I use a liquid measuring cup to measure water and you can either reuse or get another one to strain out the strawberry tops
- measuring spoons
- 1 airtight jar for storing the simple syrup
- 1 spoon or spatula for stirring
Ingredients
- 1½ cups water 116g
- 1 cup strawberry tops 385g
- 1 tablespoon Truvia stevia extract 14g, I use Truvia in this recipe
- 1 teaspoon arrowroot starch 3g, optional (to slightly thicken syrup)
Instructions
- In your small saucepan over medium heat, add strawberry tops and water. Bring to a boil and then reduce temperature to a simmer for 15-20 minutes.
- Remove from heat and allow to cool for a few minutes before straining out strawberry tops (*see notes for why we're cooling before straining). Strain by pouring the liquid through a fine mesh strainer into your liquid measuring cup and repeat step, if needed. The liquid should look red and clear. Instead of discarding your strawberry tops in the trash, please add to your home compost.
- Stir in your stevia extract and arrowroot starch until dissolved. Pour back into your saucepan and bring to a simmer again, allowing the liquid to simmer for 3-5 minutes, stirring occasionally. The liquid should transition from a little cloudy to almost clear.
- Remove from heat and allow to cool before transferring to an airtight container for storage. Store refrigerated for up to 2 weeks.
Notes
- I recommend allowing your simple syrup to cool slightly before straining the liquid into another container, IF that container is a thin glass. Temperatures that are too hot can cause glass to crack.
- Don't throw away the strawberry tops after simmering. Make this recipe truly zero waste by adding them to your home compost.
- I allow my liquid to cool slightly before adding the arrowroot starch. If your liquid is still hot, dissolve the arrowroot starch in a little water to make a slurry before pouring into the syrup. This will help avoid clumping.
Nutrition
♻️ sustainability profile
sourcing
Strawberry tops. Simply save strawberry tops as you enjoy your summer strawberries. I find it easiest to keep them in a freezer-safe container.
Consider packaging. I'll be honest, I don't love buying extract in plastic packaging. For this use, though, a bulk size is better than using individual packets from a waste standpoint. Use what you have on hand, though. The fact you're selecting a stevia sweetener as opposed to granulated sugar is already a sustainable choice.
Arrowroot starch as an alternative to synthetic thickening agents. Choosing arrowroot starch as the thickening agent supports sustainability, which makes this even tastier! In fact, businesses are turning to arrowroot for its plant-based, gluten free, and biodegradable properties, according to this article by Future Market Insights.
Note: You can add arrowroot starch to a home compost system, so if you accidentally add it at the beginning of cooking, you can still compost the strawberry tops.
zero waste
Cooked strawberry tops. Once you remove them from the liquid, discard them in your compost pile.
All liquid is used in this recipe. With the exception of what boils off during cooking, all liquid is used for the syrup.
❓ frequently asked questions
Can you use strawberry tops for syrup?
Yes, you can absolutely use strawberry tops to make a simple syrup! Most strawberry tops include the leaves (also known as the calyx) and some strawberry flesh, which is where we get our flavor and color. Simply simmer the water, sweetener, and strawberry tops together to create a strawberry-flavored syrup...all from the tops!
How long does fruit infused simple syrup last?
The shelf life of fruit infused simple syrup depends on the storage method and ingredients. Fruit infused simple syrup is best to use within about 2 weeks if stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. The added fruit decreases the window a bit because it adds another factor that could go bad, or lose its potency. You can also freeze simple syrups for up to 6 months.
How to thicken up syrup without cornstarch?
While cornstarch can be added to simple syrups as a thickening agent, alternatives exist. First, you can try simmering the syrup longer if making a traditional simple syrup recipe with granulated sugar. When you're skipping the sugar and using an alternative (like stevia extract), you will need to rely on an additive to make it thicker. We recommend using arrowroot starch as a thickening agent because it will help maintain clarity and not overly thicken the syrup (which would likely happen if you use agar agar starch). Some have had success using xantham gum as well.
Does homemade strawberry syrup go bad?
Unfortunately, homemade strawberry (simple) syrup will eventually go bad. Over time, the syrup loses its potency and as more time passes, you run the risk of the ingredients turning sour. Check for an appearance that's more cloudy than when you originally made the syrup. You should also smell the syrup to see if you notice any rancid odors. Of course, if something tastes off, stop use immediately.
What is a fancy name for simple syrup?
An alternative name for simple syrup is "sugar syrup;" though the more common version is "simple syrup" or "[insert flavor type] simple syrup." Other than the name, there is no difference between the two...both are made by combining sugar (or a sweetener) with water and any additional customizations for an ingredient used to flavor a variety of recipes from cocktails to baked goods.
I hope you LOVE this unique twist on strawberry top simple syrup and enjoy supporting zero waste initiatives by giving these tops a second life. Let me know how you use your syrup and what unique flavors you'd like to try! In the meantime, here are some additional strawberry recipes perfect for your summer table. Cheers!
🍓 more strawberry recipes
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