Homemade Strawberry Basil Syrup

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This easy Strawberry Basil Syrup combines fresh strawberries and basil into a sweet homemade fruit syrup that’s perfect for pancakes, drinks, desserts and so much more.

The combination might sound a little unusual if you’ve never paired strawberries and basil before, but they are wonderful together. Sweet, juicy strawberries pair beautifully with the slightly peppery flavor of fresh basil without making the syrup taste overly herbal.

I originally made this recipe when both the strawberries and basil in our garden were growing faster than we could use them. After making several batches, we quickly discovered that finding ways to use strawberry basil syrup was definitely not going to be a problem.

We put it on everything.

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Why You’ll Love This Strawberry Basil Syrup

• Made with fresh strawberries: It’s a great way to use an abundance of ripe summer berries.
• Easy to make: Everything cooks together on the stove in about 10 minutes.
• So many uses: Drizzle it over breakfast, desserts and ice cream or add it to drinks, smoothies and cocktails.
• Easy to customize: Leave some strawberry pieces for a chunkier syrup or puree the berries for a smoother consistency.
• Freezer friendly: Make extra during strawberry season and freeze some for later.

Ingredients You’ll Need

You will find the complete measurements in the printable recipe card below, but you only need a handful of ingredients to make homemade strawberry basil syrup.

Fresh Strawberries

Fresh ripe strawberries provide most of the flavor, so this recipe is especially good during strawberry season when the berries are naturally sweet and juicy.

Hull the strawberries before mashing or pureeing them.

Fresh Basil

Fresh basil gives this strawberry syrup its distinctive flavor.

You have a couple of options for the basil depending on the texture and appearance you want. You can leave the basil leaves larger while the syrup cooks and remove them afterward, or blend the basil with the strawberries for a stronger basil presence throughout the syrup.

Granulated Sugar

Sugar sweetens the strawberries and helps create the syrup consistency.

The sweetness of fresh strawberries can vary, but the sugar is also part of the structure of this recipe, so I don’t recommend dramatically reducing it.

Cornstarch

A small amount of cornstarch thickens the strawberry basil syrup.

Mix the cornstarch with water before adding it to the hot strawberry mixture. This creates a slurry and helps prevent lumps of cornstarch from forming in the syrup.

How to Make Strawberry Basil Syrup

Homemade fruit syrup is much easier to make than you might think.

1. Prepare the Strawberries

Hull the strawberries and cut them in half.

Mash the berries for a more textured syrup with small pieces of strawberry, or use a blender or food processor if you prefer a smoother consistency.

2. Combine the Ingredients

Add the mashed or pureed strawberries, fresh basil, granulated sugar and water to a saucepan.

Stir everything together.

3. Cook the Syrup

Bring the strawberry mixture to a boil over medium heat and cook for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

4. Thicken the Syrup

When there are about 5 minutes left in the cooking time, combine the cornstarch with the remaining water and stir until completely smooth.

Slowly add the cornstarch mixture to the strawberry syrup while stirring.

Continue cooking until the syrup has thickened.

5. Finish the Syrup

If you left your basil leaves whole or in larger pieces, you can remove them before serving.

For a completely smooth strawberry basil syrup, you can also strain the finished mixture.

If you blended the basil into the strawberries, simply leave it in the syrup.

Allow the syrup to cool before transferring it to a clean jar or airtight container.

Should I Strain Strawberry Basil Syrup?

This is really a matter of preference.

If you like a smooth syrup, puree the strawberries and strain the finished syrup to remove strawberry seeds, pulp and pieces of basil.

For a more rustic strawberry syrup, mash the berries instead and leave some of the fruit in the finished sauce.

You can also leave the basil leaves whole while cooking to infuse the syrup with basil flavor, then simply remove them at the end.

We’ve made it different ways over the years, so don’t be afraid to experiment with the texture you prefer.

10 Ways to Use Strawberry Basil Syrup

Once you have a jar in the refrigerator, you’ll probably start finding all kinds of things to put it on.

1. Pancakes, Waffles and French Toast – Use strawberry basil syrup in place of traditional pancake syrup or drizzle a little over the top along with maple syrup.
2. Lemonade and Other Drinks – Add a spoonful to homemade lemonade, iced tea or sparkling water for an easy strawberry basil drink. Start with a little, stir and taste before adding more.
3. Smoothies and Milkshakes – Blend some syrup into a smoothie or milkshake for extra strawberry flavor.
4. Cocktails and Mocktails – Strawberry and basil work beautifully in summer drinks. Try adding the syrup to mojitos, margaritas or juleps, or use it to add flavor to an alcohol free mocktail.
5. Oatmeal – Swirl strawberry basil syrup into a warm bowl of oatmeal for an easy way to add fruit flavor and sweetness.
6. Cake and Cupcakes – Drizzle the syrup over pound cake, angel food cake, chocolate cake or cupcakes. It is especially good spooned over a simple slice of cake with fresh berries and whipped cream.
7. Ice Cream – This may be one of the easiest uses of all. Spoon strawberry basil syrup over vanilla or chocolate ice cream for an instant summer sundae.
8. Yogurt and Parfaits – Swirl the syrup into plain or vanilla yogurt or layer it with yogurt and granola to make a parfait.
9. Salads – The strawberry and basil combination works especially well with spinach salads. Use a small amount as part of a homemade dressing or combine it with ingredients such as olive oil and vinegar to create a sweet strawberry vinaigrette.
10. Savory Dishes – Fruit sauces can be delicious with savory foods too. Experiment with strawberry basil syrup as part of a glaze for chicken, pork or fish. A little can also add an unexpected sweet and savory flavor to vegetables or baked beans.

Tips for the Best Strawberry Basil Syrup

Use ripe strawberries. The strawberries are the star of this recipe, so flavorful ripe berries will give you the best syrup.

Adjust the texture before cooking. Mash the strawberries if you want pieces of fruit or puree them for a smoother syrup.

Make a cornstarch slurry. Always dissolve the cornstarch in cool water before adding it to the hot syrup to prevent lumps.

Remember that the syrup thickens as it cools. Don’t worry if it seems a little thinner than expected while it’s still hot.

Experiment with the basil. Leave the leaves whole for a more subtle infusion or blend them into the strawberries if you want more basil throughout the finished syrup.

How to Store Strawberry Basil Syrup

Allow the syrup to cool completely before transferring it to a clean airtight jar or container.

Store homemade strawberry basil syrup in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.

Always use a clean spoon when serving it and discard the syrup if you notice any signs of spoilage.

Can You Freeze Strawberry Basil Syrup?

Yes. We’ve frozen this syrup successfully.

Keep in mind that the consistency may be slightly thinner after freezing and thawing, but it still works beautifully in drinks, smoothies, desserts and many of the other uses listed above.

Freeze it in a freezer safe container with a little room for expansion.

You could also freeze smaller portions so you don’t have to thaw an entire batch at once.

Strawberry Basil Syrup FAQs

What does strawberry basil syrup taste like?

Strawberries provide most of the sweetness and fruit flavor while fresh basil adds a subtle herbal, slightly peppery note.

The basil complements the strawberries rather than overpowering them.

Can I leave the basil leaves in the syrup?

Yes.

You can blend the basil with the strawberries and leave it in the finished syrup. If you prefer a smoother syrup or more subtle basil flavor, leave the leaves larger while cooking and remove them afterward.

Can I make strawberry basil syrup without cornstarch?

Cornstarch gives this particular recipe its thicker syrup consistency. Leaving it out will produce a much thinner strawberry mixture.

Why is my strawberry syrup too thin?

Remember that the syrup will continue to thicken as it cools.

If it still seems too thin after cooling, make sure the cornstarch was completely dissolved in the water before it was added and that the syrup cooked long enough after the cornstarch mixture was incorporated.

Can I use strawberry basil syrup in lemonade?

Absolutely! Strawberry basil syrup is delicious stirred into fresh lemonade.

Start with a small amount and add more until you have the strawberry flavor and sweetness you want.

Can I make this ahead of time?

Yes. Since strawberry basil syrup keeps well in the refrigerator, it’s an easy recipe to make several days before you plan to use it.

Recipe for Homemade Strawberry Basil Syrup

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