Roasted Plum Simple Syrup

Roasted plum simple syrup is rich, jammy, and slightly caramelized, with way more depth than a basic fruit syrup. Roasting the plums first brings out their natural sweetness and adds a subtle toasty flavor that works beautifully in cocktails.

This is an excellent syrup for fall and winter drinks, especially anything with bourbon, gin, or sparkling wine.

Whenever I find fresh plums at the farmers’ market, I stock up. They are hard to find out of season here in SoCal, and my little plum tree isn’t quite ready to give me fruit, so I have to depend on the shops when I want to make my syrups and plum puree.

Why Roast the Plums First?

Roasting concentrates the flavor and adds a light caramel note from the brown sugar. Instead of tasting flat or overly sweet, the syrup ends up layered and bold, with just a little natural tartness left from the plums.

How to Use Roasted Plum Simple Syrup in Cocktails

• Add to gin or bourbon sours
• Use in spritz-style cocktails with sparkling wine
• Pair with lemon, orange, thyme, or cracked pepper
• Swap in for simple syrup in classic cocktails for a seasonal twist

It also works well in mocktails, iced tea, or sparkling water.

Cocktail Recipes

• Roasted Plum Cinnamon Smash
• Plum Bourbon Old Fashioned
• Plum & Peppercorn Gin Sour
• Plum Ginger Sour
• Plum Cinnamon Spritz

Storage Tips

Store roasted plum simple syrup in a sterilized glass jar in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. For longer storage, freeze in small portions (use these jars) and thaw as needed.

Roasted Plum Simple Syrup Recipe

Ingredients for the Roasted Plums

• 4 plums
• 2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
• A splash of water (to prevent burning)

Ingredients for the Simple Syrup

• 1 cup water
• 3/4 cup white sugar (taste your roasted plum first so you don’t over sweeten)

How to Make Roasted Plums

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F.
2. Cut the plums in half, remove the pits, and place them cut-side up in a baking dish. Leave the skins on.
3. Sprinkle the plums evenly with the dark brown sugar.
4. Pour a small amount of water into the bottom of the pan to keep the sugar from burning.
5. Bake for 25–30 minutes, until the plums are soft but not mushy.
6. Stir the plums gently about 10 minutes in so they roast evenly.
7. Remove from the oven and set aside.

How to Make Roasted Plum Simple Syrup

1. In a saucepan, combine the water and white sugar over medium heat.
2. Stir until the sugar is fully dissolved.
3. Add the roasted plums and any juices from the pan.
4. Bring to a slow boil, then reduce heat and simmer for about 5 minutes.
5. Puree the mixture until smooth using an immersion blender.
   • If using a standard blender, let the syrup cool to about room temperature first.
6. Strain the syrup through a fine mesh strainer twice for a smooth texture.
7. For an extra-clear syrup, strain once more through cheesecloth.
8. Pour into a sterilized glass jar like this one.