DIY Gifts For Mom: Lilac Syrup

This lilac syrup recipe makes a stunning addition to your cocktails, lemonade or baked goods. It also makes a terrific DIY gifts for mom by preserving the beauty and essence of spring lilacs,

I have a serious love affair with flowers. Unfortunately, my allergies did not get the memo on my infatuation and keeps many fragrant florals just out of reach. So goodbye jasmine, day lilies, and other perfumed beauties.

But there are many other gorgeous flower options out there for me to enjoy. I frequently shop at my local Trader Joe’s to pick up a bouquet or two of chamomiles, peonies, hydrangeas and this week: lilacs!

Why I love this recipe and lilacs

I love gardening, although my green thumb is still a work in progress. I adore flowers, but they don’t all like me. Lilacs are gorgeous and mildly fragrant. But most importantly, they don’t aggravate my allergies!

They come in a variety shades of pinks and purples, and of course the popular color of lilac. Some varieties only bloom for 3 weeks in the spring, while others bloom throughout the year.

Did you know that lilacs belong to the olive family, oleaceae? No wonder I love them! Lilac varieties can grow to be a large tree or in a bush.

Lilacs thrive in cold weather climates, so I’m dying here in Southern California as I am hunting for a warm weather loving lilac. So every time I find lilacs at Trader Joe’s, I have to scoop them up.

There are many varieties of flowers that are edible. My favorite edible flower is of course, the rose. But that’s probably because I’m Persian and we use rosewater and rose petals in many different ways.

Lilacs are also edible. Just be sure that the lilacs you are using are pesticide free. You can use lilacs in simple culinary ways like infusing sugar, alcohol and simple syrups. Lilacs aren’t just for lotions and soaps!

You can bake with lilacs and mix cocktails or sip some lilac lemonade. Garnish a lemon cake with lilacs, bake them into scones, or even add them in some whipped cream. The culinary uses for lilacs are limitless.

Another fabulous way to use up May lilacs is to make a simple syrup. Simple syrups are a great way to sweeten a cocktail or mocktail, and they are easy to mix up.

When making this syrup you want just the blossoms, so remove any leaves or stems before infusing. You also want to gently rinse out the lilacs using a fine mesh strainer to remove any dirt and insects.

See my Lilac Syrup Web Story for a quick visual guide to making this recipe.

Ingredients you need

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Simple syrups are made with equal parts sugar and water. Yup, there’s a reason why it’s called “simple”.

• Water and Granulated sugar: No fancy sugars needed. Just your basic granulated sugar.
• Lilac blossoms: You are fresh and aromatic lilacs that are pesticide free.
• Blueberries: Lilac syrup by itself is kinda brown in color. I add a few blueberries to give it a pretty purple color.

Step-by-step directions

1. Remove stems and leaves from lilac blossoms, otherwise they can make your syrup bitter. Gently rinse blossoms in a fine mesh strainer and reserve.

2. Add water and sugar in a small pot, whisking together until sugar is dissolved. Bring to boil then add lilac blossoms and blueberries. Simmer for 20 minutes.

3. Pour mixture through a fine mesh strainer to remove all the solids. Allow syrup to cool to room temperature than seal in a jar or bottle. Syrup will keep in the refrigerator like this for up to one month.

Expert tips and recipe FAQs

This gorgeous lilac simple syrup makes a wonderful DIY gift for mom or for anyone! I know I would love a bottle made by someone I cared about. DIY gifts are the best, in my opinion, because someone took the time to make something special by hand.

If you do make up this lilac syrup, I have a beautiful free printable label for you. Just punch a hole in the corner and use some pretty ribbon or purple bakers twine to tie it to your bottle.

‘Cause nothing says Mother’s Day better than a homemade bottle of lilac simple syrup. And some fresh lilacs, if you are lucky and can find them!

PS If you try this recipe, why not leave a star rating in the recipe card right below and/or a review in the comment section further down the page? I always appreciate your feedback.

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This post was originally published May 2, 2019. It as recently been updated with more details and information.

Lilac graphic from pngtree.com