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Home » Simple Syrup

Chocolate Simple Syrup

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This chocolate simple syrup is the best simple syrup to use in any type of drink, coffee, cocktail or even on cake. It’s perfect for any fall or winter drinks such as chocolate cocktails, hot chocolate, or chocolate lattes. It is vegan, uses only 3 ingredients and quick to make in only 15 minutes.

Chocolate simple syrup being poured into a small jar, sitting on an flipped tin pan with a grey napkin.

Flavored simple syrups such as this blueberry simple syrup or this thyme simple syrup, let you create an endless array of creative cocktails and drinks. This chocolate one is another syrup to add to your collection.

Up close jar of chocolate simple syrup, sitting on a grey napkin, with pink flowers in the background.

Chocolate Simple Syrup vs. Chocolate Sauce

This chocolate simple syrup is not quite the same thing as a classic chocolate sauce. Simple syrup is made with sugar, water and in this case — cocoa powder. Chocolate sauce may also contain melted chocolate, cream or butter, giving it a richer, thicker texture.

What’s the difference? This chocolate simple syrup is the best syrup for drinks. Regular chocolate fudge sauce won’t work as smoothly in a cocktail to sweeten and add flavor in the same way. If you’re making any type of chocolate drink, you need this chocolate simple syrup.

You can still add this simple syrup sauce to pancakes, waffles or ice as you normally would with chocolate sauce, but it won’t be quite as rich or fudgy as classic chocolate sauce.

Overhead photo of cocoa powder, sugar and water whisked together in a bowl, with a whisk in the bowl, on a grey background.

Ways to use:

  • Cocktails: Chocolate cocktails can be absolutely delicious, especially around fall and Christmastime. Add a couple spoonfuls of this syrup to any cocktail that has baileys or a coffee liqueur for a delicious drink. Or, use the syrup to make this chocolate old fashioned.
  • Coffee & Lattes: This is the best sweetener and flavoring for coffee. Coffee with a bit of chocolate is addictively good. Add a spoonful to your morning hot coffee to make a mocha. Or, add some to chilled coffee for an iced chocolate latte. Try combining this chocolate syrup with this peppermint simple syrup to make a peppermint mocha latte.
  • Milkshakes & Smoothies: Add a few tablespoons of this syrup to any breakfast smoothie or milkshake to easily give it a chocolate flavor.
  • Cakes: Simple syrup is often used to keep cakes moist and soft. You can use this chocolate syrup instead for chocolate cakes to add an even richer taste. After the cake has come out of the oven and cooled, pour this liberally over the cake, spread it out and let it sink in so the flavor can be fully absorbed.
  • Pancakes, waffles & ice cream:  You can absolutely drizzle this over any kind of food you want! As mentioned above, it is a syrup, not a sauce, so it won’t be as thick or fudgy as regular chocolate sauce, but still tastes delicious. It works well as a healthier option than other store-bought sauces.
Chocolate syrup simmering and forming bubble on a saucepan over the stovetop.

Ingredients:

  • Cocoa Powder: This is what gives the syrup its chocolate flavor. Use regular, unsweetened cocoa powder that you would normally bake with.
  • Sugar: Sugar adds sweetness to the syrup. Classic simple syrup uses granulated sugar. You could use brown sugar, but this will give a slightly more caramel flavor.
  • Water: Water is used to create a smooth syrup with the right consistency.
Up close shot of chocolate syrup being poured into a small glass jar, sitting on a grey napkin, with a light grey background.

Expert Tips:

  • Let it simmer. For plain, unflavored simple syrup, it is ok to stop heating the syrup once the sugar fully dissolves in the water. However, because this syrup uses cocoa powder, when the syrup is cooking on the pan, it is too dark to see if the sugar granules have dissolved or not. Therefore, continue to heat the syrup for the full 10 minutes to make sure the sugar dissolves and you end up with a smooth, chocolate syrup.
  • Store the syrup in the fridge. This simple syrup needs to be refrigerated. Store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a few weeks.
A small glass jar of syrup sitting on a grey napkin on a flipped over tin pan, next to a creamer just, with pink flowers in the background.

Other simple syrups to try:

  • Earl Grey Simple Syrup
  • Pistachio Syrup
  • Pumpkin Spice Syrup
  • Raspberry Simple Syrup
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Chocolate simple syrup being poured into a small glass jar, sitting on a grey napkin on a reversed metal tin pan.

Chocolate Simple Syrup


★★★★★

5 from 3 reviews

  • Author: Alejandra | The Littlest Crumb
  • Total Time: 15 minutes
  • Yield: ¾ cup 1x
  • Diet: Vegan
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Description

This chocolate simple syrup is the best simple syrup to use in any type of drink, coffee, cocktail or even on cake. It’s perfect for any fall or winter drinks such as chocolate cocktails, hot chocolate, or chocolate lattes.


Ingredients

Scale
  • ¼ cup cocoa powder
  • ¾ cup water
  • ½ cup sugar

Instructions

  1. In a small bowl, whisk the cocoa powder, sugar and water together until smooth and there are no more clumps of cocoa powder.
  2. On a saucepan over medium to high heat, bring the chocolate mixture to a gentle simmer. Adjust the heat to maintain a gentle simmer, stirring occasionally.
  3. Continue to simmer for 10 minutes as the syrup thickens slightly. Remove the saucepan from heat and let the syrup cool to room temperature before using or storing in the fridge.

Notes

  • Storage: Store this syrup in an airtight container in the fridge for up to several weeks.
  • Syrup vs Sauce: This chocolate simple syrup is not quite the same as a chocolate sauce. See the blog post for more information.
  • Prep Time: 2 minutes
  • Cook Time: 13 minutes
  • Category: Simple Syrup
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 tbsp
  • Calories: 39
  • Sugar: 8.3g
  • Sodium: 0mg
  • Fat: 0.2g
  • Saturated Fat: 0g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 0.2g
  • Trans Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 9.3g
  • Fiber: 0.3g
  • Protein: 0.3g
  • Cholesterol: 0mg

Keywords: simple syrup, cocktail syrup, drink syrup, chocolate syrup

Leave a comment if you tried this recipe!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Maria B Rugolo

    March 14, 2023 at 9:45 pm

    I made this for brushing on my chocolate cake layers. I didn't read the instructions (as I've made simple syrups before) so I only cooked this to a boil to ensure the sugar dissolved. It worked beautifully for my intended purpose. I can only guess how much better it would be to follow the instructions as written! A great recipe! Many thanks.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  2. Beth

    August 26, 2021 at 2:00 am

    This chocolate simple syrup is perfect for our family gathering. My daughter is going to love helping me make an ice cream bar! Saved to my bookmarks for this weekend!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  3. Biana

    August 25, 2021 at 10:42 pm

    What a great idea for chocolate syrup for coffee and hot chocolate!

    ★★★★★

    Reply

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Hi, I'm Ali! Full-time nurse, lifetime foodie. Join me as I create, eat and drink the most delicious brunch, cocktail & dessert recipes! More about me —>

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