995 syrup recipes

Grape marmalade made the old-fashioned way with just grapes and sugar, no added pectin. Slip the skins, simmer the pulp, then cook it down until the syrup sheets off the spoon and sets.

Baked oranges boiled whole until tender, then baked in a red cinnamon candy syrup and chilled overnight. A sweet, spiced fruit side dish for roasted meats.

Fried cornmeal mush with tomato gravy, sliced from a chilled loaf and pan-fried until golden and crispy. A classic Southern breakfast served with maple syrup or savory tomato gravy.

Whole oranges caramelized with butter and sugar, then flambeed with Irish whiskey and bathed in a wine-orange syrup. A dramatic Irish dessert served warm or cold.

Chinese hot orange soup made with fresh-squeezed orange juice, rock sugar, and preserved ginger, lightly thickened with cornstarch. Served warm with citrus slices and cream wafers.

Dried fruits taste sweeter than candy and also provide fiber and potassium.

Pears Melba with Bosc pears poached in Marsala and dry wine syrup, served over vanilla ice cream with pureed raspberry sauce. A classic French dessert with elegant simplicity.

Fry bread with all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, and cornmeal for a hearty, golden crust. Deep-fried until puffy and crisp, served with honey or maple syrup.

Sweet pickled cherry tomatoes simmered in a thick sugar syrup with fresh ginger, lemon juice, and lemon rind until jewel-like and transparent. Makes 6 pints of gorgeous homemade preserves.

English cucumber and ginger conserve macerates sliced cucumber in sugar, then simmers the syrup with bruised ginger root for a translucent, spiced preserve. An old British country jam for cheese boards and tea.

Homemade Kahlua coffee liqueur with just four ingredients: instant coffee, sugar, vanilla, and vodka. A slow-simmered coffee syrup base that tastes like the real thing. Great for gifting.

Sweet watermelon rind preserves made with a lime water soak, lemon, and ginger in a simple sugar syrup. A two-day heritage canning project that transforms scraps into glistening jars of gold.

Tiramisu-style cake with three sponge layers soaked in espresso-rum syrup, filled with mascarpone cream, and finished with cocoa powder and chocolate shavings. A classic Italian pick-me-up.

A refreshing frozen banana ice made with mashed banana, orange juice, pineapple juice, and lemon juice in a simple sugar syrup. No ice cream maker needed. Just freeze in ice trays.

Canned peach halves soaked in a warm Kahlua syrup with brown sugar, cinnamon sticks, tarragon vinegar, and citrus zest. An elegant no-bake condiment or dessert topping.

Pineapple sweet potatoes mashed with pineapple tidbits and their syrup for a naturally sweet, tropical side dish. Diabetic-friendly with no added sugar, just five simple ingredients.