Chili Simple Syrup For Coffee [Spicy Simple Syrup]

Chili Simple Syrup and the Pioneer Woman’s Spicy Cowgirl Coffee.  

Welcome to Missouri Girl Home: Coffee Edition, Part 2

If you have never tried chili simple syrup before, you MUST make it.

Today.

It will take your coffee to the next level, guaranteed.

This post is the second in a 3 part coffee series in which I take you through the steps to make an out-of-this-world coffee that I had when I visited the Pioneer Woman’s Mercantile in Pawhuska, Oklahoma: The Spicy Cowgirl Coffee.

There are 3 steps to making this coffee:

1. Make the cold brew coffee.

2. Make the simple syrup (see below).

3. Assemble the Spicy Cowgirl Coffee.

There are several steps to this process but keep in mind that it makes A LOT of coffee and it keeps well in the refrigerator so you will can serve a crowd or just keep it to yourself for weeks to come.

What is simple syrup?

Simple syrup is a thick, sweet liquid that is made by combining equal parts sugar and water then boiling until the sugar is dissolved. It can be used as a sweetening agent for desserts to create a smoother texture or it can be used to sweeten beverages like coffee and tea.

I used to use the store bought kind that’s usually found in specialty food stores or in the coffee section of your local grocer, but I then discovered just how incredibly easy it is to make my own simple syrup at home for just a fraction of the cost.

To make the simple syrup combine equal parts sugar and water in a small sauce pan and bring to a boil until the sugar is dissolved.

It really is that simple.

Maybe that’s why it’s called simple syrup?!?!

Missouri Girl Tip: You can usually find cute little glass storage jars at your local craft store. These make excellent Christmas or hostess gifts.

What are possible flavor combinations of simple syrup?

Simple syrup is fantastic on it’s own but you can also infuse extra flavor into it. These are just a few examples:

1. Vanilla infused simple syrup

2. Mint infused simple syrup

3. Fruit infused simple syrup: blackberry, blueberry, strawberry, raspberry…

4. Lavender infused simple syrup

5. Rosemary infused simple syrup

6. Cinnamon infused simple syrup

Or try a combination of these like blackberry lavender, vanilla strawberry, lavender thyme, cinnamon vanilla…

The possibilities really are endless.

What is Chili Simple Syrup

My favorite homemade simple syrup flavor, however, just might be this hot chili pepper infused simple syrup.

This sweet and spicy chili simple syrup is made by soaking chili peppers in a simple syrup.  The simple syrup becomes infused with the chili peppers creating a slightly spicy, sultry, amber colored simple syrup that is truly addicting.  

What kind of peppers do I use to make chili simple syrup?

Any dried chili pepper can be used to make homemade chili simple syrup.  It all depends on the amount of heat you are looking for.  I have used several different kinds and they are all good.   

I found a small bag of these dried chili peppers at my local grocer for about $1. To infuse the chilies into your simple syrup, just chop them up and throw them (seeds and all) into the pan with the sugar and water prior to boiling. The amount of chilies you use really depends on several factors:

• Type of pepper used/how hot the chili peppers are.

• How much simple syrup you are making.

• Your preferred amount of heat.

Caution: not all chili peppers have the same amount of heat. Some are hot, hot, HOT and you may want to put on a glove prior to handling. Always remember to avoid touching your face/eyes after handling chili peppers (I may or may not have previous experience with this).

After the syrup comes to a boil, give a quick stir to make sure the sugar is fully dissolved. Remove the syrup from the heat and allow the chilies to sit in the syrup and infuse for several hours.

Finally, strain the simple syrup through a fine mesh sieve to remove all seeds and peppers.

Once strained, transfer the simple liquid to an air tight container and store in the refrigerator for up to one month.

Enjoy!