Sweet Redemption: How to Turn Strawberry Scraps into a Decadent Syrup

Sip the Sweetness: Turn Strawberry Scraps into a Luscious Homemade Syrup

Strawberry season is in full swing, which means an abundance of fresh, juicy berries. 

But what do you do with all those green tops and stems that get trimmed off? Don't toss them out - they can be transformed into a delectable strawberry syrup perfect for dressing up all sorts of treats.

One home cook recently discovered the joy of recycling strawberry scraps. 

"I had made a big batch of fresh strawberries and ended up with a ton of tops and stems left over," said Jane Doe. "I didn't want them to go to waste, so I looked up ways to use them. Making a simple strawberry syrup turned out to be the perfect solution."

Here's how Doe turned her strawberry trimmings into a sweet, versatile syrup:

Strawberry Syrup

Yield: Approximately 1 cup

Ingredients:

• - 1 cup strawberry tops and stems, washed

• - 1 cup granulated sugar

• - 1/4 cup lemon juice

• - 1 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions:

• 1. In a medium saucepan, combine the strawberry tops and stems, sugar, and lemon juice. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally to dissolve the sugar.

• 2. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 15-20 minutes, until the strawberry pieces are very soft and the liquid has thickened slightly.

• 3. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract. 

• 4. Carefully pour the hot syrup through a fine mesh strainer, pressing on the solids to extract as much liquid as possible. Discard the solids.

• 5. Allow the strained syrup to cool completely before transferring to an airtight container. Refrigerate for up to 2 weeks.

The resulting syrup has a vibrant, fruity flavor that's perfect for drizzling over pancakes, waffles, ice cream, and more.

 It also makes a lovely addition to cocktails, sparkling water, or homemade sodas. Get creative and find   new ways to use up every last bit of those strawberries!