Sugar-Free Lavender Syrup

This is the syrup batch behind our Sugar-Free Lavender Latte — the same steeped-culinary-lavender method as our Standard lavender syrup, with a monk fruit or allulose sweetener standing in for the cane sugar. The lavender dosage and steep time don’t change; only the base liquid does.

Same Dosage Rule Applies

1 tsp of dried culinary-grade lavender buds per batch, steeped no more than 15-20 minutes. Swapping the sweetener doesn’t change how easily lavender tips from floral into soapy — see the Standard Lavender Syrup’s “Why Less Is More” note if you haven’t read it, and the same safety note about only using food-grade/culinary lavender buds applies here too.

The Syrup

Combine 1 cup water and 1 cup granulated monk fruit or allulose sweetener in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring until it fully dissolves — sugar-free sweeteners can take a little longer than plain sugar, so don’t rush this step. Bring to a gentle simmer for 1-2 minutes, then take it off the heat and stir in 1 tsp dried culinary lavender buds. Cover and steep for 10-15 minutes, tasting at the 10-minute mark. Strain out the buds through a fine-mesh strainer and let the syrup cool completely.

Store the finished syrup in a sealed jar in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. It makes roughly 12 drinks’ worth at 2 tbsp per serving.

This batch (12 servings)$3.25 total

Per 2 tbsp serving~$0.27

Assumptions: monk fruit/allulose sweetener at typical grocery pricing ($3/cup at bulk-bag pricing) and culinary lavender buds at typical bulk-bin pricing ($3-4/oz, of which this batch uses well under 1/8 oz). It’s pricier per batch than the Standard syrup — the sweetener is the reason, not the lavender.

Storage & Shelf Life

• Keeps about 2 weeks in a sealed jar in the fridge, same as the Standard syrup.
• Crystallizing in the fridge? Some sweetener blends crystallize faster than sugar does — gently reheat the jar in a warm water bath to re-dissolve before using.
• Strain it well and don’t leave buds floating in the finished jar — same reasoning as the Standard syrup: leftover buds keep steeping in the fridge and can push the flavor toward bitter over the full 2 weeks.

Sweetener Notes

• Monk fruit or allulose blends measure roughly cup-for-cup like sugar and behave most like it here — the easiest substitution if this is your first sugar-free syrup.
• Stevia works but is far more concentrated — use a fraction of the amount and adjust to taste, since stevia can read as slightly bitter at higher concentrations, which can stack unpleasantly with an over-steeped lavender flavor.
• This same base method — swap the flavor, keep the lavender dosage conservative — is the foundation of every other sugar-free syrup on the site, including Sugar-Free Vanilla Syrup and Sugar-Free Hazelnut Syrup.

What to Make With This

2 tbsp of this syrup, stirred into hot espresso before adding milk, is the Sugar-Free Lavender Latte. If sugar content isn’t your main concern, the Lavender Syrup (Standard) uses the same method with regular sugar, or the Lavender-Maple Syrup behind our Clean-Ingredient tier swaps in real maple syrup instead.

Recipe Card Summary

Sugar-Free Lavender Syrup

• 1 cup water, 1 cup monk fruit/allulose sweetener, 1 tsp dried culinary lavender buds
• Makes ~12 servings (2 tbsp each) · Prep: 5 min · Total: 25 min (mostly steeping)
• Cost: ~$3.25/batch, ~$0.27/serving

FAQ

Do I need to make this every time I want a latte?

No — make one batch and it covers about 12 drinks over two weeks. The Sugar-Free Lavender Latte recipe assumes you already have a jar on hand.

Does monk fruit or allulose change the lavender flavor?

Slightly — both are close to neutral-sweet with a very mild aftertaste some people notice more than others. The lavender is still the dominant flavor, and the same dosage caution applies regardless of sweetener.

Can I use less lavender than the Standard syrup calls for?

Yes — 1 tsp is a starting point, not a requirement. If you’re sensitive to lavender’s floral intensity, start with 1/2 tsp and taste before deciding whether to add more on your next batch.