Passion Fruit Syrup {Lilikoi Syrup}

Lilikoi is another name for passion fruit, which are tart and sweet, with a floral, tropical aroma. Use them to make this syrup for drinks, topping pancakes, or adding to baked goods. There are only three simple ingredients in this recipe–sugar, water, and passion fruit juice– and it comes together in minutes!

Want one simple way to transform any and every recipe into a gloriously bright, tropical bit of sunshine you can eat?

The answer is passion fruit. If you’re in love with mango, pineapple, guava, or any of the other tropical fruits that make you think of sunny beaches and bright flavors, then passion fruit is sure to become a new favorite.

It has an unassuming appearance, these passion fruit, with a purple-red outside that is some a bit shriveled. In fact, they can often look like a giant raisin. But inside, the magic really happens.

The inside of a passion fruit is typically a bright yellow membrane and dotted with little black seeds. The seed resemble those of a watermelon, but are actually edible and add a nice texture to the fruit.

Ways to Use Passion Fruit (or Lilikoi) Syrup

• Italian Sodas — Mix a couple of tablespoons of passion fruit syrup into a sparkling water, and you’ve got an Italian soda!
  
• Cocktails and Mocktails — A thinner simple syrup will work best for mixing into drinks. It’s a great addition to any fruity, tropical cocktail.
  
• Drizzling over Passion Fruit Panna Cotta — This recipe for Passion Fruit Panna Cotta is made even better with a drizzle of syrup on top.
  
• Topping Pancakes and Waffles — Top your breakfast pastries with a thick passion fruit syrup, maybe a bit of shredded coconut, and some fresh mango or berries. Sourdough pancakes are my favorite.
  
• Flavor Cakes and Cupcakes — Simple syrup is often brushed onto layer cakes or cupcakes to keep them moist. With simple syrup, you can add flavor too!
  
• Drizzle some over Ice Cream — A scoop of high-quality vanilla, a drizzle of passion fruit syrup, and you have a first-class, delicious dessert.

Using fresh passion fruit for syrup

To make syrup from fresh passion fruits, you’ll need about 8 fresh passion fruits. There are approximately 2 tablespoons of pulp in each, including the seeds, and 1 tablespoon without the seeds.

Since you won’t cook the seeds in the syrup, you’ll need 8 passion fruits to make up the 1/2 cup of pulp needed.

Place a strainer over a small bowl. Slice each passion fruit in half and use a spoon to scoop the pulp out into the strainer. With the spoon, stir the pulp around to help it work through the sieve. You should have 1/2 cup of fruit pulp when you’re finished.

Using passion fruit pulp for syrup

As much as I love a good fresh passion fruit, they can be very expensive and hard to find in local grocery stores. That’s where passion fruit pulp is a great way to access the flavor without having to hunt for the actual fruits.

I bought this passion fruit pulp from Funkin, and I’ve loved the flavor, quality, and flexibility it offers for recipes. The bag says it’s for cocktails, but because there’s nothing but passion fruit and sugar in it, you can use it for any and every recipe you want to make!

It does come in a large bag, but freezes really well. So you can portion it out into 1/2 cup or 1 cup portions and freeze them to use as you wish.

Ingredients

• Sugar
• Water
• Passion Fruit Juice

Tools and Equipment Needed

Passion Fruit Syrup requires very basic kitchen equipment. All you’ll need is a pot to cook it in, and a spoon to stir it with. After that, a clean jar or air-tight container to store it in, and you’re set!

How to Make Passion Fruit Syrup

Place all the ingredients– passion fruit juice, sugar, and water–in a small pot.

Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring occasionally. Continue to boil until all of the sugar has dissolved.

As it cooks, there may be foam on top of the syrup. Skim it off with a spoon, and set it aside in a bowl.

If you want to make passion fruit simple syrup, remove it from the heat immediately after the sugar has dissolved. Allow it to cool, then store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

For a thicker syrup for drizzling over pancakes or waffles, continue to boil the syrup for another 5-7 minutes. It will reduce and become thicker. Remember that the syrup will continue to thicken as it cools, so be sure not to over cook it.

Other Passion Fruit Recipes You May Enjoy:

• Passion Fruit Panna Cotta
• Italian Sodas
• Passion Fruit Pastry Cream

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