The secret ingredient in many professional layer cakes and a kind of magic to the home baker is called simple syrup and it’s precisely that: a syrup made simply of equal parts water and sugar.

This Ginger Simple Syrup made with ginger chews is incredibly versatile. Use it to elevate drinks of all kind like cocktails and mocktails, drizzle it over pancakes or oatmeal, or stir it into coffee ...

Steeping chiles and fresh ginger slices in basic simple syrup infuses it with a kick ideal for the holidays. You can add more of one or the other if you’d like more warm gingery heat or chile spice.

To make celery simple syrup, follow bar manager Veronika Groth’s recipe: Juice the celery, and then add equal parts celery juice to sugar in a saucepan. Simmer 10 minutes, remove from heat, add 1 ...