Homemade Orgeat Syrup Recipe

Homemade Orgeat Syrup Recipe

Orgeat pronounced ‘or-zat’, began as a syrup made with barley. Eventually, almonds replaced the barley. Orgeat contains almond oils while almond syrups use almond flavoring. Not only that, but commercially made ogreat isn’t easy to find. Amazon sells Orgeat Syrup, but you probably won’t have much success locating commercial Orgeat Syrup in your local grocery store.

You will find many recipes online for a homemade ogreat recipe. Some with almond milk, some with orange blossom water, some with rose water. The recipe I used is pretty darned easy to make and you know exactly what is in it!

I needed to make some Orgeat Syrup for my next two Friday Cocktail recipes. Orgeat syrup is traditionally used in Mai Tais, The Daisy, the Scorpion, the Japanese Cocktail and more.

Homemade Orgeat Syrup (Almond) Recipe

2 cups Almonds (blanched and/or slivered)
3 1/3 cups Water (plus water to cover almonds)
3 cups Sugar
1/2 cup Vodka
Optional: 2 TBSP Orange Blosom Water OR Cointreau

● In a bowl with a cover, place your almonds.

● Cover the almonds with water. This is a softening stage, you are not keeping this water.
● Soak for 30-60 minutes.

● Drain the almonds.
● You are keeping the almonds, not the water.

● In a food processor, mini food processor or with a mortar and pestle, crush the almonds until they are a fine paste.

● Clean that bowl with the cover.
● Return your ground almonds to your (cleaned) bowl with the cover.
● Add the 3 1/3 cups of water.
● Allow to sit covered for 2 hours.

● Prep a cheesecloth in a strainer over another bowl with a cover.

● Pour the almond water (and almond grinds) through the cheesecloth.

● Give the cheesecloth containing all the almond grinds a squeeze.

● Return the ground almonds to the almond water in the new bowl.
● Cover and let sit for 1-2 more hours.

● You are then going to strain again.
● After this second strain, discard the crushed almonds.

● Take the clear almond water, and place it on a pot on the stove.
● Stir in the sugar until dissolved.
● Remove from heat.
● Allow to cool 15-30 minutes.

● Add the vodka (and orange water OR Cointreau if you are using one of these ingredients)

● Transfer your Homemade Orgeat Syrup to a bottle with a cork or a mason jar.

● And you are done! You shouldn’t have to refrigerated this – it is a simple syrup and the alcohol should act as a preservative.

Note: If you aren’t having a party or making a lot of cocktails that use Orgeat Syrup, there is no reason you cannot half this recipe.

As always, drink responsibly and please don’t drink and drive.

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