Homemade Honey Limeade – Fresh, Tart & Naturally Sweetened
August 12, 2026
Homemade Honey Cherry Syrup – Naturally Sweetened with Real Cherries
Skip the bottled cherry syrup! This Homemade Honey Cherry Syrup is made with real cherries and Browning’s Honey for a rich, fruity syrup without granulated sugar.
It’s simple to make, beautifully colored, and incredibly versatile. We originally created it for our Honey Cherry Limeade, but once you have a jar in the refrigerator, you’ll find plenty of ways to use it—from Italian sodas and lemonade to ice cream, yogurt, pancakes, and mocktails.
Recipe Details
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10–12 minutes
Total Time: About 20 minutes, plus cooling
Yield: Approximately 2 cups
Course: Syrups & Sweeteners
Difficulty: Easy
Recommended Honey: Browning’s Clover Honey
Why You’ll Love It
This homemade cherry syrup gets its sweetness from real honey instead of granulated sugar. Frozen dark sweet cherries provide plenty of rich cherry flavor and gorgeous natural color, while fresh lime juice adds just enough acidity to brighten everything up.
Even better, you can make it with frozen cherries straight from the freezer—no pitting, chopping, or thawing required.
Ingredients
- 2 cups frozen dark sweet cherries, pitted
- ¾ cup water
- ¾ cup Browning’s Honey
- 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
- Small pinch of salt
Instructions
- Add the frozen cherries and water to a small saucepan. There is no need to thaw the cherries first.
- Bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat.
- Simmer for 10–12 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- As the cherries soften, gently crush them with the back of a spoon or potato masher to release their juice.
- Remove the saucepan from the heat.
- Pour the mixture through a fine-mesh strainer into a heat-safe bowl or measuring cup. Gently press the cherries to extract the liquid.
- Allow the cherry liquid to cool for several minutes. While it is still warm, stir in the Browning’s Honey, fresh lime juice, and a small pinch of salt.
- Stir until the honey is completely dissolved.
- Allow the syrup to cool completely, transfer it to a clean jar or bottle, and refrigerate.
Pro Tips
Don’t boil the honey. We add the Browning’s Honey after cooking the cherries so its distinctive flavor isn’t exposed to prolonged high heat.
Frozen cherries work beautifully. Dark sweet frozen cherries are convenient, already pitted, and available throughout the year.
Want a stronger cherry flavor? After straining, you can return the cherry liquid to the saucepan and gently reduce it for a few minutes before adding the honey.
Save the cherries! The strained cherry pulp doesn’t have to go to waste. Spoon it over yogurt, oatmeal, pancakes, waffles, or vanilla ice cream.
Ways to Use Honey Cherry Syrup
Honey Cherry Limeade
Combine the syrup with fresh lime juice, ice, and lemon-lime soda or sparkling water. [Link to Honey Cherry Limeade Recipe]
Cherry Italian Soda
Add Honey Cherry Syrup to sparkling water or club soda and finish with a splash of cream.
Cherry Lemonade
Stir a spoonful or two into homemade or prepared lemonade.
Ice Cream & Desserts
Drizzle over vanilla ice cream, cheesecake, pound cake, or brownies.
Breakfast
Try it over pancakes, waffles, French toast, oatmeal, or yogurt.
Mocktails
Use it anywhere you would normally reach for cherry simple syrup or grenadine.
Storage
Transfer the cooled Honey Cherry Syrup to a clean, airtight container and keep refrigerated.
For best quality, use within about one week. Because this is a homemade syrup and has not been commercially processed, it should remain refrigerated.
Why Use Honey?
Traditional fruit syrups are often made with large amounts of granulated sugar. Browning’s Honey provides the sweetness this syrup needs while contributing its own subtle floral flavor.
The result is a homemade syrup that’s sweet, fruity, and unmistakably cherry—with a touch of honey in every pour.
Want to learn more about cooking and baking with honey? The National Honey Board offers helpful tips on using honey in beverages, baking, and everyday recipes.
Learn more: https://www.honey.com/
Share Your Creation
Made our Homemade Honey Cherry Syrup? We’d love to see what you create with it! Share your drinks, desserts, and other creations with us and tag Browning’s Honey.
About Browning’s Honey
Browning’s Honey has been producing quality honey since 1921. From our hives to your home, we’re proud to share honey, recipes, and products inspired by generations of beekeeping.
