Lemon Sugar for Cocktails
This lemon sugar adds bright citrus flavor and sparkle to cocktails and shots. It's easy to make, keeps for ages in the pantry, and makes drinks feel instantly more special.
This lemon sugar is one of those tiny cocktail upgrades that makes drinks feel instantly more special. Fresh lemon zest is rubbed into sugar until fragrant and citrusy, creating a bright, sparkling rim sugar that adds sweet lemon flavor to every sip. It's especially good on cocktails like a Limoncello martini, where the fresh citrus flavor really shines. I also love using it to rim the glass when I make lemon drop martinis, or their tiny counterpart, lemon drop shots.
What I love most is how simple it is to make while still feeling a little fancy. The oils from the lemon zest perfume the sugar beautifully, giving it a fresh, vibrant flavor that bottled cocktail sugars just don't have. And because it keeps so well in the pantry, it's easy to make a batch ahead and keep it on hand whenever cocktail hour calls.
It also makes a lovely little hostess gift. Spoon it into a small jar, tie on a ribbon, and suddenly you've got something thoughtful, useful, and homemade that any cocktail lover would be happy to receive.
Lemon Sugar for Cocktails
Ingredients
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons lemon zest grated on a microplane
Method
- Add the sugar and lemon zest to a bowl.½ cup granulated sugar, 2 tablespoons lemon zest
- Mix well, pressing the lemon zest into the sugar until it's completely combined.
- Use right away or transfer to a jar. It will keep in your pantry indefinitely.
