DIY syrup gift planner
Six bottles for the neighbors or a hundred wedding favors: pick the size, the syrups and how fancy. You get the batch math, a shopping list for bottles, labels and packaging, and a timeline that keeps it all fresh.
Plan your gifts
The syrup
Lavender Syrup 55 bottles · 13 cups2.97 L
- 4 lb1.83 kg granulated sugar
- 9¼ cups2.2 L water
- 1 cup + 2½ tbsp46 g dried culinary lavender
2 batches in a 4-quart saucepan, or 1 batch in a 12-quart stockpot. Big pots take longer to simmer; steeping times stay the same.
Vanilla Syrup 55 bottles · 13 cups2.97 L
- 3¾ lb1.76 kg granulated sugar
- 9 cups2.11 L water
- 99 vanilla beans
2 batches in a 4-quart saucepan, or 1 batch in a 12-quart stockpot. Big pots take longer to simmer; steeping times stay the same.
Shopping list
Bottles and packaging Luxe
- 5 packs2 oz (60 ml) Mini Glass Bottles with Corks (24-pack)110 bottles needed, sold in 24sCheck price
- 1 pack1.5 Inch Round Printable Labels (400, 20 per sheet)110 labels needed, sold in 400sCheck price
- 2 packsKraft Paper Gift Tags with Twine (100-pack)110 tags needed, sold in 100sCheck price
- 2 packsOrganza Drawstring Favor Bags, 4 × 6 in (100-pack)110 bags needed, sold in 100sCheck price
- 2 packs3/8 Inch Double-Faced Satin Ribbon (50 yards)55 yd needed, sold in 50sCheck price
- 3 packsSelf-Adhesive Wax Seal Stickers (50-pack)110 seals needed, sold in 50sCheck price
- 2 packsSmall Wooden Display Crates (set of 3)4 crates needed, sold in 3sCheck price
Ingredients worth ordering
- 8 lb3.59 kgWholesome Organic Cane Sugar (10 lb)for Lavender Syrup, Vanilla SyrupCheck price
- 1½ oz46 gFrontier Co-op Organic Lavender Flowers (1 lb)for Lavender SyrupCheck price
- 99Grade A Madagascar Vanilla Beans (10 pods)for Vanilla SyrupCheck price
Tools
- 1Norpro Stainless Steel Mini Funnels (set of 3)Check price
- 1Pyrex 4-Cup Glass Measuring JugCheck price
- 1Escali Primo Digital Kitchen Scale (11 lb)Check price
- 1Long Narrow Bottle Brush SetCheck price
Pack sizes vary by listing; we round up to whole packs of the size shown. Sugar and water are in the syrup list.
Timeline
- 8 weeks beforeOrder bottles, labels and packaging (110 bottles, 110 labels). Ask the venue or caterer, in writing, whether homemade favors are allowed. Print one test label at 100% scale.
- 4 weeks beforePrint the labels and put the packaging together (tags, ribbon, bags or boxes), so the syrup goes in last.
- 1 week beforeWash every bottle and cap in hot soapy water, then sanitize: boil glass for 10 minutes or run a dishwasher's sanitize cycle, and let it air-dry. Clear fridge space for 5.9 L.
- 3 days beforeMake the syrup: Lavender Syrup, 2 batches in a 4-quart saucepan; Vanilla Syrup, 2 batches in a 4-quart saucepan. Cool, funnel into the bottles, cap and refrigerate. Short on time near the day? Make it weeks earlier, freeze it in bulk (it won't freeze solid) and thaw it in the fridge before bottling.
- 2 days beforeLabel, tag and wrap every bottle, add the seals; back in the fridge.
- The dayKeep them cold until they go out (coolers for the trip, then a "please take one" card on the favor table), with a note that says "keep refrigerated".
Food safety
- Homemade syrup is not shelf-stable, even bottled hot: refrigeration is the only tested way to keep it. Keep the fridge at 40 °F (4 °C) or colder.
- Washing does not sterilize. Boil the glass for 10 minutes (1 minute more for every 1,000 ft above 1,000 ft) or use a dishwasher sanitize cycle, and fill with a clean funnel.
- Label every bottle with the syrup, its ingredients, the date made, "keep refrigerated" and "use within 11 days".
- Venues often allow outside food only from licensed caterers: get the venue's OK in writing before you make 100 favors.
Packaging
What each tier includes
Shown for 250 ml (8.5 oz) bottles. For minis, the planner swaps in 1.5-inch labels and organza bags.
| Item | Simple | Elegant | Luxe | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8.5 oz Swing-Top Glass Gift Bottles (12-pack) | Included | Included | Included | Check price |
| Round labels | Included | Included | Included | Check price |
| Kraft Paper Gift Tags with Twine (100-pack) | Included | Included | Included | Check price |
| Kraft Bottle Gift Boxes with Window | Not included | Included | Included | Check price |
| Satin ribbon | Not included | Included | Included | Check price |
| Wax seals | Not included | Not included | Included | Check price |
| Display crate | Not included | Not included | Included | Check price |
Simple. A clean bottle, a printed label and a kraft tag with a drink idea.
Elegant. Adds a box or bag and a ribbon: ready to hand over.
Luxe. Adds a wax seal and, for events, a display crate for the favor table.
Worked example
100 wedding favors, start to finish
A hundred guests means 110 bottles: favor sellers suggest about ten spares for breakage and last-minute guests. Each 2 oz (60 ml) mini holds 54 ml, filled to 90% so the cork seats and the neck stays clean, which is about 5.9 liters bottled and 6.2 liters made, allowing 5% for what stays in the pot and funnel. In classic syrup that is 3.4 kg (7.6 lb) of sugar, one batch in a 12-quart stockpot or four batches in a 4-quart saucepan.
- Eight weeks out: order the bottles and packaging, and ask the venue in writing whether homemade favors are allowed. Venues often limit outside food to licensed, insured caterers.
- Four weeks out: print the labels and put the tags, ribbon and bags together. The syrup goes in last.
- One week out: wash the bottles, then sanitize them: washing alone doesn't sterilize.
- Make the syrup close to the day: plain syrup about a week ahead, fruit and herb syrups two to four days ahead. Or make it weeks earlier and freeze it in bulk; it won't freeze solid.
- Bottle, label, refrigerate: a jug with a spout and a narrow funnel make a hundred bottles go quickly. Keep them cold, travel in coolers, and put a "please take one" card on the favor table.
Questions about syrup favors
Can homemade syrup favors be made shelf-stable?
No. Extension services have no tested way to preserve simple syrup other than refrigeration, and no tested canning method for infused syrups. Syrup below about 66 °Brix (classic 1:1 is about 50) can ferment or mold even when bottled hot. Keep every bottle in the fridge and say so on the label.
How far ahead can I make syrup gifts?
It depends on the syrup: the planner makes it a quarter of its fridge life ahead, between 2 and 14 days, so guests still get most of it. Plain syrup is about a week; fruit and herb syrups two to four days. To get ahead, freeze the syrup in bulk and thaw it in the fridge before bottling. Gift labels never promise more than 8 weeks.
How much syrup do I need for 100 favors?
For 100 two-ounce minis with ten spares, about 6.2 liters, including 5% for what stays in the pot. In classic 1:1 syrup that takes about 3.4 kg of sugar. The planner works it out for any number, size and syrup.
How do I sanitize the bottles?
Wash bottles and caps in hot soapy water, then boil the glass for 10 minutes (1 minute more for each 1,000 ft above 1,000 ft) or run a dishwasher with a certified sanitize cycle. Let them air-dry, and fill with a clean funnel.
What should the label say?
The syrup name, its ingredients, the date made, "keep refrigerated" and a use-by date. Add allergens (orgeat: "Contains tree nuts (almonds)") and, for honey syrups, "not for babies under 1 year". The label maker has a favor style that prints your names on every label.
Is it OK to bring homemade favors to a wedding venue?
Ask first, in writing. Many venues allow outside food only from licensed, insured caterers. Rules about food gifts also vary by state and country, so check locally.