So I know claiming to have a sugar free simple syrup recipe to share sounds too good to be true--or full of those chemical-laden alternative sugars that are way worse for you than any spoonful of the sweet stuff.  This recipe, however, is really as good as it sounds and perfect for someone like me who doesn't enjoy a lot of sugar.  

I used dried stevia leaves to make what is essentially a thick tea aka my simple syrup.  Stevia is a herb with naturally sweet leaves.  You may be familiar with it in the shape of little sugar packets which in my opinion don't taste as good as the real deal because they only use the extract, not the whole leaf.  Plus, stevia leaves are easy to find at your local herb store or online here.  It gives you all the sweetness of sugar without the calories.

I particularly love to use this in lemonade so I can enjoy lots of this perfect summertime drink without worrying about sugar overload.  It's also great in margaritas or other drinks that require a little sugar to balance out the tartness of citrus.  Be warned though, some say that one tablespoon of dried stevia is the equivalent of one cup of sugar in sweetness--so a little really does go a long way!  Some people prefer to grind up the leaves and sprinkle them into their recipes, but I prefer this tea-like steep because it is less messy for mixing and easy to have on hand.

Ingredients:

1/4 cup dried stevia leaves

1 cup boiling water

Pour hot water over herbs and let steep until mixture is cool.  Then pour liquid through a strainer into a mason jar.  Store for a few weeks in fridge.  Makes about 1 cup.  Enjoy!