• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Recipes
    • Main Dish
    • Middle Eastern Recipes
    • Healthy Recipes
    • Desserts
    • Vegan
    • Vegetarian
    • Kid Friendly
    • Pasta Dishes
    • Appetizers
    • Air Fried
    • Beverages
    • Breakfast
    • Dips
    • International Recipes
    • Ramadan
    • Low Carb
    • Instant Pot Meals
    • Salads
    • Sandwiches
    • Gluten Free
    • Soups
    • Tips and Tricks
    • Spices
    • Side Dishes
    • Sauces
    • Fish
  • LIFESTYLE
    • Parenting
    • Travel
  • Shop
  • Work With Us
  • About Me

TasteGreatFoodie logo

menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Parenting
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Shop
  • Work With Us
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Desserts

    April 24, 2021

    Simple Syrup (Ater)

    This post may contain affiliate links at no additional cost to you.
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    Jump to Recipe

    Simple Syrup (Ater) is an aromatic thickened sugary syrup. People use it very often in and on many popular Middle-Eastern desserts!

    You simply drizzle this syrup over your favorite baked, fried, or non-baked desserts. From kanafa, ashta, osmaliyi, atayif, aish elsaraya, to halawet elriz, and so many more.

    You can use it to enhance and maximize their taste value!


    Ater, Atyr, Atir, or Attar is an easy sugar simple syrup that pairs well on so many different dessert options.
    Ater is the perfect way to enhance the flavors of your favorite desserts!

    The Beauty of Simple Syrup (Ater)

    Well, for starters, Simple Syrup (Ater) is super easy to make. You can have literally all done in 15 minutes!

    You can use it hot, as many Arabic dessert recipes call for. Or, you can wait about 20 to 30 minutes for it to cool and pour it over your favorite desserts.

    Furthermore, it’s a versatile syrup. Yes, it’s often used on Arabic fried or baked desserts, but there’s more to it than that.

    You can drizzle it over your favorite fruits to give them added sweetness. Do you enjoy aromatic coffee or tea?

    Well then, add a teaspoon of this syrup to your mug or cup and enjoy! It’s also a great addition to lemonade, YUM! Trust me when I say, it’s a must try!


    Atir which is also known as simple syrup is used on many middle eastern desserts like kanafa, kunafa, chanafa, atayif, halawit el jibn, atayef, qatayif,
    This thick simple sugar syrup pairs well with a large variety of desserts!

    Variations on Simple Syrup

    Since in its traditional form the Middle Eastern simply syrup is aromatic, you can add to its flavor as you desire. There are quite a few ways to change up ater to your liking.

    Traditional Simple Syrup (Ater)

    In its most original form, Ater is made with water, white sugar, blossom water, rose water, and lemon juice. Pretty simple and straightforward.


    Water to sugar ratio is important to get the desired thickness as well as the lemon juice. Not only does the lemon juice help with thickness it also balances out the level sweetness from the sugar.

    Your aromatic flavors come from the rose and blossom water. You can uses either one or both for a more powerful flavor!


    Brown Simple Syrup

    You can make your simple syrup brown in a couple of ways. First, you’re probably wondering why you would want it brown.

    Well, some desserts call for a brown syrup to add color to a dish and others for a more caramelized flavor. Either way, it’s easy to make.

    You can either simply replace white sugar for brown! Or, you can cook the sugar in a pan on medium to high heat and continually mix until it becomes caramelized!

    You can even add some maple syrup for a lighter brown color and extra flavor!


    Other Simple Syrups

    If you’re looking for a sugar substitute, it’s possible. You can use honey instead of sugar and simply add a bit of water and whatever other aromatic flavors you’d like. Mix them well and you have a syrup.


    You can use sweeteners of your choice as well. You can make it using a powder sweetener of your preference like Xylitol or Stevia.

    Just be careful because these powdered sweeteners are much finer than regular sugar. So, this means that water ratios must be adjusted to meet thickness requirements.


    Lots of Middle-Eastern desserts are considered incomplete without Ater!

    Aromatic Alternatives for Simple Syrup

    • Boil the simple syrup with cinnamon sticks or add in some nutmeg
    • You can create an herbal simple syrup using lavender, mint, and rosemary
    • Create a citrus-flavored syrup by adding lemon, lime, or orange zest

    Ingredients for Simple Syrup (Ater)

    • water
    • granulated sugar
    • blossom water
    • lemon juice
    • *optional rose water 

    How to Make Simple Syrup

    1. In a small pot place the water, sugar, and blossom water.  Stir until sugar dissolves. 
    2. Bring mixture to a boil, add the 2 tablespoons of lemon.  Bring heat to low, for about 10-15 minutes. 
    3. Drizzle syrup over your favorite desserts. Syrup – atir- will thicken once it comes to room temperature.
    4. Store simple syrup/atir in an air tight container, for at least 6 months.

    Other Delicious Recipes to Make

    • Easy Kunafa with Mozzarella Cheese
    • Sweet Potato Bake Filled with Walnuts
    • Pan-Fried Honey Cinnamon Bananas
    • Lebanese Maamoul Cookies
    • Halawet El Riz- Rice and Cheese Cream
    • Osmaliyi Dessert

    Simple syrup also known as Ater is used over middle eastern desserts like kanafa, ashta, atayif, kunafa and so many more

    Simple Syrup (Ater)

    Lama
    A versatile syrup that sweetens up the blandest of desserts!
    5 from 4 votes
    Print Recipe Comment Pin Recipe
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine Middle Eastern

    Ingredients
      

    • 2 cups water
    • 1 cup granulated sugar
    • 1 tablespoon blossom water
    • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
    • *optional rose water 1 teaspoon

    Instructions
     

    • In a small pot place the water, sugar, and blossom water.  Stir until sugar dissolves. 
    • Bring mixture to a boil, add the 2 tablespoons of lemon.  Bring heat to low, for about 10-15 minutes. 
    • Drizzle syrup over your favorite desserts. Syrup – atir- will thicken once it comes to room temperature.
    • Store simple syrup/atir in an air tight container, for at least 6 months.
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
    close

    LET'S STAY IN TOUCH!

    SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER

    We don’t spam! Read our Privacy Policy for more info.

    Hey there! Be sure to check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription so we can stay in touch!

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




    1. Liz says

      July 08, 2021 at 2:26 am

      5 stars
      Easy steps. Made it for my atayif, thanks

      Reply
      • Lama says

        July 08, 2021 at 5:48 pm

        Happy to hear that!

        Reply
    2. Rebecca says

      August 19, 2021 at 6:44 pm

      5 stars
      Very easy to make and its consistency is just perfect! What i like about it is that i can store it in the fridge for a while. Thanks for sharing❤

      Reply
      • Lama says

        August 29, 2021 at 3:56 pm

        You sure can! Simple syrup is so easy and it can last for a long time in or outside of the fridge

        Reply
    3. Farah says

      November 14, 2021 at 8:46 pm

      5 stars
      So easy and goes almost with almost Arabic sweets! Loooove it

      Reply
      • Lama says

        November 15, 2021 at 8:59 pm

        Absolutely! 🙂 Thank you for your feedback!

        Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

    I'm Lama, welcome to my blog where you will find simple and diverse recipes your entire family will enjoy. My passion for cooking began after I got married when I challenged myself to prepare Thanksgiving dinner. With the help of my mom over the phone, I was so proud it turned out successful! Today, I share my passion across many social platforms like Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest! I am honored to connect with you through the recipes I prepare! about me!

    Recipes You Might Want To Try

    Ten Minute All-Purpose Dough

    Ten Minute All-Purpose Dough

    Gigi Hadid’s Viral Pasta Recipe (without the vodka)

    Footer

    Vegan Recipes

    kale salad houstons copycat salad
    roasted red pepper hummus dip
    An easy aromatic blend of 6 simple spices. Gingerbread spice mix is the greatest addition to your christmas holiday treats and drinks.
    baked french fries
    best-avocado-salad-recipe
    Chocolate Chips Banana Bread
    Footer Tastegreatfoodie recipe blog of diverse ed dishes from middle-eastern cuisines, vegan, desserts, hummus, dips, dough, dairy free, air fried, no bake and many more delicious recipes

    Copyright © 2023 TASTEGREATFOODIE

    • Email
    • Print
    • WhatsApp
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Pinterest
    • LinkedIn
    • Yummly

    Terms and Conditions - Privacy Policy