• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Bake Offs
  • Recipes
  • Travel
  • About
  • Work With Me
  • Nav Widget Area

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
The Pancake Princess

The Pancake Princess

A baking blog curating internet recipes.

You're here: Home > Pancake Princess

Strawberry Balsamic Shrubs

by erika 28 Comments

JUMP TO RECIPE PRINT RECIPE

Strawberry Balsamic Shrubs // The Pancake Princess

Again, a disclaimer: I am in no way a mixologist, I consider most liquors to taste like a ghastly burning liquid version of poop and one of my preferred drinks (read: lesser of the evils) is a long island iced tea, which should give you some idea of my discerning palate and refined taste. (See also: frozen margaritas, amaretto sours, Pimm’s cups, and G&Ts when I’m trying to be socially respectable.)

Strawberry Balsamic Shrubs // The Pancake PrincessStrawberry Balsamic Shrubs // The Pancake PrincessStrawberry Balsamic Shrubs // The Pancake PrincessBut shrubs are new territory. Earlier this summer, I had a really delicious non-alcoholic shrub at a restaurant and spent weeks thinking about it before realizing that my first introduction to shrubs had really come years ago, when my aunt had proffered something involving alcohol and something out of a mason jar, which I had politely declined.

Jokes on me, because shrubs (unattractively also known as “drinking vinegars”) are basically a fruit-infused acidic substance that can be added to any drink, alcoholic or not, to amp up flavor–let me repeat: fruit and acid. And sugar. Three of my favorite things, especially when it comes to drinks (dranks).

Strawberry Balsamic Shrubs // The Pancake Princess

Serendipitously, the lovely Sherrie and Renee decided to host a virtual #drinkthesummer party right around the time a handful of strawberries were going soft and squishy on me, so my first attempt at a shrub demanded the always-alluring combination of strawberries and balsamic vinegar. When thinned with a good splash of sparkling water, a squeeze of lime (plus a half-hearted attempt at muddling basil…) and a pour of gin, I thought these turned out quite nicely–fizzy, fruity, sweet, and a little sour, just how I like. (Though next time, I’d go lighter on the sugar since balsamic vinegar is already fairly sweet, in order to help bring out the acid.)

While some recipes suggest cooking the fruit, sugar and vinegar together, Serious Eats advocates a cold-processed shrub for better flavor, so that’s what I did. It’s a super easy process, even for a drink noob like me, so I highly recommend trying this, if tangy/sour/acidic drinks are your thing! Making a shrub is the perfect way to elevate your drink game, use up overripe or slightly imperfect fruit, impress your friends, and drink delicious drinks. Just make sure you leave a couple of days from your start time to desired drinking time–a.k.a a Wednesday might be the perfect time to start 😉

PRINT PIN

Strawberry Balsamic Shrubs

Ingredients

  • For the shrub:
  • 1/2 cup strawberries
  • 1/4 cup sugar reduce to 2 tablespoons for a less sweet shrub
  • 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar you can also try a mix of balsamic and a lighter vinegar, like apple cider or champagne

  • For the cocktails:
  • Gin
  • Sparkling water
  • Lime
  • Fresh basil optional

Instructions

  • Combine the strawberries and sugar; mash with a fork until well-combined. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Once a syrupy liquid has accumulated, strain through a fine mesh sieve (reserve the solids to use over yogurt or on toast). Stir the vinegar into the syrup and refrigerate for several hours (ideally a day or more), stirring occasionally to help dissolve the sugar.
  • To assemble the shrub cocktails, muddle a few leaves of basil in the bottom of a glass, if using. Remove basil leaves and add 1-2 oz gin, 1 oz shrub syrup, 1/2 cup sparkling water, a squeeze of lime and stir. Adjust components to taste.

Did you try this recipe?

Tag @thepancakeprincess on Instagram!
For mind-blowing inspiration from truly talented folks with REAL drink expertise, check out the rest of these lovely #drinkthesummer party participants!
With Food + Love | Fresh Heirloom Bloody Marys with Old Bay and Spicy Pickles
Will Frolic for Food | The Sugar Hollow: Watermelon Gin Cocktail with Cardamom and Lime
Kale & Caramel | Sweet Coconut, Hibiscus & Lime Slushie
Hummingbird High | Thyme Lemonade
Brooklyn Supper | Bloody Maria Cocktails
Cake Over Steak | Blackberry Bourbon Cocktail
Loves Food, Loves to Eat | Coconut Nectarine White Wine Spritzers
Dunk & Crumble | Ginger Peach Whiskey Smash
Tasty Yummies | When Figs Fly: Spiced Rum Fig Kombucha Cocktail
Feed Me Phoebe | Pimm’s Cup Cocktail with Fresh Ginger, Lime and Tarragon
Earthy Feast | Strawberry, Basil and Pink Peppercorn Negroni
Ginger & Toasted Sesame | Blackberry Peach Margarita with Spicy Salt
O&O Eats | The Long Hope: a Honeydew Cucumber Gin Cocktail
my name is yeh | Nutella Egg Cream
Faring Well | Sparkling Melon Coolers with Muddled Raspberries and Mint
Beard and Bonnet | Pineapple and Cilantro Moscow Mule
Edible Perspective | Rosé Slushies
Vegetarian ‘Ventures | Sparkling Peppered Plum Blush
The Broken Bread | Blackberry, Cucumber and Mint Gin Spritzer
Tending the Table | Plum Spritzer with Ginger and Kafir Lime
Appeasing a Food Geek | Sugar Plum Margarita
She Eats | Fizzy Lime and Blackberry Shrub
holly & flora | Pimm’s Cup with Blackberry and Lemon Zest Shrub
Vigor and Sage | Peachy Tomato Basil Gin and Tonic
The Pig & Quill | Raspberry Basil Gingerade Fizz
Hungry Girl por Vida | Peanut Butter and Berry Smoothie
A Brown Table | Fig and Bourbon Summer Smash
The Clever Carrot | 5 Minute White Peach Margaritas
Cookie and Kate | Watermelon White Sangria
le jus d’orange | Peach Yogurt Soju and Ginger Plum Kombucha Cocktail
Chocolate + Marrow | Raspberry Thyme Smash
The Bojon Gourmet | Basil Pluot Pimm’s Cup
Snixy Kitchen | Sparkling Asian Pear and Mint Iced Tea
what’s cooking good looking | Watermelon Basil Colada
i am a food blog | Thyme Gin and Tonics
Fix, Feast, Flair | Berry Peachy Kentucky Mules
Salt & Wind | Watermelon Aperol Spritzes

FacebookTweetPin54

Reader Interactions

Comments

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

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

    Recipe Rating




  1. Kathryn @ The Scratch Artist

    August 29, 2015 at 1:44 pm

    You completely descried my experience with most liquor – “like a ghastly burning liquid version of poop.” Genius! Also, because of this genius phrase I took your palate seriously and now I have to try a shrub! The name of your blog tells me everything I need to know about the wonderful space you’ve created here. So happy I had the chance to find you through #drinkthesummer.

    Reply
  2. Jayme Henderson

    August 27, 2015 at 1:46 pm

    Erika, I am just now getting around to checking out all of the other recipes, and I’m definitely down with team shrub. 😉 I make my shrubs with mostly apple cider vinegar or white wine vinegar, but I haven’t ventured into the balsamic vinegar territory, even though I know the combo of strawberry and balsamic is classic. I’m so happy you’ve found a place for shrubs in your life. They are super easy to make. …and kudos for you for being able to sip a Long Island Iced Tea! I’d be on the floor asleep or out on the dance floor doing something I’d regret! lol

    Reply
  3. Sherrie

    August 20, 2015 at 10:59 pm

    Shrubs are really having a moment right now! Thanks for hanging with us Erika, these look/sound just lovely, xx.

    Reply
    • erika

      August 23, 2015 at 12:18 pm

      Thank YOU so much for organizing, Sherrie!! Such an amazing round up; I’m honored to be included! <3

      Reply
  4. Shikha @ Shikha la Mode

    August 20, 2015 at 8:30 pm

    I actually had no idea what a shrub was until this! The world of alcohol is so confusing haha.

    Reply
    • erika

      August 23, 2015 at 12:18 pm

      I know right?! Glad to clear up at least one point of confusion 😉

      Reply
  5. Cindy

    August 20, 2015 at 12:23 am

    I had my first shrubs last year when I was pregnant with my son…everytime I went out for drinks with friends (like, twice) the bartender would offer me a shrub. SO GOOD. I love this combo, there is no better pairing than strawberry balsamic!

    Reply
    • erika

      August 20, 2015 at 1:27 am

      Hahaha I love that–your going out for drinks with friends while pregnant is the equivalent of me drinking beer (like, twice a year). YAY SHRUBS! They are such a good non-alcoholic (or alcoholic) drink right? They make you feel fancy no matter what! Thanks for the kind words, lady! <33

      Reply
  6. Christine

    August 20, 2015 at 12:22 am

    I love the strawberry and balsamic combination! Works all the time.

    Reply
    • erika

      August 20, 2015 at 1:28 am

      Right?! I had such a good strawberry balsamic ice cream in Portland…going to have to work on a dairy-free version for the both of us now! 😉

      Reply
  7. Em

    August 19, 2015 at 7:16 pm

    I love sour or tangy drinks (hello, sour beer…) so a sour cocktail is right up my alley! And I’ve not yet tried my hand at making a shrub yet, but I totally feel ya on the strawberries that need to be used, like, yesterday situation, so that might just change here rather quickly! Cheers, Erika!

    Reply
    • erika

      August 20, 2015 at 1:30 am

      Oooh you got any sour beer recommendations you could toss my way? I need to work on my beer love game. And go get you a shrub, lovely lady! <33

      Reply
  8. Brooke @ Chocolate + Marrow

    August 19, 2015 at 12:11 pm

    I am definitely not a mixologist either, Erika! I can barely make a margarita LOL. But I’ve been trying to learn a bit more and #drinkthesummer is proving to be a pretty good crash course in cocktail making. Cheers to these lovely little shrubs!

    Reply
    • erika

      August 20, 2015 at 1:32 am

      So spot on! This WAS a fantastic crash course in cocktail making! Next up on my list…making an actually good margarita (also something I have yet to master)…alongside your delicious raspberry thyme drank!

      Reply
  9. Kelsey @ Appeasing a Food Geek

    August 19, 2015 at 11:57 am

    I have to admit that I have never heard of shrubs until I saw your lovely post! I hope that doesn’t take my food blogger card away…
    I can’t wait to give this recipe a try (especially because I loooove gin drinks), and I’m so happy to have found your blog! 🙂

    Reply
    • erika

      August 20, 2015 at 1:33 am

      Not at all! Shrubs are fairly new in my realm as well. And I just ranted and raved about how I hate alcohol so if anything, MY blogger card should be revoked…

      Thanks so much for the lovely comment, Kelsey! Can’t wait to read more from you <33

      Reply
  10. Michelle @ Hummingbird High

    August 19, 2015 at 11:54 am

    “I consider most liquors to taste like a ghastly burning liquid version of poop” — oh you!!! I’m laughing so hard right now.

    Reply
    • erika

      August 20, 2015 at 1:33 am

      I’m so glad someone appreciates my humor 😉 <333

      Reply
  11. Sara @ Cake Over Steak

    August 19, 2015 at 11:14 am

    I recently got a sampler pack of summer shrubs from the Food52 shop, and I’ve been enjoying mixing those with some plain old club soda for a weeknight spritzer situation. Makes me feel fancy, like I’m drinking a cocktail, but without the alcohol. I still need to play with them in some homemade cocktails. This one sounds awesome with the strawberry, basil, gin, etc. We need to work on your liquor love, girl! I think you just need to find the right drink and the love will soon follow. 😉

    Reply
    • erika

      August 20, 2015 at 1:34 am

      Ooooh that sounds so fancy and delicious!! And yes, please send help in finding me the right drink!! 😉

      Reply
  12. Nora (A Clean Bake)

    August 19, 2015 at 9:32 am

    Ok hi, I had no idea what I was missing by ignoring shrubs, so thank GOODNESS you have set me straight. I am a similarly weeny drinker as you are (I mean that in the best way possible – Pimms Cups 4eva!) but I love strong, confident flavors so I think I need to hop on this shrub bandwagon ASAP.

    Reply

Primary Sidebar

Baking recipe curator and tester.

I’m here to give you confidence that you are finding the recipe that’s right for you.

I test recipes side-by-side and use a data-driven approach to analyze and rank the “best” recipes and put it all together for you.

Get to know me.

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

Subscribe to get the latest

Popular Now:

best lemon poppy seed muffin bake off Best Lemon Poppy Seed Muffin Bake Off
Gingerbread Coffee Cake
Best Gingerbread Cookie Bake Off
Campfire Crunch Cookies
nine slices pecan pie Best Pecan Pie Bake Off
Best Parker House Roll Bake Off // The Pancake Princess Best Parker House Roll Bake Off
Sara Cornelius’ Pureed Zucchini Bread
Best Coffee Cake Bake Off // The Pancake Princess Best Coffee Cake Bake Off

Instagram

Best lemon poppy seed muffin bake off is live!! Li Best lemon poppy seed muffin bake off is live!! Link in profile and tap the photo to see all the participating recipes/bloggers 🎊🎊

I always love to hear your guesses—based on looks alone, who do you think won?! 

And excitingly there is a bonus recipe at the end! I love lemon poppy so much that when a certain blogger I love (ahem @ful.filled) reached out with her intriguing looking recipe after the fact, I immediately tried it and reported my thoughts at the end of the post 💕
#pancakeprincessbakeoff #muffins #lemonpoppyseed #bakeoff
New year, new profile pic surrounded by cookies ✨

For those of you who like to plan, here’s a very tentative guide to what I’m envisioning for this year’s bake offs (if the world doesn’t blow up). Thank you, as always, for your constant enthusiasm and support for the bake offs! 💕💕💕 

🍪Jan: lemon poppy muffins, Levain choc/pb cookies?
🍪 Feb: cream cheese kolaches, loft house copycat cookies, flourless chocolate cake?
🍪 March: carrot cake
🍪 April: liege waffles??
🍪 May: tres leches
🍪 June: key lime pie 
🍪 July: tiramisu
🍪 August: oatmeal cookies
🍪 Sept: doughnuts 
🍪 Oct: shortbread?
🍪 Nov: Mac n cheese 
🍪 Dec: ginger molasses or chocolate crinkle cookies

Photo credit: @juliejulez.jpg 👹💕
{HOUSTON GIVEAWAY} Hi friends! If you’ve been f {HOUSTON GIVEAWAY}

Hi friends! If you’ve been following me for a little bit, hopefully you know how obsessed I am with @happyearthcompost and their mission to make composting more accessible and easy for the Houston community! Here is just a sneak peek of all the eggshells and lemon peels from the lemon poppy seed muffin bake off that are going straight into my Happy Earth compost bucket instead of the trash 🎊

I’m thrilled to be partnering with @happyearthcompost to do a giveaway for one lucky winner! Here are the deets:

🌱 you will win 2 free months of monthly pick ups from @happyearthcompost! You’ll get a little counter top bin (pictured here) and a larger bucket to keep outside (in the second pic)
🌱 must be located in Houston or Bryan/College Station to win
🌱 to enter, just make sure you’re following me and @happyearthcompost and tag a friend in the comments! Each comment is a separate entry
🌱 giveaway will close this Saturday (1/16) at midnight! GOOD LUCK!!!
Thankful for another year of bake offs with you gu Thankful for another year of bake offs with you guys! Loving the appreciation for the coffee cake, blueberry muffin, pecan pie, gingerbread and Levain cookie bake offs (more Levain to come in 2021 hopefully!) 🎊💕

While on vacation, I’ve scraped a lot of recipes for future bake offs (thanks to your help) and I feel refreshed and ready to get back to baking ASAP! On the list for 2021 bake offs: carrot cake, oatmeal cookies, copycat lofthouse cookies, Levain chocolate pb cookies, shortbread, lemon poppyseed muffins, etc. Let me know if there’s anything else you’re dying to see in the comments!

THANK YOU for all of your support, your kind comments, your reviewing of different recipes and your spreading of joy through baked goods this past year. Thanks to my tasters for their critical tasting and hilarious comments. Can’t wait to do it all over again next year 💕
Gingerbread bake off is up! Commence all the ginge Gingerbread bake off is up! Commence all the gingerbread baking!! 🎄🎄🎄

Tap the pic to see all participating recipes and tell me which one looks the best or which recipes you’re most excited to try!! You really can’t go wrong with any of them 🎊🎊🎊 and if you’re planning on baking any other holiday cookies this weekend, gimme the deets on what you’re making! I need more inspo for my cookie boxes 🍪🍪🍪 #pancakeprincessbakeoff
@THEPANCAKEPRINCESS

Footer

Back to Top
Bake Offs
Recipes
Travel
About
Work With Me

Subscribe to get the latest:

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

Recent Posts

  • Best Lemon Poppy Seed Muffin Bake Off
  • Gingerbread Coffee Cake
  • Best Gingerbread Cookie Bake Off
  • Campfire Crunch Cookies
  • Best Pecan Pie Bake Off

Privacy Policy and Terms of Service · © Pancake Princess · Site by Meyne