Cinnamon Syrup

Spice up your life with this Cinnamon Syrup recipe! Brown sugar and cinnamon sticks give this homemade syrup a deep, rich cinnamon flavor. It’s delicious on  pancakes and waffles, or add a splash to your favorite drink.

 How to Make Brown Sugar Cinnamon Syrup

If your primary experience with syrup is that it comes in a squeezy bottle and rhymes with “Shmrs. Shmutterworths,” then this recipe is going to knock your socks off.

Today we’re making this easy homemade Cinnamon Syrup, and to pre-emptively answer a few questions, YES you can make syrup at home and YES you’re going to want to eat it on absolutely everything! And no, this isn’t maple-flavored pancake syrup. This is a warm and cozy brown-sugar based syrup, infused with pure cinnamon flavor.

🧾 What You’ll Need

Ingredients & Equipment

Here’s what you need to make this syrup at home: (Links are affiliate links and I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases.)

• Cinnamon sticks: Cinnamon sticks are the secret to great cinnamon flavor. Unlike ground cinnamon, they impart a strong, vibrant taste without impacting the texture of the syrup. Your cinnamon sticks should be 2-3 inches long, and noticeably fragrant. Although cinnamon sticks don’t go bad, they definitely lose their potency over time, so if you have old, dusty cinnamon sticks that have been kicking around your kitchen for more than a few years, it’s worth it to buy fresh ones.
• Brown sugar: This recipe uses equal parts brown and granulated sugar. I don’t recommend skipping the brown sugar — it gives the syrup a deep, caramelized flavor that goes perfectly with cinnamon.
• Granulated sugar: I like the balance between brown and white sugar, but if you love the taste of brown sugar, you can use all brown sugar in this recipe.
• Saucepan: You’ll want to use a saucepan that’s large enough so the syrup doesn’t bubble over when cooking. A 3-quart saucepan or 4-quart saucepan is perfect for this recipe.

📋 Instructions

This syrup barely requires instructions–don’t you love a super simple recipe?! Here’s how it all comes together:

• Combine the water, both sugars, and cinnamon sticks in a saucepan over medium heat.
•  Stir while the sugars dissolve, and bring the syrup to a boil.
• Reduce the heat, and let it simmer for 10-15 minutes, until thick and very fragrant.
• Let it cool before using — it will continue to thicken as it cools.
• Enjoy!

💡 Tips and Ideas

• Storage: once cool, transfer the syrup to a glass jar or container, and refrigerate it for about 3-4 weeks.
• Keeping the cinnamon sticks in the jar with the syrup will enhance the flavor over time.
• This makes a wonderful edible gift! Pair decorative jars of syrup with gourmet waffle or pancake mix for a fun gift for teachers and friends.
• Add other spices: In addition to cinnamon sticks, you can include other spices like whole cloves or star anise to build more complex flavors.
• Add citrus: add lemon or orange peels to the mix when making the syrup. Both of these pair very well with cinnamon and the resulting syrups are delicious.

🤎 Try this syrup with:

• Pannetone Bread Pudding
• Cinnamon Bun Bread Pudding
• Cranberry Orange Bread Pudding
• Brownie Bread Pudding
• Nutella Croissant Casserole
• Orange Bundt Cake
• Pumpkin Pound Cake
• Apple Cider Fritters
• Pear Pie In A Jar Recipe