Homemade Banana Syrup captures the cozy flavors of banana bread with notes of caramelized bananas and warm cinnamon. It’s a game-changer for tiki cocktails, adding a rich, tropical sweetness that pairs beautifully with rum. Best of all, it’s easy to make at home with just a few simple ingredients and even over-ripe bananas!
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About this Banana Syrup recipe
I’ve always liked bananas, but not banana flavor. That’s probably why I avoided banana cocktails for so long. To me, banana liqueur tastes like the artificially-flavored banana Runts candy — and I could just never imagine a good-tasting banana cocktail.
That is, until I tried making homemade Banana Syrup. I was inspired by banana bread, my favorite thing to make with bananas.
My two secrets to making the best banana simple syrup is to caramelize the bananas in the pan first, and add a pinch of cinnamon. It makes the flavor of the syrup so tasty and instantly glows-up any drink you make with it.
More syrup recipes: Watermelon Syrup • Blackberry Syrup • Peach Syrup • Fig Syrup • Strawberry Syrup
Why you’ll love this recipe
There are plenty of reasons to love this banana syrup recipe:
- With only four ingredients, this recipe doesn’t require a trip to the grocery store. It’s extremely inexpensive, and way better than store-bought.
- Made with fresh bananas, it tastes like banana bread. No artificial flavors or colors here.
- It takes your regular drink recipes and makes them into something more indulgent.
Tools & equipment
To make this banana syrup at home, you will need a medium saucepan to heat up the sugar and water together, as well as a knife and cutting board to slice up the fresh banana. A fine-mesh strainer * will help to strain out any solids, keeping your syrup smooth.
The other thing you need is something to store it in. You’ll want to get an airtight container to keep your syrups in — they must be stored in the fridge. A set of mason jars is a wise investment if you like making syrups. You can even add a mason jar pour spout lid to your jar for easy pouring.
favorite syrup storage
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Ingredients
You can find everything you need for banana syrup at most grocery stores. Here’s your ingredient list:
For the full measurements and step-by-step instructions, head down to the recipe card. It’s all there waiting for you!
- sliced banana: Use ripe bananas for your banana syrup. You can even use over-ripe bananas that you would otherwise throw away because they are too soft.
- sugar: Any type of sugar will work because it is melted down once heated. Typically, I use cane sugar or granulated sugar. Brown sugar will work also but will change the color of the banana syrup, the color of whatever you use it in and the texture. Since brown sugar contains molasses, the texture of the syrup will be slightly thicker.
- water: Filtered water or distilled water will give you the best, purest results, but tap water is totally fine.
- ground cinnamon *: Cinnamon is what gives the syrup its banana bread flavor. You can also add a pinch of other ground spices like cloves, nutmeg, cardamom or allspice.
Instructions
You can make this banana syrup recipe in a few simple steps:
In a saucepan over medium heat, cook banana with ¼ cup water and ¼ cup sugar. Stir in a pinch of cinnamon. Simmer until bananas are browned, about 10 minutes.
Reduce heat to low. Stir in ¾ cup sugar and ¾ cup water until sugar has dissolved.
Strain through a fine-mesh strainer * and discard the solids. Allow the syrup to cool completely before using. Add an ice cube if you want to use it right away!
Tips & tricks
- For the best flavor, use ripe bananas. Ripe bananas are much more sweet and will create a delicious syrup!
- Add some extra spices when you cook the bananas, like nutmeg, cloves or a vanilla bean * to give it even more flavor.
- Save some fresh banana to make caramelized banana garnishes for your cocktails! Place a banana slice on a heat-proof surface. Sprinkle a pinch of granulated sugar over a banana slice and brûlée with a kitchen torch.
Storage tips & shelf life
Since this homemade simple syrup doesn’t have a stabilizer, it is best to store it in an air tight container in the fridge. It will last up to 2 weeks when stored in the fridge.
You can also freeze simple syrup! If you need more ideas, I have a whole post with the best tips and tricks on how to store simple syrup.
Uses for Banana Syrup
Breakfast: Drizzle the syrup over pancakes or French toast. You can use the discarded mashed bananas as a topping for yogurt or oatmeal.
Desserts: You could dress up a scoop of banana pudding with a drizzle of syrup.
Cocktails: You could also mix it into a cocktail like a banana old-fashioned to have with a tropical dessert like chocolate chip banana bread.
Mocktails: For a non-alcoholic use, mix it into an Italian soda for a delicious drink.
FAQ
Since this homemade simple syrup lacks a stabilizer, it’s best to keep it in an airtight container in the fridge. When properly stored, it will stay fresh for up to two weeks. You can also freeze it in ice cube trays for longer storage.
You can make lots of drinks with banana syrup. It tastes great in tiki drinks that use rum, but you could also use it to make a banana margarita with tequila or a bourbon old-fashioned.
More tropical syrup recipes
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Banana Syrup
ingredients
- 1 large banana peeled and sliced
- 1 cup sugar divided
- 1 cup water divided
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
instructions
- In a saucepan over medium heat, cook banana slices with ¼ cup water and ¼ cup sugar until browned, about 10 minutes. Stir in a pinch of cinnamon.
- Reduce heat to low. Stir in ¾ cup sugar and ¾ cup water until sugar has dissolved.
- Remove from heat. Strain through a fine-mesh strainer and discard the solids. Let cool completely.
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