Cinnamon Syrup

Cinnamon Syrup is a warming, autumnal sweetener for cocktails, coffee and tea drinks. Sweet and spiced, this easy recipe is key to so many fall drink recipes. It’s versatile, too — try drizzling it over pumpkin pancakes or ice cream.

About this Cinnamon Syrup recipe

Sugar, spice and everything nice — that’s what cinnamon simple syrup is made of. And what better way to start or end the day with something so cozy, sweet and lovely?

That’s where this comforting cinnamon simple syrup comes in. I love to stir it into my morning coffee for a sweetly spiced start to the day, then mix it into a nightcap or mug of hot chocolate before bed.

If you’re a cinnamon lover, knowing how to make cinnamon syrup will be game-changing in many cocktails, coffee drinks and more. It adds warmth and extra flavor. Bonus: It makes a great holiday gift for the cocktail lover in your life.

What is simple syrup?

Simple syrup is the easiest way to sweeten drinks. If you’ve ever struggled to stir pure sugar into a cold drink, then you’ll know how frustrating it is to get it to dissolve.

Simple syrup takes away that stress and mixes sugar and water together into a sweet substance that you can mix into cold drinks with ease. It’s vital in cocktails, from the old-fashioned to the margarita.

It’s also great for warm drinks like lattes and cappuccinos because it doesn’t take as much stirring to blend into the drink.

Why you’ll love this recipe

• Cinnamon simple syrup infuses whole, real sticks of cinnamon for a fresh taste of fall.
• From coffee to cocktails, cinnamon syrup is a vessel to insert flavor and sweetness into fall drinks. It’s a good addition to your arsenal when preparing fall drinks.
• You can also drizzle it over waffles, pancakes and French toast, or stir it into oatmeal and yogurt.

Ingredients

To make your own cinnamon simple syrup, you’ll need just three ingredients. I always say to buy the best ingredients you can afford because quality is key when you are dealing with a short ingredient list!

• Sugar: I use a mix of brown sugar and granulated sugar, but you can use just one if you prefer.
• Water: Tap water works fine, but if you happen to have access to filtered water or bottled water, I recommend using that for an even purer taste. It also helps your syrups last longer. We use a water filter pitcher ^* because it is faster (and tastes better) than the water that comes from the fridge.
• Cinnamon sticks: You’ll need about three of four cinnamon sticks. It will work with two, but the more you have the stronger the cinnamon flavor.

favorite syrup storage

These syrup bottles and jars make fridge storage easy and gifting even easier.

16-ounce mason jars

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swing top glass bottles

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syrup dispenser bottles

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^*

Best cinnamon sticks

Cinnamon sticks are the whole spices that ground cinnamon is made from. But did you know there are different types of cinnamon? According to Bon Appetit, there are two main types of cinnamon:

• Cassia cinnamon: Indonesian, Chinese and Saigon are all types of cassia cinnamon, with Saigon being the most common type. Its spice is strong, potent and works really well in baked goods and drinks.
• Ceylon cinnamon: Ceylon is milder and sweeter, with a more delicate flavor profile and subtle citrus undertones. These cinnamon sticks are rolled of thinner bark. They work well in this syrup to level up your cocktails with a familiar yet new flavor.

Whatever you choose, spices do go bad and will lose flavor over time, so it’s a good idea to replenish your stock from time to time. Whenever I can, I use high-quality spices for the best-tasting results, like these cinnamon quills ^* (which are Ceylon cinnamon).

Substitutions & variations

Cinnamon dolce syrup: You might already know this syrup from Starbucks’ famous cinnamon dolce latte, but you can use this simple syrup to make one of those lattes right at home! Starbucks’ cinnamon dolce syrup has a hint of vanilla, so stir in 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract ^* per cup of syrup or infuse a split vanilla bean ^*. Then stir in a half an ounce at a time until you reach your desired sweetness.

Cinnamon simple syrup with ground cinnamon: Feel free to make this syrup with ground cinnamon ^*. It’s a similar process to my pumpkin spice syrup, which also uses ground spices. Sprinkle in one tablespoon of ground cinnamon ^* and stir it up well. Let it infuse just the way the recipe calls for. Then you’ll want to strain out the granules of cinnamon.

I prefer the cinnamon stick version because the final product is more clear in color, and has the potential to be less gritty and grainy, but if you strain your syrup well you shouldn’t have a problem. It will still taste great!

Cinnamon maple syrup: You can also use maple syrup or honey — just follow my instructions for honey simple syrup and then come back when you remove from heat for the cinnamon infusion. A cinnamon maple simple syrup is what I use in this maple leaf cocktail. So good for the holidays!

Instructions

Cinnamon simple syrup can be made in a few simple steps:

First add water to a saucepan. Then stir in the sugar. Measure equal parts sugar and water. (I use 1 cup water and 1 cup sugar, which is a 1:1 ratio. I prefer to use ½ cup brown sugar and ½ cup granulated sugar.)

Stir them together until the sugar dissolves. Try not to let it boil. It’s not a huge deal if it does, but when it boils you will lose water, which will make a thicker syrup, and less of it.

Remove the mixture from the heat and add the cinnamon sticks to your saucepan. Let it infuse for about 15 minutes, or until the syrup has the cinnamon flavor you love.

Let it cool down fully, then pour it into an airtight container such as a mason jar. Store it in the fridge or use it in your cocktails and coffee immediately!

Cinnamon cocktails

You can use this syrup in all kinds of cocktails or as a syrup for coffee drinks.

• Try it in a cinnamon latte — add a splash of ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract ^* to make it taste like a cinnamon roll! You can also stir it into your morning hot coffee or an ice-cold cup of cold brew.
• This cinnamon White Russian is a delightful after-dinner sipper. It even gets a cinnamon sugar rim!
• Mix it with bourbon for a hot toddy, a Christmas old-fashioned cocktail or a cinnamon whiskey sour. Or double the dose of cinnamon with cinnamon whiskey!

More coffee syrup recipes

• Vanilla Syrup
• Lavender Syrup
• Chai Syrup