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21+ Holiday Simple Syrups to Sweeten the Season


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Infuse holiday spirit into every sip by keeping a few holiday simple syrups on hand for the season. From coffee and tea to cocktails and mocktails, these sweet additions bring festive fun for everyone!

Evergreen boughs surround cranberry simple syrup in a jar with cinnamon sticks and whole cranberries

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Your ultimate guide to holiday simple syrups

I’ll be the first to admit — the holiday season is hectic! It’s not necessarily a bad thing, but I feel like as soon as November hits I’m rushing from one thing to the next without a minute to catch my breath.

That being said, I’m always on the lookout to make my life simpler during this season. My best hack is to have things prepared ahead of time whenever possible, which has saved me time and time again. That means prepping easy hostess gifts like homemade spiced rum or cocktail infusion kits, making pizza dough for the freezer to pop out for an easy dinner on a hectic day and making a variety of simple syrup options to have on-hand.

Simple syrups are my favorite easy way to transform a drink recipe to fit the season. You can also make a big batch and jar them up to share with family and friends. (Check out our printable syrup labels for easy gifting.)

With so many different options, there’s something for every taste and occasion. The best part is that they work well in all kinds of drinks:

rosemary sprigs resting in a jar of syrup
Three glass bottles with pump dispensers labeled Brown Sugar, Simple Syrup, and Mocha are arranged side by side on a white tray

Label your syrups in style!

Give your coffee syrups, cocktail syrups and bitters a clean, modern look. Print 81 arched labels at home on Avery 22809 sheets.

$10 81 labels, instant download

Get the syrup labels

The best holiday simple syrups

Stay ahead of the season by keeping one (or more) of these holiday simple syrups on hand! They’re an easy way to dress up your favorite drinks and make hosting much easier. 

Coffee shop favorites

These popular flavors (the ones behind the most popular café menus) are easy to make at home, and each one works just as well in tea, cocktails and mocktails. One batch can sweeten a week of drinks.

1
A glass jar filled with light brown liquid, containing cinnamon sticks and vanilla beans. A spoon is dipped into the jar.
Cinnamon Dolce Syrup
This cinnamon vanilla syrup brings sugar, spice and a little vanilla together in a mellow syrup with a bakery-counter warmth. It adds depth to coffee, bourbon cocktails and tea, but it's also delicious drizzled over pumpkin waffles.
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2
a jar of caramel simple syrup
Caramel Simple Syrup
Sugar cooks to a deep amber in this dairy-free syrup, then loosens with water into a pourable sweetener with a toasty edge. A pinch of salt turns it into salted caramel in seconds. Tip: Have everything measured out before the pan heats up, since caramel goes from golden to burnt quickly.
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3
A glass bottle of vanilla extract with a vanilla bean inside, surrounded by vanilla pods, a glass, a gold jigger, and wooden utensils on a white surface.
Vanilla Bean Syrup
Store-bought vanilla syrup can taste flat next to this one, which gets its depth from a real split vanilla bean. Sugar and water are the only other ingredients, and the flecks of vanilla that float on top of your latte give it an undeniably elevated feeling.
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4
A jar of Irish Cream syrup with a gold spoon. A green tea towel sits to the side.
Irish Cream Syrup
Irish cream liqueur inspired this syrup, which captures its cocoa, coffee and vanilla notes with an optional splash of Irish whiskey. Hot coffee and cold brew get the most obvious boost, but a spoonful also deepens hot chocolate and nightcap cocktails.
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5
A glass bottle of toffee sauce next to a bowl of nuts and a spoon.
Toffee Nut Syrup
Buttery, nutty and just a little salty, this syrup melts toffee bits into brown and granulated sugar with a drop of almond extract. It sweetens morning coffee and holds its own beside bourbon or rum. A single batch makes enough for 16 servings.
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6
A clear glass decanter with diamond pattern contains a dark amber liquid, placed on a wooden coaster, with bowls of brown sugar and a gold jigger nearby.
Brown Sugar Syrup
Molasses-rich sweetness is the whole point of this two-ingredient syrup, made from nothing more than brown sugar and water. It’s the classic sweetener for iced coffee and milk tea, and it works just as well in an old-fashioned.
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Warm spice and cozy flavors

Cinnamon, ginger, cloves and allspice do the heavy lifting here, turning a plain latte, tea or old-fashioned into something that smells like gingerbread cookies and snickerdoodles.

7
An old-fashioned bottle of hot cocoa with Christmas cookies and pine cones.
Gingerbread Syrup
The sharp-sweet flavor of a fresh-baked gingerbread cookie comes from fresh ginger, molasses, allspice and orange zest, all simmered into homemade brown sugar syrup. It belongs in lattes and hot toddies as much as in a bourbon old-fashioned.
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8
A clear, patterned glass bottle filled with dark liquid is surrounded by cinnamon sticks, star anise, cardamom pods, and a piece of ginger root on a white surface.
Chai Syrup
Anyone who orders chai lattes regularly can make this version at home in about 10 minutes. Chai tea bags steep in boiling water before brown and granulated sugar dissolve into the brew, giving it the flavor of spiced tea and caramel at once. Add it to steamed milk for a chai latte or pair it with espresso for a dirty chai.
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9
a gold spoon resting in a glass jar of pumpkin spice syrup
Pumpkin Spice Syrup
The pumpkin spice latte flavor gets a homemade upgrade here, thanks to real pumpkin purée and a blend of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves and cardamom. It adds body to coffee and tastes just as good in a bourbon or rum cocktail.
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10
apple simple syrup with its ingredients on a white background
Apple Simple Syrup
If apple pie could be poured, it would taste something like this syrup, made from diced red apple, a cinnamon stick and whole cloves. It stirs into coffee, tea and cocktails and spoons easily over pancakes or desserts. Try it in an apple cider old-fashioned.
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11
Syrup being poured from a ladle into a jar filled with citrus peels and dark liquid.
Spiced Maple Syrup
Warming maple syrup gently, instead of simmering it, keeps it from thickening or crystallizing while cinnamon, star anise, cloves, allspice, fresh ginger and orange slices infuse. Pour it over pancakes and waffles or mix it into cocktails and mocktails. If a maple old-fashioned is already a favorite, this is the upgrade.
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Cookie, candy and dessert flavors

Cookie jars, candy dishes and dessert trays supply the inspiration for this lineup, which tastes best in lattes, hot chocolate and cocktails with a sweet streak. White chocolate and bourbon caramel lean closer to a sauce, so they run thicker than a classic simple syrup.

12
glass jar with stars along the rim filled with dark brown chocolate syrup with a gold spoon inside and drips running down the jar
Homemade Chocolate Syrup
Sifted cocoa powder, sugar, vanilla and a pinch of sea salt cook into a glossy chocolate syrup in about 15 minutes. Use it for mochas, chocolate martinis, hot chocolate or a sundae. It keeps in the refrigerator for up to two months, so one batch covers the whole season.
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13
A clear glass bottle filled with dark liquid, likely coffee or liqueur, sits on a white surface beside dessert items and coffee beans.
Tiramisu Syrup
Tiramisu means “pick me up” in Italian, and this syrup lives up to the name with brewed coffee, cocoa, vanilla and a splash of dark rum. It makes cold brew taste like dessert and adds an easy twist to an espresso martini.
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14
A glass of White Chocolate Syrup and white chocolate on a cutting board.
White Chocolate Syrup
Creamy, sweet and closer to a sauce than a classic simple syrup, this blend of melted white chocolate chips and half-and-half stirs into coffee, mochas and evening cocktails. Heavy cream makes it thicker, and whole milk makes it thinner.
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15
A jar of sugar cookie simple syrup sits on a white marble surface with a gold spoon in the jar. There are cookies dusted with sugar set around it and holiday foliage.
Sugar Cookie Syrup
Sugar cookie syrup captures the buttery, vanilla-almond flavor of a cookie fresh off the baking sheet, thanks to three extracts and a simple base of sugar and water. It turns a latte into a bakery treat and adds a sweet, buttery finish to cocktails.
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16
I TRIPLE-CHECKED that I made a recipe from the blogger that I was assigned. ◻️ FOR HOLIDAY EVENT ONLY: I made sure that the recipe I chose for the Holiday Cookie Exchange Round is ONLY a cookie, bar, candy or snack mix recipe. NO OTHER RECIPES ALLOWED. No cakes, breads with desserts, etc. ◻️ I made sure that the recipe that I chose was NOT made and blogged for another Freaky Friday event. ◻️ I shared the Freaky Friday banner and told my readers about what Freaky Friday is. (ABOVE the recipe card) ◻️ I mentioned Michaela and linked to her blog An Affair from the Heart (.com) ◻️ I told about my assigned blogger and shared at least 3 more recipes from their site. (ABOVE the recipe card) ◻️ I turned my permalink into Michaela (via facebook messenger) by noon CST the Wednesday before the event. ◻️ I added the HTML of all of the other recipes given to me by Michaela before my post went live, and will change it if changed need to be made when the event goes live. ◻️ I scheduled (and double checked) that my post is scheduled for 8 AM CST the day of the event. ◻️ I dropped my share links by 5 PM the day of the event, in the event page where instructed. ◻️ I completed all of my shares within one week of the event, by 5PM CST the Friday following the event.
Bourbon Caramel Sauce
Thicker than a syrup and richer too, this homemade caramel sauce uses the wet caramel method with sugar, water, butter, heavy cream and a splash of bourbon. It’s thick enough to drizzle over ice cream and pancakes, and it adds a rich note to coffee and whiskey cocktails.
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17
A glass decanter filled with a red liquid, surrounded by chestnuts, a small glass bowl of chestnuts, and a gold spoon on a white surface. Greenery is in the background.
Chestnut Praline Syrup
Roasting chestnuts and pecans takes this syrup about an hour, longer than the others, but the payoff is a deep, nutty sweetness with brown sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg that is stunning with coffee. (No open fire required.)
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Bright, fruity and herbal syrups

Tart cranberry, pomegranate, mint and rosemary balance the sweeter flavors with a little brightness. They’re perfect for for mocktails, sparkling water and gin, vodka or tequila cocktails.

18
A gold spoon rests in a hexagon jar of cranberry-colored simple syrup with whole cranberries, cinnamon sticks, evergreen boughs and a golden bowl of cranberries around it
Cranberry Simple Syrup
Ruby red and pleasantly tart, this syrup simmers fresh or frozen cranberries with sugar and water. Gentle heat keeps the berries from bursting, which helps the syrup stay pourable. Use it to add color to sparkling cocktails and mocktails or drizzle it over pancakes and french toast.
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19
a glass jar with mint syrup on a cutting board with fresh mint
Mint Simple Syrup
Fresh mint steeps into a cool, green syrup that does double duty in a mojito or a mug of hot chocolate. It tastes cooler and more herbal than a candy cane, which makes it a good match for a peppermint mocha.
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20
a jar of rosemary simple syrup
Rosemary Simple Syrup
Clapping a fresh rosemary sprig between both palms before steeping releases its oils and gives the syrup a more fragrant, piney aroma. It pairs well with gin, lemonade, iced tea and cranberry drinks, but it's surprisingly delicious in a latte.
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21
A glass bottle filled with red liquid, accompanied by pomegranate seeds and a brass container.
Grenadine Syrup
If grenadine has only ever meant the neon-red bottle from the grocery store, a batch made with real pomegranate juice, sugar and lemon juice will taste like a different ingredient. It’s tart, deep red and the right base for a holiday Shirley Temple, a tequila sunrise or a Jack Rose.
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Quick tips for hosting 

While the specifics will depend on exactly what you’re hosting (you won’t do the same thing for a holiday open house that you would for a Christmas cocktail party), these tips will make ensure you stay holly and jolly through it all:

  1. Set up a station. The easiest way to make sure everyone has something that they’ll enjoy is to set up a station where they can craft their own drink. Whether it’s a coffee bar or a drink station for cocktails (and mocktails), simply provide the fixings and let guests go from there. It also works as an icebreaker!
  2. Save some for later. If you’re planning on making several simple syrups at once, you probably won’t be able to finish them all before they go bad. You can freeze simple syrup from each batch and pull it out when you’re ready to use it.
  3. Don’t forget the trimmings. While holiday simple syrups infuse festive flavors into your favorite drinks, you shouldn’t stop there! Embrace the razzle dazzle of the holidays with garnishes that take things over the top, like sugared cranberries or snow globe drinks.
A clear, decorative glass bottle filled with dark liquid, surrounded by a bowl of coffee beans and plates with dessert on a white surface.

Serving suggestions

Appetizers are your best bet for any types of gatherings. They can act as a snack for people just stopping by for a bit or can be combined into a full meal that doesn’t require a seating chart. For the holidays, these recipes are what tends to disappear the quickest:

The other thing that should be on the table is a hydration option. You can dress up your water pitchers to star as a centerpiece to encourage everyone to stay hydrated through all the festivities. Recipes like Christmas spa water or winter citrus spa water are the perfect balance of festive and tasty.

Three glass bottles with pump dispensers labeled Brown Sugar, Simple Syrup, and Mocha are arranged side by side on a white tray

Label your syrups in style!

Give your coffee syrups, cocktail syrups and bitters a clean, modern look. Print 81 arched labels at home on Avery 22809 sheets.

$10 81 labels, instant download

Get the syrup labels

About Susannah

Susannah Brinkley Henry is the founder of Feast + West, a cocktail blog featuring creative, budget-friendly drinks and hosting ideas. A graphic designer with bartending school training, she shares cocktails, mocktails, appetizers and desserts for easy, stylish entertaining. Her work has been featured by Southern Living, Buzzfeed, The Huffington Post and Mashable, and she was a finalist in the Saveur Blog Awards. Susannah is also a publisher on MSN and has appeared on local news segments sharing seasonal drinks. She lives in Charlotte, N.C., where she brings Southern charm and global inspiration to every pour. Read more.

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