Simple Cinnamon Syrup (For Coffee)

If you're looking to add an extra dose of warmth and coziness to your morning coffee ritual, you need to try my easy, 4-ingredient recipe for Cinnamon Simple Syrup! It's the perfect blend of sugar, spice, and everything nice — and it takes mere minutes to whip up.

Unlike store-bought syrups that often come with an unreasonably hefty price tag and a list of unpronounceable ingredients, my homemade cinnamon syrup recipe is for any cinnamon lover, and is made with simple ingredients you likely already have in your pantry, making it such an easy recipe. It's the perfect blend of delicious cinnamon spice flavor and ingredient transparency, ensuring that you know exactly what goes into your body while giving you the flavor experience you crave.

But the magic of this simple cinnamon syrup doesn’t end with your morning coffee drinks. Its versatility is boundless. Drizzle it over your favorite pancakes, pour over vanilla ice cream, stir it into oatmeal, or blend it into your favorite baking recipes. Its rich, smooth texture and balanced sweetness is ideal for adding warm spice and next level flavor to everything it touches, making it a staple for the chilly months.

And, if that weren't enough to love, making your own cinnamon coffee syrup is one of the most cost-effective ways to bring some of that coffee shop magic into your own home! For under a dollar, you can make a batch that not only tastes better than store-bought but also costs just 10% (or less!) of what you'd pay in-store.

Jump to:

• What is Cinnamon Simple Syrup?
• What does it taste like?
• Why You’ll Love This Cinnamon Coffee Syrup Recipe
• Ingredients Needed
• Substitutions
• How To Make Cinnamon Syrup
• Optional Variations & Dietary Adjustments
• Serving Suggestions
• Recipe Success Tips
• FAQs
• Homemade Cinnamon Syrup Nutrition
• Other Infused Simple Syrup Recipes
• Simple Cinnamon Syrup (For Coffee)

What is Cinnamon Simple Syrup?

This cinnamon simple syrup recipe yields a homemade infusion that marries the rich, warm notes of cinnamon with the smooth sweetness of sugar, all melded together in a silky syrup. This yummy coffee enhancer is incredibly easy to make and requires just a handful of ingredients – water, sugar, and, of course, cinnamon (both in stick and extract form). 

The process is as simple as simmering these ingredients together, allowing the cinnamon's spicy-sweet aroma to infuse the syrup with its irresistible charm. The result? A versatile, delightful liquid that adds a hint of cinnamon bliss to anything it touches.

What does it taste like?

Each drop of this homemade coffee syrup tastes like the embodiment of coziness and cinnamon rolls, a warm blanket for your soul. The cinnamon unfurls its woody, aromatic magic, reminiscent of festive holidays and cherished family gatherings, mixing merrily with a touch of sugary sweetness. In short, it's like capturing the essence of a cozy, laughter-filled kitchen on a chilly fall evening, and bottling it up for you to enjoy whenever you need an extra dose of comfort.

Why You’ll Love This Cinnamon Coffee Syrup Recipe

My homemade cinnamon sugar syrup is a doorway to a world of warmth, sweetness, and aromatic bliss. Here's why you'll find yourself reaching for this delicious recipe time and again:

• Simplicity at Its Best: With just a few basic ingredients and a few minutes of your time, you'll have a batch of homemade cinnamon syrup ready to add delicious spicy flavor to all your favorite drinks and dishes for weeks to come.
• Cost-Effective Luxury: Want to live like a princess on a pauper's budget? I feel you! Making your own cinnamon syrup at home is not only more affordable than buying pre-made syrups, so you can have flavored coffee and drink it, too.
• Versatility in a Bottle: This cinnamon coffee syrup isn't just for coffee. Use it to moisten your layer cakes, flavor your whipped cream or frosting, add a hint of warmth to your breakfast favorites, or an unusual twist to your cocktail hour. The possibilities are as vast as the night sky!

Ingredients Needed

As promised, this cinnamon simple syrup recipe is legitimately simple. Here’s everything you need:

• Granulated Sugar & Water - These two ingredients form the simple syrup base as the sugar dissolves, which can then be infused with dozens of different flavors. Make sure to start with filtered water for the best taste. If you’re vegan, opt for organic sugar instead of regular sugar.
• Cinnamon Sticks - Using whole spices helps to infuse the syrup with tons of real, honest-to-goodness cinnamon flavor. If possible, try to get your hands on real Ceylon or “true” cinnamon for the best flavor, as opposed to the more common cassia sticks. 
• Cinnamon Extract - Adding just a tiny splash of this potent flavor booster bumps up the cinnamon-y spiciness in a big way. Don’t fret; it’s made from real cinnamon.

Substitutions

When you make your own coffee syrup infusions at home, you have full control over what goes into them. 

• Granulated Sugar - For more of a cinnamon dolce vibe, feel free to swap in caramelly brown sugar for a dolce coffee syrup. Either light or dark will work great. You’re also welcome to use the measure-for-measure sugar substitute of your choice.
• Water - When it comes down to it, you can make simple syrup with any potable liquid you’d like. For example, you could make an apple cinnamon syrup by using apple juice (like in this apple brown sugar syrup recipe), or a cranberry cinnamon syrup by using cranberry juice. Just note that whatever liquid you end up using will bring its own flavor and nutritional profile to the mix.
• Cinnamon Sticks - In a pinch, you can use about 2 teaspoons of ground cinnamon, though your syrup won’t be clear if you do. Alternatively, try using a cinnamon-spiced herbal tea bag instead. For a thicker final product, you can also try cinnamon chips!
• Cinnamon Extract - If you have it on hand, food-grade cinnamon or cassia essential oil can also be used. Just note that these oils are much more potent, so start with just 1-2 drops and adjust the flavor as needed.

How To Make Cinnamon Syrup

If you’ve ever been curious about how to make cinnamon simple syrup, you’re in for a treat. This recipe is as easy as it gets! Here’s how it’s done:

Step 1: Simmer. Add the sugar, water, and cinnamon sticks to a small saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Simmer for 5 minutes.Step 2: Add Extract & Cool. Remove from heat and stir in the cinnamon extract. Allow the mixture to sit for 15 minutes, then strain out the cinnamon sticks and transfer the cinnamon syrup into a syrup bottle. Refrigerate for up to 14 days.

Optional Variations & Dietary Adjustments

Part of the fun of crafting coffee copycat drinks is you can experiment to your heart’s content! Here are just a few possible ways to make this cinnamon syrup for coffee a little more personal:

• Vanilla Cinnamon Syrup - Combine my vanilla simple syrup recipe with cinnamon sticks and cinnamon extract for a fun twist.
• Cinnamon Maple Syrup - Want to double down on fall flavors? Add ½ teaspoon of maple extract to your batch. For even more maple-y goodness, you can use maple sugar instead of white sugar. 
• Cinnamon Caramel Syrup - Caramelize the syrup lightly, as we do for my regular caramel syrup, to add an extra layer of intoxicating complexity. Don’t forget to add a pinch of salt for the flavors to really come alive! 

Serving Suggestions

• Cinnamon Caramel Cream Cold Brew - Recreate the Starbucks favorite without ever leaving your house. 😉

• Deluxe Drinks: The most obvious and delightful use! A splash of this syrup in your morning coffee or tea can transform your routine beverage into a warm, sweet treat. It pairs exceptionally well with lattes, cappuccinos, and chai lattes. It's also lovely in hot chocolate or apple cider!
• Breakfast Bliss: Drizzle this syrup over pancakes, waffles, or French toast for a cinnamon-infused start to your day. It can also be stirred into oatmeal or yogurt, blended into breakfast smoothies, or drizzled over fruit.
• Baking Bonanza: Incorporate the syrup into your baking for a subtle, spicy-sweet flavor. I love using it for moistening layer cakes, sweetening whipped cream, or adding cinnamon-y warmth to bread pudding. 
• Spice Up Cocktail Hour: Use this cinnamon-flavored syrup in place of regular simple syrup for a unique twist. It’s particularly welcome in whiskey or spiced rum-based drinks, like Old Fashioneds or Bahama Mamas.
• Fruity Flair: Use the syrup to poach apples or pears, or drizzle it in with sautéed bananas for a fun twist on bananas foster.
• Savory Combinations: If you're feeling adventurous, try using this syrup in savory settings. The cinnamon-sugar combo adds warmth and aids in caramelization for oven-roasted dishes like carrots, sweet potatoes, or pork chops.

Recipe Success Tips

Here are some tried-and-true tips that will help you master this syrup recipe:

• Quality Ingredients Matter: Use fresh, high-quality cinnamon sticks for the best flavor. Why? The longer the cinnamon (or any spice, for that matter) sits on your shelf, the more flavor dissipates.
• Consistent Heat is Key: When simmering your syrup, maintain a consistent, low heat. This prevents the sugar from burning and ensures that the flavors infuse beautifully without becoming too intense or bitter.
• Mind the Simmering Time: Don’t rush the simmering process. Allowing the syrup to simmer for the recommended time helps to fully extract the cinnamon flavor. That said, make sure to not to overdo it as this could lead to a too-thick syrup (from over-evaporation) or a burnt taste (from heating over high heat).
• Strain Thoroughly: Once your syrup is fully infused with cinnamon goodness, strain it well to remove all the cinnamon pieces and any large spice particles for a smooth, clear syrup. 
• Store Properly: Keep your cinnamon syrup in a clean, airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks, or in the freezer for up to 6 months. If you plan to use the syrup regularly for drinks, consider storing it in a squeeze bottle or a glass bottle with a pour spout so you can easily dispense it without creating a sticky mess!

FAQs

Homemade Cinnamon Syrup Nutrition

Each serving of this sweet and spicy syrup contains 97 calories, which is great news for those keeping an eye on their caloric intake. It's also wonderfully free from fats and proteins, ensuring sweetness without any added heaviness. 

With 25 grams of carbohydrates (all from sugar) per serving, it provides a quick energy boost, perfect for perking up your morning coffee or adding a sweet touch to your favorite desserts. The sodium content is inconsequential, at just 1.5 milligrams per serving, making it a heart-friendly choice for those watching their salt intake.

Total nutritional content per serving is:

• Calories: 97 calories
• Total Fat: 0 grams
• Protein: 0 grams
• Sodium: 1.5 mg
• Carbohydrates: 25 grams
• Sugar: 25 grams

*This nutritional information is an estimate and calculated based on the ingredients used to create the recipe. The nutritional value of your ingredients may differ slightly. Furthermore, this food is not intended to prevent, diagnose, cure, or treat any disease.

Other Infused Simple Syrup Recipes

You must use the category name, not a URL, in the category field.

xoxo Megan