Toasted Cinnamon Syrup (Starbucks Copycat)

This simple 4-ingredient Starbucks copycat Toasted Cinnamon Syrup is my newest love. If snickerdoodles could be distilled into a deliciously pourable liquid, this would be it! My 5-minute recipe is a snap to make, and is perfect for sweetening coffee, frappuccinos, and more. 

It might still be summer, but that’s not stopping me from dreaming of fall. Autumn brings cooler temps, a technicolor dreamscape of yellows, oranges, and reds, the excitement of going back to school, and of course, all the cozy, warmly spiced treats and coffee drinks you could want. I can’t wait!

In the meantime, I’m satisfying myself with making fall-adjacent treats that are welcome all year round. Honestly, who doesn’t love a sprinkle of cinnamon sugar on their oat milk latte, sweet cream cold brew, or even their French toast? It’s a universally beloved combo.

With that in mind and fall baking on the brain, I couldn’t help but think of the cinnamon-coated sugar cookies known as snickerdoodles. Which then got me thinking about the cinnamon crumble oatmilk frappuccino—because that’s basically a snickerdoodle coffee milkshake. MAGIC!

So, to set myself up for DIY frappuccino success, I started fiddling around with a recipe for a caramelly sugar cookie-like cinnamon syrup. This 4 ingredient liquid gold is the result, and I have a feeling you’re gonna love it.

Jump to:

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

What is Toasted Cinnamon Syrup?

This yummy homemade coffee syrup is very similar to my cinnamon dolce syrup recipe. It’s basically like my cinnamon simple syrup and brown sugar syrup had a lovechild! This cinnamon-infused syrup tastiness is made with both brown and white sugar for a caramelly, fresh from the oven cookie flavor. Unlike the dolce syrup, however, it eschews the added cinnamon extract for a milder flavor.

What does it taste like?

I can’t think of a better way to describe it than as a liquid version of a snickerdoodle! It’s sweet with a warm cinnamon undertone and a light caramelized sugar flavor from the molasses-y brown sugar. YUM!

Why You’ll Love This Toasted Cinnamon Simple Syrup Recipe

• Simple & Speedy - All you need are 4 basic ingredients (one of which is water) and about 10 minutes of active time to make a batch. The hardest part is having enough patience for the cinnamon sticks to infuse!
• Versatile - While I love it as part of my barista station, this cinnamon cookie syrup can do more than just sweeten your coffee. Use it in your morning oats, drizzle it on pancakes or waffles, flavor your whipped cream, moisten layer cakes, and so much more!
• Budget-Savvy - When I recently saw a bottle of Torani coffee syrup on SALE for $8+, my jaw dropped. EIGHT DOLLARS?!? ON SALE?!?! Ludicrous! This homemade version will only set you back about $1 and keep you in spicy sweet wonderland all week long. 

Ingredients Needed

As promised, you only need a few ingredients to make this yummy cinnamon coffee syrup:

• Cinnamon Sticks - For infusing the syrup with warm, spicy goodness. Feel free to use either cassia (which is most typically found in spice jars in grocery stores) or canela (also known as Mexican cinnamon). 
• Water - Start with filtered water for the best taste. 
• Brown Sugar - For a caramelly, molasses-y undertone. Feel free to use either light or dark brown sugar depending on how pronounced you want the caramel flavor to be.
• Granulated Sugar - For neutral sweetness, to balance out the toasty undertones of brown sugar. 

Substitutions

Out of one of the ingredients, or need to make some tweaks? Not to worry. Here are some easy swaps to try:

• Cinnamon Sticks - If you only have ground cinnamon on hand, use ½-1 teaspoon per each cinnamon stick; note that your syrup will not be clear if you go this route and the cinnamon will toast much more quickly. You can also use an herbal cinnamon tea bag or two, but you’ll want to skip the toasting step. 
• Brown Sugar - Feel free to use another variety of brown sugar (e.g. muscovado, demerara, turbinado, piloncillo, or jaggery). You can also use a cup-for-cup sugar-free brown sugar alternative. Or, if you’re out of brown sugar, you can add 1-2 tablespoons of molasses to a cup of white sugar to make your own. (1 tablespoon will make it light, 2 will make it dark.)
• Granulated Sugar - You’re welcome to use cane sugar instead, or swap in a cup-for-cup sugar-free alternative (e.g. stevia or monkfruit).

How To Make Toasted Caramel Syrup

This easy recipe for Starbucks-style toasted cinnamon simple syrup comes together in a flash. Here’s how: 

Step 1: Toast Cinnamon. Heat the cinnamon sticks over medium heat in a small saucepan, turning every minute or so until toasted on all sides (about 5 minutes).

Step 2: Simmer. Carefully add the water and sugars—the saucepan will be hot, so it may sputter. Stir until the sugars are dissolved. Bring the mixture to a simmer, then simmer for 5 minutes. 

Step 3: Steep. After simmering for 5 minutes, remove from heat and allow the cinnamon sticks to steep in the syrup for another 10 minutes at room temperature.

Step 4: Strain & Store. After the 10 minutes are over, strain out the cinnamon sticks and discard, reserving the syrup in a syrup bottle, airtight container, or mason jar. Store in the fridge for up to 2 weeks!

Optional Variations & Dietary Adjustments

• Sugar-Free - To make a diabetic-friendly version of this infused simple syrup, use your favorite cup-for-cup sugar-free white and brown sugar alternatives.
• Other Spices - You’re welcome to swap in another warming spice for the cinnamon (e.g. whole allspice berries or cardamom pods), though the flavor will be a bit different if you do.
• Rich Ratio - Regular simple syrup is made using a 1:1 sugar-to-water ratio. For a sweeter, more viscous syrup that will last for up to 6 months in the fridge, use a 2:1 ratio. You can either double the sugars or halve the water. 

Serving Suggestions

While I originally crafted this toasted cinnamon syrup recipe to blitz into a cinnamon crumble oat milk frappuccino, there are tons of other ways to put it to use. Here are just a few ideas to get you started:

• Use it to sweeten your cold brew or regular coffee. 
• Make cinnamon-flavored cold foam or cinnamon cookie-flavored coffee creamer. 
• Soak your layer cakes before icing them to keep them super moist. 
• Sweeten whipped cream for your morning coffee or on top of vanilla ice cream.
• Drizzle over your morning porridge, or use it as a spicy substitute for maple syrup on your pancakes or waffles.
• Use it in place of regular simple syrup in cocktails. It’s particularly tasty with whiskey drinks like Old Fashioneds.
• Make a cinnamon latte!

Recipe Success Tips

• Choose your cinnamon wisely. Cassia cinnamon is more commonly available in American grocery stores, is harder in consistency, and boasts a bolder, spicier cinnamon flavor. Canela or Ceylon cinnamon is more typical in Latin American cooking, is thinner and more brittle, and has a softer, more nuanced cinnamon flavor with citrusy undertones.
• Don’t skip the toasting step. Dry toasting the cinnamon sticks in the pan before adding the simple syrup is a process known as “blooming” in Indian cooking. The idea is to help release the essential oils in the spices before steeping. 
• Don’t oversteep. It might look pretty to toss your cinnamon sticks in the syrup bottle for storage, but leaving them in too long can cause your syrup to taste bitter. 
• Invest in smart storage. I recommend getting a squeeze bottle or syrup bottle with a pour spout to make it easier to use without making a mess.

FAQs

DIY Starbucks Toasted Cinnamon Syrup Nutrition

Per serving, this homemade cinnamon cookie syrup has 68 calories, mainly from the 18 grams of carbohydrates—all of which are sugars. It’s a fat-free option with zero grams of protein and minimal sodium, just about 5 mg. 

Overall, it’s a nice choice for adding a sweet touch to your beverages or desserts without significantly upping the fat content. Just keep in mind that since all the carbs are from sugar, it's best to enjoy it in moderation. You can also follow the sugar-free instructions under “optional variations” if you’re concerned.

Total nutritional content per serving is:

• Calories: 68 calories
• Total Fat: 0 grams
• Protein: 0 grams
• Sodium: 5 mg
• Carbohydrates: 18 grams
• Sugar: 18 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 Coffee Syrup Recipes

xoxo Megan