Cinnamon Maple Syrup
Sugar, spice and everything nice, that’s what this Cinnamon Syrup is made of. Drizzle it on breakfast faves like pancakes, waffles and french toast for cozy vibes. Or mix it into drinks and pour it over ice cream for a delicious and delightful treat.
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Cinnamon Syrup Recipe
When I was a kid, we made waffles just about every Sunday morning, and my dad would always warm our syrup on the stovetop.
There was something so wonderfully comforting about the act, and warmed maple syrup over waffles is just the best.
I’ve taken my dad’s idea and spiced it up a notch in recent years, adding a cinnamon stick to infuse additional flavor into the syrup. It’s perfect for the holidays and in the wintertime, when we crave some cozy spice.
These days, I’m carrying on the tradition with my kids. We’re still making pancakes — and sometimes waffles — any given weekend.
And sometimes, I’ll whip up a batch of this cinnamon syrup. I love how nostalgic this cinnamon maple syrup feels and how it brings some extra flavor to whatever recipe we’re making. I just know you will love it too!
Why I love this recipe:
This delicious cinnamon syrup recipe is so full of flavor. You’re going to love it!
Here are some reasons I adore it…
- This is a simple recipe that calls for just a handful of ingredients.
- It has a lovely layer of cinnamon spice, without being overwhelming.
- You can control how much cinnamon flavor there is, so if you like more, just infuse it for longer.
- It’s a great way to level up breakfast any day of the week — you can keep it in the fridge til you’ve used it all up!
More breakfast recipes to try: Sweet Breakfast Crêpes | Blueberry Sausage Pancakes | Nutella Pancakes | Cinnamon Roll Pancakes | Blueberry Waffles
What you need to make this recipe:
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- Small saucepan
- Mason jar or another airtight container for storage
Let’s talk ingredients!
In addition to the tools above, you’re going to need some ingredients to make this recipe, too! Chances are, you might already have some of them in your fridge or pantry. Scroll down to the recipe card for the full measurements and instructions.
Here’s the simple ingredients you need to take your breakfast to the next level:
- Maple syrup — I’m talking 100% PURE maple syrup. The stuff tapped from the maple trees. NOT the stuff with corn syrup and artificial flavoring. You need the real deal. Grade A, which has an amber color and rich flavor, is ideal for pancakes but you can use any grade that you like.
- Cinnamon stick — you need one stick for every cup of syrup you make. Did you know there are different kinds of cinnamon? Most store-bought cinnamon sticks are Saigon cinnamon sticks, also called cassia cinnamon sticks. There are three other types — Ceylon cinnamon, Korintje cinnamon and Royal cinnamon — which have unique flavor profiles. If you want to try them out in this syrup, you can usually find these others at specialty spice purveyors.
Customizations and substitutions
Don’t have maple syrup? You can use honey or agave nectar instead. It won’t have that maple flavor, but it’s still sweet and tasty.
Don’t have cinnamon sticks? I know you’re tempted to use ground cinnamon instead. And it would work to flavor your syrup, but it can also give it a grainy texture (yes, even if you strain it out), so I don’t recommend it. Instead, make cinnamon roll pancakes or Cinnamon Roll Waffles and add the ground cinnamon to the batter.
Want stronger syrup? You can use two cinnamon sticks. You can also just infuse one cinnamon stick for longer in the syrup.
How to make Cinnamon Syrup
Here’s how to make this easy spiced maple syrup recipe:
- Combine the syrup and cinnamon stick in a small saucepan.
- Heat the syrup over medium-low heat on the stove top until the syrup begins to bubble.
- Infuse for 30-45 minutes, depending on how strong you like cinnamon.
- If you like a lighter flavor, remove the cinnamon stick and keep in the fridge until ready to eat. If you want a stronger cinnamon flavor, you can also leave it in to let the cinnamon flavor infuse for longer.
- Pour on top of freshly made pancakes, waffles and more.
Uses for Cinnamon Syrup
Use this amazing spiced syrup with all your breakfast and brunch favorites!
- Pancakes: At the holidays, I always make this syrup for eggnog pancakes, but it is also be great on regular old-fashioned pancakes. It also adds fun flavor to Blueberry Pancakes. You could also swirl some into pancake batter to make cinnamon pancakes.
- Waffles: In the fall, I serve my pumpkin waffles with this syrup. You can also drizzle regular waffle batter with this syrup.
- French toast: We also love it on this tangy yogurt french toast and this sweet and nutty praline french toast.
- Oatmeal: It’s great in a warm bowl of oatmeal for breakfast. You can also drizzle it on baked oatmeal or mix it into overnight oats.
- Yogurt: Mix it into Greek yogurt in the morning and top it with homemade granola. Or use it to make these apple yogurt parfaits, which are also a great dessert, just sayin’.
- Dessert: You can drizzle this over classic bread pudding or even a scoop of vanilla ice cream. The warm spices pair so nicely with these!
You could also use this to stir into your morning coffee or latte, iced tea and cocktails. It’s a little different than a traditional simple syrup, but the maple is a total delight when paired with a lot of flavors.
Try it in this spiced bourbon apple cider punch, this dreamy holiday milk punch, a glass of cold brew or other coffee drinks.
How to store
Store this syrup in the fridge in an airtight container until ready to use. It will keep for 1 month.
Heat it up in the microwave once made, or you can bring to a simmer on the stovetop to warm it through.
Erin’s Easy Entertaining Tips
- You can double, triple, or even quadruple this for a big crowd or just use the smaller batch for your family.
- Serve it in a gravy boat for easy pouring. But if you make pancakes as often as we do, invest in a maple syrup jar* (affiliate link).
- Make extra and put it into little jars, then send your guests home with a little reminder of your time together.
Frequently Asked Questions
Always use real, 100% maple syrup for pancakes. Grade A maple syrup has a lighter amber color and the signature sweet maple syrup flavor.
Technically yes, but it does depend a bit on the recipe. Whole cinnamon sticks are best for infusions, as they don’t leave behind any texture when removed. Ground spices can leave behind a grainy texture that has to be strained out.
Quick tips and tricks to making the best Cinnamon Syrup
- Use real cinnamon sticks. Don’t settle for ground cinnamon as it affects the texture.
- And also use real maple syrup. Make sure the ingredients label says, “maple syrup,” and nothing else.
- Try different types of cinnamon if you like to experiment with flavor.
More homemade syrup recipes:
- Strawberry Syrup
- Raspberry Preserves Syrup
- Cherry Syrup
- Vanilla Bean Maple Syrup
- Honey Syrup
- Cranberry Syrup
Here’s how you make this one…
Cinnamon Maple Syrup
Ingredients
- 1 cup pure maple syrup
- 5″ stick cinnamon stick , broken in half
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Instructions
- Pour the maple syrup and cinnamon stick into a small saucepan.
- Heat the ingredients over medium heat. Simmer until warmed through.
- Transfer the syrup and cinnamon stick into a mason jar, and let cool or pour over pancakes, waffles, ice cream, etc.
- Store in the refrigerator for two weeks with the cinnamon stick still in the syrup for extra cinnamon flavor.
Nutrition
About the Author:
Erin Parker is a Southern gal living in Texas with her husband and two daughters. She started The Speckled Palate to share what she was cooking as a newlywed… and over the years, it’s evolved to capture her love for hosting. Specifically, the EASIEST, lowest key entertaining because everyone deserves to see their people and connect over good food. Learn more about her…
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