With just three ingredients, you can make a rich brown sugar cinnamon syrup that adds warm, spiced sweetness to coffee, tea, hot chocolate, and cocktails. This homemade syrup dissolves easily in iced drinks, making it ideal for cold beverages, and it’s far more economical than store-bought varieties.
Brown Sugar Cinnamon Syrup
This brown sugar cinnamon syrup brings comforting cinnamon notes and caramel-like sweetness from brown sugar to your favorite drinks. It pairs beautifully with iced shaken espresso, lattes, iced black tea, hot chocolate, or milk for a kid-friendly treat.
Note from Jee
For a simple kid-friendly drink, stir 1–2 tablespoons of this syrup into a cup of hot or iced milk. A splash also deepens the flavor of hot chocolate or chocolate milk.
Recipe Summary
- Brown sugar cinnamon syrup is a flavored simple syrup made from three ingredients: brown sugar, water, and cinnamon sticks.
- This recipe yields about 1 cup of syrup, enough for multiple drinks and good refrigerated storage.
- Preparation is quick and straightforward: heat the ingredients briefly, then steep to infuse flavor.
Ingredient Notes
- Cinnamon sticks: Use whole cinnamon sticks rather than ground cinnamon; they infuse cleanly and are easy to remove.
- Brown sugar: Light or dark brown sugar both work—dark will yield a deeper molasses note.
- Water: Filtered water is recommended for the cleanest flavor.
See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts and full instructions.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Combine all ingredients in a small saucepan and simmer gently. Stir until the sugar dissolves completely.
Step 2: Remove the pan from heat and let the mixture steep for about 20 minutes so the cinnamon flavor deepens.
Step 3: Remove the cinnamon sticks and strain if desired. Transfer the syrup to an airtight container and refrigerate.
Stored in the refrigerator, the syrup will keep for up to two weeks.
Cinnamon Note
Two common types of cinnamon are used in cooking: Ceylon and cassia. Ceylon is often called “true cinnamon” and has a milder, more delicate flavor, while cassia (the common supermarket variety) is bolder and more affordable. Either works in this syrup—choose based on your taste and availability.
Expert Tips
- Keep the heat low—there’s no need to boil. A gentle simmer to dissolve the sugar followed by steeping extracts the best flavor.
- This recipe makes about 1 cup (16 tablespoons) of syrup. Start with 1 tablespoon per cup of beverage and increase to 1–2 tablespoons to taste.
- The longer you steep the cinnamon sticks, the stronger the cinnamon flavor will be—adjust steeping time to suit your preference.
Related
- Gingerbread Syrup
- Hibiscus Syrup
- Lavender Syrup
- Strawberry Syrup
- 17 Simple Syrup Recipes
If you try this Brown Sugar Cinnamon Syrup, please leave a star rating and share your feedback in the comments below.
Brown Sugar Cinnamon Syrup
Ingredients
- ¾ cup water
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- 3 cinnamon sticks
Instructions
-
Put all ingredients in a saucepan and simmer.
Stir to make sure sugar dissolves completely.
-
Take off heat and steep for 20 minutes.
-
Remove cinnamon sticks and pour syrup into an airtight container.
The syrup will keep for 2 weeks in the refrigerator.
Notes
- Recipe makes 1 cup (16 tablespoons) of syrup. Use 1–2 tablespoons per cup of beverage to sweeten and flavor.
- There’s no need to bring the mixture to a boil. A low simmer to dissolve the sugar, then steeping, extracts the flavor without concentrating the syrup excessively.
- Longer steeping yields a stronger cinnamon flavor—taste as it cools and adjust steeping time to your preference.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should be used as an approximation.