Cinnamon Simple Syrup Recipe

By
Colleen Graham
Photo of Colleen Graham
Colleen Graham
Freelance writer and cocktail book author Colleen Graham is a seasoned mixologist who loves sharing her knowledge of spirits and passion for preparing drinks.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 02/22/24
Tested by
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Tested by Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Cinnamon simple syrup in an decorative glass bottle with stopper
The Spruce Eats / S&C Design Studios
Prep: 5 mins
Cook: 8 mins
Steep Time: 60 mins
Total: 73 mins
Servings: 24 servings
Yield: 1 1/2 cups

Whether it's for your morning coffee, afternoon tea, or a new cocktail recipe, cinnamon syrup is an excellent drink sweetener. It adds a subtle, warming spice to a variety of beverages and it's very easy to make at home. When you discover the joy of cinnamon syrup, it will become a regular in your kitchen or bar.

Homemade simple syrup is inexpensive and uncomplicated, requiring water, sugar, and a little time on the stove. Adding the cinnamon flavor is as simple as dropping a few cinnamon sticks into the syrup and letting it steep under the heat. Once cool, you can add a bit of vanilla extract for extra depth if you like. It takes just a splash to sweeten beverages and the syrup keeps well for a couple of weeks. With this recipe, you'll have plenty of syrup around to explore its full potential.

What You'll Need to Make This Simple Syrup Recipe
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A Nice Small Saucepan
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A Good Set of Measuring Cups
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An Airtight Container

"I used cinnamon sticks from India to make the simple syrup, so they were probably Ceylon cinnamon. The syrup would be excellent with either kind—cassia or Ceylon. The vanilla balanced the flavor nicely, and you'll love the wonderful aroma, too!" —Diana Rattray

Cinnamon Simple Syrup Recipe Test
A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

  • 1 cup water

  • 1 cup white or raw granulated sugar

  • 4 cinnamon sticks

  • 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract, optional

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for cinnamon simple syrup recipe gathered
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  2. In a small saucepan, bring the water to a boil and stir in the sugar until completely dissolved.

    Water and sugar being stirred with a wooden spoon in a saucepan on a burner
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  3. Reduce the heat, add the cinnamon sticks. Cover and simmer for about 5 minutes.

    Cinnamon sticks floating in syrup in saucepan
    The Spruce Eats / S&C Design Studios

  4. Remove the pan from the heat. Keep covered, and allow the syrup to cool and steep for at least 1 hour; for more flavor, let it stand for up to 6 hours.

    Cinnamon sticks in syrup in the saucepan off the heat
    The Spruce Eats / S&C Design Studios

  5. Remove the cinnamon sticks and stir in the vanilla extract, if using.

    Cinnamon syrup with cinnamon sticks removed being stirred with a wooden spoon
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  6. Transfer the syrup to a bottle with a tight seal. 

    Cinnamon syrup being funneled into a glass bottle
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  7. Refrigerate and use to sweeten your favorite drinks. Enjoy.

    Cinnamon simple syrup in a decorative glass bottle with stopper
    The Spruce Eats / S&C Design Studios

Tips

  • Store the syrup in the refrigerator; it will keep well for up to 2 weeks.
  • One or two cinnamon sticks will work and give the syrup a nice flavor. Consider breaking them up into large pieces to increase contact with the syrup and let the syrup steep longer for maximum flavor.

What Kind of Cinnamon Is Best for Simple Syrup?

The kind of cinnamon sticks you use depends on the flavor you prefer. There are two types of cinnamon: Ceylon cinnamon (also known as Mexican cinnamon or true cinnamon) and cassia, which may be labeled Indonesian Korentje or Vietnamese Saigon. Both types of cinnamon come from the the bark of trees. Ceylon cinnamon is often referred to as "real," or "true" cinnamon, but both kinds are real cinnamon.

 

As for flavor, Ceylon cinnamon is mild, slightly floral, and citrusy, and it's often paired with fruit, such as poached pears and apples. Cassia cinnamon is the most commonly found cinnamon in the U.S. and is an excellent choice for baking.

What Type of Sugar Works Best for Cinnamon Syrup?

  • Regular white granulated sugar makes a great cinnamon syrup. It's the cheapest option if you use a lot of cinnamon syrup.
  • Demerara (or raw) sugar is another excellent choice that gives the syrup a richer flavor to back up the cinnamon.
  • Brown sugar is an option, though it's best to split it with white sugar. The cinnamon can get lost behind the darker sugar, so begin with 1 part of each sugar and see how you like it. Yet, if you were to add even more spices, something like this brown sugar spiced simple syrup can be very useful.
  • You can also use sugar substitutes. Each will be a little different so taste it regularly to see how the flavor develops.

How to Use Cinnamon Syrup

Cinnamon is one of the most versatile flavored syrups you can make. Add a splash to a cup of coffee, spiced tea, or warm milk. It's also the key ingredient to making a cinnamon latte. Its usefulness in cocktails is nearly endless. Some of the more obvious are fall and winter recipes such as a fall sangria and poinsettia punch. Use it as an alternative to ground cinnamon in apple martinis or pumpkin cocktails. Other recipes that call for this syrup are not seasonal. The classic zombie punch, for instance, mixes it into a rum-filled tropical cocktail with tons of flavor, and it's lovely with fruits in recipes like the raspberry peach cobbler.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
33 Calories
0g Fat
9g Carbs
0g Protein
×
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 24
Amount per serving
Calories 33
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 0mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 9g 3%
Dietary Fiber 0g 0%
Total Sugars 8g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 0mg 0%
Calcium 3mg 0%
Iron 0mg 0%
Potassium 1mg 0%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)