This cinnamon simple syrup is warm, spiced, and so easy to make. It brings a beautiful cinnamon flavor to cocktails, coffee, and all sorts of fall and winter drinks.

About this recipe

Cinnamon simple syrup is a sweetener infused with cinnamon, made with just sugar, water, and cinnamon sticks (or ground cinnamon). It’s one of the easiest homemade syrups to put together, and it adds a lovely, warm, spiced flavor to anything you add it to.
A basic simple syrup is just equal parts sugar and water, heated until the sugar dissolves. For this version, you add cinnamon and let it steep while the syrup cools. The longer you steep it, the stronger the cinnamon flavor. The result is a concentrated syrup, so you don’t need much to get real cinnamon flavor into your drink.

I love using this in fall cocktails like an apple cider bourbon smash, but it’s also great in coffee or chai lattes. Once you start making flavored simple syrups, you’ll find uses for them everywhere. If you enjoy this one, also try my gingerbread syrup for something with even more warm spice, or rosemary simple syrup for an herby alternative.

Just a few ingredients

Granulated sugar: White sugar gives you a clean, neutral sweetness that lets the cinnamon shine. You can use brown sugar or raw sugar for a deeper, more molasses-like flavor, but it will darken the syrup.
Cinnamon sticks: These give you the cleanest, truest cinnamon flavor and a clear syrup. I recommend 2 sticks per cup of syrup. You can add more for a stronger flavor.
Water: Combined with sugar in equal parts (1:1 ratio) to create the syrup base.
Ground cinnamon (alternative): Works if you don’t have sticks, but the syrup will be a bit cloudy and needs straining through a coffee filter or cheesecloth to remove the particles.

Method

In a small saucepan combine sugar, water and cinnamon sticks or ground cinnamon.

Let it come to a simmer, stirring until the sugar dissolves.

Once the sugar has dissolved, turn off the heat and let the cinnamon steep for at least an hour before straining.

Tips

Steep longer for stronger flavor. An hour is the minimum, but you can leave the cinnamon sticks in for several hours or even overnight for a more intense cinnamon taste.
Cinnamon sticks give the best results. They produce a cleaner, clearer syrup with a purer cinnamon flavor. Ground cinnamon works but needs extra straining and can taste a bit more raw. The only time I prefer ground spice is in my gingerbread syrup.
Strain well if using ground cinnamon. A coffee filter works best for removing all the fine particles. A regular strainer won’t catch everything.
Add other warm spices. Cinnamon pairs beautifully with cardamom pods, whole cloves, star anise, or a bit of vanilla extract. Add them to the saucepan with the cinnamon for a more complex spiced syrup.
Try orange peel. A strip of fresh orange peel added during steeping gives the syrup a lovely citrusy warmth that works beautifully in cocktails.
Storage. Keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 weeks.

Ways to use cinnamon simple syrup

Baking: Brush on cake layers to keep them moist and add flavor.
Cocktails: Use it in an apple cider bourbon smash, a whiskey sour, or an old fashioned for a warm, spiced twist.
Coffee and lattes: Add a splash to your morning coffee, chai latte, or hot chocolate.
Mocktails: Stir into sparkling water with a squeeze of lemon for a simple cinnamon soda.

More simple syrup recipes

If you love making flavored syrups, check out more of my simple syrup recipes. Here are a few favorites: