Cinnamon Spice Syrup for Coffee: A Cozy Homemade Recipe

A small bottle of cinnamon spice syrup can make ordinary coffee taste like a cozy café drink. This easy homemade recipe combines cinnamon with a few baking spices, so you can sweeten hot coffee, iced coffee, cold brew, or a latte with a balanced warm flavor.

Why make cinnamon syrup at home?

Ground cinnamon does not always dissolve smoothly in a cold drink. Simmering the spices in a simple syrup extracts their flavor and gives you a pourable sweetener that mixes evenly. Homemade syrup also lets you control the sweetness and keep the spice level gentle.

Easy cinnamon spice syrup

Ingredients

• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup water
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract, optional

How to make it

1. Add the sugar, water, cinnamon sticks, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves to a small saucepan.
2. Warm over medium heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves.
3. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer for 5 minutes, then remove it from the heat.
4. Cover and steep for 20 minutes so the cinnamon and spices can deepen.
5. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve, stir in the vanilla if using, and cool completely.
6. Pour into a clean, covered jar, label the date, and refrigerate.

How to use it in coffee

Start with 1 to 2 teaspoons in an 8-ounce cup of coffee. For a latte, stir the syrup into the espresso before adding steamed milk. In iced coffee or cold brew, mix it with a small splash of coffee first, then add ice and milk. Taste before adding more because the spices become more noticeable as the drink warms.

Flavor variations and tips

• More cinnamon: Add another cinnamon stick while the syrup steeps rather than adding a lot of extra ground spice.
• Orange spice: Steep a strip of orange peel with the cinnamon, then remove it before bottling.
• Maple cinnamon: Replace a tablespoon of sugar with maple syrup after the mixture cools.
• Less sweet: Use 3/4 cup sugar with 1 cup water for a lighter syrup.
• Storage: Keep the sealed syrup refrigerated and use a clean spoon or pour spout each time. Discard it if its smell, appearance, or texture changes.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use only ground cinnamon?

Yes, but ground cinnamon can settle and make the syrup cloudy. A cinnamon stick gives cleaner flavor, while a small amount of ground cinnamon adds extra intensity.

Will it work in cold brew?

Absolutely. Homemade cinnamon syrup is especially useful in cold drinks because it blends more readily than dry spices. Add it before the cold brew and stir well.

For another homemade flavor, try our easy coffee syrup recipes and pair it with a café latte at home.