Spiced syrup · In season for Fall
Cinnamon Syrup
Whole sticks, a gentle simmer, a long steep. Crystal clear, never gritty.
- 1 hr 2 min total
- 1½ cups360 ml
- Keeps 3 weeks
Quick answer
Cinnamon syrup is simple syrup infused with whole cinnamon sticks. Toast 5 sticks, simmer them in 1¼ cups water for 10 minutes, dissolve 1 cup sugar, then steep off the heat for 30–60 minutes and strain. Use 1–2 tablespoons per latte.
Skip the ground cinnamon. It doesn't dissolve, clouds the syrup and leaves gritty sludge at the bottom of every glass. Whole sticks give a clear syrup with deeper flavor. They just need a little time.
A short dry toast wakes up the oils, a gentle simmer opens up the bark, and a long steep does the rest. Keep the heat low, because a hard boil can make cinnamon syrup cloudy and oddly slick.
Tasteswarmsweet spicewoody
The recipe
Cinnamon Syrup
Ingredients for 1½ cups360 ml
You’ll need: small saucepan, cinnamon sticks, fine-mesh strainer, cheesecloth, pump bottlesmall saucepan, cinnamon sticks, fine-mesh strainer, cheesecloth, pump bottle
Method
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Toast
Toast the broken cinnamon sticks in a dry small saucepan over medium heat, shaking the pan, until fragrant, 1–2 minutes.
5 cinnamon sticks
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Simmer
Add the water carefully, since it will sputter. Bring it to a gentle simmer and cook with the lid ajar for 10 minutes. Small bubbles only, no rolling boil.
1¼ cups300 ml water
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Sweeten
Stir in the sugar until it dissolves completely, about 1 minute, then take the pan off the heat.
1 cup200 g granulated sugar
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Steep
Cover and steep for 30–60 minutes. For maximum flavor, cool it and leave the sticks in overnight in the fridge.
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Strain and bottle
Strain through a fine-mesh strainer lined with cheesecloth to catch bark particles, then bottle and refrigerate.
Storage. Keep it sealed in the fridge for up to 3 weeks. A pump bottle makes coffee dosing easy. Cloudiness that appears later, a sour smell or mold means it's time for a new batch.
Per 1 tbsp (15 ml): about 32 kcal, 8.3 g sugar (estimate).
How to use it
Cinnamon latte
1–2 tbsp (15–30 ml) per 12 oz latte. Dust the foam with cinnamon.
Old Fashioned
¼ oz (7 ml) cinnamon syrup with 2 oz (60 ml) bourbon or rye and 2 dashes Angostura, stirred over a big cube.
Tiki drinks
Mix 2 parts fresh grapefruit juice with 1 part cinnamon syrup for the classic tiki 'Don's Mix', or add ½ oz (15 ml) to rum punches.
Hot apple cider
1 tbsp (15 ml) per mug of hot cider. Add 1½ oz (45 ml) bourbon or rum if you like.
Breakfast
Drizzle it over oatmeal, French toast or pancakes, or whip it into cream.
Classic drinks with Cinnamon syrup
Gear for this recipe
Glass Coffee Syrup Dispensers with Pumps (16.9 oz, set of 2)
A pump gives the same dose every press, so every latte tastes the same. Glass washes clean between flavors.
Best for Home coffee bars
ChefSofi Granite Mortar and Pestle (2 cup)
Best for Chai and spice syrups
Wintersmiths Phantom Clear Ice Maker
Best for Showpiece cocktails
Tovolo King Cube Silicone Ice Molds (2-pack)
Best for Stirred drinks and iced coffee
More gear for this recipe (4)
Cuisinart Fine Mesh Stainless Strainers (set of 3)
Best for Every infused or fruit syrup
Regency Wraps Ultra Fine Cheesecloth (9 sq ft)
Best for Crystal-clear syrups
Organic Ceylon Cinnamon Sticks
Best for Cinnamon and spice syrups
Cuisinart Chef's Classic 1.5 qt Stainless Saucepan with Lid
Best for Every stovetop syrup
Tips for the best batch
- Cassia (most supermarket cinnamon) is spicy and bold, the classic choice for tiki drinks and coffee. Ceylon is softer and more floral, so use about 50% more.
- Keep it at a gentle simmer. Hard boiling makes the syrup cloudy and slightly slick.
- Double-strain through cheesecloth or a coffee filter to catch fine bark particles.
- Reuse the sticks once for a second, lighter batch, or drop them into a pot of hot cider.
Variations
Demerara cinnamon
Swap the white sugar for demerara for a toffee-ish syrup that's the classic choice in tiki rum drinks.
Vanilla cinnamon
Add half a split vanilla bean to the steep for a creamy, coffee-shop style latte syrup.
Spiced
Add 3 cloves, 1 star anise and a strip of orange peel with the cinnamon for a mulled, holiday-ready syrup.
In a pinch (ground)
No sticks? Simmer 1 tsp ground cinnamon in the syrup for 5 minutes and strain twice through a coffee filter. It comes out cloudier and less clean, but it works.
Questions people ask
Can I use ground cinnamon instead of cinnamon sticks?
You can, but sticks are better. Ground cinnamon doesn't dissolve, so the syrup turns cloudy and gritty unless you strain it twice through a coffee filter.
How long does cinnamon syrup last?
About 3 weeks in a sealed bottle in the fridge, or 3 months frozen.
Should I use cassia or Ceylon cinnamon?
Cassia, the common supermarket kind, gives a bold, spicy syrup. Ceylon is milder and more floral, so use about 50% more sticks for the same strength.
How much cinnamon syrup do I put in coffee?
Start with 1 tablespoon (15 ml) in a 12 oz latte or iced coffee and go up to 2 tablespoons for a sweeter drink.
Why is my cinnamon syrup cloudy?
Usually ground cinnamon, fine bark particles or a hard boil. Strain through cheesecloth and keep the simmer gentle. If cloudiness shows up after days in the fridge, it may be spoiling.