The Best Brown Sugar Cinnamon Syrup for Coffee and Lattes

This homemade brown sugar cinnamon syrup is one of the easiest ways to make your everyday coffee taste like something you picked up from a coffee shop.

It’s sweet and lightly spiced with cinnamon, with a little vanilla to round everything out. Best of all, you only need a handful of pantry staples, and you don’t need cinnamon sticks to make it.

I love having a batch in the refrigerator because it makes it so easy to turn a regular cup of coffee into something a little more special. Add it to hot coffee, iced coffee, cold brew, lattes, or even a homemade shaken espresso.

And because this recipe uses ground cinnamon, it’s especially convenient when you want to make a coffee syrup without buying any specialty ingredients.

I store mine in this glass syrup dispenser—it makes homemade coffee syrups so much easier to pour and looks pretty in the fridge, too.

Why You’ll Love This Brown Sugar Cinnamon Syrup

There are so many reasons to keep a batch of this syrup in your refrigerator.

It’s made with simple ingredients you probably already have, comes together in just a few minutes, and works in both hot and iced drinks.

The brown sugar gives it a deeper, almost caramel-like sweetness, while the cinnamon makes it feel warm and cozy without being overpowering.

It’s also incredibly easy to customize. You can use light or dark brown sugar, add a little extra vanilla, or even mix in a pinch of pumpkin pie spice if you want to give it more of a seasonal flavor.

Ingredients You’ll Need

You only need five ingredients to make this brown sugar cinnamon syrup.

Brown Sugar

Brown sugar gives this syrup its signature flavor.

You can use either light or dark brown sugar. Light brown sugar will give you a softer caramel flavor, while dark brown sugar will taste a little richer because of the higher molasses content.

Water

Water creates the base of the syrup and helps dissolve the brown sugar.

Ground Cinnamon

Ground cinnamon makes this recipe easy because you don’t have to use cinnamon sticks.

Just keep in mind that ground cinnamon doesn’t completely dissolve, so you may notice a little settling at the bottom of the jar. That’s totally normal.

Vanilla Extract

Vanilla helps soften and round out the cinnamon flavor and makes the syrup taste more like something you’d get at a coffee shop.

Salt

A small pinch of salt helps balance the sweetness and brings out the brown sugar flavor.

Brown Sugar Cinnamon Syrup Ingredients

• 1 cup water
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Pinch of salt

How to Make Brown Sugar Cinnamon Syrup

This syrup takes less than 10 minutes to cook.

Step 1: Combine the Ingredients

Add the water, brown sugar, cinnamon, vanilla, and salt to a small saucepan. I use this glass saucepan for syrups because it’s easy to see when everything has dissolved.

Step 2: Heat the Mixture

Place the saucepan over medium heat and whisk everything together until the brown sugar has completely dissolved.

Step 3: Simmer

Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer.

Reduce the heat slightly and let it simmer for about 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally.

The syrup will still look fairly thin while it’s hot, but it will thicken slightly as it cools.

Step 4: Cool

Remove the saucepan from the heat and allow the syrup to cool.

Step 5: Store

Pour the cooled syrup into a glass jar or syrup bottle and store it in the refrigerator. I prefer this syrup dispenser with a pour spout because it makes it much easier to measure directly into coffee and lattes – plus it’s so pretty!

If the cinnamon settles at the bottom, just give the bottle a quick shake before using.

How to Use Brown Sugar Cinnamon Syrup in Coffee

Start with about 1 tablespoon of syrup per drink, then add more depending on how sweet you like your coffee.

For a sweeter coffee-shop-style drink, I usually recommend around 1 to 2 tablespoons.

This syrup works especially well in:

• Hot coffee
• Iced coffee
• Cold brew
• Lattes
• Cappuccinos
• Shaken espresso
• Chai lattes

You can also drizzle a little over whipped cream or use it to sweeten homemade cold foam.

Can You Make Cinnamon Syrup Without Cinnamon Sticks?

Yes, and that’s exactly what makes this version so convenient.

Ground cinnamon works well in homemade coffee syrup and gives you plenty of cinnamon flavor without requiring cinnamon sticks.

The only difference is that ground cinnamon won’t fully dissolve into the syrup.

You may notice a little cinnamon settling at the bottom of the container after the syrup sits in the refrigerator. Simply shake or stir it before using.

If your cinnamon settles, don’t worry. That is normal when you use ground cinnamon.

And if you make homemade coffee drinks often, storing your syrup in a pourable glass bottle or syrup dispenser makes it much easier to use.

How Long Does Homemade Brown Sugar Syrup Last?

Store your brown sugar cinnamon syrup in a clean, airtight container in the refrigerator.

For the best quality, I recommend using it within about 1 to 2 weeks.

As with any homemade food, discard it if you notice mold, an unusual smell, or any other signs that it has spoiled.

Brown Sugar Cinnamon Syrup Variations

Once you know the basic recipe, it’s easy to change the flavor.

Maple Brown Sugar Syrup

Replace a portion of the brown sugar with maple syrup for a slightly deeper flavor.

Extra Vanilla

Add another 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract if you want a stronger vanilla flavor.

Pumpkin Spice

Add a small pinch of pumpkin pie spice along with the cinnamon.

This is especially good for fall coffee drinks.

Salted Brown Sugar Syrup

Increase the salt slightly for a sweet-and-salty flavor that tastes a little like salted caramel.

More Homemade Coffee and Drink Ideas

If you enjoy making coffee-shop-inspired drinks at home, you might also like:

• Pumpkin Spice Syrup
• Pumpkin Spice Coffee Creamer
• Cinnamon Latte
• Strawberry Syrup
• Pumpkin Spice Latte
• Slow Cooker Hot Chocolate