Apple Cider Syrup

This Apple Cider Syrup is a 4-ingredient homemade syrup with real tangy apple cider flavor and a hint of cinnamon. Stir it into lattes, cocktails, oatmeal, and pancakes all fall long!

Jump to:

• ❤️ Why this recipe works
• 🗒 Ingredients
• 🍎 Recipe tips
• ☕️ How to use
• 🎉 Variations on recipe
• ⏲️ How to store
• 🍂 More fall simple syrups
• 📖 Recipe
• 💬 Comments

Several years ago, I made an apple simple syrup and have subsequently made it multiple times every year since. It's packed with apple cinnamon flavor and is basically perfect.

But now I've made apple cider syrup and I genuinely can't decide which one I love more. While the apple syrup tastes like fresh caramel apples, the apple cider syrup has a tangier, deeper flavor. It's like all the best flavors of harvest season in one syrup!

It's also incredibly easy to make and is the perfect ingredient to keep in your fridge for all kinds of fall drinks and treats.

❤️ Why this recipe works

It's made with just 4 ingredients: and aside from the apple cider, you may have most of them in your kitchen already! Otherwise, they're super easy to obtain.

It has bold cider flavor: simmering the cider down concentrates it, so you get a tangy, apple-forward syrup with a warm hint of cinnamon in the background. Since most of the sweetness comes from the cider itself, it's not overly sugary. I love that it tastes like a big sip of fresh apple cider, not candy apple flavoring!

It's incredibly easy to make: you don't even have to slice any apples! Once it's simmering, the syrup pretty much takes care of itself. Just give it a stir every now and then.

It has so many uses: you can add it to coffee, tea, cocktails, mocktails, oatmeal, pancakes, ice cream… I've yet to find something it doesn't make more delicious and festive for fall.

🗒 Ingredients

Here's what you need to make this easy apple cider syrup (be sure to view the recipe card at the bottom of this post for ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions):

• Apple cider
• Brown sugar
• Cnnamon stick
• Salt

🍎 Recipe tips

• I like to use a medium saucepan as this gives the cider more surface area, so it reduces a little faster than it would in a small, deep pot.

• Once the mixture comes to a boil, lower the heat. A gentle simmer will reduce the cider without scorching the sugar.

• You'll need to let it reduce for 20-30 minutes. Keep your eye on it as you're aiming for about half of what you started with. If you're not sure, you can carefully pour it into a heatproof measuring cup to check, then pour it back in if it needs more time.

• Don't worry if the syrup still doesn't seem thick enough after it has reduced. It will continue thickening as it cools.

• A pinch of salt added at the end will help balance the sweetness and makes the apple flavor pop.

Once the syrup cools, it will be a gorgeous deep amber color with bright, tangy cider flavor and just a little warmth from the cinnamon.

When I first started testing this recipe, I was surprised by how different it tasted than my simple apple syrup. It really does taste just like cider in syrup form.

In my mind, apple cider is a bit more "grown up" than apple juice and the added depth and tang of this cider syrup takes it to a whole new leve.

And it's the kind of thing you'll want to keep in the fridge all season long!

☕️ How to use

Apple Cider Syrup isn't just for drinks (though it is delicious in them)! Since it's tangy and not overly sweet, it works in everything from coffee and cocktails to breakfast and even savory dishes.

Here's how I like to use it:

• Apple cider lattes: stir it into a hot latte with espresso and steamed milk. The tangy cider flavor holds up to the coffee and milk, so you really taste the apple.

• Cider cocktails: it's made for brown liquors like bourbon, whiskey, and reposado tequila. You can use it in my apple ginger margarita, a whiskey sour, or an old-fashioned.

• Homemade apple cider soda: mix it with sparkling water or ginger ale for an easy fall mocktail.

• Hot drink addition: stir it into homemade mulled cider, a hot toddy, hot tea, or chai for a cozy apple twist.

• Iced tea addition: add a splash to iced black tea for an apple iced tea.

• Pancake, waffle, and french toast topping: drizzle it on your breakfast faves instead of maple syrup for a fall brunch.

• Oatmeal and yogurt topping: stir it into oatmeal or swirl it into Greek yogurt with granola.

• Ice cream topping: pour it over vanilla ice cream. It would be especially good with a warm slice of apple pie!

• Salad dressing ingredient: whisk it with olive oil, apple cider vinegar, and Dijon mustard for a sweet and tangy vinaigrette.

• Meat and vegetable glaze: brush it over pork chops, roasted butternut squash, carrots, and more during the last few minutes of cooking

• Charcuterie board addition: drizzle it over baked brie or a wedge of sharp cheddar.

🎉 Variations on recipe

I think this apple cider syrup is perfect as is! But there are lots of easy modifications you could make to give the syrup a fun twist on the flavor.

• Add a few whole cloves or allspice berries for extra spice.
• Add a star anise pod for a subtle licorice note.
• Add a strip of orange peel for a bright citrus twist.
• Add a few slices of fresh ginger for a little kick.
• Swap the brown sugar for maple syrup for a maple apple version.
• Swap the brown sugar for granulated sugar for a lighter, more apple-forward flavor.
• Stir in a splash of vanilla extract once the syrup is off the heat.
• Add a splash of bourbon at the end for a cocktail-ish syrup.
• Sprinkle in a pinch of pumpkin pie spice for an apple pumpkin combo.

⏲️ How to store

Store your syrup in a mason jar or other airtight container in the fridge. It should stay fresh for about a month when stored properly.

Give it a quick shake or stir before using, since a little natural settling is normal.

🍂 More fall simple syrups

Looking for more homemade syrups that are perfect for celebrating fall? Here are a few of my favorites:

And if you're looking for a fun Halloween syrup, you need to try this candy corn syrup!

When I first came up with the idea for this recipe, I wasn't sure I'd share it here as I was worried it wouldn't be different enough from my apple syrup.

But now that I know it can totally hold its own, I'm so happy to add this recipe to my homemade syrup library! It's the easiest way to get real apple cider flavor into just about anything, and it makes my kitchen smell amazing while it simmers.

📖 Recipe