This Cinnamon Dolce Syrup tastes just like the version at Starbucks and can be used to add sweet cinnamon flavor to all kinds of drinks and foods, including coffee, pancakes, oatmeal, and so much more!
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When it comes to coffee, one of my all-time favorite flavors is cinnamon. I generally drink my coffee black and don't like a lot of artificial flavorings in it.
But cinnamon? Cinnamon is always a welcome addition to coffee, in any form. But syrup form is the easiest way to blend cinnamon flavor into coffee. And so many other foods and drinks!
This cinnamon dolce syrup is just like the kind they use at Starbucks and can be used to make a homemade Cinnamon Dolce Latte... Or just to stir into your black coffee. Or drizzle over your pancakes. Or oatmeal. Or yogurt.
In fact, there's not much cinnamon dolce syrup wouldn't be delicious on!
☕️ What is Starbucks cinnamon dolce syrup?
Essentially, cinnamon dolce syrup is really just a cinnamon syrup. Dolce is the Italian word for "sweet" and, of course, any simple syrup is going to be sweet. This one has some layers to the sweetness thanks to both granulated and brown sugar.
It's one of Starbucks' most popular syrups and they use it to make their Cinnamon Dolce Latte (both hot and iced) as well as their Cinnamon Dolce Créme. But the syrup can also be added to any of your Starbucks drinks by request. And now you can make it at home!
❤️ Why you'll love this recipe
If you're a fan of Starbucks' cinnamon dolce syrup or you just love cinnamon in general, you'll want to have a jar of this syrup on hand! It's a homemade coffee syrup, but also has so many more uses.
It makes so many foods and drinks more delicious with just a little drizzle. Plus, the sweet cinnamon syrup is so easy to make and can keep in your fridge for about a month. It makes a great addition to your coffee bar and beyond.
And it obviously costs a fraction of the price of what you'd spend if you went to Starbucks every day!
As with most simple syrups, this also makes a great gift for the flavored coffee lover in your life.
🗒 Ingredients
You only need a few simple ingredients to make this cinnamon dolce syrup recipe and there's a chance you already have all of them in your kitchen. Here's what you need (but be sure to check out the recipe card at the bottom of this post for ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions):
- Water
- Granulated sugar
- Brown sugar
- Cinnamon sticks: if you don't have cinnamon sticks, you can use 2 tsp ground cinnamon instead, but note that it may make your syrup a bit grainy and cinnamon sticks are preferable.
- Vanilla extract
👩🍳 How to make cinnamon dolce syrup
Have you ever made simple syrup before? If so, you know how easy it is! And this recipe will follow the same easy process. If not, I'll walk you through how simple it is.
Simply put water, both kinds of sugar, and cinnamon sticks in a medium-size saucepan and bring mixture to a boil.
Bring the mixture to a simmer over low heat and let mixture simmer for about 10 minutes, until syrup has thickened.
It will continue to thicken even more as it cools.
Remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in vanilla extract.
Then, strain the cinnamon sticks out and pour the syrup into a heat-proof bowl or mason jar. Place bowl or jar in fridge to cool completely before using.
I recommend trying a little before adding to your morning coffee. I think you'll love the amazing flavor of the syrup... It almost tastes like fresh baked cinnamon rolls and has the best sweet cinnamon flavor.
🧋 How to use
This is one of my very favorite simple syrups because there's so many ways you can use it! Here are a few of the best... But please share with me how you're using it in the comments section below!
- Stir into coffee: Of course, my favorite way to use the syrup is to stir a little into hot coffee or iced coffee. A splash of milk or cream (or oat milk, almond milk, coconut milk, or soy milk) makes the cinnamon flavor so decadent! I also love it mixed into cold brew, but it works in so many different coffee recipes.
- Homemade Cinnamon Dolce Latte: If you're a fan of Starbucks' Cinnamon Dolce Latte, you can use this syrup to make your own lattes at home. I'll be sharing my copycat recipe with you soon. I recommend topping your latte with whipped cream as this syrup goes so well with it!
- Cocktail ingredient: This syrup goes with so many different liquors and can take cocktails to the next level. It would be especially good in an old fashioned, an apple brandy drink, a cinnamon bourbon drink, or a cranberry vodka. But really, it can turn so many of your favorite drinks into festive fall sippers.
- Pancake, waffle, and french toast topping: This syrup is my favorite substitute for maple syrup and I love using it on my weekend brunch foods, especially pancakes.
- Yogurt or oatmeal topping: I also love using it to add a little cinnamon sweetness to my healthy weekday breakfasts. It makes oatmeal taste like Cinnamon Toast Crunch!
- Homemade horchata: Cinnamon dolce syrup reminds me a lot of the flavor or horchata and you can use this to make your own easy one at home!
- Tea sweetener: I love a cup of cinnamon tea, but when I don't have any, I like to stir some of this syrup into my black tea.
- Cake moistener: A lot of bakers brush their homemade cakes with simple syrup to keep them moist and add sweetness and flavor. Cinnamon dolce is delicious on vanilla cake, but also works with chocolate.
- Ice cream topping: Drizzle this cinnamon dolce syrup on your vanilla ice cream to elevate it to a whole new level. Bonus points for also topping with some crushed Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal!
- Fruit salad enhancer: Drizzle a little cinnamon dolce syrup over a fruit salad and make it perfect for parties!
🫙 How to store
I recommend storing your cinnamon dolce syrup in an airtight container in the fridge. When stored properly, it should keep fresh for about a month.
I like storing all of my simple syrups in mason jars (you should see how many mason jars full of syrup are currently in my fridge!).
🎉 Variations on recipe
Cinnamon syrup is delicious as is and really needs no modifications. But there are also lots of ways you can switch it up if you want. Here are a few:
- Simmer some sliced apples in the syrup so make a cinnamon dolce apple syrup!
- Simmer with sliced pears for a delightful fall-focused syrup.
- Simmer with blueberries for a summery syrup with a kick.
- Simmer with cranberries for a fun holiday syrup.
- Add a vanilla bean for a vanilla cinnamon syrup.
- Add more spices, like ginger, nutmeg, cloves, or pumpkin pie spice.
- Replace the sugars with honey for a honey cinnamon syrup.
❓ Can I use ground cinnamon?
If you don't have cinnamon sticks, you can use ground cinnamon in a pinch. However, I do recommend buying some cinnamon sticks to keep in your pantry (I use them so much in the fall, but really all year round).
I recommend stirring in about 2 tsp of ground cinnamon to your syrup.
But you should note that ground cinnamon won't likely dissolve completely into the syrup, which could make it a bit grainy. I recommend shaking the jar really well before using the syrup.
That's why I prefer using cinnamon sticks... They give off tons of cinnamon flavor with no graininess.
🛒 Where to purchase
Of course, I highly recommend making your own homemade syrup because it's SO easy and so delicious. But if you would prefer to purchase it, there are lots of options!
Really, any "cinnamon syrup" should be similar enough, but there are also some that are specifically called cinnamon dolce.
- Starbucks Cinnamon Dolce Syrup (this is the one that Starbucks actually uses in their stores. But note you will be paying a premium price for it!)
- Torani Brown Sugar Cinnamon Syrup
- Jordan's Skinny Cinnamon Dolce Sugar-Free Syrup
- Monin Spiced Brown Sugar Syrup
- DaVinci Cinnamon Bark Syrup
🥣 More simple syrup recipes
If you love this cinnamon dolce syrup and want to try making all kinds of your own syrup flavors, check out my full collection (it's always growing!). In the meantime, here are links to some of my favorite year-round flavors:
I hope this copycat cinnamon dolce syrup lets you enjoy a sweet coffee drink in the comfort of your own home every morning. It's the best part of my day!
And it's also a great way to save money and still be able to enjoy coffee shop quality drinks.
What would you add this cinnamon dolce syrup to?
📖 Recipe
Cinnamon Dolce Syrup {Starbucks Copycat}
Ingredients
- 1 cup water
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup packed brown sugar (can use light or dark)
- 2 cinnamon sticks (see notes for using ground cinnamon)
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Put water, both kinds of sugar, and cinnamon sticks in a medium-size saucepan and bring mixture to a boil.
- Bring the mixture to a simmer over low heat and let mixture simmer for about 10 minutes, until syrup has thickened (note that it will continue to thicken as it cools).
- Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract. Strain cinnamon sticks out of syrup and pour into a heat-proof bowl or mason jar. Place bowl or jar in fridge to cool completely before using.
Notes
- You can replace the cinnamon sticks with 2 tsp ground cinnamon, but note that it won't likely dissolve completely into the syrup, which could result in syrup that's a bit grainy. I recommend shaking the jar really well before using the syrup.
- Store cinnamon dolce syrup in an airtight container in your fridge for about a month.
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