Gingerbread Simple Syrup

Name: Gingerbread Simple Syrup
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 15 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 cup dark brown sugar; 1 cup water; 1 tbsp gingerbread spice; 1 tsp vanilla extract

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Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe· 5 from 9 reviews

This Gingerbread Simple Syrup is the perfect syrup to make for coffee, lattes, and cocktails during the holiday season! It comes together in just 10 minutes and you can make a delicious cocktail with it on Christmas Eve, a spiced latte on Christmas Day, and much more! Gingerbread hot chocolate is always a hit!

Dark brown syrup in a glass jar with an embossed gingerbread simple syrup label.

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Why This Recipe Works
Ingredients
Variations and Substitutions
Step-by-Step Instructions
Serving Suggestions
Storing
FAQs
More Homemade Syrups
📖 Recipe

Why This Recipe Works

Gingerbread flavor - The flavor of gingerbread varies from country to country but this one is based on the US gingerbread. The ingredients vary based on what brand you choose but it's a mix of cinnamon, ginger, cloves, nutmeg, allspice, and often also cardamom, star anise, coriander, and fennel. If you want a more European "gingerbread" spice, try my Christmas Spice Blend! It's the Czech version of the spice. It has a lot of the same flavors but surprisingly no ginger!

Easy to make - Since the syrup calls for a gingerbread spice mix, there's no need for various whole spices. The recipe is very straightforward, easy to follow, and impossible to mess up!

Lots of uses - You can add it to black coffee, lattes, hot chocolate, and cocktails. Aside from drinks, you can drizzle it over pancakes, desserts, ice cream, or practically anything sweet! It goes really well with anything that has a chocolate or coffee flavor.

Dark brown syrup being poured into a glass jar with an embossed gingerbread simple syrup label.

Ingredients

Dark brown sugar - Gingerbread cookies are often made with molasses. I left it out in this recipe to avoid too many ingredients. I'm only using dark brown sugar which has a stronger molasses flavor than regular brown sugar and I don't find it needs anything extra. If you want, you can add 1-2 tablespoon of blackstrap or fancy molasses to the syrup.
Water - The syrup is made with sugar and water in a 1:1 ratio as most simple syrups are. Use filtered water whenever possible.
Gingerbread spice - You can either use a store-bought gingerbread spice or make your own at home. I opted for this instead of using individual ground spices or whole spices because it's easier for most people. You'd have to buy too many different spices you wouldn't normally use. Gingerbread spice is very common and easy to find either online or at most grocery stores.

Dark brown sugar, water, vanilla extract, and gingerbread spice all measured out in glass bowls with text overlay.

Variations and Substitutions

Sugar-free - The molasses flavor will be hard to simmulate with a sugar-free substitute but you can use any sugar you like best for this syrup. Keep in mind that the flavor of the syrup might change based on the sugar you use.
Maple syrup - This syrup would also be delicious with maple syrup instead of brown sugar. If you want you could add ½ cup dark brown sugar and ½ cup maple syrup to add a little maple flavor to the syrup.
Whole spices - I opted for ground spice to keep the recipe super easy to and simple. Though I don't have the measurements for this, you can also make it with whole spices instead. This will yield a clearer syrup with no spices settling on the bottom. I would use a mix of fresh ginger, whole cinnamon, allspice, cloves, star anise, coriander, and fennel seeds.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Add dark brown sugar, water, and gingerbread spice to a medium pot.
Bring the mixture to a boil stirring constantly until the sugar dissolves.
Lower the heat and simmer for 10 minutes stirring occasionally.

Water, cane sugar, and gingerbread spice simmering in a small pot on the stove.

Take the syrup off the heat and stir in vanilla extract.
Pour into a glass jar and store in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
Wait for the syrup to fully cool down before closing with a tight-fitting lid.

Serving Suggestions

Coffee - Spice up your black Americano with some gingerbread syrup! You can add it to cold-brew coffee, French press, or a simple espresso, both hot and cold.
Lattes - This is a great syrup for any kind of coffee latte, both hot and cold. You could even make a Shaken Espresso with this gingerbread syrup instead of the classic brown sugar one!
Hot Chocolate - Chocolate and gingerbread are a great combo for the Christmas season! Try it in this Christmas Spiced Hot Chocolate or this Vegan Hot Chocolate.
Cocktails - You can add it to any chocolate, coffee, or cream-based cocktails. It would be delicious in this Creamy Espresso Martini or this Chai White Russian instead of the chai syrup!
On food - Aside from adding it to drinks, you can drizzle it over pancakes, waffles, oatmeal, desserts, ice cream, or any baked goods! Try it on this Chocolate Gingerbread Oatmeal or this Gingerbread Quinoa Porridge.

Storing

You can store the syrup in an airtight jar in the fridge for up to two weeks. Always make sure to use a clean spoon and stir the syrup well before adding it to your drinks. Because you're using ground spices, they like to naturally settle on the bottom of the jar.

If you don't think you'll use all the syrup in time, you can also freeze it. Just pour it into an ice cube tray and freeze it for up to 3-6 months. I like using a silicone ice cube tray because sticky syrup tends to be harder to get out than regular ice.

FAQs

How long does homemade infused simple syrup last?

Infused syrups can last up to 1 month in the fridge. This depends on how clean the jar you store it in and the amount of sugar. Ideally, you want to make the syrup with a 1:1 ratio of water and sugar by weight (not volume). To keep things simple, I use 1:1 ratio by volume which may not be a perfect 1:1 ratio so I only recommend storing the syrup for up to 2 weeks. Also keep in mind that adding any juices, purees, or herbs to the syrup will shorten its lifespan and it shouldn't be kept for more than 2 weeks.

How do I know the syrup has gone bad?

If it's starting to crystalize, has an off smell, or a cloudy appearance it's time to toss it. When in doubt, it's always safer to toss the syrup and make a new batch.

More Homemade Syrups

If you're looking for other coffee syrup or syrups great for cocktails, check out the four syrups linked below! They're all the perfect fall and winter syrups you can use in anything and everything. To see all the latest syrups, including more fruity and floral ones, head to Flavored Syrups.

📖 Recipe