How to Make Pumpkin Spice Syrup at Home
This luscious pumpkin spice syrup is made with brown sugar, real pumpkin puree, and warm spices. This delicious syrup is easy to make at home and is the perfect base for a pumpkin old fashioned or addition to your morning coffee.
Call me basic, but if fall had a signature flavor, it would be pumpkin spice.
Once the calendar hits mid September, I’m ready to pack as much cozy flavor into my kitchen as possible. Around here, that usually looks like mixing up a few fall flavors in cocktails, like an apple cider cocktail, or a cranberry bourbon smash.
And now, I’ve got a new favorite that pulls double duty: pumpkin spice simple syrup. It’s like bottling up October! Swirl it into your morning coffee, drizzle it over pancakes, waffles or even ice cream, or shake it into a cocktail when you want your happy hour to taste like fall.
It’s easy, versatile, and just the thing to keep in your fridge all season long.
What you’ll need to make pumpkin spice syrup
Did you know that if you go buy pumpkin spice syrup at the store, most of them don’t have any pumpkin in them?
Most of them are just a simple syrup infused with fall spices. Still delicious, but not what I want from a pumpkin syrup!
But when you make pumpkin spice syrup at home, you can add real pumpkin into the mix. This makes the syrup extra luscious (the texture is seriously beautiful!) and extra delicious.
If you like to do much fall baking, such as making pumpkin waffles or pumpkin cheesecake cookies, you probably already have the ingredients for this syrup on hand. You’ll need:
- Water: This is the base of any simple syrup recipe.
- Brown sugar: Brown sugar gives the syrup a richer flavor than granulated sugar would.
- Pure pumpkin puree: You can use canned pumpkin or homemade pumpkin puree. If you’re using canned pumpkin, make sure to buy pure pumpkin puree and not pumpkin pie filling!
- Spices: Ground cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cardamom add warmth to the syrup and complement the pumpkin perfectly. If you don’t have these individual spices, you can use 1 ¼ teaspoons of pumpkin pie spice instead.
- Vanilla: A little vanilla at the end helps round out the flavor of the syrup.
Remember that the best thing about making your own syrup at home is that you ultimately control all of the ingredients.
So feel free to play around a bit! Add more nutmeg if you’d like, or reduce the sugar slightly to make the syrup less sweet. It’s all up to you!
How to make pumpkin spice syrup with real pumpkin
You are going to love how easy it is to make your own pumpkin spice syrup at home. Say goodbye to buying it because the homemade stuff is so easy.
Grab a small saucepan and add the water and brown sugar. Place it over medium heat, stirring occasionally as the syrup warms up to help the sugar dissolve.
Once the mixture is boiling, reduce the heat to medium-low; simmer for 2 minutes.
Whisk in the pumpkin and the spices. Simmer the mixture for another 2-3 minutes, giving it a stir occasionally.
Remove the syrup from the heat and stir in the vanilla. Cover the pan and let the flavors steep while the syrup cools.
Once the pumpkin syrup has cooled, strain it using a fine mesh sieve or cheesecloth. This step is technically optional, but I like to strain it for a super smooth texture.
And that’s it! You have a super flavorful pumpkin spice syrup that you can use all fall long.
Uses
Wondering how to use your homemade pumpkin syrup? You’re in for a treat because this stuff is so versatile.
Obviously pumpkin spice syrup and coffee were made to go together.
Make your own hot or iced pumpkin spice lattes by adding some of this syrup to the espresso. You could also add it to an iced shaken espresso or cold brew.
It would also be delicious for making a pumpkin chai!
But do you want to know my very favorite way to use it? It’s absolutely divine in a pumpkin old fashioned.
Curling up with a pumpkin old fashioned and a good book in front of a roaring fire after a visit to one of Charlotte’s pumpkin patches? There’s no better way to spend a fall day.
But don’t stop there! Try drizzling this pumpkin syrup over a stack of pancakes or french toast or into a bowl of oatmeal. No one said you can’t add a little extra pumpkin goodness to your breakfasts!
Storage tips
Most simple syrup recipes will last in the refrigerator pretty much indefinitely. But since this one has pumpkin puree in it, you do need to be a little more careful with it.
Store your pumpkin spice syrup in a sterile airtight jar in the fridge for up to a week. If needed, give it a shake or a good stir before using it.
You could also freeze it in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Make sure to leave space at the top of the jar or container when freezing so the container doesn’t crack!
Thaw the syrup in the refrigerator overnight before using.
FAQs
Does pumpkin spice syrup have dairy in it? Is it vegan?
All of the ingredients used in this pumpkin syrup are naturally vegan/dairy free. This makes it a great option for anyone with dietary restrictions since you can make your own coffee drinks using your preferred dairy-free milk alternative.
Pumpkin Spice Simple Syrup
Equipment
- 1 saucepan
- 1 whisk
- 1 strainer
- 1 mason jar
Ingredients
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 cup pure pumpkin puree
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp ground ginger
- 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp ground cardamom
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- In a small saucepan over medium heat, add the water and brown sugar and stir to combine. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally until the sugar dissolves.
- Once the mixture reaches a boil, reduce the heat to medium low and simmer for 2 minutes.
- Add pumpkin, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cardamom and vanilla extract, whisking to combine. Simmer for another 2 to 3 minutes, stirring occasionally, and then remove from the heat. Stir in the vanilla.
- Cover the saucepan to allow simple syrup to steep while cooling.
- Once cooled, strain syrup using a fine mesh sieve and/or cheesecloth into an airtight jar and store in the refrigerator for up to one week.
