Apple Syrup

Apple syrup is a simple homemade syrup made by simmering apples, sugar, and water until infused with warm, sweet apple flavor. It's perfect for pancakes, drinks or desserts.

This homemade apple syrup is one of those easy recipes that are so versatile.

It's sweet, simple, and has that warm apple aroma that makes you want to pour it on everything.

Making apple syrup doesn't take any fancy tools or long simmering times. You just need apples, sugar, and water. That's it.

In about twenty minutes, you have a golden, fragrant syrup that can go from breakfast to dessert.

I use it in everything from pancakes to cocktails. It's also amazing on oatmeal (try it on Gruel!), waffles, and yogurt, as well as in sparkling water or drizzled over a pound cake.

What I love most is how flexible it is. You can use any apple you have on hand, and you can decide how strong you want the flavor to be.

A longer simmer makes it richer. A lighter simmer keeps it fresh and fruity.

Once you've strained it, you're left with a sweet, bold apple syrup that is bursting with flavour.

Why not make a few easy simple syrup recipes, then you can include them in a cocktail bar, or breakfast pancake buffet for a crowd. Try Nectarine Syrup, Blueberry Syrup, Coffee Syrup, or Biscoff Syrup.

Jump to:

• Why You'll Love This Recipe
• Ingredients
• Instructions
• Apples
• Variations
• Serving Suggestions
• Storage
• Top tips
• FAQs
• 📖 Recipe
• 💬 Comments

Why You'll Love This Recipe

• Apple Syrup only requires three ingredients.
• It's ready in under 30 minutes.
• It smells incredible while cooking.
• This syrup adds natural apple flavor to drinks, pancakes, and desserts.
• Apple syrup is a great way to use up extra apples.
• It keeps well in the fridge.
• It looks beautiful in a glass jar on your shelf.

Ingredients

• Apples. Any variety works. Tart apples like Granny Smith make the syrup more balanced, while sweet apples like Fuji or Gala makes it richer. You can even mix different kinds.
• Sugar. Regular granulated sugar gives the clearest syrup. Brown sugar or coconut sugar adds deeper caramel notes if you prefer.
• Water. Use filtered water for the cleanest flavor. You can also replace a portion with apple juice for extra apple depth.

See the recipe card for quantities.

Instructions

Follow this step-by-step photo tutorial, then scroll down to the recipe card for the full ingredients list and method.

Wash the apples, then remove the cores and chop the unpeeled apples into chunks.

Add to a saucepan with the sugar and water.

Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 10 minutes.

Remove from the heat and let the apple simple syrup infuse for a further 10 minutes.

Place a fine mesh sieve over a jug or bowl, and pour in the mixture to strain the apples out of the syrup.

Pour the apple syrup into a jar or bottle. Allow to cool completely and store in the refrigerator.

Tip: Instead of discarding the syrup infused apples, you can save them and enjoy on oatmeal, yogurt or vanilla ice cream.

Apples

Apples are the star here. When simmered, they release a bold aroma that makes the syrup beautifully fragrant.

I like using tart apples like Bramley or Granny Smith for a balanced syrup that isn't overly sweet, but Honeycrisp, Fuji, or Gala work beautifully too.

I've made it with cooking apples, eating apples or a mix of both (I have three apple trees!). Each type gives a slightly different flavor with some bright and crisp, others warm and mellow.

Variations

• Cinnamon Apple Syrup. Add a cinnamon stick while simmering for warm spice notes.
• Vanilla Apple Syrup. Stir in a little vanilla extract after straining.
• Spiced Fall Syrup. Add cloves, nutmeg, and allspice for a holiday flavor.
• Apple Ginger Syrup. Add a few slices of fresh ginger for a zesty kick.
• Maple Apple Syrup. Replace some sugar with maple syrup for deeper sweetness.
• Apple Bourbon Syrup. Add a splash of bourbon after cooling for an adult version.

Serving Suggestions

• Drizzle over pancakes or waffles.
• Stir into iced tea or lemonade.
• Mix with sparkling water for a homemade apple soda.
• Add to oatmeal or porridge.
• Spoon over vanilla ice cream.
• Use as a cocktail sweetener (try it in an old fashioned).
• Brush over cake layers for moisture.
• Mix into yogurt or whipped cottage cheese.
• Add a spoonful to apple pie filling for more flavor.
• Stir into tea.
• Glaze roasted carrots or sweet potatoes.
• Drizzle over baked brie.

Storage

You can store apple syrup in a sealed jar or bottle in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. Always use a clean spoon when serving to keep it fresh.

For longer storage, freeze it in ice cube trays, then transfer the cubes to a bag once solid. Each cube is a perfect single serving for drinks or pancakes.

If you're planning ahead, make the apple simple syrup a day before hosting brunch. It thickens slightly after chilling and tastes even better the next day.

FAQs

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ If you love this recipe, please leave a five-star rating and review in the comments below! And if you make any modifications, let us know how it went so that we can all benefit from your experience. Happy cooking!

📖 Recipe