Apple Cinnamon Syrup

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About Apple Cinnamon Syrup

Simple syrup, sometimes called “sugar syrup,” is a basic sweetener that’s commonly used in cocktails. In its simplest form, it’s made by dissolving sugar in water to create a smooth, sweet liquid.

Apple cinnamon syrup is a warm, aromatic variation that gently infuses fresh apples and cinnamon sticks with sugar and hot water using a sous vide method. Its golden-amber hue, cozy sweetness, and softly spiced notes make it a versatile mixer that adds depth and comfort to drinks without the bitterness or cloudy sediment that can happen with stovetop syrups.

Apples, native to Central Asia and cultivated worldwide, offer a naturally crisp sweetness that pairs beautifully with the warm, woody spice of cinnamon. While many cocktail enthusiasts reach for pre-made flavored syrups, I prefer making mine at home to highlight the fruit’s natural flavor and the spice’s delicate aroma, creating a rich, elegant syrup perfect for autumn-inspired cocktails, warm toddies, sparkling beverages, and whiskey- or rum-based drinks.

Cocktails I Made with Apple Cinnamon Syrup

• 🔗 Fall Mojito
• 🔗 Christmas Gin Mule
• 🔗 Apple Pie Gimlet

Apple Cinnamon Syrup Ingredients

To make this syrup, you’ll need the following ingredients:

Pure Cane Granulated Sugar: This is a refined sweetener made from sugarcane juice that’s been crystallized and dried into uniform, free-flowing white crystals.

Apple Cider: This is a beverage made by pressing fresh apples to extract their juice and make a tangy, slightly sweet drink that can be enjoyed raw or fermented.

Cinnamon Stick: This is a rolled strip of dried inner bark from the cinnamon tree that’s known for its warm, sweet-spicy aroma and flavor.

Brands I Used

• 🔗 C&H Premium Pure Cane Granulated Sugar
• 🔗 The Glass Orchard Apple Cider
• 🔗 Simply Organic Cinnamon Sticks

How to Make Apple Cinnamon Syrup

There are a couple of ways to make apple cinnamon syrup, and which one you choose depends on the tools you have and how hands-on you want to be.

Cooking Methods

Sous Vide Method: This is my preferred method for making most cocktail syrups—a technique I first came across in the book Death & Co: Modern Classic Cocktails. By sealing apple cider, sugar, and cinnamon sticks in a temperature-controlled water bath, the sugar dissolves gradually while the warm spice gently infuses into the syrup. The steady, low heat preserves the apples’ natural sweetness, the cinnamon’s aromatic warmth, and the syrup’s rich golden-amber color, while preventing scorching or over-reduction that can happen with direct heat.

Stovetop Method: This is the traditional method for making cocktail syrups, and it works well enough if you don’t have an immersion circulator or are short on time. Apple cider, sugar, and cinnamon sticks are heated together in a saucepan over low heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves and the cinnamon releases its flavor into the syrup. While it’s quicker and requires less equipment, you’ll need to watch the syrup closely to avoid overheating, which can dull the apples’ natural sweetness or cause the spice to taste harsh or overly strong.

How to Make & Store Apple Cinnamon Syrup

While many cocktail syrup recipes call for using the stovetop, I prefer making most syrups sous vide—a method I first found in the book Death & Co: Modern Classic Cocktails. Gentle, precise heat and slow cooking allow the sugar to dissolve completely while preserving the apples’ natural sweetness and the warm aroma of cinnamon. Plus, using an immersion circulator prevents scorching or over-reduction, which can dull both the flavor and the syrup’s rich, golden-amber color.

Apple Cinnamon Syrup Tools

To make this syrup using the sous vide method, you’ll need the following tools:

Stockpot: This is a large, deep cooking pot with straight sides and a flat bottom that’s typically used for preparing soups, stocks, sauces, or other recipes that require simmering larger quantities of liquid.

Immersion Circulator: This is a compact kitchen device that heats and continuously circulates water to maintain a consistent temperature for precision cooking.

Measuring Cup Set: This is a collection of cups and spoons in varying sizes, typically featuring easy-to-read markings and durable, easy-to-handle designs, that’s used to accurately measure both dry and liquid ingredients.

Food Scale: This is a kitchen tool that’s used to accurately measure the weight of ingredients, helping ensure precise portions and consistent results in cooking and baking.

Blender: This is a kitchen appliance with rotating blades that chops, purees, or emulsifies ingredients into smooth liquids or mixtures.

Large Freezer Bag: This is a resealable plastic bag with an interlocking closure at the top that’s used for storing, freezing, or transporting food securely.

Small Spring Clips: These are small, spring-loaded clips that are used to hold objects securely together.

Fine Mesh Strainer: This is a bar tool with a tightly woven mesh that’s used to strain small ice shards, pulp, and other solids from mixed drinks for a smooth, clean pour.

Pour Spout Measuring Cup: This is a container that’s marked with volume measurements and equipped with a spout to precisely control pouring liquids.

Silicone Spatula: This is a flexible, heat-resistant kitchen tool that’s used for stirring, scraping, and folding ingredients in bowls or pans without scratching the cookware.

Silicone Funnel: This is a flexible, heat-resistant funnel used to easily transfer liquids or powders into containers with narrow openings without spilling.

Tools I Used

• 🔗 All-Clad D3 3-Ply 8 Quart Stainless Steel Stockpot
• 🔗 Instant Pot Accu Slim Immersion Circulator
• 🔗 OXO Good Grips 8-Inch Chef’s Knife
• 🔗 OXO 8 Piece Stainless Steel Measuring Cup Set
• 🔗 OXO Good Grips Everyday Glass Food Scale
• 🔗 Cuisinart SPB-7CH SmartPowder Electronic Bar Blender
• 🔗 Ziploc Gallon Freezer Bags
• 🔗 Romeda 3 ½ Inch Spring Clamps
• 🔗 Barfly Stainless Steel Fine Mesh Cocktail Strainer
• 🔗 OXO Good Grips 2 Cup Angled Measuring Cup
• 🔗 OXO Good Grips Silicone Everyday Spatula
• 🔗 Olamar Premium Silicone Kitchen Funnel Set

How to Store Apple Cinnamon Syrup

After your apple cinnamon syrup is ready, it’ll need to be chilled to preserve freshness.

• Refrigerator Storage: For short-term use, I transfer the syrup to a condiment squeeze bottle or airtight jar and store it in the refrigerator. This method is great when I plan to use the syrup in cocktails within a few days, since the bottle or jar makes it easy to measure and pour without mess.
  

• Freezer Storage: For long-term storage, I transfer the syrup to a flexible pouch with a pouring spout, leaving a little space at the top to allow for expansion as it freezes. I’ll then thaw the pouch in a bowl of water when I’m ready to use the syrup again.

Flavored syrups like this one typically stay fresh for one to two weeks in the refrigerator and up to three months in the freezer. To keep track of freshness, I recommend labeling your containers with the date the syrup was made so you know when to enjoy or discard each batch.

Containers I Used

Squeeze Bottle: This is a flexible, squeezable container with a narrow spout that’s designed for dispensing liquids or sauces in controlled amounts.

Storage Pouch with Pouring Spout: This is a flexible, resealable container that’s designed for storing liquids so they can easily be poured without spills.

• 🔗 OXO Good Grips 16 oz Chef’s Squeeze Bottle Set
• 🔗 OHMAXHO 16 oz Reusable Plastic Pouches

Recipe