Homemade Pumpkin Spice Syrup

gingerbread simple syrup.

Pumpkin spice syrup is a sweet amalgam of classic holiday flavors, steeped in a white and brown sugar simple syrup. This homemade simple syrup will tickle your nose with heady holiday spices like ginger, cinnamon, allspice and cloves. Use it to enhance everything from your morning oatmeal to poached pears, boozy fall cocktails and cozy winter drinks. My holiday spiced simple syrup recipe only takes 15 minutes to make and keeps for weeks.

ground spices for the simple syrup.

Are simple syrups, simple to make?

Yes. After all, simple syrup is just sugar dissolved in water. Seriously.

Infused simple syrups have a few more ingredients, but they’re easy to make and a great way to amp up the flavors in everything from desserts to cocktails.

I make (and use) flavored syrups all the time from this herbal honey thyme simple syrup to this rhubarb ginger and peach syrup to my tropical passion fruit and guava vanilla versions. These homemade syrups are the starting point for some of my most popular recipes, and this amazing winter spiced syrup recipe is a standout.

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Does pumpkin spice syrup contain pumpkin?

Um, no. This recipe contains no pumpkin… That’s because “pumpkin spice” is just thatspices that flavor pumpkin.

Look, plain pumpkin puree kind of smells like dog food, right? It’s only the warm blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger etc. that makes pumpkin not only tolerable, but desirable.

So when making a pumpkin spice syrup, you don’t actually need (or want) to put pumpkin in it.

Based on the huge number of pumpkin simple syrups that do contain pumpkin, I think I’m in the minority with my assertion, but I’m sticking to my guns.

Anyway, did you really want to open a can of pumpkin puree, only to use a quarter cup in the recipe? Nope. I didn’t think so.

combining ingredients for pumpkin spice simple syrup.

Ingredients for pumpkin spice syrup

  • Granulated Sugar
  • Brown Sugar
  • Ground Cloves
  • Cinnamon
  • Ground Allspice
  • Dried Ground Ginger
  • Freshly Ground Nutmeg
  • Ground Mace (optional)
  • Water
  • Vanilla Extract
adding ground spices to the sugar and adding water.

Many infused syrups use whole spices to flavor the sugar water. That’s fine, however, I’ve found that it takes longer to steep and when I’m making a flavored syrup, I usually want to use it ASAP.

Therefore, I’ve opted for using ground spices in this recipe (so long as they’re fresh and don’t have a sell-by date from the second Bush administration).

You will need a very fine mesh sieve or a nut milk bag to strain away the spice sediment from the syrup.

simmering and infusing the syrup with the pumpkin spice blend.

How to make winter spiced simple syrup

  1. Add the sugars, spices and water to a small saucepan and bring to a boil.
  2. Simmer the mixture until the sugars have dissolved, stirring occasionally.
  3. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the vanilla.
  4. Let the pumpkin spices steep in the syrup for 15 minutes.
  5. Strain the syrup through the mesh sieve and discard the solids.
  6. Transfer to a glass container with a tight fitting lid to store.

pro tip

You’ll want to use the finest mesh sieve to strain the ground spice particles from the syrup to give it a clearer appearance. I tried using a coffee filter, but it was slow going. Another option would be to use a nut milk strainer.

a bottle of double strength vanilla.

What can I do with pumpkin spice syrup?

I’ve actually got a BUNCH of recipes I’ll be sharing with you over the next few months, but in the meantime, here’s some thought-starters.

  • Add a few teaspoons to hot tea instead of sugar (I like it with Celestial Seasonings Lemon Zinger or Mandarin Orange Spice tea).
  • Drizzle over morning yogurt or oatmeal instead of honey or sugar.
  • Swap out plain simple syrup for pumpkin spice in your favorite fall or winter cocktails.
  • Make a coffee latte by adding a few tablespoons of pumpkin syrup and steamed milk to a mug. Garnish with whipped cream and grated nutmeg.
  • Make a milkshake! Vanilla or coffee ice cream + flavored syrup + milk & blend until smooth. Garnish with a cinnamon stick.
  • Brush pumpkin spice syrup over yellow cake before frosting to add a wintry element to the dessert.
  • Add to hot apple cider to amp up the holiday flavors.
  • Toss a few tablespoons with a bowl of suprémed oranges for a spiced citrus compote.
straining the sediment from the syrup.

Pumpkin spice syrup FAQ’s

Does pumpkin spice simple syrup need to be refrigerated?

No. It can be stored in a cool, dry place like your pantry but if you feel better keeping it in the fridge, that’s fine too.

Can I freeze simple syrup?

Yes, but don’t freeze it in a glass bottle (to avoid shattering). Instead, pour the spiced simple syrup into an ice cube tray and freeze until solid, then transfer the “ice cubes” to a freezer storage bag or container.

Can I use whole spices to make this homemade syrup recipe?

Yes, but it will need to steep for several hours to infuse the syrup with the pumpkin spice flavors before straining. Use 2-3 cinnamon sticks, a teaspoon of whole cloves, a teaspoon of whole allspice berries, 2-3 slices of fresh ginger. Substitute 1-2 whole star anise in place of nutmeg.

a bottle of Pumpkin spice syrup with whole spices surrounding it.

More recipes that use homemade simple syrups:

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4.17 from 6 votes

Homemade Pumpkin Spice Syrup

This festive simple syrup is infused with vanilla and six heady holiday spices to flavor cocktails, coffee and tea or to pour over poached apples or pears.
Author: Lisa Lotts
Course Condiments, Drinks
Cuisine American
Keyword christmas, holiday, simple syrup
Dietary Restrictions Dairy-Free, Egg Free, Gluten-Free, Vegan
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings 12

SPECIAL EQUIPMENT:

  • fine mesh sieve
  • Funnel
  • strainer bag (optional)

INGREDIENTS:

  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • ½ teaspoon cloves
  • ½ teaspoon cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon allspice
  • ½ teaspoon ground ginger
  • ½ teaspoon nutmeg
  • teaspoon ground mace
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS:

  • Add the granulated and brown sugar, cloves, cinnamon, allspice, ginger, nutmeg and mace and water to a small saucepan.
  • Heat over medium high heat, stirring occasionally until the mixture comes to a boil and the sugar is completely dissolved. Remove from the heat and let the syrup cool for 15 minutes.
  • Pour the simple syrup through the fine mesh strainer or use the strainer bag to remove the excess spices and sediment.
  • Place the funnel in the mouth of a tall jar and pour the spiced simple syrup through the funnel to fill the jar. Seal it. You can store the simple syrup in the refrigerator.

NUTRITION:

Calories: 69kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 4mg | Potassium: 16mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin A: 1IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 10mg | Iron: 1mg

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3 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    I didn’t have mace so I omitted it and just increased the other spices a bit. It came out great! I didn’t have a fine enough strainer to sieve it, but I just shake the bottle before pouring it. I add about 3 Tbsp to my espresso, plus cashew milk and sweetener. Better than storebought!

  2. 5 stars
    I can’t wait to make this! I’m going to use it in everything-my morning tea, oatmeal, cocktails and I love the milkshake idea!

  3. Nola Martin says:

    5 stars
    Going to try this in Maharaja Rum cocktails!