Homemade Gingerbread Syrup
This Gingerbread Syrup recipe is here to infuse some holiday cheer into your cocktails, coffee, tea, breakfast foods, and so much more! It’s simple to make and great for a last minute gift too.
Need a homemade holiday hostess gift that’s not cookies? Gingerbread syrup is perfect! It’s got that festive, cozy holiday flavor and there are endless ways to use it, which means whether you’re gifting it to a latte lover or an amateur mixologist, it’s going to be put to good use.
And unlike Christmas cookies, which require a whole lot of effort, this gingerbread syrup comes together in a matter of minutes! If your stress level is through the roof getting all those last minute loose ends tied up for the holidays, you will appreciate this easy homemade food gift. Funnel it into a pretty bottle, tie a cute tag on it, and your work is done.
With brown sugar and molasses for sweetness, lots of fresh ginger for warmth, and a combination of cinnamon, allspice, and cloves, this gingerbread simple syrup is full of cozy flavor—it’s literally like a gingerbread cookie distilled into a jar!
Ingredients for Gingerbread Syrup
Here’s a quick rundown of what you’ll need for this recipe. For the full measurements, scroll down to the recipe card.
- Water – I recommend filtered water rather than tap water for the best flavor.
- Brown Sugar – You can use light brown sugar or dark brown sugar—whatever you have on hand!
- Fresh Ginger – Fresh ginger has a much warmer, sharper flavor than dried ground ginger. It’s totally worth it.
- Cinnamon Sticks, Allspice Berries, and Whole Cloves – Using whole spices instead of ground infuses the gingerbread syrup with flavor as it simmers. Ground spices would settle in the bottle when stored.
- Unsulfured Molasses – For that signature gingerbread flavor.
How to Make Gingerbread Syrup
Scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of the page for full printable instructions.
- Start the syrup. Bring the brown sugar and water to a boil over medium-high heat. Stir until the sugar dissolves.
- Simmer. Reduce the heat to low and add the remaining ingredients. Simmer for 10 to 15 minutes, or up to an hour.
- Finish. Pour the syrup through a fine mesh sieve, then transfer it to a bottle or jar.
Tips for Making Gingerbread Syrup
Here are some simple tips for perfect gingerbread syrup.
- Adjust the thickness and intensity. You can simmer your gingerbread syrup for up to an hour, which will give you a thicker syrup with more intense flavor.
- Tie the spices in a cheesecloth. If you don’t have a mesh strainer or want to skip that step, you can bundle the spices in a cheesecloth and let it steep in the syrup as it simmers, then remove before storing.
- Use quality ingredients. Make sure all your spices are fresh and fragrant. If they’ve lost their aroma, they won’t infuse your syrup with flavor.
Ways to Use Gingerbread Syrup
If you’re making this syrup as a holiday gift, print these ideas onto the tag so the recipient knows what to do with it!
- Gingerbread chai latte. Brew a bag of black tea in a mug of hot milk, add a splash of gingerbread syrup and a sprinkle of cinnamon on top.
- Coffee. Add a shot of espresso to your mug, along with some gingerbread syrup and steamed milk for a festive twist on your morning latte.
- Cocktails. Use the syrup as a sweetener in your favorite holiday cocktail instead of simple syrup.
- Breakfast foods. Drizzle it over pancakes, waffles, French toast, oatmeal, or yogurt for an extra dose of cozy flavor.
- Ice cream topping. Warm up the syrup and drizzle it over vanilla ice cream.
How to Store Gingerbread Syrup
Store your gingerbread syrup in a clean, sterilized bottle or jar with an airtight seal and keep it in the refrigerator for up to 1 month.
Reader Favorite Homemade Holiday Gifts
- Chocolate Turtle Candy
- Candied Pecans
- The Best Homemade Hot Cocoa Mix
- Almond Bark
- Easy Fig Jam
- Hot Fudge Sauce
More Homemade Syrup Recipes
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Get the Recipe: Gingerbread Syrup
Ingredients
- 2 cups water
- 2 cups brown sugar
- ½ cup peeled and chopped fresh ginger
- 3 cinnamon sticks
- 8 allspice berries
- 6 whole cloves
- ¼ cup unsulfured molasses
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, stir together sugar and water. Bring to a boil over medium high heat. Stir frequently until the sugar is dissolved.
- Reduce the heat to low and stir in the ginger, cinnamon, allspice, cloves and molasses.
- Simmer for 10-15 minutes or until infused with spice. (Can simmer for up to 1 hour.)
- Strain the spices and ginger and pour into a sterilized bottle.