Homemade Pancake Syrup (2024)

By Laura Fuentes on Jan 20, 2021 Updated Jun 26, 2024

5 from 38 votes

Jump to Recipe

This post may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure policy here.

A homemade pancake syrup recipe that's made with simple ingredients and contains NO corn syrup! You can drizzle it over pancakes, waffles, or oatmeal.

Whilethere’sno substitute for real maple syrup, this homemade syrup recipe is ideal when you run out and still need something to drizzle over yourperfectly fluffy pancakes.The buttery rich flavor with the brown sugar tastes like caramel -almost!

Jump to:

Homemade Pancake Syrup Ingredients
How to Make Pancake Syrup Step-by-Step
How to Store It
Homemade Pancake Syrup

Homemade Pancake Syrup Ingredients

This recipe is made with only FOUR ingredients and creates a dreamy, warm syrup you’ll want to drizzle over your favorite breakfast foods.You’ll find the ingredient measurements in the recipe card below, but first, let’s see what you’ll need:

Brown sugar:unlike regular sugar, it has a rich flavor and high moisture content, which makes a thicker, robust syrup. This recipe uses ONLY brown sugar.
Water:the liquid we need to dissolve the sugar.
Butter:adds flavor and a soft texture.
Vanilla or maple extract:use your favorite flavor.

I don’t recommend using sugar in the raw or coconut sugar; the texture and flavor are not the same. Stick to the recipe, and you’ll have no worries.

Homemade Pancake Syrup Without Maple

Maple extract isn’t a requirement to make great syrup. You can still get delicious flavor with vanilla extract or using a cinnamon stick to simmer with the water and sugar. And if you love that “wedding cake” flavor, use almond extract instead for a change.

Pro tip
If you want to take store-bought vanilla extract to the next level, add a single vanilla bean pod to the bottle and store in the pantry. I’ve done this for years, and it gives the best vanilla flavor to all my baked goods and breakfast recipes.

How to Make Pancake Syrup Step-by-Step

If you can simmer or boil water, you can make syrup. It’s not complicated, and it brings a delicious aroma to your kitchen that will have you making pancakes at 3 p.m- or whenever you decide to make this syrup.

Combine sugar and water
In a medium saucepan, combine brown sugar and water and bring the mixture to a boil. Stir until the sugar has dissolved. Simmer on low for 4 minutes or until thickened.
Add flavor
Now, make it tasty by adding the butter and then the vanilla or maple extract. Always stir!
Serve!
Drizzle the fresh, warmed syrup over your favorite stack of pancakes and enjoy!

Make this syrup right alone with me in this quick video, so you can see how easy it is and how the syrup turns out:

How to Store It

Homemade syrup is best stored in the refrigerator and will last for up to a month. The syrup will thicken as it cools, but if you’re like me and love HOT syrup over pancakes, I recommend storing it in a glass bottle or jar. That way, you can microwave the container as needed and drizzle over pancakes without making a mess.

To reheat, place the bottle, or jar, in the microwave and warm for 15 seconds or until slightly thinned and hot.

After you try this brown sugar syrup recipe, try one of these other delicious pancake syrup recipes!

Best Pancake Recipes

Oh man, where do we start?! I’ve got a ton ofdelicious pancake recipeshere on the blog, like the famousFluffiest Pancakes on Earthand the epicBanana Bread Pancakes.

Cinnamon Pancakesare another favorite at my house,rightnext to myPancake Tacos. Honestly, how can I even choose only one? They go perfectly with any ofthese pancake topping ideas.

If you need allergy-friendly pancakes orsimplywant to use an alternative flour,take alook at myGluten-Free Pancakes, myPaleo Pancakes made with Cassava Flour, and theseWhole-Grain Pumpkin Pancakes.All of them are as fluffy asthe classicones!