Apple Brown Sugar Syrup for coffee is a deliciously warm and cozy sweetener made by simmering apple juice or cider with coconut sugar and apple pie spice. The syrup brings a rich caramel flavor with fruity apple notes, bringing fall flavors to your morning coffee. It's perfect for enhancing hot coffee, iced coffee, or even tea, creating a comforting seasonal cocktail.
My morning cup of coffee is one of my favorite parts of my day, so I don't mess around with ingredients that don't make me feel great. This homemade syrup brings the flavors of your favorite coffee drinks from a well-known coffee shop to your own kitchen! Making your own coffee drinks at home is a great way to save money and an easy swap to improve your health, too!
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Wholesome Ingredients- This homemade apple syrup only has 3 simple ingredients, as compared to Starbucks apple brown sugar syrup which has lots of ingredients and natural flavors.
- Not just good for coffee- this delicious syrup can be used on French toast, pancakes, cooked apples, cocktails, or any other delicious fall creations you might have.
- Simple to make- a lot of people are intimidated by making their syrups or simple syrups and I am here to tell you that it is incredibly easy!
Ingredients You Will Need
Apple Juice: has a sweet, crisp flavor with subtle tart notes, depending on the variety of apples used. It can be made with Granny Smith apples or any variety of red apples. It provides a good source of vitamin C, and antioxidants when consumed in moderation. I found the apple juice at Sprouts.
Apple Pie Spice: is a warm, aromatic blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and sometimes ginger or cardamom. It brings tons of flavor to this syrup with very little effort.
Coconut Sugar: has a mild, caramel-like flavor with a hint of molasses, making it a popular natural sweetener. It contains trace minerals like zinc, iron, and potassium, and has a lower glycemic index than regular sugar, helping to avoid rapid blood sugar spikes.
Recipe Variations
Pumpkin: instead of using apple pie spice, you could swap it for pumpkin spice to have more of a pumpkin-flavored syrup.
Sugar: Coconut sugar is my favorite to use because it is less processed and is considered paleo. You could also swap it for an equal amount of dark brown sugar if that is what you have on hand.
Apple Cider: usually comes with spices already in it so if you would like to use this, just start out with half the amount of apple pie seasoning then taste it. You can always add more while it is simmering.
Instructions
Boil: In a medium saucepan, bring the water to a slow boil.
Add sugar: Once the water is boiling, add the coconut sugar and apple pie spice to the pan and turn the heat down to medium-low. Bring the mixture back to a slow simmer.
Stir the mixture every few minutes and keep a careful eye on it so it doesn't burn or boil over. Let it simmer for 15-20 minutes, or until the syrup thickens and sticks to the back of a spoon.
Cool: Remove the syrup from the heat, pour it into a mason jar (or other glass jar), and let it cool to room temperature before refrigerating.
Recipe Tips and Tricks
- It is important to look for 100% fruit juice without extra sugar in it or this syrup will be incredibly sweet.
- Don't be afraid to cook this low and slow. If you cook it at too high of heat, the sugar can burn and ruin the flavor.
- If for some reason the sugar starts to crystalize, add ¼ teaspoon of cream of tartar to the syrup when simmering and it will prevent future clumping.
Storage Tips
Refrigerator: This Healthy Apple Brown Sugar Syrup can be stored in an airtight container (I personally like a mason jar) for up to 7 days in the refrigerator.
Freezer: Did you know that you can also freeze syrup? For this syrup, I recommend putting it into an ice cube mold for smaller servings when thawing. Once it is frozen in the ice cube molds, pop them out and put them in a freezer-safe bag if the mold doesn't have a cover. Freeze for up to 3 months.
What To Serve With Apple Brown Sugar Syrup
- Coffee: whether you like hot, iced, or cold brew coffee, this will be part of your new favorite drink recipe. I recommend adding ½ tablespoon to 1 tablespoon of the apple brown sugar syrup to each shot of espresso. I prefer my coffee drinks on the less sweet side, so feel free to add more or less, depending on what you like! Then mix with your favorite milk or creamer.
- Cinnamon Chia Seed Pudding
- Cocktails or mocktails: this makes a great simple syrup for your favorite fall drink recipes.
- Dairy-free Yogurt Parfait
FAQs About Recipe
You can add a small amount of lemon juice or cream of tartar before simmering to help it from hardening when stored.
Tapioca starch (about ¼ teaspoon) or cornstarch can help thicken the syrup a little more if needed,
Healthy Apple Brown Sugar Syrup
Ingredients
- 1 cup Apple Juice 100% juice
- 1 cup Coconut Sugar
- 1 Tablespoon Apple Pie Spice Make sure it is one with no added sugar
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, bring the apple juice to a slow boil.
- Once the apple juice is boiling, add the coconut sugar and apple pie spice to the pan and turn the heat down to medium-low. Bring the mixture back to a slow simmer.
- Stir the mixture every few minutes and keep a careful eye on it so it doesn't burn or boil over. Let it simmer for 15-20 minutes, or until the syrup thickens and sticks to the back of a spoon.
- Remove the syrup from the heat, pour it into a mason jar (or other glass jar), and let it cool to room temperature before refrigerating.
Notes
- It is important to look for 100% fruit juice without extra sugar in it or this syrup will be incredibly sweet.
- Don't be afraid to cook this low and slow. If you cook it at too high of heat, the sugar can burn and ruin the flavor.
- If for some reason the sugar starts to crystalize, add ¼ teaspoon of cream of tartar to the syrup when simmering and it will prevent future clumping.
Penny says
I love this healthier version of a flavored syrup to go in my morning coffee! It’s practically guilt free!