Make your own three-ingredient Pancake Syrup—quick, easy, and free of corn syrup or artificial ingredients.
Love syrup? Try my Buttermilk, Vanilla, or Blueberry syrup next!
Homemade Pancake Syrup Is Best!
I love a good ingredient shortcut, but store-bought syrup isn’t one of them. It’s full of corn syrup and fake flavor—nothing like what you can make in the kitchen.
This homemade version uses 3 real ingredients, takes 15 minutes, and tastes way better.
It’s super easy to whip together while you’re waiting on Pancake or Waffle batter to rest.
Quick Tip
Pure maple syrup is just boiled-down sap—one ingredient. Pancake syrup is a commercial product made with maple flavoring.
Ingredients
- Butter: Adds a nice thickness. Use unsalted to control saltiness.
- Light Brown Sugar: I found that dark brown sugar was too strong.
- Pure Maple Extract: Imitation isn’t the same. Start small and add more.
- Salt (optional): Just a small pinch makes a big difference in pancake syrup!
How To Make A Pancake Syrup Recipe
- Add ingredients: Cut the butter into small pieces so it melts faster.
- Boil: Keep stirring so the sugar melts smoothly and doesn’t burn.
- Simmer: Watch closely so it doesn’t spill over.
- Add extract: Take it off the heat, wait 5 minutes, then stir in maple extract.
- Serve: This is the best pancake syrup on a Dutch Baby or Crepes!
How Do You Thicken Syrup?
The syrup thickens as it cools. To thin it out, warm it up and add a splash of water.
Storage
To store the pancake syrup, allow it to cool before transferring it into an airtight container, then refrigerate it for 1–2 months.
Ways To Use Homemade Pancake Syrup
- Drizzle on Baked Oatmeal.
- Pour over Blueberry or Chocolate Chip Pancakes.
- Add to a bowl of homemade Oatmeal.
- Drizzle on French Toast or cinnamon-crusted French Toast Sticks.
- Pour over these homemade Banana Crepes.
Pancake Syrup
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter cut into tablespoons
- 1 cup light brown sugar lightly packed
- 1/16 teaspoon salt optional
- 1/2 cup hot water
- 1 up to 1-1/2 teaspoons pure maple extract see note 1
Instructions
- Add the butter, sugar, salt, and water to a medium pot over medium heat and bring to a boil. Stir occasionally. Once boiling, cook for 1 minute, stirring frequently.
- After 1 minute, turn heat to medium-low and simmer for 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Remove from heat, let stand for 5 minutes, then stir in extract, adding to taste (Start with 1 teaspoon—it’s always easy to add more!).
Video
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
