It's hard to find a good healthy syrup for your pancakes, waffles and French toast. The grocery stores have shelves filled with pancake syrup, but they're loaded with high fructose corn syrup and preservatives. It's not the healthiest option. However, once you learn how easy it is to make your own homemade apple pancake syrup, you will never go back.
This recipe was featured in our lineup of quick and easy breakfast recipes. Check them out for more easy and delicious breakfast goodness!
This recipe comes together on the stove top in less than 15 minutes and makes enough to serve several people. Furthermore, it will keep very well in the fridge for the next time you make pancakes or waffles. With all of these benefits, you have every reason to try it. 🙂
🧾 Ingredients
This recipe uses only 7 ingredients, most of which you probably have in your pantry right now.
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 2 cups unsweetened apple juice
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- ¼ cup butter
It works best with fresh spices, but I wouldn't worry about it too much if your spices have been around for a little while.
Because you are adding sugar, you will want to use unsweetened apple juice or cider. The salted butter that you already have in your fridge is exactly what you want to use, and this is used to thicken it and add flavor. Some recipes call for cornstarch as a thickening agent, but butter is even better.
🗒️ Instructions
The path to homemade apple pancake syrup involves just two simple steps.
Step 1. On your stove top, combine sugar, flour, cinnamon and nutmeg in a 2-quart saucepan.
Step 2. Stir in cider and lemon juice and turn heat on to medium-high. Cook, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens and boils. Boil and stir 1 minute. Remove from heat. Stir in butter.
👪 Serving size
This recipe yields 2-¾ cups of syrup. One serving is about ¼ cup, which is enough for approximately 16 pancakes. It goes particularly well with our cinnamon oatmeal pancakes, and tastes great with these cornbread pancakes also.
🌡️ Storing and reheating
This syrup will keep well in your fridge for up to a month. Reheat in a microwave safe bowl for about 1-2 minutes on high setting. Stir after a minute and continue heating for an additional minute. In addition, you can reheat it on the stove top.
You can also store it in your pantry if you can it first. This step-by-step tutorial from Imaginacres will teach you how to can syrup. This guide is for maple syrup but the same steps can be applied here.
If you don't want to can it, you can freeze it instead. Allow the syrup to cool to room temperature, then pour the syrup into a glass mason jar, leaving a 1 inch headspace to allow for expansion during freezing. Put the lid on tightly and freeze. Important! If you do not wait for the syrup to cool to room temperature before putting it in the freezer, the extreme and abrupt temperature change can cause the mason jar to crack or even shatter. Your apple pancake syrup will keep in the freezer for up to a year. You can thaw it in the refrigerator and once opened, should be stored in the refrigerator and used within one month as noted above.
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Pancake and Waffle Recipes
This apple syrup recipe goes particularly well with these pancake and French toast recipes.
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If you love apples, you will love these!
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Recipe
Apple Pancake Syrup
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 2 cups unsweetened apple juice
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- ¼ cup butter
Instructions
- Combine sugar, flour, cinnamon and nutmeg in a 2-quart saucepan.
- Place the pan on your stove top and stir in cider and lemon juice. Turn heat on to medium-high. Cook, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens and boils. Boil and stir 1 minute. Remove from heat. Stir in butter.
Notes
Nutrition
References:
- Washington State University Extension "Preserving Berry Syrups at Home"
- Recipe from Betty Crocker's Best Recipes for Weekend Breakfasts
Shirley says
How long will it keep in fridge?
Sandra says
Hi Shirley,
It should last for a few days in the fridge in an airtight container. I wouldn't keep it longer than a week.
Brenda says
Could I use unsweetened apple cider in place of the apple juice?
Sandra says
Hi Brenda,
You certainly can. 🙂
Preston says
Just made this sauce and it is really tasty. I put it on pancakes and it made them taste better than ever. Easy to make too.
Sandra says
I'm so glad you enjoyed it!