10 Syrup Recipes for Pancakes

You might be wondering why on Earth you’d need a list of syrup recipes when you can simply go to the store and buy a bottle of Karo or Mrs. Butterworth’s. 

The answer to that question is actually pretty simple: Not every syrup you’ll need can be easily bought at the store. 

For example, if you’re making cocktails, exotic desserts, and other recipes, the ingredients list sometimes calls for simple syrup, rose syrup, or blood orange syrup. 

How often have you been able to find those on your grocery store shelves?

Additionally, even the syrups you could buy – maple, strawberry, buttermilk – taste better when made from scratch. 

So, let’s check out 10 of the most popular syrup recipes. 

10 Simple Homemade Syrup Recipes For Pancakes, Cocktails, and More!

1. Strawberry Syrup

If you love fruit but have never had homemade strawberry syrup, get ready to become addicted!

Seriously, though, this sweet and tangy syrup is absolutely phenomenal.

First of all, it has less sugar than traditional pancake syrup but delivers even more flavor. 

Second, it takes only 15 minutes and 5 ingredients to make. And finally, it’s gorgeous and unbelievably delicious. It makes everything look and taste better. 

Whether you want to add it to the top of your pancakes, on a plain white cake, or your daily cup of yogurt, there’s nothing that doesn’t taste better with this syrup.

2. Maple Syrup

It’s true that you’ll probably never run into a serious maple syrup shortage at the grocery store. It’s one of those staples that every store keeps in stock. 

However, you never know! And as I’ve already mentioned, maple syrup tastes even better when you make it yourself.

Furthermore, it isn’t difficult to make at all, so why not give it a try?!

All you’ll need is about half an hour and the following four ingredients: brown sugar, granulated sugar, water, and imitation maple extract.

It takes 2 minutes to prepare and another 30 to cook.

Use it right away in whatever way you like to use maple syrup, or put it into a refrigerator-safe container and store it for up to a year. 

3. Homemade Buttermilk Syrup

I’m not sure there’s a better pancake topping out there than homemade buttermilk syrup.

It’s fantastic and tastes nothing like the cheap imitation you get in the stores. 

It’s thick, rich, sweet, and almost caramel-like (though not nearly so sweet). It does have that beautiful caramel color, though. 

Like all the syrups on this list, it’s effortless to make, requiring nothing more than buttermilk, light brown sugar, butter, vanilla, and baking soda.

You can have it ready in less than 15 minutes. 

4. Dutch Honey Syrup

Try Dutch honey syrup instead if you’re looking for a sugary sweet syrup that doesn’t have the classic maple flavor. 

With white sugar, table cream, butter, and vanilla, it has a much lighter color and flavor than maple or buttermilk syrups. It’s still just as delectable, though. 

It has a lovely golden yellow color and a delicate sweetness that tastes great on pancakes, waffles, scones, biscuits, and other similar treats. 

5. Vanilla Butter Syrup

Vanilla butter syrup is another name for Dutch honey syrup.

However, while this syrup tastes quite similar to the Dutch honey syrup above, it has a slightly different recipe and flavor. 

To make this one, you’ll need butter, brown sugar, half and half, honey, baking soda, and vanilla.

It has the same lovely golden yellow color and the same delicate sweetness.

However, surprisingly enough, this one has more of a honey taste than the Dutch honey syrup.

Still, they’re both spectacular, and you can use them practically interchangeably. 

6. Blonde Butter Syrup

Blonde butter syrup is one of the simplest syrups on the list to make, and all you’ll need is butter, sugar, and evaporated milk.

It has a pale, milky yellow color and tastes similar to Karo syrup. 

You almost can’t see it when you add it to pancakes because it blends in so well. You can certainly taste it, though. It’s thick, rich, and supremely buttery. 

I don’t know anyone who doesn’t love it. 

7. Brown Sugar Butter Syrup

This rich, dark brown syrup looks like it falls somewhere on the spectrum between maple syrup and chocolate sauce.

Its taste, though, is 100% brown sugar and butter goodness. 

If you want to make it more like maple syrup or one of the lighter syrups, you can add maple extract or vanilla extract. 

However, neither one of those things is necessary as this brown sugar butter syrup tastes delightfully decadent just as it is.

It also takes only 15 minutes to make. Serve it with these fluffy pumpkin pancakes and you’re on to a winner!

8. Rose Syrup

This gorgeous red syrup is as beautiful and as fragrant as it is tasty, and it’s incredibly tasty. 

The thing about rose syrup is that it smells so good, and you know that scent is one of the most powerful senses.

When something smells fantastic, you’re bound to enjoy eating it more. 

This rose syrup makes everything taste and smell better, and if you’re a fan of Indian food, then it’s practically a must-have ingredient. 

It uses quite a few more ingredients than most syrups on this list – sugar, water, fresh and dried rose petals, kewra water, lemon juice, beetroot (or pink food color), and rose water (or essence). 

Even so, it still only takes 25 minutes to make, and it’s simple enough that even a beginner could do it. 

9. Homemade Coconut Sugar Simple Syrup

If blonde butter syrup is one of the simplest syrups to make, this coconut sugar simple syrup is the simplest.

It uses only two ingredients: coconut sugar and water. 

You’ll simply combine the two ingredients over medium heat until they come to a low boil.

Then, once the sugar dissolves, remove the pan from heat and let the syrup cool.

You can store it for up to 6 months. It’s perfect for adding a tropical touch to desserts and dishes, but its most popular use is probably in cocktails. 

10. Orange Simple Syrup (Blood Orange Syrup)

Blood orange syrup is also super simple to make; the only reason I claim coconut sugar syrup is easier is that you have to go through the effort of juicing the oranges. 

Once you have your orange juice ready, though, you’ll simply add it to some granulated sugar and cook it in much the same way you would the coconut sugar syrup above. 

It takes no longer than 10 minutes to make, and you can use it as pancake syrup, in drinks, desserts, as an ice cream topping, and more. 

It’s sweet and tangy and has a bright reddish-orange color that’ll make your dishes look nice, too.