
May 5, 2020
updated
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While I love a good maple syrup drizzle over pancakes, the fun doesn’t stop there! I’m going to show you easy homemade syrup recipes you can use to take your pancakes to the NEXT LEVEL!

Each of the recipes below are made with real ingredients and include several options, everything from cinnamon to blueberry and strawberry!
Homemade Pancake Syrups
Around my house, we never get tired of the classic pancake breakfast, but sometimes I like to go big and set up a breakfast bar with several pancake topping ideas or make a batch of homemade pancake syrup.
A definite way to upgrade your pancake experience is the syrup. There’s nothing like a warm syrup drizzled over homemade pancakes, and if you haven’t experienced that, this is your chance! So let’s get on with the recipes!
Brown Sugar Syrup
If you’re looking for a homemade version of maple syrup that tastes just as rich and made with no corn syrup, this is it! While maple syrup is my go-to for breakfast, this Brown Sugar Syrup recipe is the PERFECT substitute for when you run out.
What goes in Brown Sugar Syrup?
- 2 cups brown sugar
- 1 cup of water
- ½ cup butter
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla or maple extract
You’ll find the recipe in this post, and once it’s cooked up, you’re ready to drizzle it over pancakes, waffles, french toast, and oats!

Cinnamon Syrup
This Cinnamon Syrup with a batch of Homemade Cinnamon Pancakes is pure comfort food or as I like to call it- a hug for breakfast!
All you need is one saucepot and three simple ingredients: ground cinnamon, cinnamon sticks, and maple syrup! Watch how easy this syrup is to create in the video:
Sugar-Free Syrup
If you’re doing paleo or low-carb, finding a sugar-free pancake syrup to go with those Paleo Pancakes can be tough. Most store-bought versions are laden with aspartame and sucralose, leaving a chemical after taste in your mouth- not the first thing you want to eat in the morning.
Here’s what you’ll need to make a simple and delicious sugar-free pancake syrup:
- 2 cups + 1 tablespoon water
- 2 cups powdered erythritol or xylitol
- 2 tablespoons Vanilla or Maple extract
- 6 tablespoons butter
- 1-2 teaspoons tapioca starch

How to Make Sugar Free Syrup
- Whisk the water, erythritol, vanilla, and butter in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat.
- Bring to a low boil before reducing the heat and simmering for 5 minutes, occasionally stirring until the butter and sugar is melted and the mixture combined.
- In a small bowl, whisk one tablespoon water with the tapioca starch until dissolved.
- Add the water and tapioca mixture to the syrup and stir until thickened.
- Use immediately and refrigerate leftovers in a glass jar or bottle for up to a month.
You can use any of your favorite keto-friendly sweeteners such as monk fruit of xylitol, but erythritol works the best for me when it comes to baking and cooking.
Also, if you’d like to make the other homemade pancake syrups in this post sugar-free, swap the original amount of sugar for equal parts erythritol or xylitol and proceed with the recipe.
Blueberry Syrup
While on a road trip, we made a stop at IHOP, where my kids fell in love with their variety of syrups, distinctly the blueberry syrup. This homemade fruit syrup version is made with only four ingredients, including real, fresh blueberries!
You know I’m not a fan of artificial flavors and high-fructose corn syrup, so I wanted to make a homemade version the kids would love just as much as the original, without the extra stuff. All you need to make this incredible fruit syrup is:
- Blueberries, fresh or frozen
- Honey or sugar
- Water
- Cornstarch or tapioca starch
Be sure to grab the full recipe for Blueberry Syrup here and watch the video below for special instructions on how to get the fruit syrup perfectly smooth.
Strawberry Syrup
Another family-favorite recipe that was inspired via IHOP and I like to make with the abundance of strawberries we get in the summer.
The Homemade Strawberry Syrup recipe tastes fresh and sweet without a lot of added sugars. It’s superior both in flavor and quality of ingredients which makes it something I feel good about serving my family.
Just like the blueberry syrup above this recipe only requires four ingredients:
- Strawberries
- Honey or sugar
- Water
- Cornstarch or tapioca starch
The syrup is super easy to make and in the video below, I’m going to show you how to make it with honey since that’s often requested for homemade syrups.
Best Pancake Recipes
Now that you have new homemade pancake syrups to try out, make sure you test each of them with one of these delicious pancake recipes!
- Fluffy Pancake Recipe
- Cinnamon Roll Pancakes
- Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free Pancakes
- Chocolate Pancakes
- Fluffy, Gluten-Free Pancakes
- Whole-Grain Pumpkin Pancakes
- Banana Bread Pancakes
- DIY Pancake Mix or Gluten-Free Pancake Mix

Best Pancake Syrup Recipes – Brown Sugar Syrup
Ingredients
- 2 cups brown sugar
- 1 cup water
- ½ cup butter
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla or maple extract
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, place the brown sugar and water. Bring mixture to a boil, while stirring, until the sugar has dissolved.
- Reduce the heat to medium and simmer for 4 minutes.
- Add the butter and stir until it has melted into the brown syrup. Turn off the heat, add the vanilla or maple extract, and stir.
- Serve immediately.
- Refrigerate leftovers in a jar and keep in the refrigerator for up to one month. To reheat, microwave in 15-second intervals, stir until the syrup is smooth, and has heated through.
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