Cinnamon Dolce Syrup: Easy Homemade Coffee Syrup

Cinnamon dolce syrup combines warm cinnamon, brown sugar, vanilla, and a light caramel flavor in one easy homemade coffee syrup. It is especially good in lattes, iced coffee, cold brew, and espresso drinks when you want something sweeter and more aromatic than plain simple syrup.

The recipe is simple enough for a weekday coffee routine and can be made ahead for several drinks. For more homemade flavors, try our gingerbread syrup for coffee and pumpkin spice syrup for coffee.

What Is Cinnamon Dolce Syrup?

“Dolce” simply means sweet. In coffee drinks, cinnamon dolce usually refers to a sweet cinnamon syrup with caramel-like notes. Brown sugar gives this version more depth than white sugar alone, while vanilla rounds out the spice.

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup light brown sugar
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup water
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Pinch of salt

How to Make Cinnamon Dolce Syrup

1. Add both sugars, water, and cinnamon sticks to a small saucepan.
2. Heat over medium heat and stir until the sugar dissolves.

3. Simmer gently for 5 minutes.

4. Remove from heat and allow the cinnamon sticks to steep for 10 minutes.
5. Remove the cinnamon sticks, then stir in vanilla and salt.

6. Cool before bottling and refrigerating.

The steeping step gives the cinnamon dolce syrup a more rounded cinnamon flavor without relying on a large amount of ground spice.

How Much to Use in Coffee

Start with 1 tablespoon per 8-ounce drink. A 12- to 16-ounce latte may need 1 1/2 to 2 tablespoons depending on your preferred sweetness. For a strong espresso drink, the syrup can be slightly more concentrated without tasting overly sweet.

Best Ways to Use It

• Iced cinnamon dolce latte

• Hot cinnamon latte
• Cold brew with cream
• Brown sugar shaken espresso
• Iced coffee with oat milk
• Vanilla cold foam with cinnamon syrup

Ground Cinnamon or Cinnamon Sticks?

Cinnamon sticks create a smoother syrup with less sediment. Ground cinnamon works, but it may settle at the bottom of the bottle. If using ground cinnamon, start with 1/2 teaspoon and strain the syrup through a fine mesh sieve after cooling.

Storage

Store the syrup in a clean sealed jar in the refrigerator. For best flavor and quality, use a small batch within about 1 to 2 weeks. Discard if the syrup develops mold, fermentation, unusual bubbling, or an off smell.

Flavor Variations

• Extra vanilla: add 2 teaspoons vanilla extract.
• Spiced dolce: add a tiny pinch of nutmeg.
• Dark brown sugar version: replace light brown sugar with dark brown sugar for more molasses flavor.
• Maple cinnamon: replace 2 tablespoons sugar with pure maple syrup.

Recipe Card

Recipe: Cinnamon Dolce Syrup

Prep Time: 2 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Steep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 17 minutes
Yield: About 1 1/2 cups

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup light brown sugar
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup water
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Pinch of salt

Instructions

1. Combine sugars, water, and cinnamon sticks.
2. Heat until dissolved, then simmer gently for 5 minutes.
3. Remove from heat and steep 10 minutes.
4. Remove cinnamon sticks and stir in vanilla and salt.
5. Cool and refrigerate.

Calories Card

Estimated calories: about 45 calories per tablespoon.

Nutrition Card

Approximate nutrition per 1 tablespoon: 45 calories, 12 g carbohydrate, 11 g sugar, 0 g fat, 0 g protein. Values are estimates.

Recipe Development & E-E-A-T Notes

This recipe uses cinnamon sticks for a clean infusion and a blend of brown and white sugar for balanced sweetness. The ratios are designed for easy home preparation and consistent mixing in hot or cold drinks.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is cinnamon dolce syrup the same as cinnamon syrup?

They are similar, but cinnamon dolce syrup usually has a sweeter, richer profile with brown sugar and vanilla notes.

Can I make it without brown sugar?

Yes. Use all white sugar, but the flavor will be lighter and less caramel-like.

Does it work in iced coffee?

Yes. Because the sugar is already dissolved, it mixes easily into cold coffee and iced lattes.

More Homemade Coffee Syrups

Keep building your homemade coffee bar with our vanilla syrup for coffee, brown sugar syrup for coffee, and maple syrup for coffee.

Final Thoughts

Homemade cinnamon dolce syrup is an easy way to make cinnamon dolce lattes, iced cinnamon coffee, cold brew, and brown sugar espresso drinks at home. The brown sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla combination gives a coffeehouse-style flavor without requiring a long ingredient list.

Follow us on Instagram for more coffee syrups and café-style drinks.

Follow us on Pinterest for more recipes and cooking ideas.