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Homemade Pumpkin Spice Syrup

October 8, 2025 · In: Fall, Featured, Recipes, Seasonal

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I love pumpkin flavored everything, which is why you’ll find a good amount of baking recipes that use canned pumpkin on my blog. It’s rare to find a recipe that uses the entire can of pumpkin (my easy pumpkin sheet cake is an exception!), so oftentimes I find myself with leftover pumpkin puree this time of year. My favorite thing to do with it is make this pumpkin spice syrup for my coffee! It’s so easy to whip up with simple ingredients and is perfect for homemade pumpkin spice lattes, brushing on cake layers, pouring onto pancakes, or gifting to your friends and family. 

homemade pumpkin spice syrup recipe

Pumpkin Spice Syrup Ingredients

  • Pumpkin puree. For an all-natural pumpkin flavor. 
  • Granulated sugar + brown sugar. Both sugars help sweeten the pumpkin spice syrup, but the brown sugar adds a little more depth and coziness to the flavor. 
  • Spices. I use cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves to enhance the pumpkin flavor and create the perfect amount of warmth. 
  • Vanilla extract. A little vanilla perfectly rounds out all the flavors. 
  • Water. Equal parts water and sugar make this the perfect syrup consistency. 

How to Make Pumpkin Spice Syrup

Making homemade pumpkin spice syrup is surprisingly easy! Here’s how to do it from start to finish: 

Step 1: Boil the ingredients. Add all of the ingredients into a medium saucepan set over medium heat and stir to combine. Keep stirring the mixture occasionally until it starts to boil.

pumpkin spice syrup ingredients
boiling pumpkin spice simple syrup in a saucepan

Step 2: Strain. Set a fine mesh sieve over a large glass measuring cup or jar, then pour the pumpkin spice syrup through the sieve to strain out the thicker ingredients. 

straining pumpkin spice simple syrup through a fine mesh sieve

Step 3: Store. Pour the strained syrup into an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. It will thicken a little bit more in the refrigerator as it cools.  

How to Use Pumpkin Spice Syrup

This pumpkin spice syrup is super versatile! Here are some of my favorite ways to use it, starting with my favorite way: 

  • Add 1-2 Tablespoons to coffee or a homemade latte to make it pumpkin spice flavored. I like to add oat milk to mine as well, but you do you!
  • Brush it onto cake layers for a pumpkin-flavored soak. 
  • Pour it over waffles or pancakes in place of maple syrup. 
  • Swirl it into yogurt or oatmeal as a Fall inspired sweetener. 
  • Whip it up with heavy whipping cream to create pumpkin spice whipped cream.
  • Double the recipe, pour it into cute jars, and give it to your friends and family as holiday gifts!  
homemade pumpkin spice syrup recipe for coffee

More Baking Ideas for Leftover Pumpkin Puree

If you’re looking for more ways to use your leftover pumpkin puree, here are some other recipes from my blog you’ll love: 

  • Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
  • Pumpkin Cupcakes
  • No-Bake Pumpkin Cheesecake
  • Pumpkin Layer Cake 
  • Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cake

I hope you love this pumpkin spice syrup as much as I do! Let me know if you make it in the comments below, I’d love to hear what you do with it. You can also tag @sugarandsparrowco on Instagram to show me!

pumpkin spice syrup recipe

Pumpkin Spice Syrup

Easy homemade pumpkin spice syrup for adding to coffee, brushing onto cake layers, pouring over pancakes and waffles, and more! It's the best use of leftover pumpkin puree and uses all natural ingredients for the perfect pumpkin flavor.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time:5 minutes mins
Cook Time:10 minutes mins
Cooling Time:1 hour hr 30 minutes mins
Total Time:1 hour hr 45 minutes mins
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Servings: 1.25 Cups

Ingredients

  • 1/4 Cup (63g) pumpkin puree*
  • 1/2 Cup (100g) packed brown sugar light or dark
  • 1/2 Cup (100g) granulated sugar
  • 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 tsp ground ginger
  • 1/4 tsp ground cloves
  • 1 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 1 Cup water

Instructions

  • In a medium saucepan set over medium heat, add all of the ingredients and whisk to combine. Continue whisking occasionally until the mixture begins to boil, then remove it from the heat.
  • Set a fine mesh sieve over a large glass measuring cup or wide-mouth jar. Then, carefully pour the pumpkin spice syrup through the sieve to strain out any large clumps of ingredients.
  • Transfer the pumpkin spice syrup into an airtight container and let it cool in the refrigerator to thicken, about 1-2 hours, before using. It will last two weeks in the refrigerator. Shake well before using.

Notes

*Be sure to use canned pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie mix. Pumpkin should be the only ingredient listed on the can. 
Making Ahead: this pumpkin spice syrup can be made ahead and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. Shake well before using and enjoy! 

By: Whitney · In: Fall, Featured, Recipes, Seasonal · Tagged: pumpkin spice latte, pumpkin spice syrup

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Comment RECIPE and I’ll send it to you! Or find it linked in my bio + at https://sugarandsparrow.com/caramel-apple-cupcakes/

#applecupcakes #saltedcaramel #caramelcupcakes #fallbaking #caramelapple
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Full recipe (and the black cocoa powder I use!) is linked in my bio and at https://sugarandsparrow.com/dye-free-black-buttercream/
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DYE-FREE BLACK BUTTERCREAM⁣⁣
Yield: 2.5 Cups⁣⁣
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INGREDIENTS:⁣⁣
1 Cup (226g) unsalted butter, room temp
2 1/2 Cups (300g) powdered sugar⁣⁣
1/2 Cup (56g) EXTRA DARK black cocoa powder⁣⁣*
1 tsp pure vanilla extract⁣⁣
2 Tbsp whole milk, room temp
pinch of salt⁣⁣
⁣⁣
INSTRUCTIONS:⁣⁣
1. In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, whip the butter on medium speed until creamy and light in color, 4 min. Add half of the powdered sugar and mix on low until just combined, then add the rest of the powdered sugar. With the mixer still in the off position, sift in the black cocoa powder and add the vanilla, milk, and salt. Mix on low until all ingredients are thoroughly combined, 2-3 minutes, scraping down the bowl and paddle as needed.⁣⁣
2. Place the buttercream in an airtight container and allow the color to deepen for 24 hours or more. ⁣⁣

*I use a brand called The Cocoa Trader that I get on Amazon. It’s the darkest black cocoa powder I’ve seen so far!!
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#blackbuttercream #naturalfoodcoloring #blackcake #buttercream #blackcocoapowder
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Comment RECIPE and I’ll send you the full recipe (with thick and stable cream cheese frosting!) or find it linked in my bio + at https://sugarandsparrow.com/small-batch-pumpkin-cake/ 

INGREDIENTS 
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1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp allspice
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/8 tsp ground ginger
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2 Tbsp (25g) granulated sugar
1/3 Cup (80ml) vegetable oil or melted butter
1 large egg, room temp
1/2 Cup (125g) canned pumpkin puree
1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract

INSTRUCTIONS
1. Preheat the oven to 350ºF (177ºC). Grease and line three 4-inch cake pans or one 6-inch cake pan.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, and ground ginger. Set aside.
3. In a separate medium bowl, add the brown sugar, granulated sugar, vegetable oil (if using melted butter in place of the oil, cool it for 5-10 minutes prior to adding here), egg, pumpkin puree, and vanilla extract. Whisk together until uniform, then add the flour mixture and whisk until smooth.
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https://sugarandsparrow.com/fall-baking-recipes/

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Comment RECIPE to get the full recipe (with frosting + cake decorating tutorial) or find it linked in my bio and at https://sugarandsparrow.com/pumpkin-layer-cake-recipe/

INGREDIENTS
2 Cups (265g) all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp allspice
1 tsp nutmeg
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1/2 Cup (100g) granulated sugar
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4 large eggs, room temp
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2 tsp pure vanilla extract

INSTRUCTIONS
1. Preheat the oven to 350ºF (177ºC). Grease and line three 6-inch or two 8-inch cake pans.
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#pumpkincake #creamcheesefrosting #layercake #cake #fallbaking

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