Whip up this simple apply syrup recipe in minutes! It’s made with store-bought apple juice and a handful of pantry staples you probably already have on hand. Serve with homemade whole wheat pancakes for a delicious breakfast!

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Oh my goodness, this apple syrup recipe is my favorite. And so, so easy! I can’t believe it’s taken me this long to post it. It tastes (and smells!) like heaven and fall. Or winter. Or any time of year, really. We enjoy this recipe year round. One year, my mom made dozens of pints to give away as neighbor Christmas gifts, and I remember being sad that we weren’t getting to keep it for ourselves–it’s that good. The good news is that it only takes a few minutes to prep and cook, and a 2-liter container of apple juice would make several batches (plenty for everyone!). If you’re looking for a simple and unique neighbor gift (because Christmas is approaching sooner than you might think), this syrup would be perfect! I love these Rubbermaid containers for storing liquids–plus, they’re cheap enough that I don’t feel bad giving them away!

The ingredients are so simple, and it’s really not a fussy recipe. Any brand of apple juice will do for this–I just found what was on sale at my grocery store. I use bottled lemon juice, but I’m sure you could use fresh if you wanted to. I used salted butter, but margarine or unsalted butter shouldn’t alter the taste too much. Moral of the story: just use what you already have on hand! 🙂

The steps of this recipe are even simpler: throw all the ingredients together in a saucepan, bring to a boil, stir in the butter and you’re done! The little bit of cinnamon and nutmeg, combined with the apple juice, make your house smell amazing while this is cooking! It smells like cold weather and cozy afternoons. All you’ll need, then, is a batch of homemade whole wheat pancakes and a Hallmark movie. Cozy pajamas (Walmart has some great $10 ones this year!) and a cute puppy (sorry, Chip’s not available for renting) would be a plus.

The perfect whole wheat pancakes to go with this easy apple syrup

These whole wheat pancakes are a Sunday-after-church favorite. The recipe is from Mormon Country Cooking by Winnifred C. Jardine, which I think is now out of print. I was lucky enough to find a copy at the Deseret Industries a few years ago for just a few dollars. And you can still get it on Amazon! If you don’t have this cookbook, I highly recommend it. There are some amazing recipes in here–can you say “world’s best gingersnaps”? (Actually, my parents’ copy of this cookbook automatically falls open to the gingersnaps page, because we made those so much growing up–that, and there’s like a pound of butter and sugar stuck to that page…)

Mmm…but back to this amazing (and easy!) apple syrup recipe!
I hope you love this as much as I do! And, seriously, it takes about 5 minutes to make. Easy and delicious.


Easy Apple Syrup
Ingredients
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 2 cups apple juice
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1/4 cup margarine or butter
Instructions
- Mix dry ingredients in a saucepan.
- Add juices to the mixture.
- Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally.
- Add butter until it melts and remove from heat. Keep refrigerated and reheat in the microwave when needed.
Enjoy!
What’s your favorite comfort food that you grew up with?


I just made the 5-Minute Apple Syrup and it is excellent! The spice combination is perfect, and the butter mellows all the flavors making this a delicious syrup. Thank you for the recipe!
Yay! I’m so glad you tried it, Paula. This is a family favorite for sure!
It tastes just like apple pie! It is delicious (even served over vanilla icecream – ask me how I know, haha!) Thanks again!