How to Make Maple Syrup for Pancakes

 Learn how to make a pancake syrup recipe with brown sugar.  This imitation maple syrup tastes great, and it's very easy to make.  You can use your choice of flavorings to make vanilla or maple, and you can easily make it sugar free or reduced sugar.

Homemade Pancake Syrup Recipe With Brown Sugar

I try to limit as much high fructose corn syrup and food dyes as I can.  When my kids were little, that meant no imitation pancake syrup because they all had HFCS in them.

Of course, now there are HFCS free syrups, but I had to make my own homemade pancake syrup recipe or buy real maple syrup.  

Nothing beats the flavor of real maple syrup, but for a young family with several children, the cost can get high.

This simple pancake syrup recipe is quick and easy to make and tastes great.  I pretty much follow the same basic recipe, but sometimes I make my imitation maple syrup recipe with vanilla or butter extract.

This easy maple syrup recipe is a good one to save for when SHTF or when you can't find what you need at the store.  However, we make this imitation maple syrup recipe because we like it.

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What is Imitation Maple Syrup?

This easy maple syrup recipe is an imitation maple syrup recipe.  You can make it with maple flavoring to taste like maple syrup.

The brown sugar gives it an almost caramel flavor that complements the maple flavor.  You can use this as a direct substitute for maple syrup on pancakes or in recipes.  

Try brown sugar pancake syrup on these sourdough pancakes using discard.

What is a Replacement for Maple Syrup?

I've been there.  The pancakes are on the griddle, and you discover that you're out of pancake syrup.  That's when this basic pancake syrup recipe saves breakfast!

However, you can also use other things on your pancakes or waffles.  Try one of these substitutes:

• Honey
• Dandelion jelly tastes like honey, so it's delicious on pancakes.
• Try this apple cinnamon syrup canning recipe for a delicious fruit syrup.
• Apple butter and pumpkin butter are delicious on pancakes.  Try this easy pumpkin butter recipe, Crock Pot apple butter recipe, or cinnamon red hot apple butter.
• Use jam or jelly on pancakes.  Try my old fashioned apple and mint jelly recipe, low sugar apple cider jelly, low sugar blueberry jam, or learn how to make chia seed jam.
• Spread peanut butter on pancakes.
• Top with chocolate chips and let them melt slightly.

What's the Difference Between Maple Extract and Maple Flavoring?

You can use either maple extract or maple flavoring to make imitation maple syrup.  They are very similar, but they aren't the same thing.

Maple flavoring doesn't come from maple at all.  It's actually derived from fenugreek seeds.  Fenugreek seeds have a delicious maple aroma.  

Maple extract, however, is made from maple syrup.  It's made by infusing a thick maple syrup with alcohol, glycerin, or propylene glycol.  This removes the sugar and leaves behind just the essence of maple.

Extracts tend to be weaker than maple flavoring.  Maple extracts may also have some sugar in them, so read the labels carefully if you are avoiding sugar.

What is Imitation Maple Syrup Made Of?

My simple pancakes syrup recipe is made with white sugar, brown sugar, water, and flavoring.  I use either maple flavor or real vanilla extract.

You can also use DIY vanilla sugar to add a vanilla flavor without using the extract.

Make your own vanilla extract with vanilla beans or make Instant Pot vanilla extract.

How to Make Sugar Free Imitation Maple Syrup Recipe

This simple pancake syrup recipe is very easy to make sugar free or low sugar.  Since it uses both brown sugar and white sugar, you can replace the white sugar with Splenda with great results.  This cuts the sugar in half.

I recommend using Splenda for baking because it measures like sugar.  It does tend to really bubble up when you boil it, so use a large pan.

You can also use Splenda Brown Sugar Blend for the brown sugar or even use it for all of the sugar in this brown sugar pancake syrup.

Note though that Splenda Brown Sugar Blend is a blend of Splenda and brown sugar, so it's half of the calories.  

For a zero calories brown sugar replacement, try Swerve Sweetener Brown.  I have not used it, but it's highly rated for baking and cooking.

You can use Swerve for both the white sugar and the brown sugar for a sugar free imitation maple syrup.  

I have not made a sugar free homemade pancake syrup recipe.  I usually replace the white sugar with Splenda for baking and use real brown sugar.  Or I will use the Splenda brown sugar blend to replace both the white sugar and the brown sugar.

Basic Pancake Syrup Recipe Variations

I am sharing an easy maple syrup recipe with both white sugar and brown sugar.  I also use both vanilla extract and maple flavoring.  

However, there are some variations that you can make when learning how to make maple syrup for pancakes.

• Use real vanilla extract only.
• Use only maple flavoring.
• Add a splash of bourbon to bring out the vanilla flavor.
• Use almond extract for the vanilla or maple.
• Add a small amount of butter extract.
• Add 2 tablespoons of real butter while cooking for a buttery flavor.
• Use 2 cups of brown sugar and omit the white sugar.
• For thicker brown sugar pancake syrup, boil the water and sugar for 10 minutes.
• Use more or less vanilla or maple flavoring depending on your tastes.

How Long Does This Homemade Pancake Syrup Recipe Last?

Although sugar is a great natural preservative, it's not enough to preserve this simple pancake syrup recipe.  Store your brown sugar pancake syrup in the fridge for up to three weeks.  

This easy maple syrup recipe can crystalize in the fridge.  It's still fine to use, and the crystals will dissolve when you heat it.  

I store it in a mason jar and set the jar in hot water to warm it.  You can also use the microwave, but stir well and let it sit a few minutes so there aren't hot spots.

Homemade Pancake Syrup Recipe Ingredients

You will need the following ot make a simple pancake syrup recipe:

• 1 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 cup water
• 1/2 tablespoon real vanilla extract
• 1/2 tablespoon maple extract or maple flavoring
• 2 tablespoons salted butter, optional

How to Make Maple Syrup for Pancakes

Step #1

Add the brown sugar, white sugar, and water in a medium sized saucepan.  Heat over high or medium high heat until boiling.  Stir constantly so the sugars dissolve.

Step #2

Lower the heat to medium and let the brown sugar pancake syrup simmer for 3 minutes.  You can let it simmer for up to 10 minutes for a thicker syrup.

Step #3

Remove the imitation maple syrup from heat.  Add the butter if using and the flavor extracts.  Stir well.  Let cool for about 10 minutes.  Then pour into a mason jar or other container for storage.

You can use your simple pancake syrup recipe as soon as it cools.  Store leftovers in the fridge for up to three weeks.

Now you know how to make maple syrup for pancakes!

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