How to make cardamom syrup for coffee! This cardamom simple syrup recipe is so easy and perfect to add to a latte or cocktail! It's made with whole cardamom pods so it's full of flavor. I know you're going to love this cardamom syrup recipe!
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And if you like this cardamom simple syrup, you'll love my Starbucks Brown Sugar Syrup, my Starbucks Pumpkin Sauce, and my Pumpkin Spice Blend!
Cardamom Syrup Recipe
If you love warm, cozy flavors, this homemade cardamom syrup recipe is going to be your new favorite thing. It’s simple, quick, and adds the perfect floral sweetness to coffee, cocktails, or even baked treats. The subtle spice of cardamom makes everything feel a little more special, especially during the colder months.
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- Cardamom Syrup Recipe
- Cardamom Syrup for Coffee
- What do you use cardamom syrup for?
- What does cardamom taste like?
- Cardamom Syrup Ingredients
- Equipment
- Shop this recipe
- How to Make Cardamom Syrup
- How to Make Cardamom Syrup with Ground Cardamom
- Cardamom Honey Syrup
- Cardamom Syrup Uses
- Storage
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Top Tip
- Related
- Pairing
- 📖 Recipe
- 💬 Comments
Cardamom Syrup for Coffee
I love making at-home lattes and shaken espresso, and it's so fun to try new coffee syrups and cold foam when I make my DIY coffee drinks! Adding this cardamom simple syrup to your coffee adds a citrusy, floral flavor that goes so perfectly with vanilla, coffee, and sweet cream flavors.
What do you use cardamom syrup for?
There are so many cardamom syrup uses you can try! It's perfect for coffee and tea, adding a warm, spiced sweetness to every sip. Or add it to your favorite drink and make a cardamom syrup cocktail or mocktail!
You ca also try this homemade cardamom coffee syrup drizzled over pancakes, waffles, or ice cream, or use it to sweeten my shaken espresso and chai drinks. Brush it onto finished cakes like my chai cake, my eggnog pound cake, or my gluten free olive oil cake! It’s the easiest way to add rich, aromatic flavor to your favorite cardamom recipes.
What does cardamom taste like?
Cardamom has a warm, sweet, citrusy flavor with hints of spice and floral notes. It's an important flavor in masala chai, and it tastes a little like cinnamon and clove mixed with lemon and mint. Its unique flavor is perfect for cozy drinks, baked goods, and syrups.
In this cardamom syrup recipe, that flavor becomes smooth and aromatic, adding a subtle spice to all your coffee, tea, and cocktails!
Cardamom Syrup Ingredients
You can find the full list of ingredient measurements in the recipe card below, but here's a quick look at what you'll need:
- cardamom pods - for this recipe, we'll use green cardamom pods, which have a more floral, fruity aroma than black cardamom pods.
- water - makes up half of our simple syrup!
- sugar - to allow the cardamom to shine through, we'll use granulated sugar for a light sweetness. If you prefer light brown sugar instead of white sugar, that's fine too!
- vanilla - for the best flavor, I like to use pure vanilla extract. Or you can make your own! You can also use a split vanilla bean -- just steep it with the cardamom pods.
- salt - brings out all these amazing flavors!
Equipment
I like to use a mortar and pestle to break apart the cardamom pods, but you can also use the flat side of a knife. You'll need a small saucepan to simmer your syrup recipe, as well as a fine mesh sieve to strain your final syrup.
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Buy Now → How to Make Cardamom Syrup
The recipe card below will give you detailed step-by-step instructions and a recipe video! But here are the basic steps you'll follow to make this cardamom simple syrup:
Crush cardamom pods in a mortar and pestle or with the side of a knife, to expose the cardamom seeds inside.
Add water, along with pods and little black seeds, to a small saucepan and bring to a boil.
Cover, remove from heat, and let sit to allow cardamom to steep.
Add in sugar, and return to heat briefly, stirring, until sugar dissolves completely.
Stir in vanilla and salt.
Let cool, then strain syrup through a fine mesh strainer into an airtight container. I use an 8-ounce swing-top bottle.
Hint: Use a funnel to make it easier to transfer your cardamom vanilla syrup to your 8-ounce swing-top bottle!
How to Make Cardamom Syrup with Ground Cardamom
You can definitely make this recipe with ground cardamom -- just use two teaspoons of ground cardamom, and make the recipe as usual.
Then add a cheesecloth (folded into 2-4 layers) to your fine mesh sieve when straining your cardamom vanilla syrup so that you can sift out all of the ground cardamom from the final syrup.
Cardamom Honey Syrup
It's easy to make this cardamom simple syrup into a honey cardamom syrup! You'll just need to swap the granulated sugar for honey, then prepare the syrup as-is!
Cardamom Syrup Uses
There are so many cardamom syrup uses to put this simple syrup to good use!
I love adding a splash of cardamom syrup to a cup of coffee or cold brew -- add it to my cardamom latte, an iced coffee, or just use it to sweeten your regular brewed coffee! You can also use it in cocktails like a rum espresso martini!
You can also use it in savory dishes and brush it onto your cakes, like my Gluten Free Olive Oil Cake or my Lemon Sour Cream Pound Cake to add sweetness and a moister texture!
Storage
You can store your cardamom vanilla syrup in an 8-ounce swing-top bottle, or just a mason jar or any other airtight container. If it's an airtight, sturdy container, your syrup should last at least two weeks in the fridge.
Frequently Asked Questions
It’s sweet and slightly spicy, with hints of citrus and floral warmth. Think chai tea but more delicate.
Yes, but you'll want to add a couple layers of cheesecloth when straining your syrup to strain out all of the ground cardamom.
Yes, freeze it in ice cube trays and pop one out whenever you need a quick flavor boost.
It’s perfect in coffee, chai lattes, and cocktails. Try it with espresso, bourbon, or rum for a cozy twist.
They’re the same thing! This cardamom syrup is my favorite flavor of simple syrup. Both are made by simmering sugar, water, and cardamom pods to create a sweet, spiced syrup for drinks or desserts.
Once you master making your own simple syrup with cardamom whole pods, you can try lots of other flavors!
It easily can be! Just make sure you use organic cane sugar for a naturally vegan option.
Top Tip
Let your syrup steep for at least 15 minutes after simmering. The longer it sits, the deeper and more fragrant the flavor gets—perfect for coffee and cocktails.
Related
Looking for other recipes like this one? Try these:
Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with this recipe:
If you try this recipe, I would love it if you could leave a star review rating and comment below! It’s so wonderful hearing your feedback! And don’t forget to share your creations with me by tagging @chenee_today on Instagram!
📖 Recipe
Equipment you may need
- funnel
Ingredients
- 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
- 1 cup (237 ml) water
- 20-25 green cardamom pods - see note below for using ground cardamom
- 1 teaspoon (5 ml) pure vanilla extract - optional
- pinch salt - optional
Instructions
- If using whole cardamom pods, crush pods in a mortar and pestle or with the flat side of a knife. They should be open with the seeds inside visible.20-25 green cardamom pods
- Bring water and cardamom to a boil in a small saucepan over medium high heat.1 cup water
- Once boiling, remove from heat and let sit for 15-20 minutes to allow cardamom to steep into the hot water.
- Add sugar and bring back up to medium heat, stirring until sugar dissolves completely.1 cup granulated sugar
- Remove from heat and add vanilla and salt (if using). Let syrup cool completely, then strain through a fine-mesh sieve to an airtight container or bottle.1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract, pinch salt
Video
Notes
Chenée Lewis says
I love adding this syrup to my lattes! Hope you all love it as much as I do!