Apple syrup is a sweet, thick syrup made by reducing apple cider down to a concentrated, sugary liquid. It has a rich apple flavor and can be used as a topping for pancakes and waffles, mixed into drinks, or used in baking.
Ingredients
The main ingredients needed to make apple syrup are:
- Apple cider – The base of apple syrup is pure, sweet apple cider. Use a high quality, fresh pressed cider for the best flavor.
- Sugar – A small amount of white sugar is added when reducing the cider to help thicken the syrup.
- Spices – Spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice are commonly added to give apple syrup more warmth and flavor.
Reducing the Cider
Making apple syrup involves slowly cooking down apple cider until much of the water content has evaporated, leaving behind the sugars and apple flavor condensed down into syrup form. Here is the process:
- Start with about 1 gallon of fresh apple cider and pour it into a large pot or saucepan. Add 1 cup of white sugar.
- Add any spices you want for flavoring like cinnamon sticks, sliced ginger, star anise, or allspice berries.
- Bring the cider to a boil over high heat, then reduce to a gentle simmer.
- Allow the cider to simmer, uncovered, for 60-90 minutes. Stir frequently as it reduces.
- The cider will slowly thicken into a syrup consistency as the water evaporates. When reduced by about two thirds or more, it is ready.
- Remove from heat and carefully strain out the spices.
The long simmering evaporates water content, leaving the sugars and apple flavor condensed down significantly. 1 gallon of cider will reduce down to about 1 1/2 to 2 cups of syrup.
ResultingNutritional Information
The nutritional information for a 2 tablespoon serving of apple syrup is:
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | 121 |
| Total Fat | 0 g |
| Sodium | 5 mg |
| Total Carbohydrates | 30 g |
| Sugars | 27 g |
| Protein | 0 g |
As you can see, apple syrup is high in natural sugars from the apples and does not contain any fat. The sugar content is similar to other liquid sweeteners like maple syrup, honey, and molasses. However, apple syrup has a delicious, pure apple taste.
Storage
Apple syrup should be stored in a tightly sealed jar in the refrigerator after opening. It will keep for several months. The high sugar content prevents microbial growth. For longer term storage, apple syrup can be canned through a water bath canning method. The jars of syrup can be stored in a cool, dark place for up to a year.
Uses for Apple Syrup
Apple syrup has many great uses as a sweetener. Here are some ways to use it:
- Pancake and waffle topping – Drizzle on pancakes, waffles, or French toast instead of maple syrup for an apple cinnamon flavor
- Oatmeal and yogurt – Sweeten up a bowl of oatmeal or yogurt by stirring in a spoonful of apple syrup
- Baked goods – Use as a sugar substitute in recipes for muffins, quick breads, coffee cakes and more
- Apple butter or jam – Blend apple syrup with pureed or minced apples to make apple spreads
- Cocktails and drinks – Add to coffee, tea, cider, sangria, and fall cocktails
- Glazes and sauces – Use to make barbecue sauces, marinades, and glazes for meats or vegetables
- Frozen treats – Blend into ice cream or sorbet recipes, or swirl into yogurt pops
Baking With Apple Syrup
Apple syrup can be substituted 1:1 for granulated sugar or other liquid sweeteners in baking recipes. However, the extra liquid from the syrup may require adjusting other wet ingredients. Typically, for every 1 cup of sugar replaced with 1 cup syrup, reduce any milk or other liquids by 2-3 tablespoons.
Since apple syrup contributes sweetness and moisture, you can typically reduce both sugar and liquids slightly in a recipe when using it. The apple flavor will come through in the final baked good. Apple syrup works especially well in muffins, cakes, breads, cobblers and pies.
Nutrition vs. Other Sweeteners
Compared to white sugar, apple syrup has slightly more overall nutrition, since it is made from apple cider which contains some vitamins and minerals from the apples. However, like other liquid sweeteners, it is still high in sugar and calories. One benefit is that the sugars are from fruit, not processed sugar. Here is a nutrition comparison of 2 tablespoons of sweeteners:
| Sweetener | Calories | Sugar (g) |
|---|---|---|
| Apple syrup | 121 | 27 |
| Maple syrup | 132 | 24 |
| Honey | 122 | 26 |
| White sugar | 120 | 29 |
As you can see, apple syrup is very comparable nutritionally to alternatives like maple syrup and honey. But it provides more apple flavor!
Conclusion
Apple syrup is made by slowly simmering down fresh apple cider until it becomes a thick, sweet syrup loaded with apple flavor. The resulting syrup contains the concentrated sugars from the apples along with cinnamon and spice flavors. It can be used just like maple syrup or honey as a sweetener for drinks, baked goods, yogurt, oatmeal and more. Apple syrup is a delicious way to add sweetness and apple taste to foods and beverages.