Homemade Emergency Pancake & Waffle Syrup with a Pancake or Waffle Recipe Included

Never run out of pancake syrup again. Make your own pancake and waffle syrup and always have a ready supply in just minutes. 

There were a few times over the years when I'd forget to buy pancake or maple syrup and of course wouldn't think of it again until I was making pancakes for the boys.  On those occasions I'd whip up a potful of homemade syrup and everyone was happy with breakfast.  It's not very hard to do and the taste is so similar to pancake syrup you'd hardly know the difference. Of course it doesn't taste like maple syrup so if you're a die-hard maple syrup fan this is not the recipe for you.  

This week Emily bought a cute little heart-shaped waffle iron and of course wanted to try it out as soon as we got home from the store.  I gave her half a recipe for pancakes and with very little help she mixed up the batter and started making the waffles.  But part way through the process we discovered there was no pancake syrup in the house. Oh, what to do? I told her not to worry I'd take care of that problem.  I cooked up a small pot of the homemade syrup and the day was saved.  

Some of Emily's and Ben's friends were in the yard (and in and out of the house) playing and were amazed at such wizardry. (I felt as if they were in awe of my kitchen magic.) I must have been asked half a dozen times how it was made. I kept telling them it was basically sugar and water boiled together and that's actually all there is to it.  Emily offered the waffles to anyone who wanted one and everyone agreed the waffles and the syrup were delicious.  The waffles and syrup were so good we decided to make them again for breakfast and write a blog post about them.

Here is the recipe for the syrup and I'm also including the waffle recipe that Emily used for her mini waffles. 

Printable recipe at end of post.

Pancake or Waffle Syrup

• 1 cup white sugar
• ½ cup brown sugar, dark or light
• Pinch of salt
• 1 cup water
• 1 or 2 teaspoons butter, optional
• ½  teaspoon vanilla, optional

How to make it:

In a medium sized saucepan, mix the sugars, salt and water together.  Place over medium high heat stir until the sugar dissolves and mixture comes to a gentle boil.  Boil without stirring about 15 minutes. Add the butter and vanilla if using and remove from the heat.  Serve hot or let cool to room temperature.  

If, when cool, the syrup is too thick add a tablespoon or two of hot water and stir well.  If, when cool, the syrup is too runny put it back in the pot and boil a few minutes longer. 

Makes about 1¼ cups of syrup.

Here's the Waffle recipe.  You can find the full recipe here.

Emily's Waffles

• 1 cup flour
• 2½ teaspoons baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1½ tablespoons sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 cup milk
• 2½ tablespoons oil

How to make it:

Preheat the waffle iron.

Mix the dry ingredients together.  Beat eggs, milk and oil together.  Gently stir the wet ingredients into the flour mixture and mix until almost smooth. A few lumps won't hurt.  Spoon the batter onto the waffle iron(s) and cook according to manufacturer's instructions.  This made about 18 little heart-shaped waffles.

You can cook the batter as pancakes as well.  Heat frying pan over medium heat and add about ½ tablespoon oil.  Fry pancakes until bubbles appear on the surface.  Turn and cook until golden brown.  Add more oil to the pan as needed.  

This will make about 6 medium pancakes.

Mix the sugars together in a medium-sized saucepan.

Don't forget to add a pinch of salt as this enhances the flavour.

Ben pours in the cup of water while I take the picture. 

Stir the sugars, salt and water together and place over a medium heat. Continue stirring until the sugar is dissolved.

Once the mixture comes to a gentle boil let it boil for about 15 minutes.  After 15 minutes add the vanilla and butter if you are using either of them and remove from the burner.  Let cool to room temperature or serve warm.  If you find the syrup is too thick or too thin this can be remedied by adding a tablespoon or two of hot water to make it thinner or to thicken boil it again for a few minutes 

While I was making the syrup Emily was busy making the cute little heart-shaped waffles.

When the syrup had cooled down I poured it in a bottle and Emily piled up the waffles for anyone who wanted one for breakfast.  I must admit I gobbled down four of the tasty little hearts drizzled with the homemade syrup.

Here's Emily plate of waffles.

Both the syrup and the waffles got a big thumbs up from Emily!

To print click on arrow upper right side.⇩