This Cardamom Syrup recipe is a great way to add warmth and spice to your iced coffee, craft mocktails and cocktails, tea, and more. Made with 3 simple ingredients: green cardamom pods, granulated sugar, and water, it is super easy to make and takes only minutes to make.
If you are looking for another way to use your cardamom pods, you have to try these Cardamom Spiced Coffee Cake Muffins!
A few years ago I was gifted green cardamom pods for Christmas, and believe it or not, but that was the first time I had cardamom that doesn’t come pre-ground and in a glass shaker bottle. I was so captivated by the unique spicy-sweet flavor that I became obsessed. If you haven’t tried some for yourself, you have got to!
What Is Cardamom?
Cardamom is a special spice because it is used in many different ways all over the world. In this recipe we use green cardamom pods which are shaped like spindles and filled with many small black seeds.
What Does Cardamom Taste Like?
Cardamom is a very strong and pungent flavored spice that tastes sweet, spicy, with hint of floral to it. If you have had chai spice, you have most definitely tasted cardamom. Cardamom pairs well with a lot of different flavors sweet and savory alike. Some common ones that go great with this Cardamom Simple Syrup are coffee, chocolate, cinnamon, coconut, ginger, plum, pear, apricot, apple, vanilla, and mulled wine.
Make It With Me! Watch This 30 Second Tutorial:
Ingredients for Cardamom Syrup
3 simple ingredients is all you will need to make the most authentic tasting Cardamom Simple Syrup without preservatives! Keep reading for a few notes and potential substitutions.
- Granulated Sugar: Any type of sugar will work in this recipe. I prefer granulated sugar because it is what I always have on hand and it has the most neutral taste.
- Water: Tap water, filtered water, bottled water… water is water so use what you prefer.
- Cardamom Pods: I use the green variety because they are the easiest to find in the U.S. Black cardamom pods will work as well but the flavor will be slightly altered as they do not taste the same as green cardamom pods.
How To Make Cardamom Syrup From Scratch
Here’s a short summary of the steps, the recipe card will have more details.
- Crush the cardamom pods lightly (using a mortar and pestle, rolling pin, or the flat side of a knife).
- Simmer together the sugar, water, and cardamom tops for about 10 minutes (stirring occasionally).
- Cover the saucepan with it’s lid, remove from the heat, and allow it to cool to room temperature.
- Strain the cardamom pods from the Cardamom Simple Syrup using a fine mesh strainer.
- Store in an airtight container or glass bottle in the refrigerator for up to a month.
How to Use Cardamom Syrup
I know what you are thinking… how do I use this syrup? Well there are many ways, but here is a few to get your gears turning.
- in craft mocktails, cocktails, lemonade, and other drinks
- as a sweetener in your coffee and cold brew
- to enhance the flavors of teas like black tea or chai tea
- as a syrup to moisten baked goods: cake layers, quick breads, etc.
- flavor homemade whipped cream by adding a splash to it
Drink Recipes To Try It In:
- Espresso Martini Mocktail (substitute the simple syrup and you have a no alcohol Cardamom Espresso Martini)
- Earl Grey Milk Tea (substitute the simple syrup for this recipe)
- Cranberry Pear Mimosa (try a splash of cardamom syrup in this for another layer of flavor)
- Apple Cider Mule Mocktail (try a splash in this mocktail)
- Sweet Tea Harvest Punch
- In this Best Chai Tea from my friend Elise
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)
Cardamom pods can easily be found at your local grocery store in the spice aisle. If you are unable to find them, they can also be bought online. These are the ones I buy on Amazon.
I do not recommend using ground cardamom in this recipe because the flavor just isn’t the same. Without the essential oil of the cardamom in the pod and seeds, it loses its flavor quickly and does not steep very well in the syrup.
I like to follow this rule: For every 8 to 10 ounces of liquid add 1 tablespoon of the simple syrup. Be sure to test your drink before adding more Cardamom Simple Syrup because cardamom can become overpowering very quickly.
More Simple Syrup Recipes You Might Enjoy:
- Peppermint Simple Syrup
- Cinnamon Simple Syrup
- Strawberry Simple Syrup using discard strawberry tops
- Vanilla Simple Syrup
- Jalapeno Simple Syrup
- Grenadine (Pomegranate Simple Syrup)
- Simple Syrup
- Caramel Simple Syrup
- Browse all my simple syrup recipes here!
Thanks for dropping in! Be sure to SUBSCRIBE to my weekly newsletter for fun NEW CONTENT and CONVERSATION delivered to your inbox. If you love this recipe save it now so you can find it later. Thank you for your support!
Cardamom Syrup
EQUIPMENT
- Small Saucepan with Lid
- fine mesh sieve
- glass jar - or other airtight syrup container
INGREDIENTS
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup water
- 20-30 cardamom pods - green
INSTRUCTIONS
- Lightly crush the green cardamom pods. I use a mortar and pestle but a rolling pin or the flat side of a knife will crush them as well.
- To a small saucepan add the sugar, water, and crushed cardamom.
- Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce to a simmer, cook for 10 minutes.
- Remove from heat, cover with a lid, and allow the Cardamom Simple Syrup cool to room temperature.
- Using a fine mesh strainer, strain the cardamom pods from the syrup and pour into an airtight glass bottle or container.
- Refrigerate for up to one month.
VIDEO
RECIPE NOTES
Storing Information:
- Refrigerated in an airtight container or glass jar, up to one month.
- Freeze into cubes and then in a plastic bag, up to a year.
Metric conversions are calculated automatically. I cannot guarantee the accuracy of this information.
I can’t believe how much flavour you get out of a few pods and 10 minutes cooking.
My daughter is obsessed with chia lattes! That syrup costs a fortune. So adding this to whipped cream gave her an extra boost of flavour and meant she needed less spiced latte syrup!!!
It tasted so good! I can’t wait to bake with it. Great recipe!
I wonder can I make chai syrup????
Hey Claire;
I definitely think you could easily turn this into chai! Whether than means steeping some chai tea bags into the sugar and water OR using whole chai spice.
I feel like I need to try it now!
~Elizabeth
This is so tasty and versatile! I love using it to sweeten chai tea. Thanks for another winner!
The combination of warm, spicy cardamom in a sweet, sticky syrup is pure perfection.
Not only is this syrup amazing on its own, but it’s the perfect addition to my morning iced coffee. I added just a splash of the syrup to my cold brew, which completely elevated the whole experience. It’s like a little taste of luxury to start my day!
Thanks for this Cardamom Syrup recipe! I have been having it in my coffee all week. Delicious!
This cardamom syrup was so easy to make and so delicious! It is versatile and has so many great uses.