There are two "parties" of people (and no, I'm not talking politics)...
1. people who start celebrating Christmas as soon as humanly possible,
vs.
2. people who want to drag the fall season out for as long as they can.
Honestly, I shouldn't say "vs"... these two camps can and have coexisted peacefully over the years. Me? I'm team #2, through and through. We've never put up our Christmas tree or decorations before Thanksgiving. I blame it on my Florida residency... it still feels like a sweltering summer until around December. I can't for the life of me get into the Christmas spirit when temps are in the high 80s... it's unfathomable.
But, I understand that if the standard is to wait for perfect weather, we Floridians might miss Christmas completely! I also get that in a year like 2020, we need as much joyful distraction as we can get.
Regardless, it's mid-November and I'm still thriving with all things Fall. E and I are still reading fall-themed books, doing fallish activities, gonna hit up the pumpkin patch soon, and I am currently living for all the fall recipes.
That's why I want to share with you my homemade Pumpkin Spice Simple Syrup! As an added bonus, this recipe will yield some pumpkin butter as a by-product! So consider this a two-for-one special.
Why Homemade Instead of Store Bought?
My cooking style is definitely minimal. I don't like complicated. I am drawn to recipes and ideas that require as few ingredients as possible. And I get especially excited when I get a recipe idea and happen to already have all the ingredients on hand.
So, one afternoon when G wanted to go to the store to buy pumpkin simple syrup for a cocktail idea he had, I jumped into action. I figured I could whip something up for cheaper (and with fewer added ingredients/chemicals) than you could get at the store. Turns out I already had all the ingredients necessary! And y'all... it turned out GOOD. This Pumpkin Spice Simple Syrup is perfect for a fall-themed cocktail, to add a flavor-kick to your morning latte, to mix into pancake batter... the uses are endless.
How to make Pumpkin Spice Simple Syrup
Ingredients
1/2 cup canned pumpkin puree
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup raw cane sugar (white sugar works, too!)
1 teaspoon pumpkin spice
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup water
Tools
Fine mesh strainer
Mason jar / canning jar with lid
Directions
Combine all ingredients in a medium saucepan.
Bring to a boil.
Reduce heat slightly and simmer for 5 minutes.
Strain the mixture through a fine mesh strainer into the jar.
Keep the thick puree left behind in the strainer... this is your pumpkin butter!
Seal jar tightly and store in the refrigerator.
Also store the pumpkin butter in a sealed container. Spread on toast, pancakes, waffles, anything!
Shake before using Pumpkin Spice Simple Syrup.
How about you? Are you already living in the land of gingerbread and peppermint, or still riding hard with pumpkin spice? Let me know in the comments!
Holding on to fall just a little longer,
