This is a recipe from the Tightwad Gazette. Is it cheaper than store bought syrup? I will crunch the numbers at the end. First, here is the recipe:
Pancake Syrup Recipe
3 cups Granulated Sugar
1 1/2 cups water
3 TBS. Molasses
1 tsp. Vanilla Flavoring
2 tsp. Butter Flavoring
1 tsp. Maple Extract
Combine all ingredients in a sauce pot. Place over medium high heat. Stir to dissolve sugar. Use a wet pastry brush to brush all the sugar crystals down the side of the pan.
Make sure there are no sugar crystals left. Any remaining sugar crystals may cause your syrup to crystalize
Without stirring, bring the syrup to a good rolling boil. It will bubble up a few inches. Boil for 30 seconds. Turn off heat. Leave syrup on burner until cooled. Bottle and store as you would "normal" syrup.
Is this syrup cheaper than the cheap-o store brand syrup?
You can cut costs if you source your ingredients at cheaper prices. This is what I paid for each ingredient at my sources.
4lb. bag of Zulka brand Cane Sugar from Walmart = $1.98
1qt. Golden Barrel brand Black Strap Molasses = $2.90
8oz. Imitation Vanilla Flavoring from Walmart = $0.98
2oz. McCormick brand Maple Extract from Walmart = $3.48
2oz. McCormick brand Butter Flavoring from Walmart = $3.48
This is the cost brake down for a batch of syrup:
3 cups Zulka brand Sugar = $0.73
3 TBS. Molasses = $0.14
1 tsp. Vanilla Flavoring (not extract) = $0.02
2 tsp. Butter Flavoring = $0.58
1 tsp. Maple Extract = $0.29
= $1.75 per batch
A batch totals 35 oz. of syrup. The cost per ounce of syrup = $0.05
The store brand syrup from Aldi cost $1.29 for 24oz. bottle, which comes to $0.05 per ounce.
It's a tie!
Like I said, you can source your ingredients cheaper and save (a tiny amount of) money by making your own pancake syrup. Or, you can save yourself the effort and buy cheap store bought syrup.
This syrup recipe tastes really good. If you are ever in a situation where you run out of syrup or can't buy any, now you know you can make your own with this recipe. :)
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| An Iris from a bouquet that I cut a couple weeks ago. :) |
Did you know I have made this from the same recipe in your childhood? It had more to do with running out of syrup when I already needed it. And it is nice to avoid high fructose corn syrup.
ReplyDeleteI did not remember this recipe. I do remember using a cinnamon syrup recipe when we ran out of store bought syrup sometimes. I think it called for corn syrup, though. It is nice that this syrup recipe avoids corn syrup.
DeleteWe used to make a similar recipe when I was younger too! It was just 1 C water, sugar, and brown sugar with 1 t maple flavoring. It might make it a little cheaper without the butter flavoring and vanilla!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the comment, A. Hartlaub! Your recipe does sound like it would be cheaper. Thank you for sharing it with the rest of us!
DeleteMy family loves pancakes to and I make our own syrup similar to yours. I've never added molasses to ours...I will have to try that. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you for the comment, Jennifer! If you are a fan of molasses, I recommend that you give it a try in your syrup. Some people don't really care for molasses, but I have always liked the flavor. :)
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