Homemade Peanut Butter Syrup (Dunkin’ Copycat)

If you’ve tried Dunkin’s Peanut Butter Swirl Syrup, you know how surprisingly delicious peanut butter is in coffee.

It’s creamy, nutty, lightly sweet, but unfortunately, it’s only available for a limited time, which meant I had to figure out how to recreate it at home.

After several rounds of recipe testing, I finally found the perfect method, and surprisingly, it wasn’t the one I expected.

I Tested Three Different Versions

Before landing on this recipe, I tested three different ways to make peanut butter syrup:

  • Creamy peanut butter
  • Powdered peanut butter
  • Peanut butter extract

The version made with creamy peanut butter tasted great, but because of the natural oils, the syrup got thick, chunky, and for lack of a better word, gross.

The peanut butter extract version smelled great but lacked the authentic roasted peanut flavor I was looking for.

The clear winner was powdered peanut butter.

It created a smooth syrup, dissolved beautifully in drinks, and delivered the rich roasted peanut flavor that reminded me most of Dunkin’s Peanut Butter Swirl.

If you’re making homemade coffee syrups, trust me, powdered peanut butter is the way to go!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • Inspired by Dunkin’s Peanut Butter Swirl
  • Made with just 5 simple ingredients, all of which you can find at the grocery store
  • Smooth texture without oily separation
  • Ready in about 20 minutes
  • Delicious in hot or iced beverages
  • Perfect for lattes, shaken espressos, cold foam drinks, and frappes

Ingredients

  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup water
  • ⅓ cup powdered peanut butter
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Equipment

  • Medium saucepan
  • Whisk
  • Fine mesh strainer
  • Heat-safe jar or bottle

How to Make Homemade Peanut Butter Syrup

Step 1: Simmer

Add the granulated sugar, water, powdered peanut butter, and salt to a medium saucepan.

Whisk until combined, then bring the mixture to a gentle simmer over medium heat.

Simmer for about 10 minutes, keeping an eye on the syrup so it doesn’t bubble over.

Step 2: Strain

Pour the syrup through a fine mesh strainer into a heat-safe container.

This removes any tiny peanut butter particles and creates a silky smooth syrup.

Step 3: Finish

While the syrup is still warm, stir in the vanilla extract.

Allow the syrup to cool completely before transferring it to a bottle.

Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks.

Before using, give the bottle a quick shake, and then use in any recipe of choice.

Sugar-Free Peanut Butter Syrup

For a lower sugar version, replace the granulated sugar with:

  • 1 cup allulose
  • Keep all remaining ingredients the same.

Since allulose doesn’t crystallize like regular sugar, the syrup stays smooth, pourable, and still develops a rich peanut butter flavor.

Simply prepare the syrup exactly as written above.

My Favorite Drinks to Make

Dunkin’ Peanut Butter Shaken Espresso

Ingredients

  • 1–2 tablespoons peanut butter syrup
  • 2 shots espresso
  • Ice
  • 6–8 ounces milk of choice

Instructions

  1. Add the peanut butter syrup, espresso, and ice to a mason jar.
  2. Secure the lid and shake until chilled and frothy.
  3. Pour into a glass and finish with your favorite milk.

Dunkin’ Fluffernutter Cloud Latte

A nostalgic twist inspired by the classic peanut butter and marshmallow sandwich.

Latte

  • 1–2 tablespoons peanut butter syrup
  • 2 shots espresso
  • 6–8 ounces milk of choice
  • Ice

Marshmallow Cold Foam

Instructions

  1. Add the peanut butter syrup to a glass.
  2. Brew the espresso directly over the syrup and stir until combined.
  3. Add the milk and ice.
  4. In a separate cup, combine the marshmallow syrup, milk, and heavy cream.
  5. Froth using a handheld milk frother until thick and creamy.
  6. Pour over the latte and enjoy.

Dunkin’ PB&J Cloud Latte

If peanut butter and jelly was your favorite sandwich growing up, you’ll absolutely love this one.

Latte

  • 1–2 tablespoons peanut butter syrup
  • 2 shots espresso
  • 6–8 ounces milk of choice
  • Ice

Strawberry Cold Foam

Instructions

  1. Add the peanut butter syrup to a glass.
  2. Brew the espresso directly over the syrup and stir well.
  3. Add the milk and ice.
  4. Combine the strawberry syrup, milk, and heavy cream in a separate cup.
  5. Froth using a handheld milk frother until thick and creamy, then pour over the latte, and enjoy!

Flavor Pairings

One of my favorite things about this syrup is how many flavors it pairs beautifully with.

Try combining it with:

  • 🍫 Chocolate
  • 🤍 White chocolate
  • 🍌 Banana
  • ☁️ Marshmallow
  • 🍓 Strawberry
  • ❤️ Raspberry
  • 🍮 Caramel
  • 🍯 Honey
  • 🍁 Maple
  • 🍪 Cookie butter
  • 🥥 Coconut
  • 🍦 Vanilla

There are endless possibilities, making this one of the most versatile homemade syrups you’ll have in your refrigerator.

Tips for the Best Peanut Butter Syrup

  • Powdered peanut butter creates the smoothest texture.
  • Use a fine mesh strainer for an extra silky syrup.
  • Don’t skip the vanilla, it rounds out the peanut flavor.
  • Store refrigerated for up to 3 weeks.
  • Shake before each use.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use regular peanut butter?

You can, but I don’t recommend it.

Natural oils cause the syrup to separate and create an oily, thick, less smooth consistency.

Why use powdered peanut butter?

Powdered peanut butter gives you concentrated roasted peanut flavor without excess oils, resulting in a syrup that’s much closer to commercial coffee syrups.

Can I use this in cold foam?

Absolutely! It tastes incredible in homemade cold foam.

Is this like Dunkin’s Peanut Butter Swirl?

Yes! It’s inspired by Dunkin’s seasonal Peanut Butter Swirl and has a very similar nutty, sweet flavor profile.

More Homemade Syrups You’ll Love

If you enjoyed this recipe, be sure to try these homemade coffee syrups:

More At-Home Dunkin’ Recipes to Try

Love recreating Dunkin’ drinks at home? Here are a few more favorites:

Final Thoughts

If you’re a peanut butter lover, this homemade syrup deserves a permanent spot in your refrigerator.

It’s rich, smooth, versatile, and comes together with just a handful of pantry ingredients. Whether you’re recreating your favorite Dunkin’ drink or experimenting with your own coffee creations, this syrup adds the perfect roasted peanut flavor to every cup.

If you make this recipe, I’d love to hear what you think! Leave a comment below and let me know your favorite flavor pairing—or tag me on Instagram @katerinafaith so I can see your creations!

Homemade Peanut Butter Syrup (Dunkin’ Copycat)

This easy homemade Peanut Butter Syrup tastes just like Dunkin's Peanut Butter Swirl, but even better! Made with powdered peanut butter for the smoothest texture and richest roasted peanut flavor, it's perfect for homemade lattes, shaken espressos, cold foam drinks, and more.
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Course: Drinks
Keyword: Dunkin, Homemade Syrups
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Cooling Time: 1 hour
Servings: 10 ounces
Author: katerinafaith

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup water
  • cup powdered peanut butter
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

  • Add the granulated sugar, water, powdered peanut butter, and salt to a medium saucepan.
  • Whisk until combined, then bring the mixture to a gentle simmer over medium heat.
  • Simmer for about 10 minutes, keeping an eye on the syrup so it doesn’t bubble over.
  • Pour the syrup through a fine mesh strainer into a heat-safe container.
  • This removes any tiny peanut butter particles and creates a silky smooth syrup.
  • While the syrup is still warm, stir in the vanilla extract.
  • Allow the syrup to cool completely before transferring it to a bottle.
  • Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks.
  • Before using, give the bottle a quick shake, and then use in any recipe of choice.

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I’m Kat!

Welcome to Kat’s Kitchen! I’m Kat, a Phoenix-based blogger passionate about cooking and crafting coffee shop-quality drinks at home. My mission is to inspire confidence in the kitchen and help you elevate your meals and at home coffee experiences while saving money!

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