diff --git a/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-appsync/lib/graphqlapi.ts b/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-appsync/lib/graphqlapi.ts
index 3ef0b348ad768..dc834623fd503 100644
--- a/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-appsync/lib/graphqlapi.ts
+++ b/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-appsync/lib/graphqlapi.ts
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import { ICertificate } from '@aws-cdk/aws-certificatemanager';
 import { IUserPool } from '@aws-cdk/aws-cognito';
 import { ManagedPolicy, Role, IRole, ServicePrincipal, Grant, IGrantable } from '@aws-cdk/aws-iam';
 import { IFunction } from '@aws-cdk/aws-lambda';
+import { LogRetention, RetentionDays } from '@aws-cdk/aws-logs';
 import { ArnFormat, CfnResource, Duration, Expiration, IResolvable, Stack } from '@aws-cdk/core';
 import { Construct } from 'constructs';
 import { CfnApiKey, CfnGraphQLApi, CfnGraphQLSchema, CfnDomainName, CfnDomainNameApiAssociation } from './appsync.generated';
@@ -253,6 +254,13 @@ export interface LogConfig {
    * @default - None
    */
   readonly role?: IRole;
+
+  /**
+   * log retention period
+   *
+   * @default - Use AppSync default
+   */
+  readonly retention?: RetentionDays
 }
 
 /**
@@ -519,6 +527,13 @@ export class GraphqlApi extends GraphqlApiBase {
       this.apiKeyResource.addDependsOn(this.schemaResource);
       this.apiKey = this.apiKeyResource.attrApiKey;
     }
+
+    if (props.logConfig?.retention) {
+      new LogRetention(this, 'ApiLogsRetention', {
+        logGroupName: `/aws/appsync/apis/${this.apiId}`,
+        retention: props.logConfig.retention,
+      });
+    };
   }
 
   /**
diff --git a/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-appsync/package.json b/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-appsync/package.json
index 1e5058b8ac17b..dda4cc04a3c87 100644
--- a/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-appsync/package.json
+++ b/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-appsync/package.json
@@ -97,6 +97,7 @@
     "@aws-cdk/aws-elasticsearch": "0.0.0",
     "@aws-cdk/aws-iam": "0.0.0",
     "@aws-cdk/aws-lambda": "0.0.0",
+    "@aws-cdk/aws-logs": "0.0.0",
     "@aws-cdk/aws-opensearchservice": "0.0.0",
     "@aws-cdk/aws-rds": "0.0.0",
     "@aws-cdk/aws-s3-assets": "0.0.0",
@@ -113,6 +114,7 @@
     "@aws-cdk/aws-elasticsearch": "0.0.0",
     "@aws-cdk/aws-iam": "0.0.0",
     "@aws-cdk/aws-lambda": "0.0.0",
+    "@aws-cdk/aws-logs": "0.0.0",
     "@aws-cdk/aws-opensearchservice": "0.0.0",
     "@aws-cdk/aws-rds": "0.0.0",
     "@aws-cdk/aws-s3-assets": "0.0.0",
diff --git a/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-appsync/test/appsync.test.ts b/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-appsync/test/appsync.test.ts
index 350fbff6229db..e404d6096fe1e 100644
--- a/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-appsync/test/appsync.test.ts
+++ b/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-appsync/test/appsync.test.ts
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import * as path from 'path';
 import { Template } from '@aws-cdk/assertions';
 import { Certificate } from '@aws-cdk/aws-certificatemanager';
 import * as iam from '@aws-cdk/aws-iam';
+import * as logs from '@aws-cdk/aws-logs';
 import * as cdk from '@aws-cdk/core';
 import * as appsync from '../lib';
 
@@ -191,3 +192,37 @@ test('appsync GraphqlApi should be configured with custom domain when specified'
     DomainName: domainName,
   });
 });
+
+test('log retention should be configured with given retention time when specified', () => {
+  // GIVEN
+  const retentionTime = logs.RetentionDays.ONE_WEEK;
+
+  // WHEN
+  new appsync.GraphqlApi(stack, 'log-retention', {
+    authorizationConfig: {},
+    name: 'log-retention',
+    schema: appsync.Schema.fromAsset(path.join(__dirname, 'appsync.test.graphql')),
+    logConfig: {
+      retention: retentionTime,
+    },
+  });
+
+  // THEN
+  Template.fromStack(stack).hasResourceProperties('Custom::LogRetention', {
+    LogGroupName: {
+      'Fn::Join': [
+        '',
+        [
+          '/aws/appsync/apis/',
+          {
+            'Fn::GetAtt': [
+              'logretentionB69DFB48',
+              'ApiId',
+            ],
+          },
+        ],
+      ],
+    },
+    RetentionInDays: 7,
+  });
+});