Vanilla Syrup

This deliciously sweet and versatile vanilla syrup is the perfect way to upgrade your favorite drinks with another layer of flavor. Turn yourself into a home barista and your own kitchen into your favorite coffee shop with this super easy recipe. It only requires three simple ingredients and less than ten minutes of your time!

The best thing about this great recipe is you have complete control over the ingredients. There is no high fructose corn syrup or other mystery ingredients. Simply basic ingredients you control in your own delicious homemade vanilla syrup.

What is it?

Vanilla syrup is a simple syrup, made the same way as traditional simple syrups crafted for sweetening cocktails, with equal parts sugar and water simmered together. The difference is this syrup is infused with vanilla extract and uses the perfect amount of brown sugar to deepen the flavor just enough to make it interesting. The molasses from the brown sugar and vanilla flavor combine to create a subtle, almost maple syrup like, flavor.

Ingredients and Substitutions

• White sugar - Most simple syrups use plain sugar such as this, I don't recommend substituting this out.
• Brown sugar - Brown sugar is my secret ingredient because it adds a great additional level of flavor, but you can substitute equal parts white granulated sugar instead if needed.
• Vanilla extract - You could use a whole vanilla bean instead and steep it in the simmering liquid, but using extract is not only the easy way, it is less expensive to buy at the grocery store.

How to make it

Begin making your own vanilla syrup recipe by adding water to a small saucepan along with white and brown sugar. Set the saucepan over medium high heat and whisk to combine the sugar and water.

Bring the sugar mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer and cook until the sugar completely dissolves. Then remove your saucepan from heat, stir in the vanilla extract and let the mixture come to room temperature.

How to store it

I prefer to store my homemade syrup in glass bottles in the refrigerator and enjoy it within a month. The rubber stopper topped bottles you see in my photos are great for long-term storage, otherwise, glass syrup bottles are fantastic for quick and easy pouring. If you don't have bottles like these on hand, any airtight container will work well too.

How to use it

• Add this flavorful syrup to your favorite cocktail. Vanilla pairs particularly well with rum, brandy, and whiskey.
• This is a great addition to include in iced coffee drinks like my vanilla mocha iced coffee, or make your own vanilla iced latte.
• Drizzle a little into your hot chocolate, or add to my Peppermint coffee hot chocolate too.
• Enhance the flavor of a hot cup of coffee or cold brew.
• Drizzle this over ice cream, or add it into a ice cream shake or malt.