Vanilla Syrup
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An easy 3 ingredient vanilla simple syrup, ready in 15 minutes or less! It’s perfect for sweetening your coffee, cocktails and more.
The Best Vanilla Latte Syrup
Ever wondered why that $6 vanilla latte from Starbucks tastes so good?
Spoiler alert: it’s all about the syrup!
While coffee shop runs might be convenient, nothing beats the rich, authentic flavor of homemade vanilla syrup in your morning latte. Store-bought versions just can’t compete with the depth and warmth of real vanilla bean infused into a simple syrup.
Tips
- The way you make your vanilla syrup depends on the way you choose to add the flavor – vanilla pods are steeped in simmering syrup while vanilla extract or vanilla paste are added once the syrup is removed from the heat – make sure you’re using the right method for your chosen ingredients.
- I cannot recommend using a fresh, plump vanilla bean for this recipe enough. Just having a couple of vanilla beans out for a few minutes while taking this recipe’s photos was enough to blanket my kitchen in the most intoxicating fragrance!
- I use water from my RO system rather than my tap, I find it’s got a more neutral flavor.
Key Ingredients
Sugar:
This recipe works with granulated, brown, or cane sugar. Granulated sugar offers a pure, sweet flavor without impacting taste, and results in a lighter syrup. Brown sugar gives a deeper flavor profile with caramel notes and gives a darker colored syrup, while cane sugar is minimally processed and offers a flavor somewhere between white and brown sugar.
Vanilla:
Vanilla is the base flavor profile for this recipe. There are 3 ways to add vanilla flavor to your simple syrup:
Vanilla extract: The most accessible and budget-friendly option. Use pure vanilla extract (not imitation) for best results. It infuses quickly and provides a consistent flavor.
Vanilla bean paste: A step up from extract, vanilla paste contains vanilla bean seeds suspended in a syrup-like base. It offers visual appeal (those gorgeous flecks!) and a more complex flavor than extract. The consistency blends seamlessly into your syrup.
Vanilla bean pods: The premium choice for true vanilla enthusiasts. The natural flavors are unmatched—aromatic, floral, and authentically rich. While more expensive and a bit labor-intensive, whole vanilla beans create a decadently rich simple syrup.
PRO TIP: Extracted vanilla beans can be dried and added to sugar for vanilla sugar, giving you more value
Simple Syrup Ratio
The magic ratio for basic simple syrup is equal parts of sugar and water, often expressed as 1:1 (sugar : water), for example 1 cup of sugar to 1 cup of water. This results in a perfectly sweet syrup that is easily poured.
If you prefer a thicker syrup, you can adjust your ratio to 1.5:1, or 1 1/2 cups of sugar to 1 cup of water.
How To Make Vanilla Simple Syrup
With Vanilla Extract
- In a small saucepan, combine 1 cup of sugar with 1 cup of water. Bring this mixture to a simmer over medium heat, stirring regularly. Once sugar dissolves, remove the simple syrup from heat.
- Add 1 1/2 tablespoons vanilla extract to the syrup, stir until combined. Allow to cool before using or storing.
With Vanilla Paste:
- In a small saucepan, combine 1 cup of sugar with 1 cup of water. Bring this mixture to a simmer over medium heat, stirring regularly. Once the sugar has dissolved, remove the simple syrup from heat.
- Add 1 tablespoon vanilla bean paste to the syrup, stir until combined. Allow to cool before using or storing.
With Real Vanilla Beans:
- Slice 1 vanilla bean in half lengthwise then scrape seeds, add both to a small sauce pan, along with 1 cup of water and 1 cup of sugar. Bring this mixture to a simmer over medium high heat, stirring regularly, reduce temperature and simmer 10 minutes before removing from heat.
- Allow syrup to cool for 5 or so minutes before straining to remove vanilla bean pods and using or storing.
Batch + Storage
Batch
This recipe gives about 1.5 cups of syrup. Enough to last me and my bougie teens at least a couple of weeks!
Storage
Store your homemade vanilla coffee syrup in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. I like to use a flip top glass bottle or mason jar – they are inexpensive, easy to find, easy to sterilize, and I’ve got an addiction to all glass containers, if we’re being totally honest!
More Elevated Ingredients
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Whole Madagascar Vanilla Beans
Buy Now →Vanilla Bean Iced Latte
This is probably the most common use of any simple syrup in our house! When I say my Breville Barista gets a work out, I mean it! With 3 espresso fans living here, she runs multiple times a day haha
- Add 1 – 2 tablespoons of syrup to the bottom of a tumbler.
- Fill halfway with ice.
- Pull a double shot of espresso and immediately pour over the ice.
- Top off with cold, whole milk.
- Stir and enjoy!
Serving suggestions
I live in a coffee obsessed home, so the majority of our simple syrup use is in our favorite coffee drinks, but don’t let that stop you from experimenting with this flavorful liquid sweetener. Try using your vanilla syrup in:
I’ll send the ingredients and instructions straight to your inbox!
📖 Printable Recipe
Homemade Vanilla Syrup Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 ½ tablespoons vanilla extract or
- 1 tablespoon vanilla bean paste or
- 1 whole vanilla bean
Instructions
With Vanilla Extract:
- In a small saucepan, combine 1 cup of sugar with 1 cup of water. Bring this mixture to a simmer over medium heat, stirring regularly. Once sugar dissolves, remove the simple syrup from heat.
- Add 1 1/2 tablespoons vanilla extract to the syrup, stir until combined. Allow to cool before using or storing.
With Vanilla Paste:
- In a small saucepan, combine 1 cup of sugar with 1 cup of water. Bring this mixture to a simmer over medium heat, stirring regularly. Once the sugar has dissolved, remove the simple syrup from heat.
- Add 1 tablespoon vanilla bean paste to the syrup, stir until combined. Allow to cool before using or storing.
With Real Vanilla Beans:
- Slice 1 vanilla bean in half lengthwise then scrape seeds, add both to a small sauce pan, along with 1 cup of water and 1 cup of sugar.
- Bring this mixture to a simmer over medium high heat, stirring regularly, reduce temperature and simmer 10 minutes before removing from heat.
- Allow syrup to cool for 5 or so minutes before straining to remove vanilla bean pods and using or storing.
Notes
Batch
This recipe gives about 1.5 cups of syrup. Enough to last me and my bougie teens at least a couple of weeks!Storage
Store your homemade vanilla coffee syrup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. I like to use a glass bottle or mason jar – they are inexpensive, easy to find, easy to sterilize, and I’ve got an addiction to them, if we’re being totally honest!Recommended Equipment + Ingredients
Nutrition
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