Vanilla syrup recipe: the ultimate all purpose syrup.

Vanilla syrup is one of the most versatile and delicious ingredients you can use in a wide variety of recipes. So making your own syrup at home is a great way to add flavor and sweetness to coffee, tea, or cocktails.

What is a vanilla syrup

Vanilla syrup is a type of flavored syrup made from sugar, water, and real vanilla extract or natural flavoring. It adds sweetness and a mild vanilla flavor to drinks like lattes, cappuccinos, mochas and iced coffees as well as desserts such as ice cream sundaes and puddings.

Many people use bottles of commercially-available syrups when making coffee at home. But it’s so easy to make at home, so why not give it a go? You will

Vanilla syrup can also be used in baking recipes for cookies, cakes, muffins, etc., adding an extra layer of flavor without using additional ingredients like butter or oil which can add calories to treats!

What does vanilla syrup taste like

With a light and slightly sweet flavor, vanilla syrup has notes of rich vanilla bean and a hint of rich caramel. It’s often used as the support act in other syrups and sauces. But it really can take center stage and makes a delicious syrup to add to your coffee – like vanilla latte.

Don’t feel limited to just coffee. You can add vanilla syrup to desserts, cookies or even drizzle it over fresh fruit. Imagine a bowl of strawberries with vanilla and caramel sweetness added!

How to make vanilla syrup at home

With just a few simple ingredients and a few minutes of time, you can make a delicious vanilla syrup that will transform any coffee or dessert into an indulgent treat!

Equipment

• Saucepan for stove top
• Stirring spatula
• Set of measuring spoons (optional)
• Candy thermometer (optional)

Ingredients

• ½ cup water
• ½ cup sugar
• ½ tsp vanilla extract

Method

• Add the sugar to a heavy-bottomed saucepan.
• Heat on low heat.
• Start gently stirring when the sugar begins to melt around the edges.
• While the sugar is melting boil the water.
• Continue stirring until all of the sugar has melted and turned an amber color.
• Remove the saucepan from the heat.
• Slowly add the boiling water to the liquid in the saucepan whilst continuing to stir.
• Return to the heat.
• Keep stirring until the caramelized sugar and water have completely blended.
• Remove from the heat and leave to cool for 15-20 minutes.
• Once cool, add the vanilla extract and stir in.
• Store in a sterilised airtight bottle.

Top tips for making vanilla syrup at home

• Gather the necessary ingredients – vanilla extract, sugar, and water.
• This recipe uses the dry caramelization process. That means you will be melting the sugar in the saucepan without any water (at the beginning). Hence ‘dry’.
• If you have one, using a heavy-bottomed saucepan. These allow the heat to spread more evenly, making it easier to caramelise the sugar.
• When you add the sugar to the pan, give it a gentle shake to evenly distribute the sugar across the bottom of the pan.
• When the sugar has melted and bubbles as it gently boils, keep stirring while it becomes a deeper amber color. The darker the amber the stronger flavor of caramel you will get in the finished vanliia syrup. But take care not to go too far as it can easily catch and burn.
• Boil the water at this stage.
• When you remove the saucepan from the heat handle it with care. the liquid is very hot and can cause burns.
• Adding the boiling water can cause splashes so pour slowly and carefully. If you can, wear oven gloves at this stage to prevent any splashes from burning you. Keep stirring.
• Add the vanilla extract at the end of the cooking process when the syrup has cooled to around 160°F (71°C).
• As with all cooking, this is a very enjoyable and fulfilling experience. But like all cooking, you need to take care and not rush any of the steps. Take care not to splash the syrup when it is hot, as it can burn.
• Once cooled, transfer syrup into an airtight container or jar so that you can use it when needed – perfect for adding sweetness to coffee drinks!
• Label the jar so you will remember which syrup is in it. AND put the date – so you know when to discard any syrup you have left over.
• Store in the fridge for up to a few days, then discard any unused syrup. That’s why I made a small amount in this recipe – to avoid the risk of much going to waste!

Different types of syrup for coffee

• Salted caramel
• Gingerbread
• Caramel
• Pumpkin spice

FAQs

What is vanilla syrup made of?

Vanilla syrup is a sweet, fragrant syrup made from the extract of vanilla beans. It has a slightly bitter flavor with a warm, inviting aroma and is commonly used to flavor coffees, teas, milkshakes and cocktails. Vanilla syrup is relatively simple to make at home as it only requires three ingredients: water, sugar and

Does vanilla syrup have real vanilla in it?

Yes, vanilla syrup does contain real vanilla. In fact, it is made from either natural or artificial flavors derived from real vanilla beans. Vanilla extract and pure vanilla are often used as ingredients in lots of syrup recipes.

The flavor of the syrup will depend largely on the type of vanilla used in its production. You can use a cheaper artifical flavoring or vanilla extract or even vanilla bean pods.

Even though artificial vanilla flavoring is better now, I prefer to use vanilla extract. It adds a great vanilla flavor and isn’t too expensive (it’s a lot cheaper than vanilla pods!) and is easily available.

For the very best vanilla syrup you can use vanilla pods. But they are expensive and you should only use the very best quality pods which are not as widely available.

Does Starbucks use vanilla syrup?

Yes, Starbucks does use vanilla syrup in many of its drinks. For instance, the Vanilla Latte is made with shots of espresso, steamed milk, and a generous helping of vanilla syrup.

They also offer a range of coffees with vanilla flavoring, such as Starbucks Vanilla Bean Frappuccino. It is made from coffee blended with ice and combined with creamy milk and sweet vanilla bean syrup.

Is there any caffeine in vanilla syrup?

No, there is no caffeine present in vanilla syrup. Vanilla syrup is typically made from sugar, water, and natural or artificial flavoring agents that do not contain any caffeine.

How should I store my bottle of vanilla syrup after opening it?

After opening a bottle of vanilla syrup, it is important to store it properly to ensure it stays fresh. To do this, you should keep the bottle tightly sealed and stored in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.

You can also refrigerate the syrup for an extended shelf life. When storing in the refrigerator, make sure to add a label with the name of the syrup and the date you made it. That way you will know which syrup you are using and when to discard it and make more.

What is a vanilla syrup pump

For the ultimate ease in adding a service of syrup to your coffee, store your syrup in a bottle with a syrup pump. This makes it super simple to serve the same amount each time.

That way you know whether you want one pump or two for your perfect vanilla latte, or whatever coffee you are making!