Vanilla Syrup

Here’s how to make vanilla syrup for coffee drinks, cocktails, desserts, and more! It takes just 5 minutes to make this simple syrup.

Want to add a little pep to your coffee game? Try this Vanilla Syrup! It takes just 5 minutes to whip up with a huge return on investment. Add a drizzle to your Cold Brew or Iced Latte and the nuance in flavor adds a dose of cozy to your drink. Or use it for tea, cocktails, pancakes, oatmeal…vanilla ice cream? You get the idea. We love it in our new favorite coffee drink, the Coffee Soda. Here’s how to make it at home!

How to make vanilla syrup

This vanilla syrup is a variation on a simple syrup: a liquid sweetener made with equal parts sugar and water. It’s popular for its use in Starbucks drinks: you can buy it bottled but it’s also easy to make at home. While vanilla beans make for great flavor, they can be pricey. Save those beans for baking: turns out, you can make a delicious syrup using extract!

If you’re into cocktails, you probably already make your own simple syrup at home. It’s so easy, it’s not worth buying: all you need to do is simmer sugar and water on the stove for a few minutes. Here’s how to make vanilla syrup:

• Combine sugar and water: Place ½ cup each granulated sugar and water in a small saucepan on the stove.
• Heat until dissolved: Heat over medium heat for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring until fully dissolved. Do not simmer!
• Stir in vanilla: Remove from the heat and add 2 teaspoons vanilla. Cool to room temperature before using.

Storing homemade vanilla syrup

Store homemade vanilla syrup for up 1 month refrigerated. Best for storage is a glass bottle for easy pouring, or a glass mason jar. The flavor is best when it’s freshly made, so try to use it within the first few weeks.

Ways to use vanilla syrup for coffee & tea

There are endless ways to use vanilla syrup for coffee and tea drinks! If you love Starbucks vanilla syrup, you’ll know there are many ways to use it. Here are our top ways to use it in coffee, tea and other drinks:

• Lattes: Add to a Classic Latte
• Tea lattes: Add to a Vanilla Chai Latte, Matcha Latte, or London Fog
• Iced lattes or espresso: Try in an Iced Latte, Iced Vanilla Latte or Iced Espresso
• Iced tea lattes: Drizzle into an Iced Chai Latte or Iced Matcha Latte
• Cold brew: Drizzle into Cold Brew (and add Cold Foam!)
• Iced coffee: Add a splash to Iced Coffee
• Coffee soda / nitro: Add to a Coffee Soda

More ways to use vanilla syrup: pancakes, oatmeal & more!

Of course, vanilla syrup isn’t just for coffee! There are loads of great ways to use this tasty syrup for breakfast or desserts. Here are a few ways to get creative with homemade vanilla syrup:

• Drizzle on pancakes: Try with banana pancakes or almond flour pancakes
• Add to waffles: Pour onto this classic waffles or blueberry waffles
• Try on oatmeal: Drizzle on classic oatmeal, Instant Pot oatmeal, overnight oats, steel cut oats, or baked oatmeal
• Ice cream: A simple drizzle on ice cream with some fresh strawberries is heaven!
• Cake: Pour over vanilla mug cake with fresh berries

This vanilla syrup recipe is…

Vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free, and gluten-free.

01

Perfect Iced Latte

02

Vanilla Chai Latte

03

Cold Brew Coffee

04

Matcha Latte

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