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

Vanilla Syrup
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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.

Vanilla syrup for coffee

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:

How to make vanilla syrup

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:

This vanilla syrup recipe is…

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

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Vanilla Syrup

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

  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Total Time: 5 minutes
  • Yield: ¾ cup 1x
  • Category: Essentials
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: Syrup
  • Diet: Vegan

Ingredients

Scale
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • ½ cup water
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. Add the sugar and water to saucepan and heat over medium heat.
  2. Stir until sugar is dissolved (don’t bring to simmer) for 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in vanilla. Cool to room temperature before using. Keeps in the refrigerator for 1 month.

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About the authors

Alex & Sonja

Hi! We’re Alex & Sonja Overhiser, authors of the acclaimed cookbooks A Couple Cooks and Pretty Simple Cooking—and a real life couple who cooks together. We founded the A Couple Cooks website in 2010 to share seasonal recipes and the joy of home cooking. Now, we’ve got over 3,000 well-tested recipes, including Mediterranean diet, vegan, vegetarian, pescatarian, smoothies, cocktails, and more!

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