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How To Make Vanilla Syrup For Coffee
A simple and quick recipe to make vanilla syrup at home using only a few basic ingredients
Published November 12, 2021
Susan Rov
Coffee experts@The Coffee Lab
Any barista would tell you that vanilla syrup is the most popular addition to coffee orders. It is commonly used in lattes and frappuccinos, as well as cold brew coffee. The combination of sweetness and subtle vanilla flavor makes a decadent drink that people order at cafes every day all over the world.
However, getting your daily vanilla fix from a cafe can add up.
And you don’t always want to leave the comfort of your home just to be able to enjoy a vanilla latte. You can buy vanilla syrup for coffee online but these can contain unnecessary ingredients and besides, what if you simply run out or can’t wait 3 days for it to get delivered? You’ll be glad to know that making vanilla syrup at home is quick, easy, requires only basic ingredients, and will cost you less than one vanilla latte from a cafe.
Read on to find out how to make vanilla syrup for coffee drinks at home.
Vanilla Syrup for Coffee
You already know that adding vanilla syrup to coffee can make your drink even more satisfying. And the rest of the world agrees. It is one of the most popular syrups at cafes.
But why is vanilla syrup better than simply adding sugar to your coffee?
Glad you’ve asked. Here are some benefits:
- Apart from the sweetness, vanilla syrup also adds a subtle flavoring that is not too strong to overpower the taste of coffee.
- Because it is liquid, it is easier to mix into your drink. Granulated sugar can often settle at the bottom of your cup, resulting in an overly sweet last gulp.
- Vanilla syrup can be added to hot as well as cold drinks—unlike sugar, which doesn’t dissolve well in cold drinks.
- It is versatile and can be added to a number of drinks, including iced lattes, espressos, macchiatos, cold brews, frappuccinos, or used to make cold foam.
How to Make Vanilla Syrup for Coffee
While you can buy vanilla syrup online, the taste and ingredients list vary between brands and some products can contain unnecessary additives or preservatives. When you make vanilla syrup at home, you know exactly what is in it and you can adjust the type and the amount of sugar according to your preferences.
Making vanilla syrup at home doesn’t require any complicated concoctions or a chemistry degree. You can make it with only a few ingredients that you probably have at home already. It allows you to recreate popular cafe drinks at home and is cheaper than getting your vanilla latte from Starbucks every day.
All you need is water, sugar, and vanilla bean or vanilla extract to make delicious vanilla syrup at home in less than 10 minutes. And it’s so easy that you’ll be surprised at why you haven’t made it earlier.
Vanilla Simple Syrup for Coffee Recipe
Ingredients:
- 2 cups of water
- 2 cups of white sugar
- 1 vanilla bean split in half
Method:
- Add the water and sugar to the saucepan.
- Bring the mixture to a boil and reduce the heat.
- Let it simmer and gently stir the mixture until the sugar is completely dissolved.
- Add 1 vanilla bean split in half to the sugar syrup, stir and let it cool
- Pour vanilla syrup into a bottle or a jar.
- Store in a refrigerator for up to 1 month.
Extra tip: You can choose the type of sugar you want to use. Caster sugar will be the easiest to dissolve, but you can also use granulated sugar, brown or demerara sugar for darker colored syrup and malty taste.
How To Make Vanilla Syrup With Vanilla Extract?
If you don’t have vanilla beans at home, you can substitute them for vanilla extract.
To make a vanilla syrup with vanilla extract instead of beans, use the same ratio of sugar and water and simply stir 3 teaspoons of vanilla extract into the mixture after sugar is dissolved.
Can You Put Vanilla Extract In Coffee
Vanilla syrup and vanilla extract are two main ways in which you can add vanilla flavor to dishes and drinks, so it can be confusing to figure out which one is more suitable.
While making vanilla syrup with extract rather than vanilla beans produces similar results, you cannot really substitute vanilla syrup for vanilla extract in coffee. In order to understand why let’s first look at the difference between the two:
Vanilla extract is an intense and bitter solution of pure vanilla and ethyl alcohol, which is commonly used in baking. The vanilla extract should be mixed with sugar or other ingredients to allow the flavors to develop and cannot be used by itself as a topping. If you add vanilla extract to coffee, the flavor will be very subtle, lacking in sweetness, and might create an alcoholic taste.
Vanilla syrup is a sugar syrup flavored with vanilla. It is less intense, much sweeter than vanilla extract, and can be used in recipes but also on its own. Vanilla syrup is a perfect addition to coffee and can be used to recreate your favorite cafe drinks.
If you don’t want to add too much sugar to your coffee, you can adjust the vanilla syrup recipe and make it with less sugar or with sugar-free sweeteners such as stevia or erythritol.
How to Use Vanilla Syrup in Coffee
The beauty of making vanilla-flavored coffees at home is that you can add as much of it as you prefer. Start with ½ to 1 teaspoon per drink and adjust the amount depending on your desired sweetness.
For reference, Starbucks uses 2 pumps of syrup for a Tall cup and 3 pumps for Grande drinks, with 1 pump being the equivalent of ½ tablespoon of syrup. The iced coffees like macchiatos or frappuccinos often contain more syrup. You can add vanilla syrup to any coffee but we recommend trying it with your latte, cappuccino, cold brew, iced latte, or cold foam.
Other Ways to Use Vanilla Syrup
Vanilla syrup is versatile and can be utilized in a variety of other drinks and dishes, besides coffee.
Here are some further suggestions in which you can use vanilla syrup:
- Iced tea
- Chai latte or matcha latte
- Add it to sparkling water to create your own vanilla soda
- Pour it over ice cream, dessert, or a cake
- Pour it over breakfast pancakes, waffles, or oatmeal
- Use it in cocktails, such as Mojitos or Espresso Martinis
Make Vanilla Syrup for Coffee at Home
Do you love getting vanilla coffee from your favorite cafe? Making your own vanilla syrup at home is quick, easy, and only requires basic ingredients. You can use your homemade vanilla syrup to boost your coffee or pour it over a variety of sweet dishes.
About the author
Susan Rov
A retired barista who turned into a writer. I love discovering coffee flavors and learning more about the magic bean.
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