This easy Vanilla Simple Syrup recipe requires just 3 ingredients, only minutes to make, and is delicious in coffee, cocktails, and cakes.
There’s no need to spend a fortune for pricey flavored syrups when you can make your own homemade vanilla simple syrup to flavor coffee drinks, cocktails and so much more.
This versatile homemade syrup is incredibly easy to make too and uses ingredients you already have on hand. Just 3 ingredients are needed – and one of them is water!
We love having simple syrups on hand to elevate our morning coffees. Cinnamon Simple Syrup, Gingerbread Syrup, and Peppermint Syrup are among our favorites, as is this homemade vanilla syrup. We love drizzling in to a mug of hot coffee or even a homemade Vanilla Latte.
The uses for simple syrup don’t end with coffee. Cocktails and mocktails frequently call for the use of a simple syrup and this vanilla flavored syrup would add an extra layer of flavor to drinks. You can also add vanilla syrup to baked goods like cakes to add moisture.
What is a simple syrup?
A simple syrup is what you get when you heat sugar and water together until the sugar dissolves. Typically, it is made with equal parts sugar and water, though some may opt to tweak the ratios of these 2 ingredients.
While a simple syrup made with these 2 ingredients is versatile and useful, adding other ingredients to the syrup can enhance the flavor and create flavorful drinks and treats. In this recipe, I add vanilla extract to the simple syrup, giving everything it is added to a wonderful hint of vanilla flavor.
Why we love this recipe
- It’s delicious! This simple syrup elevates simple drinks like coffee or cocktails, adding hints of vanilla flavor to them.
- You already have everything you need on hand. Just water, sugar, and vanilla extract are needed for this recipe.
- Flavored syrups make a great gift. They can be given as part of a holiday gift, a housewarming present, or a hostess gift.
- The syrup has a long shelf life when stored correctly in the fridge.
Ingredients in Vanilla Simple Syrup
- Water: With just 3 ingredients in this recipe and one of them being water, this recipe is easy to make and low-cost.
- Sugar: Regular white granulated sugar.
- Vanilla extract: Adds the vanilla flavor. While you can easily make this syrup using vanilla beans, extract is something I always have on hand and is far more economical. Opt for real vanilla extract, not imitation.
**Note: Ingredient quantities and full instructions are in the recipe card at the end of this post.**
How to make Vanilla Simple Syrup
- Dissolve the sugar. In a small saucepan over medium heat, add sugar and water Simmer together for about 5 minutes, whisking often until the sugar is dissolved.
- Whisk in extract. Remove from heat and whisk in the vanilla extract. Let it cool.
- Store. Once cooled, transfer to a mason jar or other container with a secure lid. Store in the fridge.
How to use Vanilla Simple Syrup
- Coffees. Add this syrup to home brewed coffees, iced coffee (a personal favorite) or homemade Vanilla Lattes. This recipe for Cinnamon Dolce Latte can easily be adapted to make a vanilla latte.
- Cocktails and mocktails. Many cocktail and mocktail recipes call for using a simple syrup. Switch things up by adding a hint of vanilla flavor to an Apple Cider Whiskey Sour, for example.
- Other hot drinks. Hot chocolate and tea, for example, can get extra flavor by using vanilla simple syrup.
- Baked goods. In addition to using syrup in drinks, you can drizzle vanilla simple syrup on cakes and other baked goods adds moisture and flavor. Sponge cakes, for example, are great recipes to use syrup with. For example, you can use vanilla syrup in this Ravani (Greek Semolina Cake) recipe.
This versatile vanilla simple syrup recipe is one we frequently make and enjoy. It’s easily one of my favorite things to add to my iced coffees and lattes, making frequent trips to expensive coffee shops a thing of the past.
What is your favorite way to use this vanilla simple syrup? Let me know in the comments!
Other recipes we think you’ll love:
Easy Cinnamon Simple Syrup Recipe
Gingerbread Syrup Recipe
Peppermint Syrup Recipe
Cinnamon Dolce Latte Recipe
Peppermint Mocha Recipe
Vanilla Latte
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Vanilla Simple Syrup Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- In a small saucepan over medium heat, add sugar and water Simmer together for about 5 minutes, whisking often until the sugar is dissolved.
- Remove from heat and whisk in the vanilla extract. Let it cool.
- Once cooled, transfer to a mason jar or other container with a secure lid. Store in the fridge.
Notes
- Note: nutritional information is an estimation and does not include the optional toppings.
Note: Metric ingredient measurements are provided as a courtesy using a third-party calculator and are rounded to the nearest unit. The recipes provided on this site have not been tested with metric measurements and their accuracy cannot be verified.
Nutrition
The nutritional information provided is based on third-party calculations and is an estimate only. Accurate nutritional facts will vary based on the particular brands used, portion sizes, measurement accuracy and more.
