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Homemade Vanilla Coffee Syrup: With only a few ingredients, you can make delicious homemade vanilla syrup to flavor your coffee, tea, sodas, and cocktails.
MAKING FLAVORED COFFEE AT HOME: SO EASY!
Guys, I love Starbucks. I really do.
But if I’m being honest, I don’t love forking over a minimum of five bucks a visit for a latte. I mean – really, it’s just steamed milk and espresso.
I work from home, and if I’m keeping it real, that translates to yoga pants, t-shirts and Birkenstocks until at least 11 am everyday, so making coffee in my own kitchen is totally the way to go.
There are lots of flavored syrups you can buy at the store or from Amazon. But what happens if you run out and forget to buy more?
I know I do not want to be left without my iced coffee before I have to get the kids up and ready for the day. I am not about that life.
So instead I make my own vanilla syrup at home! Perfect for flavoring both hot or iced coffee and I promise that it couldn’t be easier.
If you make your own cold brew concentrate at home, you can grab your homemade vanilla syrup and have a whole coffee shop experience without getting out of your slippers.
HOW TO MAKE VANILLA SYRUP
This vanilla coffee syrup recipe couldn’t be easier to make. It only takes a few simple steps:
- Boil water, sugar and a vanilla bean for about 5 minutes
- Add in a little vanilla extract
- Let it cool, bottle it and store it in the fridge
You could even make a big batch of this homemade Vanilla Coffee Syrup and gift some to any coffee lover in your life! Pour it into a pretty bottle or jar and package it up with some locally roasted coffee for a special gift.
OTHER WAYS TO USE HOMEMADE VANILLA SYRUP
This vanilla syrup is great for flavoring coffee, but it can do so much more than that!
Stir it into tea or add it to sparkling water for a homemade vanilla soda.
You could even keep a small bottle of it stocked as part of your bar cart. Add it to pineapple vodka for a delicious cocktail, or use it to add some vanilla flavor to holiday wassail.
You could even add a splash to homemade strawberry lemonade.
I know you’ll find all kinds of ways to use this vanilla syrup and it will quickly become a recipe you make over and over.
FAQS
How do I store this vanilla coffee syrup?
Store the syrup in a jar or bottle in the refrigerator.
How long will it last?
Here’s the thing: Vanilla coffee syrup is basically a fancy simple syrup, and simple syrups don’t really go bad if they’re kept in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
In the recipe card notes I tell you that it will last for at least 2 weeks out of an abundance of caution. But if you don’t touch the syrup with your hands or any dirty utensils and keep it sealed in the fridge, it should last a really long time.
Be sure to discard the syrup immediately if you notice that it doesn’t smell right or if you see anything growing on the surface or the sides of the bottle/jar.
What if I don’t have a vanilla bean?
If you don’t have any vanilla beans handy, you can still make this vanilla coffee syrup. Simply omit the bean and use 1 tablespoon of vanilla bean paste in its place, adding it at the same time as the vanilla extract.
Homemade Vanilla Coffee Syrup
Ingredients
- 1 ¾ cups water
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- ½ cup packed light brown sugar
- 1 vanilla bean split in half
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, whisk together water, sugar, and vanilla bean.
- Bring to a boil and reduce heat.
- Simmer for about five minutes – the sugar should be completely dissolved.
- Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract.
- Once simple syrup has cooled, remove the vanilla bean and pour the syrup into a glass jar or bottle.
- Store in refrigerator.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I make this all the time, but never thought to add brown sugar as well. Vanilla bean paste w/ the vanilla bean works great too, or even as a way to use up dried out vanilla beans.
My kids swill this down, adding it to cold milk. They say it tastes just like a vanilla bean frappachino (ice and a blender and it matches in texture as well). So so good. Have to go buy the pump now, that is fantastic :D
Thanks a lot this is really easy. I have a big can of the white vanilla powder i will try and see if it would work also I grew mint in a pot and will try this method too.
Hi, Noora! I hope you enjoyed it!
Hi There,
I am looking for something that is sugar free and still great tasting. What could I use to sweeten this in place of the sugar?
Thanks
How much much does this make? It looks like a decent amount for one person to try and consume in a week. Do you really think it would go bad that quickly (you mentioned a week)? I am wondering if I should just make half the recipe, or if it might last 2-3 in the fridge.
Thank you so much for this! It’s crazy all the weird things they put in something that should be simple like your recipe. Did you know that vanilla ‘flavored’ things, or ingredients labeled ‘natural vanilla flavor’ instead of vanilla extract, is usually made from a beaver or civet’s perianal gland?? Research it. So called “natural flavors” are gross.
Keep up the great work!!
Deja-
It should yield about 2 cups to 2 1/4 cups. I hope this helps.
-Jamie
Hi!! Looks delish! Perfect for London fogs! Can I use all brown sugar??
Carole-
I haven’t tried it with all brown sugar but I think it would work. It would just be a little richer. Let me know how it turns out if you try it.
-Jamie
I am curious to know if you have any experience with vanilla bean powder? I am hoping to make this a cost-effective syrup. I don’t want just extract but that damn split bean starts to get really expensive!
Tyler-
I haven’t tried it with vanilla bean powder, but I’d love to hear how it turns out if you do. Thanks for stopping by.
-Jamie
Just use a tad more vanilla extract.
Hello, do you know how to make coffee syrup?
I don’t, but I bet it’s delicious!
-Jamie
Coffee extract!
Hi! One question: on the photo there is a jar with lid with dozing pump. This lid is custom made? It looks like made from the liquid soap dozer. I like it very much
Borys-
I purchased the jar and pump from amazon, but you can definitely find the same type of set-up at many craft stores.
-Jamie
I tried your recipe since I ran out of simple syrup and being so close to Christmas didn’t want to drive the half hour to get more. I doubt I will ever buy more! This is delicious!!Where did you get that fantastic container with the pump for your syrup?
Carri-
I ordered the pump on Amazon, it’s so perfect for dispensing the syrup!
-Jamie
I love making my own coffee syrup and creamer! It’s the way to go! This looks delicious!
Ashley-
Thanks for visiting!
-Jamie