Vanilla Bean Syrup for Coffee and Milk Drinks
In short: A fragrant vanilla syrup made with real vanilla bean, sugar and water. Stir it into coffee, hot milk, iced tea or soda. It takes about 13 min in total and makes 12 servings.
- Prep
- 5 min
- Cook
- 8 min
- Resting
- 30 min
- Total
- 13 min
- Servings
- 12
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 65 kcal
Flavored coffee syrups are mostly sugar and water with some flavoring, and homemade vanilla syrup beats them easily. A single vanilla bean steeped in hot syrup perfumes the whole batch with real seeds and a deep, warm aroma. It dissolves instantly in cold drinks, so it works especially well in iced lattes. Keep a bottle in the fridge and use it in coffee, hot milk, milkshakes, pancakes and fruit salad.
Instructions
- Put the sugar, water and salt in a small saucepan.
- Lay the vanilla bean on a board and scrape out the seeds with the back of a knife. Add the seeds and the empty pod to the pan.
- Heat over medium heat, stirring, until the sugar dissolves. Reduce the heat and simmer very gently for 5 minutes. Do not let it boil hard.
- Take the pan off the heat, cover it and let the syrup steep for at least 30 minutes. Steep for 1 hour for a stronger flavor.
- Stir in the vanilla extract if using, then pour the syrup into a clean bottle or jar. Leave the seeds and pod in, or strain them out, as you prefer.
- Cool completely, seal and refrigerate.
Tips
- No vanilla bean? Use 1 tablespoon of pure vanilla extract, stirred in off the heat after the sugar dissolves. The flavor will be a little lighter and less complex.
- Reuse the spent pod: rinse it, dry it and bury it in a jar of sugar to make vanilla sugar, or simmer it again in a fresh batch of syrup.
Questions and answers
How much vanilla syrup should I put in coffee?
Start with 1 to 2 tablespoons (15 to 30 ml) for a 350 ml (12 oz) drink, then adjust to taste.
How long does vanilla syrup keep?
Up to 3 weeks in a sealed bottle in the fridge. Discard it if it looks cloudy or smells sour.
Can I use vanilla syrup in baking?
Yes. Brush it over cake layers, stir it into whipped cream or drizzle it over pancakes and fruit.
How long does it take to make Vanilla Bean Syrup for Coffee and Milk Drinks?
About 13 min in total: 5 min of preparation and 8 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Vanilla Bean Syrup for Coffee and Milk Drinks?
About 65 kcal per serving, with 0 g of protein, 17 g of carbohydrates and 0 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 65 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 17 g |
| Fat | 0 g |
| Fiber | 0 g |
| Sugar | 17 g |
| Sodium | 5 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
