Ingredients
Vanilla syrup is an easy but delicious addition to your coffee drinks. It requires only a few simple ingredients – sugar, water, and vanilla beans, or a good-quality pure vanilla extract. Some recipes also call for a pinch of salt, while adding a few drops of alcohol like vodka or rum is optional.
Tools
To make this syrup you’ll need only a few kitchen tools, such as a medium saucepan, a whisk, and a funnel for transferring the syrup into bottles. Time is one of the key elements for this recipe.
Making The Syrup
Begin by adding the sugar and water to the saucepan over medium heat. Whisking constantly, let the mixture come to a boil and continue to boil for 5 minutes, making sure that all the sugar has dissolved. Adding a bit more water if necessary, to avoid scorching the mixture.
After the syrup has come to a rolling boil, lower the heat. Now, if you’re using vanilla bean, scrape the seeds off the bean and add them to the syrup, stirring and cooking them for an additional minute or two. If you’re using pure vanilla extract, this is when you would add it directly to the syrup, stirring it until all the extract is combined.
Finally, take your syrup off the heat, and let it cool down. Pour the syrup through a funnel into a clean glass container and store in the fridge, where it will keep for up to 2 weeks.
Adding The Syrup
Add 1-2 tablespoons (depending on your desired sweetness level) of vanilla syrup to your favorite cup of coffee and enjoy! In addition to coffee, you can use vanilla syrup as a sweetener for iced tea or hot chocolate. You can also use it for flavoring desserts and other drinks.
Variations
This recipe can also be adapted to create other types of syrups. For example, you can make a chocolate syrup by adding a few teaspoons of cocoa powder to the syrup (omitting the vanilla if you prefer). Or you can make a mint syrup by adding freshly chopped mint leaves to the mixture, while it’s still hot.
Caution
Naturally, you should use caution when boiling water and making syrups, as the mixture can easily spill or burn. Always remove the syrup from the heat once it starts to boil and vigorously whisk in order to avoid lumps.
Shelf Life & Storage
Vanilla syrup should last for up to two weeks when kept refrigerated. To make sure the syrup stays fresh, make sure the container it is stored in is airtight and is not exposed to heat or sunlight. Discard the syrup if it starts to discolor or has a strange smell.
Benefits
Vanilla syrup offers several benefits to users. It adds a unique and subtle sweetness to coffee drinks that doesn’t overpower the natural flavors. Vanilla syrup is also lower in calories and sugar than other store-bought or packaged ingredients. In addition, making this syrup at home is a great way to reduce waste and save money in the long run.
Cost-effective
Making your own vanilla syrup at home can be a cost-effective solution. All you need is some sugar and water, and you can create a delicious and special syrup. If you prefer, you can also choose to add a few drops of alcohol to the syrup, although this is an optional step.
Flavor Enhancer
If you have ever tried powdered syrups or store-bought syrups, you’ll know they are often too sweet and overpower the flavor of the coffee. Homemade vanilla syrup, on the other hand, adds just the right amount of sweetness and flavor, without extra sugar. For a stronger taste, you can use a higher grade of sugar or higher quality vanilla beans.
Health Benefits
Vanilla syrup is healthier when compared to other types of syrups. Vanilla syrup is a much better and healthier choice than other store-bought syrups, as it is much lower in sugar and calories. Additionally, vanilla syrup is packed with nutrients that can help boost your overall health, such as Vitamin E, magnesium, and potassium.
Culinary Uses
Vanilla syrup can be used for all sorts of culinary uses, from baking and desserts to cocktails and smoothies. You can also drizzle it over ice cream, pancakes, waffles, french toast and more. In addition to this, it can be used to make special coffee drinks like – iced coffee, iced latte, frappe and iced mocha.
