You are going to love this homemade Caramel Simple Syrup! The caramelized sugar base makes for a rich, amber-colored, and authentic tasting caramel flavor that tastes way better than store-bought brands.
It’s great in morning coffee, bubble teas, or your favorite evening mocktails. Add a pinch of salt to make it a salted caramel syrup.
Use your syrup in my Caramel Milk Tea, Espresso Martini Mocktail, or an Apple Cider Mule Mocktail.
I am known for being slightly obsessed with making my own syrups at home. Currently, I have 4 in my refrigerator and another 6 written on a sticky note that I want to create.
I became obsessed after realizing that store-bought syrups are packed with artificial flavors, food dyes, and harmful preservatives. If we can make them at home ingredients with clean ingredients, why wouldn’t we?! So the next time you’re at the store, check out the labels for yourself… you’ll also be scratching your head wondering why too.
Ingredients In Caramel Simple Syrup
Here’s the 3 ingredients (4 if you wanted salted caramel simple syrup) you will need to make this recipe. I did include a couple important notes too, keep reading.
- Sugar: Feel free to use granulated sugar or cane sugar for the best tasting syrup.
- Water
- Vanilla Extract: This gives the syrup a deep, more complex flavor. Just make sure you’re using pure vanilla and not imitation.
- Salt: An optional ingredient for if you want to make salted caramel simple syrup.
How To Make Caramel Simple Syrup at Home
Here’s a short summary of the steps so you can see how easy it is to make. The recipe card below will have more details.
1. CARAMELIZE THE SUGAR: Add the sugar and half of the water to a small saucepan. Allow it to caramelize over medium-low heat (without stirring) until it becomes a dark amber color.
2. FINISH THE SYRUP: Remove from heat and stir in the remaining water, vanilla extract, and optional salt. Place it back on the stove to come to a boil and fully incorporate. Allow the Caramel Simple Syrup to cool for 30 minutes before pouring into an airtight glass bottle or container.
Storing Information
Always store simple syrup in the refrigerator and in an airtight container or jar. It will keep for up to three months this way, just give it a shake before you use it.
You can also freeze simple syrup into cubes and place them in a gallon bag for up to a year. I like to pop them in my warm coffee or tea, it cools it down just enough and sweetens it just enough too.
Fun Ways to Use Your Syrup
Once you taste this, you are going to want to put it in and on everything. Here are a few ideas to inspire you:
- to sweeten coffees and teas
- in mocktails or craft cocktails
- over fruit salads
- to glaze pies & tarts
- to moisten cake layers and quick breads
- make your own sweet cream or flavored whipped cream
- as part of a holiday gift
- pour it over ice cream or yogurt
Frequently Asked Questions About Caramel Syrup
I recommend using 1 to 2 tablespoons of syrup for every 1 cup of liquid. You can then test the level of sweetness and add more if you need too. Adding much more than 2 tablespoons will make your drink super sweet and sugary.
This recipe makes 1 1/2 cups of syrup. If you add 2 tablespoons to a drink, it will make around 12 drinks.
More Simple Syrup Recipes You Might Enjoy
If you’re like me and want to make syrups at home instead of buying them, I have tons to choose from. There are syrups for your coffee or tea and fruity syrups for cocktails and lemonade.
- Cinnamon Simple Syrup – made with real cinnamon sticks
- Simple Syrup – a base recipe you can customize with your own flavors
- Vanilla Simple Syrup
- Strawberry Simple Syrup – a no waste recipe using strawberry tops
- Cardamom Syrup
- Jalapeno Simple Syrup – just the right amount of spicy and sweet, it’s great in margaritas
- Grenadine – made authentically, with pomegranate
- Or browse all simple syrup recipes.
Thanks for dropping in! Be sure to SUBSCRIBE to my weekly newsletter for fun NEW CONTENT and CONVERSATION delivered to your inbox. If you love this recipe save it now so you can find it later. Thank you for your support!
Caramel Simple Syrup
INGREDIENTS
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup water
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon salt - optional, if you want Salted Caramel Syrup
INSTRUCTIONS
- To a small saucepan, add the sugar and ½ cup of water. Over medium-low heat and without stirring, allow the sugar to completely dissolve and come to a bubble (it should be dark amber in color).ELIZABETH'S NOTE: This step takes 15 to 20 minutes. Do not rush the caramelization of the sugar or your syrup will not taste like caramel.
- Remove saucepan from the stove, add the remaining ½ cup of water, vanilla extract, and salt if you are wanting it to be salted caramel simple syrup. Stir until the the ingredients has incorporated into the syrup. Place it back on the stove over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until it comes to boil.
- Remove from heat, allow the Caramel Simple Syrup to cool for 30 minutes before pouring into an airtight glass bottle or container. Refrigerate.
VIDEO
RECIPE NOTES
STORING INFORMATION
- Refrigerated, in an airtight container or jar, up to three months.
- Frozen in cubes, in an airtight container or bag, for up to one year.
Metric conversions are calculated automatically. I cannot guarantee the accuracy of this information.
Doesn’t taste like caramel, it tastes like pancake syrup lol its so strange. Definitely not something I’d want to put in my morning coffee, unfortunately.
Hi Andrea,
I am sorry this syrup was not what you expected it to be.
The “pancake syrup” taste could be because of step 1. If you do not take ample time to caramelized the sugar it will not taste like a caramel syrup.
Next time I would recommend taking a little more time to let the sugar caramelize and truly develop those caramel notes.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
~Elizabeth
Thank you for the recipe. I like Jordan’s sugar free version but don’t like the prices or chemicals. This will work beautifully in the homemade coffee creamer I make for my husband and sister-in-law. Making some this week!
We have become obsessed with bubble tea around here lately, and this caramel simple syrup worked perfectly in our last batch!
I have never been able to make caramel before, but this recipe was so simple and it turned out great!
I love this Elizabeth. What a great way to make caramel simple syrup at home. I love all of your simple syrup recipes!
What a great idea!! I make simple syrup all the time but never thought about creating different simple syrup flavors. Thank you for a great recipe!!
This in my coffee this morning was ah-mazing! It tasted like my favorite coffee shop drink and I made it myself! Yum!