This homemade Vanilla Simple Syrup is easy to make, only 3 ingredients, and can be made 4 different ways. So swap out your store-bought syrup and use this in all your favorite coffee, tea, and drink recipes.
Curious about the 4 different ways?! Well it can be made using vanilla beans, vanilla bean paste, with pure or imitation extracts, and even sugar free using allulose. It’s a recipe anyone can make at any time!
For another delicious vanilla recipe, try my triple Vanilla Crinkle Cookies.
If there’s one thing I WILL NOT buy at the store, it’s syrup for my drinks. They’re simple to make, require very few ingredients, and I know exactly what’s going in them (no preservatives, dyes, and junk).
This Vanilla Simple Syrup is always in my refrigerator, but from September through December I make double and triple batches of it. It’s great to sweeten chai tea, pumpkin spice lattes, sangria, eggnog, an apple cider mocktail, and even mulled wine. It’s also a super delicious way to flavor homemade whipped cream, moisten holiday cake layers, and toss in a fruit salad.
For more of the popular basic syrups, try my Caramel Simple Syrup or this basic Simple Syrup recipe.
Watch This Quick Video Tutorial!
Vanilla Simple Syrup Ingredients
This recipe is 3 simple and inexpensive ingredients. Keep reading for more information on each ingredient and potential substitutions.
- Water: No explanation needed here.
- Sugar: I use granulated sugar, but if you want a more rich flavor cane sugar is great. For sugar free vanilla syrup I recommend allulose. Substitute 1 cup (200g) of granulated sugar or 1.5 (300g) cups of allulose.
- Vanilla: I love the flavor of vanilla beans (Madagascar from African Spices) in my syrup. But it’s also possible to make this recipe with a high quality vanilla extract, vanilla bean paste, and even imitation vanilla.
How to Make Vanilla Simple Syrup
This recipes makes 1.5 cups (354ml) of vanilla simple syrup which is good for 18 to 24 drinks. Keep reading for a quick snapshot of the steps, the recipe card will have more details.
Vanilla Bean Instructions
1. Cut the vanilla bean pod lengthwise, open it, and scrape out the vanilla beans.
2. Add ingredients to a saucepan, the sugar or allulose, water, vanilla beans, and vanilla bean pods (optional) to a small saucepan. Bring it to a boil, reduce heat to low and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes, and then cover the saucepan with a lid.
3. Allow the vanilla simple syrup to cool to room temperature (this allows it to build even more flavor as it steeps, don’t skip this step).
4. Pour the syrup into an airtight container or glass bottle and refrigerate it. You do need to strain away the pods if you added those to the pot.
Vanilla Bean Paste/ Extract Instructions
1. Add ingredients to a saucepan, the sugar or allulose and water to a small saucepan. Bring it to a boil and then immediately remove it from the heat.
2. Stir in the vanilla bean paste/ pure or imitation extract.
3. Pour the syrup into an airtight container or glass bottle and refrigerate it.
Important Storing and Freezing Information
Always, always, always store your vanilla simple syrup in a CLEAR airtight container. Syrup can mold because it does not have the preservatives in it like store-bought so you want to be able to visually check it. I like to use leftover maple syrup bottles for simple syrup. You can also use squeeze bottles, jars, syrup dispensers, dispensers with pump tops, etc.
In the refrigerate this Vanilla Simple Syrup will keep for up to one month. I like to give it a good shake before pouring because the vanilla beans do settle to the bottom.
You can even freeze simple syrup into an ice cube tray and then place them in a gallon bag. They will last this way for up to six months. This method works best with warm drinks, coffee, and tea because they melt and cool down your drink just enough and sweetens it at the same time!
Fun Ways to Use Your Vanilla Simple Syrup
The best part about this syrup is it is a classic flavor. It goes great in a lot of different things and with a lot of different flavors. Here are a few ideas for you:
- to sweeten coffees and teas
- in cocktails, mocktails, lemonade, and other beverages
- make your own flavored whipped cream or sweet cream topping
- pour it over yogurt or ice cream
- tossed in fruit salads
- glaze fruits on pies & tarts
- brush on quick breads or cake layers to moisten them
- make it part of a holiday gift basket (just add a cute label and bow)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)
My rule of thumb is 1 to 2 tablespoons of syrup for every 8 ounces (236ml) in a drink. Definitely test the level of sweetness and vanilla strength, add more vanilla syrup if needed.
I recommend Madagascar vanilla beans in simple syrups because the taste is incredible. You can purchase them online and find them in some grocery stores in their baking aisle. I highly recommend shopping with African Spices on Etsy.
More Simple Syrup Recipes You Might Enjoy:
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Vanilla Simple Syrup
INGREDIENTS
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup granulated sugar - or 1.5 cups (300g) sugar free allulose sweetener
Choose ONE type of vanilla to use:
- 1 large vanilla bean
- ½ tablespoon vanilla bean paste
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract - pure or imitation
INSTRUCTIONS
Using Vanilla Bean
- Cut the vanilla bean pod in half and carefully open it. Using your knife scrape out the vanilla beans.
- To a small saucepan add granulated sugar or allulose, water, vanilla beans, and empty vanilla bean pods (optional).
- Over medium heat allow the sugar to dissolve while bringing the mixture to a boil.
- Once it begins to boil, reduce the heat to low, and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes.
- Remove syrup from the heat and cover the saucepan with it's lid. Allow it to come to room temperature and steep.
- Place a fine mesh strainer over a large measuring cup. Pour to remove any large bits and the vanilla bean pods from the vanilla simple syrup.
- Pour into an airtight bottle, jar, or container and refrigerate.
Using Vanilla Bean Paste or Extracts (Pure/Imitation)
- To a small saucepan add sugar or allulose and water.
- Over medium heat allow the sugar to dissolve while bringing the mixture to a boil.
- Once boiling, immediately remove syrup from the heat and stir in the vanilla bean paste, pure vanilla extract or imitation vanilla extract.
- Pour into an airtight bottle, jar, or container and refrigerate.
VIDEO
RECIPE NOTES
STORING INFORMATION
- In the refrigerator, in an airtight container, for up to one month.
- In the freezer, frozen in cubes and in a resealable bag, for up to six months.
HOW MUCH SYRUP TO USE
- 1 to 2 tablespoons per 8 ounces (236ml) of liquid.
Metric conversions are calculated automatically. I cannot guarantee the accuracy of this information.
I made some for myself but also love this idea for holiday gift giving! I plan to make this and include with a coffee themed basket. How far in advance can I make it? Can it be at room temperature?
Hey Gina!
So glad you enjoyed it and I love the idea of giving it as a gift in a coffee themed basket. I recommend making it no more than 3 days before giving your gift. Definitely keep it in the refrigerator until then and prompt the person you are giving it to to refrigerate it when they get home. I would include a little gift tag and maybe mention it will last up to 1 month if stored in the refrigerator.
~Elizabeth
Thank you so much for creating a recipe that used imitation vanilla extract! Every other recipe I looked at kept stressing that you should only use pure extract but wouldn’t say why and the pure extract is so expensive, especially during this cost of living crisis. This syrup tasted incredible and has become part of my daily coffee routine.
This simple syrup was so easy to make! It instantly added so much flavor to my latte. Yum!
I had no idea vanilla simple syrup was so easy to make! This came out perfectly and I’ll be adding it to everything I can think of this week. Thanks so much for the recipe – bookmarking it now!
My teens who work at Soda shops were convinced this couldn’t beat toranis syrup! You can’t beat the flecks of vanilla. I won! We love adding it to all our drinks and it tastes incredible!
I made this for myself to add to my coffee in the mornings.
I have started working from home and I miss my morning coffee from the coffee shop by the office. I do love not having to get up early and not having to put a suit on!!
But missing the coffee I knew I needed to recreate it as it is my work day treat!!
This syrup was good, really good and made the coffee so good! The only problem??!! My kids loved it too and kept adding it to sparkling water to make Italian sodas!
I have order a bulk order of vanilla beans off amazon so I can make a bigger batch!
I made the sugar-free version and it was awesome! It was perfect in some cocktails we made last night. I’m going to try the rich version next time.