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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.

Adding vanilla coffee syrup to a glass of iced coffee

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.

Jar adding water to a sauce pot with ingredients for vanilla coffee syrup

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.

Milk pouring into a glass of iced coffee

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.

Pouring vanilla coffee syrup intro a jar

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.

Vanilla coffee syrup in a glass mason jar

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
Milk being poured into a glass of iced coffee with vanilla coffee syrup

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.

Pouring milk into a glass of iced coffee and vanilla coffee syrup

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.

Adding vanilla coffee syrup to a glass of iced coffee

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.

Glass of vanilla iced coffee with a straw

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.

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Homemade Vanilla Coffee Syrup

4.88 from 8 votes
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 10 minutes
Total: 15 minutes
Servings: 24
Homemade Vanilla Coffee Syrup: With only a few ingredients, you can make delicious homemade vanilla syrup to flavor your coffee, tea, sodas, and cocktails.

Ingredients  

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

Homemade vanilla coffee syrup will keep in the refrigerator for at least 2 weeks. 
If you do not have a vanilla bean handy, substitute for 1 tablespoon of vanilla bean paste. Add the paste at the same time as the vanilla extract.
Makes 3 cups of syrup.

Nutrition

Serving: 2tablespoons, Calories: 67kcal, Carbohydrates: 17g, Protein: 0.01g, Fat: 0.1g, Sodium: 2mg, Potassium: 7mg, Sugar: 17g, Calcium: 4mg, Iron: 0.04mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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140 Comments

  1. Kim says:

    5 stars
    Excellent and so easy! I used the vanilla bean paste option.

  2. Stacy says:

    I have tried a BUNCH of vanilla syrup recipes and this one is by far the best and most flavorful. Thank you!!!

  3. Paige says:

    5 stars
    Literally my favorite syrup. I send it to everyone when i find out they enjoy vanilla lattes.

    1. Jamie says:

      I am so happy to hear you enjoy this recipe! Thanks so much for stopping by and leaving your feedback!
      -Jamie

  4. Deborah says:

    Amazing! I tried this recipe after seeing the huge price increases on Amazon for flavored syrup. I will never buy bottled syrup again. This is so smooth and tasty, absolutely love it!

    1. Jamie says:

      I am so happy to hear you enjoyed the recipe! Thanks so much for leaving your feedback in the form of a comment. You can also rate the recipe using the stars in the recipe card. Happy Baking!
      -Jamie

  5. Lindy says:

    5 stars
    I make this every week without the vanilla bean and just use vanilla extract and it’s still phenomenal. Better than store bought!

    1. Jamie says:

      So glad to hear that, Lindy! Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing your feedback. Happy baking!
      Jamie

  6. Brooklyn says:

    My starbucks obsessed teen approves!

    1. Jamie says:

      I love that! Thanks for sharing! Happy baking –
      Jamie

  7. Kym Morello says:

    Since your original post, we have been making a double recipe of your Vanilla Syrup every two weeks. Just wanted to reach out and say thank you.

    1. Jamie says:

      So happy to hear this! Thanks for sharing! Happy baking –
      Jamie

  8. BRIANNA says:

    Do you use the beans inside and the pod. PLEASE BE SO KIND AND RESPOND.

    MANY THANKS BRIANNA

    1. Jamie says:

      You simply split the bean and toss the whole thing in. Hope this helps. Happy baking –
      Jamie

    2. Moe says:

      @Jamie, HI there, since so many of us are still confused about the seeds INSIDE the pod, are you saying NOT to scrape the seeds out? Just leave them inside the pod, then leave the two halves of pod in the syrup? Thanks.

    3. Jamie says:

      Hi Moe – You certainly are welcome to scrape the seeds out, but you don’t necessarily need to. I just split the bean in half and toss the whole thing in. Happy baking!
      Jamie

  9. Joanne says:

    Hi Jamie
    Did you use just the bean or what’s inside?? W are a bit lost on that one.
    NO NEED AT ALL FOR EXTRACT; THEN YOU SHOULD NOT AT ALL USE A BEAN OR WHAT’S INSIDE. RIGHT?? Lets get real. You are making vanilla bean syrup.

  10. Isabella says:

    Just made this this morning and I am so excited to try it! I have always used agave to sweet coffee and I’m going to try this instead! Also this is my first recipe from your blog amd can’t wait to make more things off of your website!

    1. Jamie says:

      Thanks so much for stopping by, Isabella! Happy baking!
      Jamie