Homemade Vanilla Simple Syrup

Homemade vanilla simple syrup is the easiest thing to make and will take your favorite drinks and desserts to the next level. Using only 3 simple ingredients including sugar, water, and vanilla bean, you can create a rich vanilla syrup that keeps in the fridge for up to a month. Plus, it makes a great gift for any coffee lover or cocktail enthusiast in your life!

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Why you’ll love this easy vanilla syrup recipe

• Quick and easy recipe: Just like my hibiscus syrup or Rosé simple syrup, you’ll only need 3 ingredients and 7 minutes to make this quick and easy flavored syrup from start to finish.
• Customizable: Experiment with different vanilla beans to create your perfect vanilla syrup for your taste.
• Cost-effective: Making your own flavored simple syrup is a great example of saving money by cooking from scratch – PLUS you can match it exactly to your taste.

Ingredients and substitutions

1. Sugar: White sugar works best but you can also experiment with organic cane sugar for a richer taste.
2. Water: Use filtered water for the best taste.
3. Vanilla: I love to use whole fresh vanilla beans from Madagascar for a rich flavor and visual appeal in the syrup but you can also use 2 tsp of vanilla paste or vanilla extract with seeds if needed.

See the recipe card for quantities.

10 types of vanilla beans

The fresh vanilla bean is the star of this recipe. Did you know that vanilla aromas and flavors surprisingly vary depending on the quality and origin of the vanilla beans you buy?

Here is an overview of the most popular types of vanilla beans based on their origin and flavor profiles, so you can choose the vanilla that’s right for you.

1. Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla Beans (I typically use this one): Among the most well-known and widely used, Madagascar bourbon vanilla beans are prized for their classic and creamy flavor with sweet, caramel-like notes.
2. Indonesian Vanilla Beans: Indonesia produces vanilla beans with a unique and complex flavor profile. They often feature a combination of sweet, creamy, and smoky characteristics, making them versatile for sweet and savory dishes.
3. Comoros Vanilla Beans: Comoros Islands is located in the Indian Ocean between Madagascar and the southeastern coast of Africa. Comoros vanilla beans have a creamy and sweet flavor with hints of cherry and anise. They are prized for their high vanillin content.
4. Papua New Guinean Vanilla Beans: These beans offer a bold and full-bodied flavor with earthy and woody undertones.
5. Hawaiian Vanilla Beans: Grown in the lush Hawaiian climate, these vanilla beans offer a delicate and floral aroma with fruity undertones. They are known for their smooth, mellow flavor profile, often with hints of cherry and prune.
6. Mexican Vanilla Beans: Mexican vanilla beans have a reputation for their bold and robust flavor, often accompanied by a smoky and spicy profile.
7. Tahitian Vanilla Beans: Hailing from the South Pacific, French Polynesian vanilla beans are distinct for their floral and fruity fragrance, with hints of cherry, anise, and even licorice.
8. Ugandan Vanilla Beans: These beans have a similar flavor profile to Madagascar beans, with a creamy and sweet taste. Ugandan vanilla is known for its quality and is becoming increasingly recognized in the gourmet world.
9. Tongan Vanilla Beans: Tonga is a Polynesian archipelago of over 170 islands in the South Pacific. Tongan vanilla is prized for its bold, rich flavor profile characterized by intense notes of red wine, cherries, and figs.
10. Indian Pompona Vanilla Beans: Also referred to as “West Indian Vanilla,” pompona vanilla beans originate from the Caribbean. They are typically shorter and plumper than other varieties, offering a distinctive aroma and flavor with fruity and spicy notes.

Variations

• Rich vanilla syrup: For a thicker syrup, reduce the water to 1/2 cup to make a rich vanilla syrup.
• Floral vanilla syrup: For a vanilla lavender simple syrup add 1 tsp of dried lavender to the warm syrup and strain it out after it has cooled. Add 1 tsp of rose water to the final syrup for a sweet floral note. Perfect for my vanilla rose mini cheesecakes.
• Chai vanilla syrup: Add 1 tsp of my homemade chai spice mix to the to the warm syrup for a warm and spicy twist.

How to make flavored simple syrup (step-by-step)

Step 1: Combine sugar and water in a small saucepan.

Step 2: On medium heat, dissolve the sugar while stirring for about 5 minutes to make a simple syrup.

Step 3: Cut the vanilla bean in half and scrape out the seeds.

Step 4: Remove the saucepan from heat and add the vanilla seeds and bean cut in half to the simple syrup. Once fully cooled, transfer the vanilla syrup to an airtight container.

Recipe FAQs

More syrup recipes

For more homemade syrup ideas, check out the following recipes:

• Rosé simple syrup
• Honey lavender simple syrup
• Hibiscus simple syrup