Vanilla Bean Simple Syrup

5 from 1 vote

This vanilla bean simple syrup is made from whole vanilla pods. Hands-on time is minimal and flavour is heads and shoulders above store-bought vanilla syrup. Makes approximately 400ml.

Prep Time2

Cook Time2

Infusing time30

Course: Condiment, Drink - non-alcoholic

Cuisine: Worldwide

Diet: Vegetarian

Servings: servings (20ml)

Calories: 49kcal

Author: Jane Coupland

Ingredients

250 g White sugar granulated or caster sugar
250 ml Water
2 Vanilla pods

Instructions

Use a sharp knife to slit the vanilla pods lengthways, then scrap out the seeds. Put the pods and seeds into a saucepan with the sugar and water.
Heat the ingredients gently to dissolve the sugar but do not let the liquid boil. Once the sugar has dissolved, remove the pan from the heat and leave it to cool down.
Remove the pods, scraping out any more seeds if possible and adding them back into the pan. Remove any chunks of pod that remain and then use a small handheld whisk to break up any seeds that are clinging together.
Finally, sieve the syrup, wiping any seeds clinging to the back of the sieve, back into the syrup. Decant the syrup into a bottle and store it in the fridge.

Notes

Don’t throw out the discarded pods. Rinse them, pat them dry and then re-use those spent vanilla pods. Try your hand at homemade vanilla extract for a start.
Use slightly less sugar to reduce the sweetness of this syrup (try 200g instead of 250g).
Before decanting your vanilla bean syrup into the bottle, remove any small chunks of pod that remain in the syrup and sieve it to remove any debris from the vanilla pod.
If your bottle has a slim neck, use a funnel to pour the syrup in – you don’t want to waste any of this precious liquid.
The vanilla seeds will fall to the bottom of the bottle over time. Give the syrup a firm shake to redistribute those seeds before using your syrup.
Use around 20ml syrup in a latte style drink. You can increase/decrease this amount for a sweeter/ less sweet drink but the intensity of vanilla flavour will be affected.

Nutrition