After finally upgrading my espresso machine it was only a matter of time before I had to create my own easy homemade vanilla syrup recipe.
A high-quality espresso machine with the best coffee beans meant I needed to up my syrup game for fancy lattes.
I’ll be honest, I don’t typically use syrup in my coffee, it’s more about the quality of the espresso shot and crema for me. If I am going to have a latte it better be the real deal. Store bought syrups and whip creams just don’t do it for me. So, for those slow Sunday mornings when I actually sit and enjoy breakfast, I do love a creamy vanilla latte. This easy homemade vanilla syrup recipe was a game changer along with some homemade almond milk.
This homemade vanilla has also come in handy as an ingredient in so many other recipes including coconut whip cream, topping on pancakes and a nice little addition to certain cocktails.
Pro Tip:
Tahitian vanilla extract and vanilla bean are a non-negotiable for me. After visiting Tahiti and bringing back extract and beans it puts your typical grocery store vanilla to shame. Just my “extra” opinion.
Nutrition Info of Vanilla Syrup:
I won’t sugar-coat the nutrition facts about the vanilla syrup. 1 tablespoon of syrup is 40-50 calories and is certainly an added sugar. The American diet typically has excessive amounts of sugar and it should be used in moderation. It is gluten free and dairy free.
Fun Facts About Vanilla:
- Vanilla is the only fruit-bearing member of the orchid family. It’s the 2nd most expensive spice!
- Fresh vanilla beans have no taste or aroma. After it’s processed the familiar scent is present. We all know the smell of vanilla as calming, sweet and cozy.
- The flower that produces the vanilla bean lasts only one day. Vanilla beans are hand-picked and then cured, wrapped, and dried in a process that takes 4 to 6 months. The Aztecs named the fruit lilxochitl, or “black flower”, after the matured fruit, which shrivels and turns black shortly after it is picked.
- Pure vanilla extract contains 13.35 ounces of vanilla beans per gallon during extraction, according to FDA specifications.
- Only a specific bee, found in Central America, can pollinate vanilla. In other parts of the world, humans duplicate the process using a wooden needle.
- One tablespoon of vanilla extract has 37 calories, a large portion of which comes from sugars and alcohol.
- Natural vanilla extract contains numerous antioxidants, including vanillic acid and vanillin.
