Making Simple Syrup at Home

One of my absolute favorite things in life is a hot latte with vanilla and hazelnut. One of my least favorite things is the $5.00 price tag for one of these lovely beverages at my local Starbucks. That makes for one very sad mama! So rather than shell out a ton of money a week, I decided to try to make it at home.

The main issue is that I needed a similar syrup, but without all those chemicals! Roll out the Simple Syrup. If you have never heard of simple syrup before it is basically sugar melted into water. It makes a sweet syrup that dissolves better in liquid. There is a specific ratio of sugar to water, but it could not be more simple than that!

I use my simple syrup to make a wonderful Vanilla and Hazelnut coffee syrup.

If you do not drink coffee, that is OK. It is amazing in fizzy / carbonated water, or for cocktails!

Traditional Simple Syrup

Ingredients

• 1 cup of Distilled or filtered water
• 1 cup of sugar (I prefer unbleached cane sugar and I buy from Costco)

Directions

1. In a medium size sauce pan pour 1 cup of water and 1 cup of sugar into the pan.
2. Bring to a boil.
3. Turn the heat down to low / medium/low and stir constantly, until the sugar completely dissolves. You will know it is dissolved completely when the mixture becomes clear and if you scrape the bottom with a silicone spatula and do not see any sugar.
4. Allow to cook for approximately 3 – 5 minutes. you can choose to boil it longer if you want a thicker syrup.
5. Remove from the heat and allow to completely cool.
6. Once completely cool place in a glass airtight jar.
7. Keep refrigerated for up to 2 weeks.

Light Simple Syrup

Ingredients

• 2 cups of Distilled or filtered water
• 1 cup of sugar (I prefer unbleached cane sugar and I buy from Costco)

Directions

1. In a medium size sauce pan pour 2 cups of water and 1 cup of sugar into the pan.
2. Bring to a boil.
3. Turn the heat down to low / medium/low and stir constantly, until the sugar completely dissolves. You will know it is dissolved completely when the mixture becomes clear and if you scrape the bottom with a silicone spatula and do not see any sugar.
4. Allow to cook for approximately 3 – 5 minutes. you can choose to boil it longer if you want a thicker syrup.
5. Remove from the heat and allow to completely cool.
6. Once completely cool place in a glass airtight jar.
7. Keep refrigerated for up to 2 weeks.

Super Light Simple Syrup

Ingredients

• 1 cup of Distilled or filtered water
• 1/3 cup of sugar (I prefer unbleached cane sugar and I buy from Costco)

Directions

1. In a medium size sauce pan pour 1 cup of water and 1/3 cup of sugar into the pan.
2. Bring to a boil.
3. Turn the heat down to low / medium/low and stir constantly, until the sugar completely dissolves. You will know it is dissolved completely when the mixture becomes clear and if you scrape the bottom with a silicone spatula and do not see any sugar.
4. Allow to cook for approximately 3 – 5 minutes. you can choose to boil it longer if you want a thicker syrup.
5. Remove from the heat and allow to completely cool.
6. Once completely cool place in a glass airtight jar.
7. Keep refrigerated for up to 2 weeks.