These homemade coffee syrups only require a few easy ingredients, are easy to make, and make your coffee (or hot chocolate) taste amazing. You'll never buy flavored syrups or creamers for your coffee again when you have this coffee syrup recipe.
These coffee syrups make a great gift idea for the coffee lover in your life!
- What is coffee syrup made of?
- How to use coffee syrups
- Key ingredient list:
- How to make the homemade coffee syrup:
- Tips:
- How long do homemade coffee syrups last?
- Does homemade coffee syrup need to be refrigerated?
- To make a Sugar-Free Coffee Syrup:
- Homemade Coffee Syrup Recipe
- Some of our delicious coffee and latte recipes:
Ever since learning to make homemade flavored syrups I rarely purchase flavored creamer for our coffee. It is just so easy to make my own coffee syrup in whatever flavor we would like most.
These homemade coffee syrups only require a few easy ingredients, are easy to make, and make your coffee (or hot chocolate) taste amazing. You'll never buy flavored syrups or creamers for your coffee again when you have this coffee syrup recipe.
These coffee syrups make a great gift idea for the coffee lover in your life!
What is coffee syrup made of?
Homemade Coffee Syrup is simple. It’s basically sugar and water (to make a simple syrup) plus the flavoring you want.
How to use coffee syrups
Remember when Shakespeare said something like, “What’s in a name? Coffee syrup by any other name would taste just as awesome”? OK, OK, that’s not exactly what he said, but he could have because this stuff could be called hot chocolate syrup, ice cream syrup, tea syrup…you get the idea. Don’t be afraid to use these syrups just about anywhere you need some extra flavor–shakes, pancakes, cocktails, drizzled on cake…OK, I’ll stop now.
Key ingredient list:
This coffee syrup recipe is simply flavored simple syrups. The recipe is the same for any simple syrup you might make for your favorite cocktail.
- Sugar. Traditional granulated white sugar is what you need. If you need a sugar-free version Splenda, coconut sugar, or similar products work well.
- Water. Nothing to say here...water.
- Peppermints. For the peppermint flavor you'll need a handful of the old-fashioned peppermints. They will take a bit of time to melt into the syrup and then leave a delicious flavor (and color).
- Caramel sauce. Grab your favorite caramel sauce (try my homemade salted caramel sauce) for this one. Just a bit goes a long way!
- Spices. Warm spices add a ton of flavor to your morning coffee.
- Vanilla. My personal favorite is to simply add a bit of good quality vanilla extract or vanilla bean.
How to make the homemade coffee syrup:
- Add ingredients into a heavy, medium saucepan or pot(this will help it not boil over as easily!).
- Bring to a gentle boil, stirring often.
- Add any flavor add-ins or extracts.
- Simmer on low.
- Cool before putting into your jar or container.
Tips:
- Crystallizing is something that can happen when working with simple syrup. To avoid it be sure to have dry pans and utensils. Don't introduce extreme temperatures to your syrup (cold spoons, pans...etc.).
- The coffee syrup recipe variations I have uses ingredients like maple syrup, caramel sauce, and peppermint candies because they bring ingredients that will keep your coffee syrup from crystallizing. If you make your own recipe and don't add in anything processed using only natural flavor or spice, try adding a wee bit of corn syrup, lemon juice, or cream of tartar to your syrup right before you pour it into your bottles to help solve your crystallizing problems.
- Be sure to shake the spice flavor before you use it as the spice likes to settle.
How long do homemade coffee syrups last?
You can keep your Homemade Coffee Syrups for about 2 weeks in the fridge. If you want them to last a little longer, adding a tablespoon of vodka (to kill the bacteria) extends the life to about 1 month–still in the fridge. If you do that, you may want to label that bottle “Adults Only”.
Does homemade coffee syrup need to be refrigerated?
Definitely! Refrigerate your coffee syrups to limit bacteria growth. You want delicious coffee syrups–not a middle school science experiment.
To make a Sugar-Free Coffee Syrup:
Use Truvia Baking Blend as an exact swap out for the sugar. I have successfully made this recipe sugar-free many times with this swap out. I have heard from readers that Splenda and coconut sugar also works well.
Let's stop a moment and talk about the containers...
You don't have to pay a fortune for fancy pants. These are from Dollar Tree for...yup, $1 each. I put a bit of black vinyl on them to create the chalkboard surface. A little bottle of chalkboard paint would work. As would modpodging a sweet piece of paper. Amazon does have a version...this Olive Oil Dispenser ... that is similar to them, a bit more expensive. But...an option.
This is my basic homemade coffee syrup recipe and made to my preference. I add about 2-3 tablespoons of coffee syrup to our perfect lattes (how to make a perfect stovetop latte HERE!) or cold-brew. Of course, that's because I like my coffee with less coffee and more sugar. Create your coffee syrups the way YOU like them.
You have the basic coffee syrup recipe, now go make it awesome!
The next cookie and coffee date can be at your house!
Homemade Coffee Syrup Recipe
Ingredients
Basic Syrup
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup water
- Caramel variation: ½ cup caramel sauce
- Peppermint variation: 20 peppermint candies
- Warm Spice variation: 2 tsp cinnamon 1 tsp nutmeg, 2 tsp cloves
- Maple Vanilla variation: 3 tablespoons vanilla ¼ cup maple syrup
Instructions
- Put ingredients into a heavy saucepan (this will help it not boil over as easily!).
- Bring to gentle boil, stirring often. (watch carefully that it doesn't boil over!)If it starts to boil over simply pull it off the heat until it calms down.
- Simmer on low for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Cool before putting into a container.
Flavor variations:
- Caramel variation: add caramel sauce after water comes to a boil.
- Peppermint variation: add peppermints with water and sugar, stir often.
- Warm spice variation: add spices after water has come to boil.
- Maple Vanilla variation: add syrup with sugar and water, add vanilla after water comes to a boil.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Do you have a recipe for Hazelnut syrup?
I don't. I would probably use an extract for the Hazelnut flavor. Similarly to the vanilla.
How long does it last before expiration?
Honestly, I've never had any left after a few weeks. I know for sure several weeks.
I officially can't have my coffee without this stuff now! I use a tsp of peppermint extract and have that flavor year round. I occasionally break it up with the cinnamon spice but always go back to the peppermint. Thank you for this recipe!
#sorrynotsorry :). Us too! This stuff is so easy and delicious. Glad it perked up your coffee time like it does ours!
Do you think this would work using candy/ baking oils? Like cinnamon oil, bubble gum, etc?
You know, I think that it would cook properly but I'm pretty sure the oils would separate from the syrup. You could shake it prior to every use to combat that?
I am wondering if you could use xanthum gum to keep it from separating? I'll have to try this, although I might have to go the sugar-free one. What about Stevia? I should try to make a chocolate mint one! I have many recipes I use for my iced coffees in the summer. I usually don't mention this, but I do roast my own coffee and have some excellent coffee recipes for my customers I give out at Farmer's Markets, etc. (Not to mention, I really do have some wonderful fresh roasted coffees from all over! I am always looking for new things.
Now, if only I could figure out how to make my own coffee bean flavoring! I am only a very small business and I have to buy huge amounts of commercial flavors for when I create Chocolate Mint coffee, or Macchiato, Cinnamon bliss, etc.
Nanc
I have never tried xanthum gum and really couldn't say if it would work. I believe I read in the comments some of the good options for sugar-free versions that were tried. I did use the baking Stevia with good success. I think roasting your own coffee is amazing and am super interested in trying that! Kudo's, girl! I went and checked out your site and you have a full business going. In case you haven't been around NellieBellie all that much...I'm a huge coffee girl. So, if I didn't already have a great job I'd be trying to steal yours :). Have a wonderful weekend and be sure to tell me how it goes!
I have seen other recipes using xanthum gum and stevia.
Yes, xanthum gum and stevia are especially useful for sugar-free versions. This isn't meant to be a sugar-free version but a standard old-fashioned way to make simple syrups that are useful for so many things. I have use stevia quite successfully for the sugar-free kind. Still yummy!
I can't wait to make these! I'm a barista and just got an espresso machine. These will be the perfect addition to my little home coffee bar. :)
They would! And I can't wait to hear how you customize these to your favorite flavors...yum!