You are going to want to make this easy 5-ingredient Chocolate Coffee Syrup recipe on repeat! With just sugar, cocoa powder, water, vanilla, and a pinch of salt, you can whip up a rich, smooth syrup in minutes.
It’s the perfect way to take your homemade coffee drinks to the next level or stir into warm or cold milk. Once you see how simple and delicious it is, you may never go back to store-bought again.
This recipe is basically a simple syrup with cocoa, vanilla, and a bit of salt added to make it chocolate. The result is a smooth, pourable syrup that’s a bit thinner than Hershey’s syrup or a rich hot fudge, making it perfect for stirring into beverages or drizzling over treats. It blends easily into both iced and hot coffee drinks, and it’s also a quick way to dress up a bowl of ice cream, yogurt, or even pancakes when you’re craving a chocolatey twist.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Easy recipe: No complicated steps here—just add everything to a saucepan, give it a good whisk, and heat until everything dissolves into a smooth, chocolatey syrup.
- Simple ingredients: You don’t need anything fancy to make this. Chances are you already have sugar, cocoa powder, vanilla, and salt in your pantry, so you can whip this up anytime the craving strikes.
- Better than store-bought: This homemade syrup tastes fresher and richer than bottled versions, and you control exactly what goes in. No ingredients you can’t pronounce and no high fructose corn syrup or preservatives, just pure chocolate flavor.
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Ingredient Photo
Ingredient Notes
- Cocoa: We use unsweetened cocoa powder, and honestly, both store-brand and name-brand versions taste delicious in this syrup. Use whichever you have on hand.
- Sugar: Regular white granulated sugar works best in this homemade chocolate syrup recipe. I haven’t tested it with brown sugar, but it should work, it will just give the syrup a slightly deeper, molasses-like flavor.
- Water: Since the mixture is heated, tap water works perfectly fine. Of course, filtered or bottled water work just as well if you prefer.
- Vanilla: A splash of vanilla extract adds warmth and rounds out the flavor nicely. If all you have is vanilla flavoring, that will work too.
- Salt: A pinch of plain table salt balances the sweetness and enhances the chocolate. Kosher salt or sea salt can also be used.
How to Make Simple & Delicious Chocolate Syrup
Here’s a quick look at the steps with photos. You’ll find the full list of ingredients and instructions in the recipe card below.
Sift the cocoa into a small saucepan, add sugar and water and cook over medium heat, stirring often, until the cocoa and sugar dissolves.
Take off the heat and whisk in the vanilla and salt. Store in an airtight container like a mason jar.
How to Use Chocolate Syrup
From breakfast to dessert, the possibilities are endless. Once you make it, you’ll be finding new excuses to drizzle it on everything!
- In your morning coffee or to make coffee shop copycats like a Tuxedo Mocha or Mocha Frappuccino. It’s especially good in iced coffee drinks because it stirs in so smoothly.
- Mix into cold milk for quick chocolate milk or stir into warm milk for cozy hot chocolate.
- Drizzle over ice cream, cake, or brownies for an instant dessert or upgrade.
- Swirl into yogurt or oatmeal, or top pancakes, waffles, or French toast with it for a sweet, chocolatey breakfast.
- Blend into milkshakes, smoothies, or protein shakes for a boost of flavor.
- Use as a dipping sauce for fresh fruits like strawberries, bananas, or apple slices for a simple but fun treat.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! You can swap the sugar for your favorite low-sugar or sugar-free sweetener. Keep in mind that different sweeteners may change the flavor slightly, but it will still make a delicious syrup for coffee drinks or chocolate milk.
If stored in an airtight container in the fridge, this syrup will stay fresh for at least a month—sometimes even longer. Just give it a good stir or shake before using, as it may settle a bit over time.
Yes! While it’s thinner than hot fudge, you can stir it into brownie or cake batter for extra sweetness and chocolate flavor, or drizzle it over baked goods after they come out of the oven.
Try These Syrup Recipes Next!
If you love this recipe, these other syrups are just as simple and versatile—you’ll have a whole lineup of flavors ready to go.
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Chocolate Coffee Syrup Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Sift the cocoa into a small saucepan.
- Add sugar and water and cook over medium heat, stirring often, until the cocoa and sugar dissolves.
- Take off the heat and whisk in the vanilla and salt.
About Mindy
Mindy has been cooking for over 30 years, starting as a young mother who learned how to create delicious meals on a budget. Today, she shares approachable recipes made with everyday ingredients that are easy, affordable, and family-friendly. Her goal is to show that great food doesn’t need to be complicated or expensive.