Love a rich, caramel-flavored coffee without the coffee shop price tag? This Homemade Caramel Syrup for Coffee is incredibly easy and delicious. Made in about 20 minutes on the stovetop with 3 simple ingredients: water, sugar, and vanilla. It’s a Starbucks copycat, but even easier than what you’ll find on their website!
Plus, it costs less than fifty cents to make the entire batch! Drizzle it into your morning coffee or stir it into your favorite drinks for the perfect touch of sweetness.
Mindy’s Recipe Snapshot
Method: This caramel syrup is made on the stove top.
Key Ingredients: Sugar, water and vanilla, that’s it!
Ease: Such and easy caramel syrup recipe!
Top Tip: Let the syrup sit for a minute or so before you add the hot water so it doesn’t splash everywhere.
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This homemade caramel syrup is perfect for cold drinks, hot drinks, or to use whenever you need a liquid sweetener. I use this delicious syrup to make my Caramel Coffee Creamer and Caramel Iced Coffee (post will be coming soon!). We also use it in oatmeal or to drizzle on pancakes and French toast.
If you’re looking for an easy recipe for caramel sauce then check out my Homemade Caramel Sauce recipe. It’s made in the microwave with just heavy cream, brown sugar, butter, and a little salt.
Ingredients
See recipe card for exact amounts.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
- White Sugar: I use regular granulated sugar for this recipe. While I haven’t personally tried making it with brown sugar, it should work as a substitute. Just keep in mind that using brown sugar will result in a slightly thicker syrup with deep amber color, and a subtle molasses flavor due to the added molasses content in the sugar.
- Water: Regular ol’ tap water works great here.
- Vanilla Extract: This adds wonderful flavor and color to our caramel syrup. If you have caramel extract, you can use about ¾ teaspoon instead for an even richer caramel taste. I checked the three major grocery chains in Wichita, and surprisingly, it’s not available here. It’s always interesting to see what’s hard to find—even in a city this size!
How to Make Caramel Syrup for Coffee
- Combine the sugar and water in a small saucepan and place it over medium heat. Let it come to a boil, which takes about 5-7 minutes (on my glass electric cooktop, medium is 5, and medium-low is 3).
- Once boiling, continue cooking and stirring slowly for another 11-13 minutes, lowering the heat to medium-low if needed. You want a slow boil, and the syrup will turn a very light amber color when done. The total cook time is around 16-18 minutes, including the time it takes to reach a boil.
- Remove the saucepan from the heat and let it sit for 30-60 seconds. Then carefully stir in the hot water and vanilla.
Tips
- Cook this low and slow to prevent burning. The first time I made this syrup, I followed the recipe on the Starbucks At Home website, and it turned out burnt. So, I came up with my own method to get it just right!
- I like to use a wire whisk and gently scrape the sides of the pan to help incorporate any of the sugar mixture that sticks, ensuring it fully dissolves into the syrup.
- When you are stirring the hot water and vanilla into the syrup small bits may form, if this happens return it to medium-low heat for a minute or two, stirring constantly until the bits dissolve.
Variations
- Make your own salted caramel syrup by adding a pinch of salt to this syrup.
- Make your own cinnamon caramel sauce by adding a pinch of cinnamon.
How to Store Caramel Syrup
Store syrup in an airtight container, I like using a mason jar, in the refrigerator for a month or longer. While it can be stored at room temperature short-term storing it in the refrigerator extends its shelf-life and slows the growth of bacteria.
Frequently Asked Questions
The ingredients used to make it are gluten free but you should make sure the specific ingredients used are certified gf.
It can, homemade caramel syrup can last several months in the fridge. Discard it if it smells off, changes color, or develops mold.
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Homemade Caramel Syrup for Coffee
Ingredients
- 1 cup sugar
- ¼ cup water
- ½ cup hot water
- 1 tsp vanilla
Instructions
- Combine sugar and water in a small saucepan and place it over medium heat. Let it come to a boil, which takes about 5-7 minutes.1 cup sugar, ¼ cup water
- Once boiling, continue cooking and stirring slowly for another 11-13 minutes, lowering the heat to medium-low if needed. You want a slow boil, and the syrup will turn a very light amber color when done. The total cook time is 16-18 minutes, including the time it takes to reach a boil.
- Remove the saucepan from the heat and let it sit for 30-60 seconds. Then carefully stir in the hot water and vanilla.½ cup hot water, 1 tsp vanilla
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