American Classics
Vanilla bean simple syrup.jpg

[Photograph: Alexandra Penfold]

Making your own vanilla syrup at home is easy. Store in a sterile glass jar or bottle in the refrigerator for up to a week. Makes a great addition to coffee, tea, or cocktails. After cooking the mixture I leave the pod in the syrup to allow it to further infuse in the refrigerator.

About the author: Alexandra Penfold is mild-mannered literary agent by day, food ninja by night. Never one to skip dessert she's the Brownie half of Blondie & Brownie, a Midtown Lunch contributor, and co-author of New York à la Cart: Recipes and Stories from the Big Apple's Best Food Trucks. You can follow her on Twitter at @blondiebrownie.

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About This Recipe

Yield: Makes 1 cup
Active time: 20 minutes
Total time: 20 minutes
Special equipment: small saucepan, paring knife

Ingredients

  • 1 cup water
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 vanilla bean

Procedures

  1. Add sugar and water to a small saucepan. Slice vanilla bean down the center and scrape out the black seeds. Add the seeds and pod to the liquid mixture. Heat over medium high heat, stirring occasionally until sugar has dissolved completely and mixture has come to a boil, about 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from heat and pour into a sterile glass container. Store in the refrigerator for up to one week.