This recipe combines granulated sugar, water, and a whole vanilla bean to create a richly flavored, aromatic syrup that’s perfect for enhancing drinks, desserts, and breakfast dishes.
Lay your vanilla bean flat on a cutting board. With a sharp knife, split the bean lengthwise. Use the back of your knife to scrape out the seeds.
1 Vanilla Bean
In a small saucepan, combine the water, sugar, vanilla seeds, and the split bean pod.
1 c. Granulated Sugar, 1 c. Water
Place the saucepan over medium heat, stirring the mixture gently until the sugar dissolves. Reduce the heat to low and let the mixture simmer for about 15 minutes.
Remove the saucepan from the heat and let the syrup cool to room temperature.
Once cooled, strain the syrup through a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth to remove the vanilla bean pod and any large particles.
Pour the strained syrup into a clean bottle or jar. Seal tightly and store in the refrigerator.
Notes
Properly stored, your vanilla bean simple syrup can last up to a month and be ready to use whenever you want to add sweetness and rich vanilla flavor to your food.