Vanilla Bean Maple Syrup

Simple and delicious, this Vanilla Bean Maple Syrup is infused with a real vanilla bean pod and develops a beautiful, complex flavor. Perfect for topping pancakes, waffles, or any of your favorite breakfast foods!

This recipe is so easy, it almost shouldn’t be called a recipe. Maybe a tutorial. A guide on how to infuse maple syrup.

Because all you need is some real maple syrup, a single vanilla bean, and some patience (that’s the hardest part).

Why You’ll Love This Infused Syrup

If you love a good stack of pancakes, or a buttery waffle smothered in maple syrup, this vanilla infused syrup takes it to the next level. The flecks of vanilla bean floating in the syrup add visual appeal, making it pretty as well as delicious.

Ingredients

To infuse your syrup, you’ll need:

• Maple Syrup — I bought a bottle of syrup from my local grocery store and simply removed the labels. However, I typically buy the large bottle of organic maple syrup from Costco. It’s a great price, and can be redistributed into smaller glass bottles, like these.
  
• Vanilla Beans — I recommend grade A vanilla beans, like these Madacasgar vanilla beans. They’re soft and can be easily split open to get out the vanilla bean seeds inside.
  
  While you can technically use Grade B vanilla beans (which are harder and more woody), you won’t get as good of a flavor, or get it as quickly.
  

How to Make Vanilla Bean Maple Syrup

Remove any labels you wish from the bottle of syrup, and open it.

Split open a vanilla bean and put it into the bottle. Replace the lid, screwing it on tightly.

Shake the bottle well to help loosen up the vanilla beans. Refrigerate the syrup for two weeks to allow the flavor of the vanilla to permeate the syrup.

Tips for Cutting Vanilla Beans

Use a knife with a very sharp tip and a cutting board that has some grip, like a wooden board. You don’t want anything slipping while you’re cutting.

Hold the vanilla bean pod in place by firmly pressing down on it with the tips of your fingers. Using the tip of the knife, slice lengthwise, from one end of the vanilla bean to the other.

This will allow all of the millions of tiny vanilla bean flecks inside the pod to get out and flavor the syrup. You can scrape the flat edge of the knife along the inside of the pod, loosening up the little beans inside.

Serving the Vanilla Maple Syrup

When you’re ready to serve your vanilla maple syrup, you can serve it hot or cold. To heat the syrup, fill a small sauce pan with hot water. Place the bottle of the syrup in it and heat it over medium low heat until it’s warm.

If you serve the syrup cold, it will be thick. This can be a really delicious contrast to the warm, buttery pancakes, french toast, or waffles.

Tips for the Best Vanilla Bean Infused Maple Syrup

• For the best flavor and look, look for grade A, amber colored pure maple syrup. It looks best in a clear glass bottle, so that you can easily see the vanilla bean inside. A darker colored syrup will be less pretty but just as delicious.
  
• This syrup makes a perfect gift! You can even buy it in bulk and put it into smaller bottles, like these ones. Pop in your vanilla bean, give it a shake, and it’s ready to give away!

Recipe to Use Vanilla Syrup With:

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