Homemade Caramel Simple Syrup (for coffee & more!)

What’s sweet and buttery and rich and basically the most amazing thing you can imagine making at home for your coffee?! That’s right, homemade caramel syrup is what!

All run-on sentences and obvious statements aside, this caramel simple syrup is truly a thing of miracles. In fact, I didn’t think it could be done. I thought I would just have to have the store-bought variety if I wanted homemade caramel lattes.

Or homemade iced coffee with caramel. Or caramel cold brew. Or…you get the idea.

Since my world was rocked making homemade vanilla syrup for coffee, I knew I had to give a caramel version a try. And oh boy, my friends, our world was rocked then…get ready for this. World-shaking.

In fact, I made the S.O. an iced caramel latte and he said it was “great, it tasted just like it came from the place…Starbucks…but better.”

And that, from a man of few words, was just the endorsement I needed. So let’s make it, and you, too, can have coffee-shop-worthy drinks right at home, without the price tag.

What is Simple Syrup?

Simple syrup is a liquid sweetener, generally made for use in beverages because it disperses the sweetness throughout the drink without any gritty texture that you might get if you were to just stir in sugar. This is especially key for iced drinks.

It’s typically a 1:1 ratio of water to sugar that is simmered until dissolved into a syrup. The ratio can be changed to make a thicker syrup that would be more like maple syrup or corn syrup consistency for things like pancakes and drizzling.

Simple Syrup can be flavored with a variety of fresh herbs, fruit, and spices – so many delicious options!

Making basic simple syrup is a quick and easy process, and while caramel simple syrup is relatively straightforward and simple, it does require a careful eye and a little more patience, but I promise you it’s totally worth it.

What About Caramel Sauce vs. Caramel Syrup?

You might hear the two terms used interchangeably, but there is a difference and it’s especially important to note because it will change the outcome of your recipe depending on what you use.

Caramel sauce is thick in texture with a rich flavor from added butter and/or cream. It’s what you’ll typically use to drizzle on ice cream or other desserts. Or hey, even pancakes! It’s also what you’ll want to use for a caramel drizzle on whipped cream (like in these whipped cream photos).

Caramel syrup is thinner and a little sweeter – less rich- than sauce because it is made with just sugar and water (and a little extract). It doesn’t have the same richness because there is not typically butter or cream added. Its purpose is for drinks because it easily dissolves into coffee or tea, infusing it with flavor.

What is Caramel Syrup Made Of?

Ah, homemade caramel syrup is a thing of beauty and few ingredients, friends.

While those store-bought varieties might have added ingredients, artificial ingredients, or preservatives, making latte syrup at home only requires two ingredients (plus water).

It’s simple and you know exactly what’s going into it! Here’s what you’ll need:

• Granulated Sugar: simple and straightforward!
• Water: this recipe uses a little more water than a typical 1:1 syrup ratio. This is to make sure that the syrup doesn’t actually thicken up too much once it cools, because then we basically have caramel syrup that isn’t great for iced drinks.
• Vanilla Extract: I like adding a little vanilla extract to round out the flavors and give the syrup more depth. If you have it on hand (like, maybe from this caramel cream cheese dip?), use caramel extract for more of a deep caramel flavor. You can also leave it out if you prefer.

Sometimes when making caramel-based recipes (like caramel corn) corn syrup is added to prevent the sugars in the caramel from crystalizing, and keeps the texture smooth. I haven’t found to need it in my many, many batches of caramel syrup making, but if you feel so inclined, add a little drizzle when you start the syrup.

How to Make Caramel Syrup

Typically, making caramel is one involved process, with a huge focus on temperature and time. Luckily, making caramel simple syrup is a little less exact with temperature and time, but it will require your attention so that it doesn’t burn.

Please see the full recipe card below for amounts and instructions.

Dissolve the Sugar in Water & Swirl

To start, there will be more sugar than water to make the caramel base. Dissolve the two together, swirling the pan as needed to “stir”.

There’s a lot of debate around making caramel and whether or not you should stir it. I like swirl because it’s an easy, hands-off way to make sure the sugars don’t crystalize. Use a pot holder if you need to, and simply lift the saucepan sightly using the handle and gently swirl it around in a circular motion.

There’s no need to do this vigorously, a gentle swirl every now and then is just enough.

Simmer Until Golden Brown

This is where making caramel syrup is a little more involved than regular simple syrup. You need time for the sugars to caramelize. Typically in basic simple syrup, you remove it once it’s dissolved and call it good.

Now, we will let the mixture simmer on medium-low heat for anywhere from 10 to 16 minutes just until a light golden amber color appears.

I prefer going low and slow as far as time and temperature are concerned because if the sugars burn, there’s not really any going back.

Using just under medium heat on my gas stove, it takes around 11 minutes for the golden color to appear. If the temperature is lower, it has taken up to 16 minutes. This is why watching for the color is more important than exact timing.

If you prefer a darker, slightly bitter caramel, you can of course experiment with letting it cook to a darker golden. Do note that once it gets to the golden brown point, it can quickly turn too bitter and burnt tasting.

Remove From Heat & Add More Water

Now, this is very important: heat the additional water before adding it to the caramel syrup.

This will reduce the splatter that comes from the syrup and make your life a whole lot easier. Just pop it in the microwave before you add it (do this while the syrup is cooking to make things even easier).

I also recommend wearing oven mitts just in case there is extra splatter because it will splatter some.

As you whisk in the heated water, the caramel may slightly harden in bits. If this happens, keep whisking, and if needed, place it back over low heat while whisking until it’s dissolved again.

Then, whisk in the vanilla extract and allow the syrup to cool completely.

Add approximately 2 tablespoons of syrup to your favorite drinks to enjoy!

Salted Caramel Syrup

Ok, so you want to make salted caramel syrup. Good thing that’s as easy as can be!

Let the syrup cool slightly so it’s warm, but not too hot, and add salt to taste. Start with a little and continue tasting until it’s just salty enough for your preferences.

Storage

Now that you have homemade caramel syrup, transfer it to an airtight container like a glass jar with a lid and let it cool completely. Store it in the fridge and it will be ready each morning for your coffee.

It will last up to 2 weeks in the fridge, sometimes longer. Flavored syrups tend to spoil faster than regular simple syrup, but they still have a pretty significant shelf life. Check for any moldy spots or an off-smell if you are storing it for a long time.

It is not recommended to store homemade syrups at room temperature for longer than a day or two, as they have a higher chance of spoiling and/or crystallizing.

Additional Tips & FAQs

• Worth repeating: watch for the color to change so that you don’t boil it too long.
• Once it’s completely cooled, you can store it in a squeeze bottle (with a lid on the tip) to easily drizzle out the syrup into drinks.
• This syrup is both gluten-free and dairy-free (but as always, check your specific ingredients to be sure).
• Serving size will vary depending on how much syrup you use per drink, etc. This recipe yields a little more than 3/4 cup of syrup.
• Also worth repeating: adding hot water will greatly reduce the splatter!

Ways to Use Caramel Syrup

Ah, let me count the ways to use this incredible syrup. Of course, it’s mainly for drinks but there are a few unexpected ways you can use it, too!

• Hot Caramel Latte or an Iced Caramel Latte
• You can also use it in iced coffee or cold brew drinks
• Stir it in tea, or make a tea latte
• Use it in cocktails – it’s especially excellent in bourbon or whiskey-based cocktails.
• Add it to hot (or cold) apple cider.
• Stir it in warm or cool milk for a kid-friendly drink
• Toss it with mixed berries, drizzle on yogurt with granola, or add it to a smoothie
• Brush on a freshly baked cake for extra flavor

More Coffee Syrup Recipes to Try

• Vanilla Bean Syrup
• Lavender Syrup
• Mint Syrup
• Autumn Spice Syrup (like pumpkin spice, but butter)

Need more? Check out our collection of latte syrup recipes!

Did you make this recipe? Please leave a star rating and review in the form below. I appreciate your feedback, and it helps others, too!