This homemade simple syrup is made in 10 minutes from 2 ingredients. Use it in coffee drinks, tea, or cocktails for sweetness. It tastes just like the Starbucks Classic Syrup. Make your favourite coffee shop drinks at home!
The Starbucks Classic Syrup is essentially just a simple syrup! There’s no need to spend $7 per latte once you learn how easy it is to make this copycat recipe at home in your own kitchen.
All you need is 10 minutes and 2 ingredients that you definitely already have in your pantry! White sugar, and water—that's it. Control the sugar in your drinks and cut costs by making a classic simple syrup at home.
This simple syrup recipe is gluten-free, nut-free, dairy-free, and vegan. It will keep in the fridge for a month, so you can save money on your favorite coffee drinks. Add it to hot coffee, iced coffee, tea drinks, or cold drinks and cocktails for an easily dissolved liquid sugar.
This simple recipe makes a great gift for a coffee lover! Keep reading to learn how easy this classic coffee syrup recipe is to make.
Jump to:
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Coffee shop flavour at home! No need to spend $15 on a bottle of classic syrup when you can make it and have enough for a month of drinks. It's great in tea and cocktails too.
- Made in 10 minutes. All you have to do is watch the pot boil, then you’ll have homemade syrup for a month.
- Lasts for a month. Store cooled syrup in a covered glass jar in the fridge.
- Allergy-friendly. This recipe is gluten-free, nut-free, dairy-free, and vegan.
- Customizable. With just a few swaps you can make other flavoured syrups like my homemade brown sugar syrup or make your own vanilla syrup recipe.
Ingredient Notes
Here are the simple ingredients you'll need to make your own simple syrup:
- White sugar: Simple syrup is just a mixture of sugar and water. White cane sugar gives the most neutral flavour so that the vanilla can come through.
- Water: Use filtered water for the best tasting syrup.
Substitutions
If you don’t have white sugar, use an equal amount of brown sugar for a easy brown sugar syrup. You can also add flavorings and make vanilla simple syrup using vanilla extract or real vanilla bean, or use another flavour like cinnamon sticks, almond extract, butter extract, or mint extract. Add 1-2 teaspoon of extract after you have removed the boiled syrup from the heat, to retain most of the flavour.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Be sure to read the recipe card below for the full ingredient list and steps to make simple syrup.
(1) Place equal parts sugar and water in a small saucepan. Turn the heat to medium-high and whisk together so there are no lumps of sugar.
(2) Once boiling, cook until the sugar is completely dissolved (2-4 minutes).
(3) Remove from the heat and carefully pour the syrup into a glass jar, mason jar, or airtight container.
(4) Allow to cool completely then close the jar and refrigerate for 3-4 weeks.
How to Use Simple Syrup
This homemade classic syrup is a great way to sweeten coffee, tea, or cocktails. It can be used in hot drinks or cold beverages. Think iced coffee, cold brew, iced tea, hot chocolate, bubble tea, or an espresso martini. Start with about 2 teaspoons and increase or decrease depending on your preferences. Most coffee shop drinks will have 2-4 pumps, which is equal to 2-4 tablespoons.
Storage
Place syrup in a glass jar to cool completely. Cover with a lid and keep in the refrigerator for 3-4 weeks.
Expert Tips
Here are some of my top tips and tricks for the best homemade coffee syrups:
- Whisk the ingredients together before boiling. This is the best way to ensure the syrup comes together smoothly and has no clumps.
- Don’t let the sugar water boil for too long. You just want it to appear smooth and homogenous, with all of the sugar dissolved. Boiled too long, and the syrup will become much too viscous once cooled.
- Add flavor. Check out my vanilla syrup recipe and brown sugar cinnamon syrup.
- Allow the syrup to cool completely before closing and refrigerating. Condensation in the jar can cause the syrup to spoil prematurely.
- When using the syrup in a drink, start with 1-2 teaspoons and increase if you like it sweeter.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you don’t have white sugar, use an equal amount of brown sugar for a simple syrup. See my homemade brown sugar syrup. It will taste a little different than a plain simple syrup, but it's delicious.
Keeping the syrup in the fridge will slow any bacteria production and keep it usable for longer.
In a a typical flavored latte for example, Starbucks typically uses 3 pumps of syrup in a tall, 4 pumps in a grande, and 5 pumps in a venti. I like to make my own syrup at home so I can control the sugar in my drinks, and cut costs.
You will be shocked by how easy it is to make a copycat version of Starbucks' Classic Syrup. This homemade simple syrup recipe is a delicious way to add liquid sweetener to your favorite drinks. Make your coffee, tea, and cocktails sweeter with this simple coffee shop syrup. No need to pay $7 per drink. Hope you enjoy and leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review below!
More Gluten-Free Coffee Drinks
- Homemade Brown Sugar Syrup
- Vanilla Syrup Recipe
- Healthier Pumpkin Spice Latte
- Pumpkin Cold Foam
- Healthier Peppermint Mocha
- Healthier Gingerbread Latte
Related Recipes
Have you made this classic simple syrup? I'd very much appreciate it if you leave a 5-star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review below, and tag me on instagram @livglutenfree!
Recipe
Starbucks Classic Syrup Copycat
Ingredients
- 1 cup white sugar
- 1 cup filtered water
Instructions
- Place the sugar, and water in a small saucepan. Turn the heat to medium-high and whisk together. Once boiling, cook until the sugar is completely dissolved (2-4 minutes).
- Remove from the heat and carefully pour the syrup into a glass jar. Allow to cool completely then close the jar and refrigerate for 3-4 weeks.
Notes
- How to use the syrup: Add to hot or iced coffee, tea, or cocktails. Start with about 2 teaspoons and increase or decrease depending on your preferences. Most coffee shop drinks will have 2-4 pumps, which is equal to 2-4 tablespoons.
- Storage: Place syrup in a glass jar to cool completely. Cover with a lid and keep in the refrigerator for 3-4 weeks.
Let us know what you think!