Nitrate & Nitrite Free Vanilla Bean Syrup
Sweet, floral, and deeply aromatic, this vanilla bean syrup is the kind of pantry staple that quietly upgrades everything it touches — from morning coffee to weekend cocktails to a drizzle over fresh fruit. It's made with just three ingredients: water, honey, and a real vanilla bean, which means there's nothing hidden in the bottle and no label-reading required. Many store-bought flavored syrups and coffee shop staples sneak in preservatives and curing agents that people on a nitrate- and nitrite-free lifestyle are trying to avoid, so making your own is genuinely the smarter move. Honey brings a gentle, rounded sweetness that plays beautifully with the warm, heady perfume of fresh vanilla seeds, and the slow simmer lets those flavors meld into something that tastes far more luxurious than the effort involved. The straining step keeps the finished syrup silky and clean, and it stores in the fridge for up to two weeks — long enough to work through a jar without any rush. Once you have a batch on hand, you'll find yourself reaching for it constantly.
About FigFig is a food discovery app that helps you find foods and recipes that fit your dietary needs. Whether you have food allergies, intolerances, or follow a specific diet, Fig makes it easy to eat with confidence.
Learn more →Ingredients
8 servings
- ½ cup water
- ¼ cup honey
- 1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise and seeds scraped
Instructions
- 1
Combine the water and honey in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring until the honey is fully dissolved, about 2 minutes.
- 2
Add the vanilla bean pod and scraped seeds to the saucepan. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until the syrup is slightly thickened and coats the back of a spoon, about 6–8 minutes. Watch the heat — honey syrups can bubble up quickly.
Want the full recipe?
Create a Fig account for step-by-step instructions, access to our full recipe library, and more!