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Vanilla Coke is back on the market in several countries, but it's harder to find than the original recipe. Add its sweet vanilla flavor to regular Coke with homemade vanilla syrup, or buy the syrup from the grocery store and skip down to the last section.
Ingredients
- 2 tsp (10mL) vanilla extract or 1 vanilla bean (5 inches/13cm+)
- 1 cup (250mL) water
- 1 cup (200g) white sugar
- ¼ cup (50g) brown sugar
- A pinch of salt
- Cola or diet cola
Steps
Making Vanilla Syrup
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1Combine sugar, water, and salt. Pour 1 cup (250mL) water, 1 cup (200g) white sugar, ¼ cup (50g) brown sugar, and a pinch of salt into a heavy pan.[1]
- You can use any proportion of white and brown sugar. The more brown sugar you use, the richer the flavor will be.
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2Add vanilla bean (optional). A real vanilla bean adds a more appealing flavor than vanilla extract. Slit the bean pod open lengthwise with a sharp knife, then scrape out all the goo into the syrup. Drop in the bean pod as well.
- If using vanilla extract instead, don't add it yet.
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3Heat and stir until dissolved. Stir for a few minutes over medium heat, until all of the sugar crystals have dissolved. You may need to bring it to a boil for a couple minutes.
- If any crystals are floating in the water or stuck to the pan, your syrup might crystallize in storage.
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4Transfer to a clean container. Wash a jar in hot, soapy water. Fill it with syrup, pouring through a mesh if your syrup contains vanilla bean. Seal the container.
- To prolong shelf life, sterilize the jar with boiling water instead.
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5Let cool. The syrup will thicken as it cools to room temperature.
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6Stir in vanilla extract. Mix 2 tsp (10mL) vanilla extract into the syrup. Skip this step if you used a vanilla bean.
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7Add to cola or store in the fridge. Extra syrup lasts about a month in the refrigerator before going moldy, if stored in a sterilized container.[2]
Adding Syrup to Cola
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1Pour cola into a tall glass. Pour chilled Coca-Cola or another cola drink into a tall glass for easier stirring. This recipe assumes you're using a 12 oz (355mL) can.
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2Mix in vanilla syrup. Stir it with at all spoon until completely dissolved. Start with ¾ tbsp (12mL) syrup, taste test, and increase as high as 2 tbsp (30mL) if the drink needs more vanilla flavor.
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3Turn it into a Polar Bear. The "Polar Bear" is based on a menu item at an Oregon restaurant. To make it, add 2 tbsp (30mL) half-and-half to your imitation Vanilla Coke.[3]
- Soda can curdle dairy products, but fatty dairy products like half-and-half are usually fine. To reduce the chance of curdling, keep the ingredients and glass cold.
References
About This Article
To make your own vanilla Coke, pour a 12 oz can of Coke or a similar cola drink into a tall glass. Stir in 3/4 of a tablespoon of vanilla syrup, then taste the Coke to see if you like it. If you want more vanilla flavor, you can use as much as 2 tbsp of the vanilla. Add 2 tbsp of half-and-half if you want to turn your drink into a Polar Bear. To learn how to make your own vanilla syrup, read on!
