Want a quick way to make your own delicious flavored syrup? This recipe will help you make your favorite beverages, such as Starbucks drinks, flavored hot cocoa, soda, and more! By making this syrup at home, you can save quite a bit of money, as well as make your drinks suited to your taste. The recipe requires few ingredients and takes only about 45 minutes to complete. This recipe is quick, easy, and can be stored in the refrigerator for 1-2 weeks.

Step 1: Gather Ingredients and Cooking Materials

Cooking Materials:

Stove

Saucepan

Measuring spoons

Measuring cups

Large spoon for stirring

Jar with tight lid

Ingredients:

1 cup sugar

1 cup water

½ tsp peppermint extract

Step 2: Combine Sugar and Water in Saucepan

Combine 1 cupsugar and 1 cupwater into saucepan and stir until sugar is dissolved.

Note: Dissolving the sugar in the water before heating decreases the chance of the sugar splattering and causing a burn when it is heated.

Step 3: Turn Up the Heat!

Turn up the heat on the stove to a medium high level until mixture begins to boil as seen in the pictures above. Stir often. It takes about 10 minutes for the mixture to reach a boil using an electric stove.

If the mixture is boiling too rapidly, turn the heat down slightly to maintain a light boil. This will prevent crystallization of the mixture. Crystallization will make the mixture solidify, which will prevent the syrup from reaching a good consistency.

You may also need to increase or decrease the temperature of your stove, depending on the type of stove you have. We used an electric stove with the dial at level "7" as seen above.

Step 4: Add Flavoring

Add 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract once the water and sugar have come to a boil.

Step 5: Cool Down

Remove pot from heat for about 2 minutes. Continue to stir to avoid burning.

Step 6: Simmer Time

After 2 minutes, return pot to burner. Set heat to a low simmer. Leave on burner for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally (every 2-2.5 minutes). The consistency of the syrup should be viscous and glossy, as seen in the picture with the spoon (above). If the pan is left on a high heat for too long, the syrup will start to crystallize. If crystallization occurs, remove from heat immediately and keep stirring to break up the crystals.

We noticed that with the electric burner, the low settings are too low and won't bring the mixture to a simmer. The dial is turned up to about level "6" so that the mixture can simmer and NOT boil.

Step 7: Remove the Mixture From Heat and Allow to Cool

Once the syrup reaches a viscous form, remove the pan from the stove and allow the mixture to cool for about 15 minutes. The mixture should thicken in this amount of time.

Step 8: Canning the Syrup

Once the syrup has cooled, the syrup can be poured into a jar. Make sure that the chosen jar can be sealed tightly to allow for longer storage time. If the syrup is not being used immediately, it can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

Step 9: Try It in Your Beverage

Now you can flavor your drink of choice, such as coffee or hot chocolate. For an 8 ounce beverage, we preferred about 1 Tbsp of the syrup. However, if you want a stronger taste to the beverage, add more syrup. If you don't want the flavor to be as potent, add less. Once you have added the syrup, stir the beverage, and enjoy!

Step 10: OPTIONAL: Variations Using Other Flavors

If you do not want the peppermint flavor, other variations of this syrup can be made with other extracts. Some other flavors that can be made are vanilla, caramel, almond or any other flavor of your choice. If you want to try something different, we found that the extracts should be added in smaller amounts, because they have a stronger flavor. Recommended measurements for some alternative flavors are listed below:

3 Tbsp Imitation Vanilla

1/2 tsp Almond Extract

1/2 cup Caramel Sauce

Once you have chosen your flavor, go back to step 4 and replace the peppermint extract with your alternative flavoring. Follow the rest of the recipe as you would for the peppermint recipe.