Cherry Vanilla Drink Syrup

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     When I go to the store to buy a fruit usually I buy a lot of it because I know its going to be my next flavor obsession. So, when I decided to make cherry almond kombucha, I had plenty of cherries leftover to make a drink syrup (and more to come). A drink syrup was one of the first things I wanted to try to make because, although I do love my kombucha, coffee truly has my heart. So what better way to include cherry flavors into my life than in my coffee!

    You might be wondering at this point why I called it a drink syrup not a coffee syrup. Well, I called it that because it doesn't only need to be for coffee. It can be used to flavor kombucha, sweeten a tea latte, make cold foam for an iced drink, flavor Italian soda, and more! The only difference between a "drink" syrup and a "coffee" syrup is what you use it for. So use your imagination!

italian soda

    To make this syrup all you have to do is put sugar, water, cherries, and vanilla extract in a small saucepan and simmer it until it thickens a bit. Keep in mind it will get thicker when it cools. To judge when the syrup is done, I use a room temperature metal spoon and dip it in then pull it out with the bottom side up. If the syrup coats the back of the spoon it is ready but if it runs off entirely its still too thin. While its simmering, I also like to mash the cherries the best I can to really get the flavor in my syrup. 

    Once my syrup is thick, I let it cool down a bit before I pour it through a strainer into my bottle. You can eat the leftover mashed cherries like you would preserves or you can just chuck them. I like to throw them in my compost bin so they don't totally go to waste! 

    Like I mentioned before, this syrup can be used for a multitude of drinks but that doesn't mean I don't have my favorites. I use this the most in my morning lattes. I mix about one tablespoon into my espresso then pour steamed milk over the top. I like to use espresso from the brand Seven Weeks Coffee. You can actually order the same beans I use and get 10% off using my link HERE and entering the discount code JOSLITTLELIFE10 . If you use cold milk instead of steamed you make an iced latte. If you want to get extra fancy, you can top your drink with homemade cherry vanilla cold foam. All you have to do for this is mix about one tablespoon of syrup with two to four tablespoons of half and half and froth it until it thickens. Happy drink making! Let me know what you like to put this syrup in!

iced cherry vanilla latte with cherry vanilla cold foam

    What did you think of this recipe? Questions? Comments? Concerns? Use the comment section below!