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FYI: We've been reviewing and rating products for the home and families since 1994. We don't take money or freebies from the brands we review. Our work is 100% reader-supported!
Vanilla Syrup 101—and A Recipe!
Let’s talk best vanilla syrup for coffee.
Most commonly used in lattes and other flavored coffee drinks, vanilla syrup is also great for hot chocolate, milkshakes and even tea. For baking, vanilla syrup can substitute for vanilla extract in some recipes.
Before we get into the winners of our blind taste tests, a quick primer on the difference between vanilla and French vanilla.
Most vanilla is categorized by where it is grown, such as Madagascar vanilla. French vanilla, on the other hand, refers to the process by which vanilla ice cream is made.
French vanilla ice cream uses egg yolks for a custard base. Regular vanilla ice cream uses a cream base. As a result, some folks think French vanilla has a creamer taste.
As for vanilla syrups, we found it hard to tell the difference between regular and French vanilla syrups, flavor wise. The latter tend to be a bit darker in color. (If you like the traditional flavor of vanilla in your coffee you’ll love tried and true mocha coffee syrup.)
Recipe: Iced Vanilla Latte
INGREDIENTS
- 1 cup (8oz) milk
- 2 ½ tbsp (1 ¼ oz) Torani Vanilla Syrup
- 2 shots espresso*, chilled
- ice
*Can substitute 1/2 cup strong brewed coffee
INSTRUCTIONS
Combine chilled espresso*, milk and Torani syrup in a tall glass filled with ice and stir well. Enjoy!
(Recipe and photo credit: Torani)
Best Vanilla Flavor
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Best Tried & True Brand
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Best Sugar Free
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Best Thicker Syrup
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About the Authors
Alan Fields is a consumer advocate and best-selling author. He has authored 12 books with three million copies in print, including the best-selling guide to baby gear, Baby Bargains.
Fields has been featured and quoted in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Los Angeles Times.
As a consumer products expert, Alan Fields has made guest appearances on the NBC Today Show, Good Morning America and ABC's 20/20.
How We Pick Products To Recommend
We often turn to our readers (3 million strong!) to find products to recommend. We ask our parent readers for their favorites and consider their real-world experiences in our recommendations.
When we test a product, we always purchase it with our own monies. We do not take free samples, as we believe that compromises our independence.
We also fact check manufacturer information with our own measurements. If a maker claims a product weighs X pounds, we will weigh it to make sure. If the battery life is supposed to be six hours, we will see how it stands up in the real world.
In some cases, we will do interviews with experts in the field to get additional feedback on products.
To get hands-on time with products, we regularly meet one-on-one with gear companies and even tour manufacturing facilities. (When we do this, we pay our own travel expenses).
Why Trust Us
We’ve been rating and reviewing products for the home and families since 1994. We do extensive research, evaluating products with an eye toward quality, ease of use and affordability.
We make our living from affiliate commissions, but we always recommend what we think are the best bets for our readers (not the ones that are the most expensive). We are always looking for products that offer the best bang for the buck.
Our independence is a key reason why we have been doing this so long. As we mentioned above, when we purchase a product for hands-on testing, we do so with our own money.
Here’s another key point: we don’t take money from the brands we review. No free samples, no sponsors, no “partnerships.” Our work is 100% reader-supported!