Make Vanilla Coke

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
• pinch of salt
• Cola or diet cola

Steps

Making Vanilla Syrup

1. Combine 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.
   • You can use any proportion of white and brown sugar. The more brown sugar you use, the richer the flavor will be.
2. Add 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.
3. Heat 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.
4. Transfer 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.
5. Let cool. The syrup will thicken as it cools to room temperature.
6. Stir in vanilla extract. Mix 2 tsp (10mL) vanilla extract into the syrup. Skip this step if you used a vanilla bean.
7. Add 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.

Adding Syrup to Cola

1. Pour 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.
2. Mix 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.
3. Turn 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.
   • 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.

Tips

• You can also buy vanilla syrup at the grocery store or baking supply stores.
• You can use any length of vanilla bean, since you can always adjust strength by changing the amount of syrup used. Increasing the amount of vanilla extract is not recommended, since most brands taste strange without the sugar to balance them.

Sources and Citations

See also

• Disguise Your Beer Can With a Soda Can
• Make OpenCola
• Make a Coca Cola Slurpee
• Make a Coke Float
• Make Cherry Cola
• Tell the Difference Between Coke and Pepsi
• Make Green Pepsi