Do you have any coffee lovers on your holiday gift list this year? (If not, feel free to go ahead and put me on your list!) This is a cute little idea for making your own flavored coffee syrups that you can use at home to take your morning cup of joe to the next level. If you are making these as a gift I highly recommend making 2-3 flavors. We made vanilla, raspberry, and caramel flavored syrups.
For the vanilla syrup you need: 2 cups water, 2 cups sugar and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract (the clear kind is much preferred here). In a small pot heat your water and sugar over low/medium heat, stirring constantly until the sugar has dissolved. Now stir in your vanilla extract and pour into your dispenser.
For the raspberry syrup you need: 2 cups water, 2 cups sugar and 1/2 cup fresh raspberries. In a small pot heat your water and sugar over low/medium heat, stirring constantly until the sugar has dissolved. Mash up the raspberries a little and then stir them in with the syrup, allow this to mingle for 3-5 minutes. Pour through a fine-mesh strainer to filter out any large raspberry pieces and seeds. Then pour into your dispenser.
For the caramel syrup you need: 2 cups water, 2 cups sugar and 1/2 cup caramel (store bought or make your own). In a small pot heat your water and sugar over low/medium heat, stirring constantly until the sugar has dissolved. Now stir in your caramel until well combined and pour into your dispenser.
You can add decorative labels or ribbons to these when gifting them. Elsie made these labels by wrapping a piece of craft paper around the bottles and then hand drawing simple labels for each syrup.
Enjoy! xo. Emma + Elsie
You are incredible. You can literally put your mind to anything and you're successful with flying colors. You constantly blow me away. Hands down the most creative person I have encountered. You inspire me daily!
Posted by: Melissa @ Best Friends For Frosting | November 22, 2011 at 12:27 AM
Your DIYs are always so perfect! I'm going to have to try this one for my coffee aficionado friends! :)
Posted by: Peonie | November 22, 2011 at 12:30 AM
Oh yummmmmm! This could be a "one for me, one for the pressie pile" kind of craft-making. Your blog is full of loveliness!!
Posted by: Mary | November 22, 2011 at 12:31 AM
oh my goodness! that's really sweet. thanks so much for reading.... :D elsie
Posted by: elsie | November 22, 2011 at 12:31 AM
Lovely! How long of a shelf life do they have?
Posted by: Dorothy | November 22, 2011 at 12:35 AM
What a fabulous idea! I love it!
Sophie x
Posted by: Sophie Isobel | November 22, 2011 at 12:35 AM
THIS. IS. BRILLIANT.
i am going to make this for me!!
Posted by: bria | November 22, 2011 at 12:36 AM
Excellent idea!! I would love to make some of these for home :) We are absolute coffee addicts!
Posted by: jazziefizzle | November 22, 2011 at 12:39 AM
This is fantabulous. You ladies always have the best DIY and recipes :3
Posted by: MZ | November 22, 2011 at 12:50 AM
this is pretty rad. and such a great idea
-grace
http://herumbrella.com
Posted by: grace | November 22, 2011 at 12:51 AM
You seriously read my mind! I was literally just thinking about how nice it would be to have flavor syrups for my coffee in the morning. And these sound delicious! I particularly like that you used fresh raspberries. I've tried recipes with raspberry extract before and not liked the end flavor. I can't wait to try all three!
Posted by: Erica | November 22, 2011 at 12:54 AM
Thank you Emma! I've been looking for something unique and cost-effective for my mum for Christmas and you've pretty much saved me. :)
Posted by: Megan Leslianne | November 22, 2011 at 12:56 AM
Eep! Perfect timing, I've been wanting to make some gingerbread syrup (since we don't have Starbucks here and I need a gingerbread latte)! I can't wait to try out this idea now :)
Posted by: Lyndall | November 22, 2011 at 12:59 AM
Excellent idea! In my family i am the coffee addict, so maybe i should e-mail your link to them?:) The caramell syrup is a must try.
xx, Niki
Posted by: Niki | November 22, 2011 at 01:04 AM
Great idea! My husband has a huge obesession with hot chocolate with black cherry syrup from the coffee shop...I wonder if I could make a black cherry one!
My favourite is cinnamon!
Posted by: Hannah @ Sparrow + Spark! | November 22, 2011 at 01:06 AM
what an adorable idea! the boyfriend would love this!
do you think you could do it sugar free? if you used splenda or stevia?
-aislin
http://scribblesbya.blogspot.com/
Posted by: aislin | November 22, 2011 at 01:09 AM
this is THE GIFT I have been looking for! I´ve been looking all over for a gift for my vanilla-syrup-loving friend and well. I have it!
Thank you!
Posted by: Mari T. | November 22, 2011 at 01:24 AM
Yum!! This is so cool! Raspberry syrup is really good, I love it in my green tea frapps...so good!
Posted by: Mandy @ Miss Indie | November 22, 2011 at 01:46 AM
so so cute!! where can you pick up syrup bottles like these?
-siobhan
Posted by: Siobhan Hoye | November 22, 2011 at 01:54 AM
Neat! I love this idea, altough here in Sweden most people like their coffee black and strong and not sweet at all. But you could use it for tea too right? :)
Posted by: Amanda | November 22, 2011 at 01:57 AM