By Becky Hardin
Published Sep 11, 2018
French Vanilla Iced Coffee with Homemade Vanilla Syrup is the ultimate delicious drink to kick start any day or week. We are all busy and on the go, and having the right amount of creamy caffeine made to order is the perfect solution for going all day every day. I am in love with this Homemade Vanilla Iced Coffee and make a big batch every Monday!
French Vanilla Iced Coffee with Homemade Vanilla Syrup
This Vanilla Iced Coffee with Homemade Syrup just might have made me a good Mom this weekend! Recently I’ve felt like we have been SO busy with Summer winding down, and every week is jam packed with activity. As a business owner AND Mom of a 15 month old bowling ball, we have busy days, and then busier days. Last week I had all the normal tasks of running the blog/business but also filmed 7 cooking videos, participating in a special secret BIG project coming your way soon, and celebrated my bday. Good times!
I wanted this Summer to be special, because last year Henry was just a blob that we carried around. Now he is up for all the fun and wanted to be in all all the action we could find, and I knew I had to be awake and ready to go. Enter: FRENCH VANILLA ICED COFFEE WITH HOMEMADE VANILLA SYRUP! This is one of my favorite recipes to make in a big pitcher at the beginning of the week, and it get’s me through to the enjoying the weekend. There are some days, though, when I need a caffeine drink with a little more staying power, so I’ll make this coffee smoothie instead.
Being a Mom and business owner can be tiring, but it doesn’t mean we shouldn’t enjoy each and every moment. Homemade Iced Coffee is my secret for being awake for it all!
Can I use creamy milk in my coffee without getting a stomach ache?
I have mentioned it before, but I’ve always been slightly lactose intolerant. Henry is still so young, but I can already tell he suffers from it as well. You guys know I love dairy, so I had to find something to make a happier belly while still enjoying all the milk I can get my hands on. Luckily for the entire family, we found LACTAID ® !
I’m SO proud to be talking about (and using) Lactaid today because this is a product that has truly changed our day to day family life. Lactaid is DAIRY milk, without the Lactose. It’s real milk without the consequences that sometimes follow. I love it, Henry loves it, the entire family loves it! Henry drinks Lactaid 2% Milk throughout the day, and I use it in almost any recipe that calls for milk (you can substitute it anytime!) as well as in this Vanilla Iced Coffee Recipe.
After I had my morning Iced Coffees (with Lactaid of course) over the weekend we were able to play all day from touring houses for fun (is that normal?), hitting up multiple playgrounds, taking Henry to the driving range (and by that I mean letting Pat go to the driving range), seeing both sets of grandparents, and ending the weekend with a dinner date out with Pat for my bday. The nutrients from the Lactaid keep me fueled for whatever the day brings.
You can feel great about using Lactaid in this French Vanilla Iced Coffee because it will be kind to your belly and keep you fueled for everything you have going throughout the day. For us, it kept me involved in all the fun of Father’s Day, from Henry’s first time at the golf range to sitting out by my parent’s lake and watching the big kids fish. We had an amazing weekend thanks to Lactaid!
Before I found out about Lactaid, I had the (terrible, I know) habit of buying Iced Coffee almost every morning. It fueled my morning, but it always caused terrible belly aches. Not to mention the calories. I love to be able to control the entire process at home; from deciding how much and what kind of dairy to use to making my own syrup. SO MUCH BETTER!
Tips for making Homemade Vanilla Syrup
When you make homemade syrup, it’s important to start with a “simple syrup” which is just sugar and water dissolved together in a saucepan and brought to a boil. When making Homemade VANILLA syrup, we are just going to add some vanilla bean to the boiling mixture, and then a touch of vanilla extract as well. This is such an easy way to know exactly what you’re pouring into your coffee or cocktails! It should last about 1-2 weeks in the fridge, so it’s great to stir into a pitcher of iced coffee or keep on hand throughout the week.
How to make Iced Coffee at home
I have an obsession with coffee and have made it lots of ways throughout the years! We have our fully from scratch Homemade Iced Coffee Recipe , our Thai Iced Coffee , a copycat Iced Brown Sugar Shaken Espresso , and even Frozen Cold Brew .
You can’t go wrong with any of those recipes, but this is my easiest and favorite. For this I just use a chilled cup of brewed coffee, Lactaid Whole Milk, and some Homemade Vanilla Syrup.
How to make Iced Coffee in a pitcher to last all week
I’m going to write out instructions below for making one glass of iced coffee, but if you prefer to make an entire pitcher, here is an easy equation!
- 1/2 cup Homemade Vanilla Syrup
- 1 cup Lactaid Whole Milk
- 4 cups chilled strong coffee
So easy and so great to keep in the fridge for the week. Last weekend I loaded up a big tall travel glass every morning and headed out to all the fun. I would have been a tired mess without it!
Want to see more recipes perfect for starting your big day or weekend? We’ve got you covered. Here are some faves:
- Pumpkin Spice Latte
- Peach Lemonade
- Coffee Breakfast Smoothie
- Glowing Skin Smoothie
- Creamy Green Smoothie
- Sherbet Mimosas
- Simple Mango Smoothie
- Breakfast Cereal Smoothie
Ingredients1x2x3x
For the Homemade Vanilla Syrup
- ▢ 1 1/2 cups water
- ▢ 1 cup granulated sugar
- ▢ 1 cup dark brown sugar
- ▢ 1 vanilla bean split down the middle
- ▢ 1/2 tablespoon real vanilla extract
For the Vanilla Iced Coffee
- ▢ 1/8 cup Homemade Vanilla Syrup see above
- ▢ 1/4 cup Lactaid Whole Milk
- ▢ 1 cup strongly brewed coffee chilled
- ▢ 2 cups ice
Instructions
For the Homemade Vanilla Syrup
- Heat water, sugars, and vanilla bean in a small saucepan over medium high heat. Bring to a boil and then reduce to a simmer. Stir as it simmers occasionally.
- Allow to simmer for 5-8 minutes, then remove from heat.
- Stir in vanilla extract and allow to cool.
- Store in the fridge (up to 1-2 weeks) in an airtight container until ready to use.
For the Vanilla Iced Coffee
- Pour all ingredients over ice.
- Stir and enjoy!
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
French Vanilla Iced Coffee with Homemade Vanilla Syrup
Ingredients
For the Homemade Vanilla Syrup
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup dark brown sugar
- 1 vanilla bean split down the middle
- 1/2 tablespoon real vanilla extract
For the Vanilla Iced Coffee
- 1/8 cup Homemade Vanilla Syrup see above
- 1/4 cup Lactaid Whole Milk
- 1 cup strongly brewed coffee chilled
- 2 cups ice
Instructions
For the Homemade Vanilla Syrup
- Heat water, sugars, and vanilla bean in a small saucepan over medium high heat. Bring to a boil and then reduce to a simmer. Stir as it simmers occasionally.
- Allow to simmer for 5-8 minutes, then remove from heat.
- Stir in vanilla extract and allow to cool.
- Store in the fridge (up to 1-2 weeks) in an airtight container until ready to use.
For the Vanilla Iced Coffee
- Pour all ingredients over ice.
- Stir and enjoy!
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
