Not sure whether to add vanilla or maple syrup to your iced latte? Try adding both! The vanilla and maple flavors complement each other so well. It’s a known pair; there’s even vanilla maple syrup online.

Did you know that maple syrup has more in common with vanilla than you think? Vanilla by itself isn’t sweet, so when added to maple syrup, it only enhances the caramel taste that’s so unique to it.

Here’s everything you need to know about making a delicious iced vanilla maple latte at home.

What is an Iced Latte?

An iced latte is a cold version of a traditional latte, which is espresso and steamed milk in a 1 to 3 ratio. The iced version is made with ice, milk, and espresso, a concentrated coffee shot.

In general, espresso is really strong and flavorful. If you drink the espresso by itself, it tastes very bitter and strong. It also packs a punch: on average, 1 oz of espresso has 60-80 mg of caffeine.

Adding espresso to milk or water helps balance the flavor and makes drinking more enjoyable.

Iced lattes are often misunderstood as coffee-flavored milk, but it’s not! The espresso needs milk to balance out the flavor. So, no, a latte isn’t just coffee-flavored milk; it’s a smooth and strong coffee drink that is flavorful and delicious.

How to Make an Iced Latte at Home

You need ice, milk, and 1-2 shots of espresso for an iced latte.

You can make espresso using an at-home espresso machine and pull one or two espresso shots, depending on how strong you want your drink.

However, making espresso is notoriously challenging and has a significant learning curve. You have to grind the beans a certain way, weigh and fill your espresso basket, and practice extracting the espresso.

It’s a fun hobby and process, but not everyone wants to spend time learning it or investing in a machine that can cost hundreds of dollars.

Espresso Hack: You can go to your local coffee shop and ask for espresso shots on their own. Then, you can use them in your drinks at home. You can also buy instant espresso powder from the grocery store or coffee concentrate instead of espresso.

What is Maple Syrup?

As the name suggests, maple syrup is the sap syrup from maple trees in cold climates. The trees store starch in their trunks and roots before winter, then convert it into sap that transports nutrients to new buds in early spring.

When farmers collect sap, it streams out and is more of a runny liquid consistency. To make the maple syrup we know and love, maple syrup makers boil down gallons of it until it’s thick.

Maple syrup is made of two things: water and sucrose.

Maple Syrup vs. Pancake Syrup

Maple syrup and pancake syrup are, unfortunately, not the same thing. Many brands that make pancake or breakfast syrup sell fake maple syrup made from high fructose corn syrup, food coloring, and flavoring.

Sometimes, the fake syrups contain a small amount of maple syrup, but only as a flavoring agent.

To get pure maple syrup, look for bottles with the 100% pure maple syrup label, which has strict standards and regulations.

Do You Need to Refrigerate Maple Syrup After Opening?

Yes, maple syrup needs to be refrigerated after opening.

Pure maple syrup has no additives and a high moisture content, meaning mold and other bacteria can easily grow in it.

If you do find mold in your maple syrup, it will most likely look like little strings or white fuzzy dots and should be tossed.

On the other hand, pancake syrup does not because it’s made with preservatives to keep it shelf-stable. That’s why all the diners have pancake syrup on the tables 24/7.

Is Maple Syrup Good in a Latte?

Maple syrup is so good in a latte. It adds a robust caramel-like flavor and is an easy sweetener because it’s already liquid and dissolves easily with milk.

It’s also a healthier alternative to coffee syrups, usually made with high fructose corn syrup.

You can easily mix flavors with maple syrup as well, like vanilla, brown sugar, cardamom, orange, etc. Maple syrup doesn’t have a strong flavor and can complement other flavors and spices well.

Tip: A little sea salt in your maple syrup latte goes a long way!

What Does Maple Syrup Taste Like?

The general taste of maple syrup is like caramel, vanilla, and brown sugar while having floral and woody notes. Some say it’s similar to honey, and others say it’s similar to butterscotch.

Maple has a distinct flavor, making it easily identifiable in recipes.

Depending on the maple syrup grade, it can lean into different flavors. The darker the color, the more flavorful the maple syrup!

Light maple syrup is lighter in taste and leans more towards butterscotch and toffee, while dark maple syrup is most similar to molasses.

Do Vanilla and Maple Syrup Go Well Together?

Incredibly well. Did you know that maple syrup actually has 300 natural flavor compounds? Of those 300, one is vanillin, the main flavor compound in vanilla!

So naturally, vanilla goes really well with maple syrup. Just think cinnamon rolls with vanilla cream cheese frosting, maple pudding, and maple cakes. Vanilla helps make it taste good!

If you want to save yourself a step, you can even buy or make vanilla-infused maple syrup.

Can I Make Flavored Maple Syrup?

Yes! There are a handful of ways you can flavor maple syrup. You can let the maple syrup steep overnight with your desired flavorings, like cinnamon or vanilla bean.

You can also warm the maple syrup in a pot and steep the spices that way. You could even make a boozy version for cocktails or desserts.

How to Make Vanilla Maple Syrup

If you have vanilla beans, scrape out the beans and add them to your maple syrup. Add your empty pods in as well and let them sit overnight, or warm it all up on your stove.

You can also use vanilla paste or extract for a quick infusion. The longer you let them marinate together, the better the flavor.

Tips

Here are some tips on making a vanilla maple latte at home:

• Add less maple syrup to your drink if you only have vanilla syrup. The syrup already has sugar; you don’t want to make your drink unbearably sweet.
• Dissolve the maple syrup and vanilla into your milk and add your espresso on top of ice or using a spoon if you want to layer your espresso.
• If you don’t have espresso, you can use a coffee concentrate or espresso instant powder as a replacement.