A few years ago a friend of mine took me to breakfast at a cozy French bistro. We sat outside on the garden patio and had “grown-up pancakes” drenched in this amazing vanilla syrup. I tried to buy some syrup to take home, but they didn’t sell their edible liquid potion. So, I began trying to dissect their recipe with my own foodie tastebuds and then went home and began experimenting with homemade syrups.

Homemade syrups are easy to make and give regular ol’ pancakes or waffles an extra touch. It’s great to serve when you have guests or for special occasions.

I never did crack the code exactly, but a friend of mine shared a recipe for Homemade Vanilla Syrup that is the closest I have come. Also, another friend of mine and 3girlsandapug.com reader, Nancy, gave me the recipe for Butterscotch Syrup. Check both of these sweet recipes out below.

Homemade Vanilla Syrup

2 cups sugar

2 cups butter

1 cup buttermilk

½ teaspoon baking soda

1 tsp. vanilla

In a sauce pan, stir the first three ingredients to a rolling boil. Add baking soda and vanilla. This makes a lot of syrup, so I store the extra in my fridge and throw it into the microwave when I’m ready to use the rest of it up. Serve on top of pancakes, waffles, crepes, or French toast.

Butterscotch syrup
3/4 c. butter
1 1/2 c. sugar
2 T. corn syrup
3/4 c. buttermilk
1 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. vanilla

Mix all ingredients, except the vanilla, in a large pan (it grows). Cook over medium heat for 7 minutes, stirring while it barely boils. Take off heat and add vanilla. Serve warm over pancakes, waffles, french toast or ice cream.