Dark Chocolate Syrup (for coffee or chocolate milk!)

If you love a mocha coffee but don't love the price tag at a coffee shop....

If you love the idea of coffee but are more of a chocolate milk girl....

If you are just tired of junk ingredients and want an easy homemade chocolate syrup....

This one is for you!

I've tried quite a few chocolate syrup recipes and came up with this one that is by far my favorite. I think the dark chocolate cocoa powder is what really makes it, so it's worth grabbing a box if you've never tried it (although you can definitely make this syrup with regular cocoa powder). You only need five simple ingredients and a few minutes to make the syrup. You'll never go back to store-bought!

Dark Chocolate Syrup

• 4 cups sugar
• 2 cups water
• 2 cups dark chocolate cocoa powder
• big pinch of salt
• splash of vanilla

Disclaimer: this recipe makes a full quart of chocolate syrup because we go through a lot of chocolate milk and even when I have "coffee" it's basically chocolate milk with a splash of coffee in it. So you may want to halve the recipe. You have been warned. 

Combine ingredients in a large pot. Seriously, though, it will boil over everysingletime if you don't, and you will hate cleaning it up. Trust the voice of experience. Bring to a boil, then reduce to simmer for just a minute or two. The longer you simmer, the thicker it will set when it cools. I like it on the runnier side for drinks because it mixes in easier, so 1-2 minutes is perfect. 

Let it cool, mix it into your favorite drink, and enjoy! 

It keeps a couple weeks or so in the fridge. Ours has probably been in there longer, but I don't keep track and I'm not making promises. 

And again, don't let that cute little jar of chocolate fool you. I'd put that whole thing in my cup right now if no one was watching. 

Enjoy making your own syrup, and enjoy cutting those junk ingredients out of your life!