Vanilla Bean Egg Cream

Old fashioned soda fountain drinks are fun and nostalgic. An egg cream is a beverage consisting of milk, and soda water  and vanilla or chocolate syrup.  It is associated with Brooklyn, New York. Most modern versions of the drink contain neither eggs nor cream. 

This is a mildly sweet drink, that isn't super rich, but tastes strongly of vanilla. It is a classic soda fountain drink. It doesn't include eggs, but it might be fun for Easter since it is called an Egg Cream.

Vanilla Bean Egg Cream

adapted slightly from  Pure Vanilla by Shauna Sever

Vanilla Simple Syrup:

1 cup sugar

1 cup water

1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise

Bring sugar and water to a boil and allow to boil for about a minute. Then let it cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Put split vanilla bean into a mason jar and pour the slightly cooled simple syrup over the bean. Let this mixture steep in the refrigerator for about 24 hours and then scrape some of the vanilla seeds into the mixture.

Vanilla Egg Cream:

2 ounces (4 Tablespoons) vanilla simple syrup

2 1/2 ounces (5 Tablespoons) half and half or whole milk or cream

6-8 ounces (3/4 - 1 Cup) of Seltzer water or club soda

Pour the vanilla simple syrup and half and half into a glass and then top with the seltzer to taste. Enjoy.