If you crave chocolate syrup as a dessert topping or ingredient to make chocolate milk, you don’t need to buy it from the store. It’s easy to make it on your own, and doesn’t take much time or effort.

Debt Free By Thirty tells you how it’s done, relaying a Better Homes and Gardens recipe. You need 1 1/4 cup of sugar, 3/4 cup of unsweetened cocoa powder, salt, a teaspoon of vanilla, a dash of salt and a cup of water.

You whisk the sugar, cocoa and salt in a saucepan, then add the water and boil while stirring. Then you lower the heat and let it cook for a minute before taking it off the burner and adding vanilla. Store it in the fridge until it’s cool.

When you make your own syrup you have more control, adjusting the ingredients as needed to whatever level of chocolaty goodness you desire.

Not Buying It: Chocolate Syrup [Debt Free By Thirty]

Want more consumer news? Visit our parent organization, Consumer Reports, for the latest on scams, recalls, and other consumer issues.