Slice or roughly chop the strawberries before adding them to a medium pot with the remaining ingredients. Using a large wooden spoon or potato masher, crush the berries slightly. Set them aside for 20 to 30 minutes in order to allow the berries to begin releasing their juice.
Place the pot over low heat and bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally. Simmer over low heat until the sugar has completely dissolved, approximately 5 minutes. Remove the pot from the heat and allow the syrup to cool to room temperature. Add the vanilla extract and stir to combine. Strain the syrup to remove the berries as they will greatly reduce the shelf life of the syrup. The berries will be very soft but still flavorful and can be added to a recipe or served as a topping over yogurt, ice cream, or a slice of cake.
The syrup can be stored in the refrigerator for up to one month. I like to store a batch of strained syrup in a clean, repurposed bottle with a pourer spout in the refrigerator for adding to lemonade or using as a base for cocktails.