This brown sugar simple syrup recipe is an easy two-ingredient recipe that helps take any drink to the next level. It easily adds a toasty caramelized sugar flavor to all of your drinks and more!
When I was in pastry school, I dedicated a lot of time to understanding flavors of specific ingredients. One of my favorite ingredients to swap was sugar, specifically switching granulated sugar for brown sugar. When brown sugar is used in place of granulated sugar in simple syrup, it brings a rich, deep flavor thanks to the presence of molasses.
This recipe was inspired by a popular coffee house beverage, the iced brown sugar shaken espresso. This syrup sweetens coffee while also playing up the roasted notes of the drink. The best part about this syrup is that it mixes in with both hot and cold beverages! You can also use it in lemonade recipes, iced tea, and cocktails! Wanna use it in food? You can use it in baking recipes and breakfast recipes like granola with coffee and hazelnuts!
why this brown sugar syrup recipe works:
🍯 sweet & caramelized. This classic simple syrup is perfect for bringing a sweet, deep, and caramelized flavor to any beverage you can think of! Brown sugar lemonade, anyone?!
🙌 quick and easy. The bulk of the preparation time for this syrup is hands-off, meaning it’s great for a quick project!
🤌 limited ingredient. It only takes two ingredients to make this liquid sweetener! Unlike other store-bought options, there’re no preservatives or funky ingredients!
🛒 what you need for brown sugar syrup
See the recipe card for the exact quantities.
🍳 how to make brown sugar syrup
Step 1: Add brown sugar to the saucepan.
Step 2: Next, add water to your saucepan.
Step 3: Heat the pan until the sugar dissolves in the water, stirring occasionally with a silicone spatula. Allow the mixture to reach a low simmer for up to 15 minutes, but don’t allow it to boil.
Step 4: After 5-15 minutes, turn the heat off and allow the pan to cool. This may take up to 30 minutes.
Once the syrup is cooled, transfer it to a heat-safe airtight container, like a glass bottle, mason jar, or BPA-free plastic squeeze bottle.
💡tips & tricks for getting it right
🍽️ serving tips
Cocktails: Use this in place of regular simple syrup in any cocktail recipe. It works especially well in rum and whiskey-based cocktails! Try using your brown sugar simple syrup in:
Non-Alcoholic Beverages: You can also use this homemade syrup to sweeten non-alcoholic beverages and mocktails! I love using it in iced coffee. You can also use it in:
- lemonade
- homemade soda pop
- coffee
- boba tea
ℹ️ troubleshooting tips
- get the right consistency – This syrup will be a bit thinner than pancake syrup, but thicker than water. If you want a thicker syrup, you can either use a 2:1 ratio of sugar to water, or allow the mixture to simmer longer than 15 minutes to let some water cook off. Don’t let the mix reach a roiling boil, or too much water could evaporate and you’ll start making candy or caramel instead of syrup!
🔆 top tip
If you want a thicker syrup for lining glasses, use a ratio of 1 part brown sugar to .5 parts water. Alternatively, you can allow the syrup to simmer longer to allow more water to cook down. Keep in mind, a thicker syrup will not mix as easily into drinks, especially cold drinks.
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♻️ customize your brown sugar syrup
- sweetener– use an alternate sugar if you don’t have dark brown sugar on hand. Light brown sugar can be used interchangeably with no effect on flavor. You can also use demerara sugar to make a similar syrup!
- rich syrup – reduce the water you use by half to create a 2:1 ratio of sugar to water. This ratio makes a rich syrup, which has double the sugar content to water, and results in a thicker syrup.
🧐 what is a rich syrup?
A rich syrup is a syrup that has a higher sugar content than water content.
- Simple syrup has a 1:1 ratio of sugar to water.
- Rich syrup has a 2:1 ratio of sugar to water, so if you use 1 cup of sugar, use 1/2 cup of water.
This will change the ratio of sugar to water, meaning if you want to freeze the syrup for longer storage, it won’t freeze completely solid. This can be useful for quickly defrosting the syrup, though! If you want to freeze rich syrup, opt to use a bottle over ice cube trays because things will get sticky.
🧰 equipment needed & storage tips
🫙 how to store your homemade syrup
Your finished brown sugar simple syrup will keep for up to 2 weeks in the fridge.
If you want to store it longer, opt to freeze your syrups! They’ll keep for up to 3 months just fine in the freezer.
💬 q+a
What’s the difference between dark brown sugar and light brown sugar?
Both dark brown sugar and light brown sugar are made by adding molasses to granulated sugar. Dark brown sugar has slightly more molasses than light brown sugar, but in the United States, the two are almost indistinguishable.
How can I use this syrup?
Use this syrup in all of your favorite beverages, from coffee to cocktails! Additionally, you can use it to brush layer cakes, or top your favorite sweet treats. Try glazing fresh fruit with it on any of your pies or pastries!
What if I want a thicker syrup?
If you want a thicker syrup (think pancake syrup or chocolate syrup texture), you can cut the amount of water you use in half. You can also simmer it for a bit longer to get a thicker syrup. A thicker syrup will not mix as well into cold beverages, so keep that in mind.
If you make this recipe, please leave a review in the comments and a star rating!
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Brown Sugar Simple Syrup (Brown Sugar Syrup with Dark or Light Sugar)
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Equipment
- 1 1.5-quart saucepan
- 1 airtight storage container 16 ounce capacity
- 1 kitchen scale optional
- 1 set of measuring cups optional
Ingredients
- 213 grams dark brown sugar 1 cup, packed
- 237 grams filtered water 1 cup
Instructions
- Pour water in pan. Add 1 cup of water to a heavy-bottomed 1.5 saucepan.
- Add sugar. Add 1 cup of dark brown sugar to the saucepan, and place it over medium heat.
- Heat to dissolve. Heat the pan until the sugar dissolves in the water, stirring occasionally with a silicone spatula.
- Cool. After the sugar dissolves, turn the heat off and allow the pan to cool slightly. This may take up to 30 minutes.
- Transfer to container. Once the syrup is cooled, transfer it to a heat-safe airtight container, like a glass bottle or mason jar.
- Store. Store your brown sugar simple syrup in the fridge for up to one month, or freeze for longer storage.
Nutrition Information
The information provided is an estimate based on an online nutrition facts calculator and actual nutrition facts may vary.
