This easy demerara simple syrup recipe is perfect for adding a deeper, more complex sweetness to all your beverages! It’s made with just two ingredients and comes together in a matter of minutes. As a bonus, you get a recipe for how to make a rich demerara syrup, too!
I first came across demerara sugar as a baking and pastry student, we used to use it as a finishing sugar to give pastries a crunchy topping. Since then though, I’ve mainly used it in drinks! This sugar syrup is a classic cocktail syrup because it gives your drinks a deeper more caramelized taste compared to standard simple syrup. This is thanks to demerara sugar, which is a less refined sugar (similar to turbinado sugar), so it has a more complex flavor compared to regular granulated sugar.
It’s used in many tropical libations, like the Aku Aku cocktail and the traditional daiquiri. It’s also a great way to bring a bit of depth and warmth to your morning coffee drinks as well! Try using it in an iced shaken espresso recipe or a homemade lemonade and see if you can notice the toasty caramelized flavor this syrup can bring to beverages!
why this demerara syrup recipe works:
🍭 rich caramel flavor. Demerara simple syrup brings deeper, toasty sweetness compared to regular simple syrup. It’s perfect for when you want more than just plain sweetness in your drinks.
🙌 ready in minutes. Just two ingredients and one pot! This syrup comes together faster than a trip to the coffee shop.
🤌 transforms your drinks. That subtle molasses flavor in demerera sugar means your cocktails and coffee drinks taste more complex, without any extra effort.
🛒 ingredients
See the recipe card for the exact quantities.
🍳 how to make demerara simple syrup
Step 1: Pour water into a small saucepan and place it over medium-low heat.
Step 2: Add demerara sugar to the saucepan and stir until the sugar dissolves.
Step 3: Allow the mix to cool before bottling for storage.
Step 4: Strain your syrup through a fine mesh sieve to remove any granules that didn’t dissolve or small rocks from the sugar (this happens sometimes with less refined sugars)!
Step 5: Pour your simple syrup into a sterilized airtight storage bottle and store it in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. You can also freeze it for longer storage.
Step 6: Use your syrup in all of your beverages, from cocktails to coffees!
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💡tips & tricks for getting it right
🍽️ how to use demerara syrup
cocktails
One of the best uses for this simple syrup is in your favorite cocktail recipe! Demerara sugar brings depth and dimension to drinks, bringing a whole new flavor profile front and center. It works especially well in rum cocktails since rum is also made from sugarcane.
- Cuban daiquiri- this classic cocktail is one of the OG bespoke beverages for a reason! Using demerara simple syrup in this classic Cuban daiquiri.
- demerara margarita – swap out agave nectar for demerara simple syrup for a deeper, toasty twist on this classic citrus cocktail!
- demerara old fashioned – by using this simple syrup in an old fashioned recipe, you get a deeper, more warm flavor profile than when you are using regular simple syrup.
non-alcoholic drinks
You can also use this simple syrup to sweeten non-alcoholic beverages and mocktails! I love using it in homemade soda or lemonade recipes— it’s the perfect treat on hot summer days!
- demerara iced espressos – If you find yourself needing a daily caffeine fix, you’ll love adding your homemade simple syrups to your morning coffee routine. This demerara sugar syrup adds a wonderfully rich flavor to iced coffee beverages like double shot iced shaken espressos and iced Americanos!
- demerara iced tea – demerara iced green tea is a delightfully refreshing drink on a hot summer day! The complex sweetness of the syrup plays up the delicate floral flavors of teas beautifully!
- demerara lemonade – swap out the regular granulated sugar in your lemonade recipe for this simple syrup to take your lemonade to the next level!
cooking, baking & gifting
- in recipes – I love using this syrup in place of maple syrup or honey in recipes like homemade granola and even salad dressings!
- keep baked goods moist – use this simple syrup to brush layer cakes and keep them moist between layers!
- gift it – strain your syrup into cute lil bottles for an adorable hostess gift! You can also make a “build your own cocktail basket” by including mini bottles of liquor, this syrup, and a few garnishes and glasses!
ℹ️ troubleshooting tips
- too thin – if you want a thicker syrup, like a rich syrup, you can simmer your simple syrup for a bit longer to allow extra water to evaporate.
- too thick – on the other hand, if your syrup is too thick when it cools, you can add more water, 1 TBSP at a time, until it gets to a consistency you like.
♻️ customize your sugar syrup
- brown sugar – you can use either light brown sugar or dark brown sugar as a substitute for demerara sugar if you can’t find it. While the flavor won’t be exactly the same, it will be similar enough!
- sugar in the raw or turbinado sugar– this is a type of sugar from Hawaii. It has similarly sized brown sugar crystals to demerara sugar, and can be used interchangeably with demerara sugar in this recipe without much change to the flavor!
🧰 equipment needed & storage tips
🫙 how to store demerara syrup
Stash your finished demerara syrup in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
Did you make a rich syrup instead? Rich syrups can be stored for longer (which is why bars love using them so much) so it’ll last for up to a month without spoiling!
If you want to store it longer, you can freeze your syrups! They’ll keep for up to 3 months just fine in the freezer. You can also add 1 TBSP of high proof vodka to help your syrups stay stable for longer.
💬 q+a
What is demerara sugar?
Demerara sugar is a minimally refined sugar. It has subtle notes of toffee and caramel, thanks to the higher molasses content in each sugar crystal.
How is demerara sugar different than brown sugar?
Brown sugar is just white sugar that has molasses added back in after its been taken out, giving it more moisture than granulated sugar. Demerara sugar is less processed and therefore has the molasses still remaining in the sugar crystals. This means it’s dry, not moist like brown sugar.
When should I make a classic syrup vs. a rich syrup?
Usually, the cocktail recipe will tell you when to use a rich syrup or a classic 1:1 ratio syrup. I prefer using classic syrups because I like a little extra volume in my recipes, but sometimes the additional flavor boost from a rich syrup can be nice!
What sugar can I use instead of demerara sugar?
If you can’t find sugar specifically labeled as “demerara,” you can swap turbinado sugar in it’s place!
If you make this recipe, please leave a review in the comments and a star rating!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I read every single comment! I also love connecting on social media, so snap a pic and hashtag it #myrecipeforfun
Easy Demerara Simple Syrup (Regular + Rich Demerara Syrup Recipe)
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Equipment
- 1 1.5-quart saucepan
- 1 fine mesh sieve
- 1 spoon or spatula
Ingredients
Classic Demerara Syrup
- 220 g demerara sugar 1 cup
- 237 g filtered water 1 cup
Rich Demerara Syrup
- 220 g demerara sugar 1 cup
- 118 g filtered water 1/2 cup
Instructions
- Heat. Pour water into a small saucepan and heat over medium heat.237 g filtered water
- Combine. Add in demerara sugar and stir occasionally until it dissolves. A low simmer is okay, but don't allow it to boil!220 g demerara sugar
- Cool. Remove the pan from heat. Allow the mix to cool slightly, then store it in an airtight container.
- Store. Store your demerara simple syrup in an airtight storage container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. You can also store it in the freezer for longer-term storage.
Notes
Recipe Notes
Whether you’re making a rich demerara syrup or a traditional one, the instructions are the same! The only thing that differs is the ratio of ingredients. For a rich demerara syrup, the ratio is 2:1, or two parts sugar to one part water. For a classic demerara syrup, the ratio is 1:1, or one part sugar to one part water.ℹ️ troubleshooting tips
-
- too thin – if you want a thicker syrup, like a rich syrup, you can simmer your simple syrup for a bit longer to allow extra water to evaporate.
-
- too thick – on the other hand, if your syrup is too thick when it cools, you can add more water, 1 TBSP at a time, until it gets to a consistency you like.
- can’t find demerara sugar – if you can’t find sugar that’s specifically called “demerara sugar,” you can use turbinado sugar or sugar in the raw instead!
🍽️ how to use demerara syrup
cocktails-
- Cuban daiquiri- this classic cocktail is one of the OG bespoke beverages for a reason! Using demerara simple syrup in this classic Cuban daiquiri.
-
- demerara margarita – swap out agave nectar for demerara simple syrup for a deeper, toasty twist on this classic citrus cocktail!
-
- demerara old fashioned – by using this simple syrup in an old fashioned recipe, you get a deeper, more warm flavor profile than when you are using regular simple syrup.
-
- demerara iced espressos – If you find yourself needing a daily caffeine fix, you’ll love adding your homemade simple syrups to your morning coffee routine. This demerara sugar syrup adds a wonderfully rich flavor to iced coffee beverages like double shot iced shaken espressos and iced Americanos!
-
- demerara iced tea – demerara iced green tea is a delightfully refreshing drink on a hot summer day! The complex sweetness of the syrup plays up the delicate floral flavors of teas beautifully!
-
- demerara lemonade – swap out the regular granulated sugar in your lemonade recipe for this simple syrup to take your lemonade to the next level!
-
- in recipes – I love using this syrup in place of maple syrup or honey in recipes like homemade granola and even salad dressings!
-
- keep baked goods moist – use this simple syrup to brush layer cakes and keep them moist between layers!
-
- gift it – strain your syrup into cute lil bottles for an adorable hostess gift! You can also make a “build your own cocktail basket” by including mini bottles of liquor, this syrup, and a few garnishes and glasses!
It took me a little bit to hunt down demerara sugar near me, but now I’ll never be without this syrup for my cocktails! It makes such a big difference in flavor compared to regular simple syrup! Thanks so much for this recipe, I need to try the saline solution next!
Oh I’m so glad you found demerara sugar, Charlotte! It’s really a great sugar to have on hand, so it’s worth the hunt lol! Please do let me know if you make the saline solution! Your drink recipes are about to get a total makeover, it’s so fun to use! 👩🏻🍳
I had to order the sugar online but once it got here I made this syrup and it was so great in my daiquiri! Looking forward to trying other cocktails with it.
I’m so glad to hear this syrup worked wonderfully in your drink, Jeremy, thanks for leaving a review! I also love this in a classic daiquiri! I hope you enjoy it in your next few recipes!! 🥰