Brown sugar simple syrup recipe – perfect!

We’ve all tasted brown sugar and loved the taste. So imagine that in liquid form poured over your latte or cappuccino, or other favorite coffee. Gosh, let’s not stop there, this brown sugar simple syrup recipe goes great with all sorts of desserts, breakfast cereals and sweet snacks. With just two ingredients and a few minutes of time, you can make this delicious syrup that will bring out all of the best flavors in your coffee. So let’s get started!

What is brown sugar simple syrup

Like other simple syrups, it’s made from equal parts sugar and water – in this case, brown sugar instead of granulated.

My brown sugar simple syrup recipe can be used to sweeten coffee, tea, or other beverages and cocktails alike.

You can store it for up to one month if it’s in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

It has a deep caramel flavour that is more robust than regular white sugar syrups. Let’s take a dive into how it tastes.

What does brown sugar syrup taste like

With notes of molasses, this delicious syrup has a robust flavour that is deeper than regular simple syrup.

The brown sugar also brings rich tastes and aromas of caramel and toffee, adding complexity and sweetness to all coffee drinks.

Just imagine an iced coffee on a hot summer afternoon. The depth and strength of good coffee, balanced with creamy milk. Then topping everything off, stir in some sweet caramel and toffee flavours.

That’s before we even consider the different types of brown sugar you can use. Dark brown and light brown sugar.

Light brown sugar vs dark brown sugar

This is the most basic way of looking at brown sugar.

The difference between light and dark brown sugars is simply the amount of molasses. Light brown sugar has less molasses – about 3.5%. While there’s about 6.5% in dark brown sugar.

They will both work just fine in this recipe.

Dark brown sugar will give you a deeper more smoky and intense caramel flavor from the higher amount of molasses. While light brown sugar has a less intense but more balanced taste and smell of caramel and toffee.

Probably the best-known light brown sugar is demerara.

Demerara sugar

Probably the best-known brown sugar, demerara is the sugar you get in coffee shop brown sugar packets.

It has a light sweet sugary taste, like granulated sugar, with a subtle molasses toffee and caramel flavor.

With large golden crystals, demerara sugar has an exciting crunchy texture when added to desserts, drinks or baked goods.

But it’s less helpful when making syrup because the crystals take longer to melt.

So, if you have any, I would use soft brown sugar for this syrup. That said, demerara works fine, it just takes an extra couple of minutes to dissolve. You’ll love demerara sugar simple syrup. And watch out for my demerara syrup recipe – coming soon!

If you want a richer deeper toffee and caramel flavor, you need to use muscovado sugar.

Muscavado Sugar

It’s one of those great tastes, with a fabulous melting texture. Muscovado is a soft dark brown sugar.

So you know it will dissolve quickly to become syrup. And, it will have the most incredible toffee and caramel flavors and aromas.

The molasses also give it a slightly smoky and earthy smell and taste. With a full-on toffee and caramel flavor

The texture of muscovado sugar is moist, soft, and slightly sticky. Making it ideal for muscovado simple syrup, adding deep smoky caramel sweetness to all your coffees.

Making brown sugar simple syrup at home

Making your own brown sugar syrup recipe for coffee is rewarding and so much easier than you think. And brown sugar coffee syrup is as easy as all the others.

So don’t wait any longer – let’s get started on cooking up delicious brown sugar simple syrup from scratch!

Equipment

•  Saucepan for stove top
• Spoon
• Set of measuring spoons (optional)

 Ingredients

•  ½ cup water
• ½ cup brown sugar
• ½ tsp vanilla extract (optional)

Method

• Add the sugar and water to a heavy-bottomed saucepan.
• Heat on low-medium heat.
• Continue stirring until the water boils and all of the sugar has fully dissolved into the water.
• Continue stirring for another 5-10 minutes to make the syrup thicker.
• Remove the saucepan from the heat.
• Leave to cool for at least 2 hours.
• Store in a sterilised airtight bottle.

Top tips for making brown sugar simple syrup at home

• Gather the necessary ingredients – sugar, and water. And vanilla extract if you want to use it.
• If you have soft light or brown sugar they are the quickest to dissolve. But Demerara tastes just as good.
• I usually use demerara sugar for this recipe because it’s something we always have on the shelf. But when I’m really in need of a treat I always use muscovado sugar – it just turns everything up to eleven!
• Next, combine the sugar and water in your saucepan, and heat the mixture over low-medium heat. Stir occasionally until the sugar has completely dissolved. This should take about 5 minutes.
• When the syrup starts to boil and all the sugar has melted, keep stirring and gradually turn down the heat to keep at a slow boil/simmer. You are aiming to boil off some of the water content. That will give the syrup a richer flavor and thicken it up.
• If you want that littyle extra flavor note from vanilla extract, add it here and allow it to mix with the syrup.
• As with all cooking, this is a very enjoyable and fulfilling experience. But like all cooking, you need to take care and not rush any of the steps. Take care not to splash the syrup when it is hot, as it can burn.
• Once cooled, transfer syrup into a sterilised airtight jar so that you can use it when needed
• Don’t forget to label the jar so you will remember which syrup is in it. AND put the date – so you know when to discard any syrup you have left over.
• Store in the fridge for up to two weeks, then discard any unused syrup. That’s why I made a small amount in this recipe – to avoid the risk of much going to waste!

Ideas for using brown sugar syrup at home

You can use this syrup in any coffee drink to add sweetness and fabulous toffee flavors.

It works very well with iced coffees and cold brew, because its more difficult to stir solid sugar in, while syrup mixes straight away.

Brown sugar lattes are an absolute go to for me any time my sweet tooth needs satisfying.

Don’t forget other great coffees that benefit from some sweetness and flavoring, like cappuccinos

Variations on brown sugar simple syrup

Flavored Brown Sugar syrup

Now you know how to make a brown sugar simple syrup, why not personalise it with other flavors. I absolutely love spiced brown sugar syrup latte. It’s like Christmas, but you can enjoy it anythime of year guilt free.

Another one you must try is cinnamon demerara syrup. Simply make the syrup ensuring you use demerara sugar and add 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon powder.

A little more effort, but so worth it. Why not make apple brown sugar syrup. Just follow the recipe above, but when adding the sugar to the saucepan you also add 2 cups of chopped apple or 1/2 cup apple juice. Boil then simmer to reduce the syrup then make sure to strain out any apple bits. As a precaution, you should only store this syrup in the fridge and discard after 1 week.

Coffee shop brown sugar syrup

When you are in the mood for brown sugar syrup in your coffee it makes sense to make your own. But if the craving hits while you are out then Starbucks is the best choice.

Starbucks brown sugar syrup is gluten-free and they even make Starbucks apple brown sugar syrup.

Different types of syrups for coffee

• Best lavender syrup for coffee
• strawberry simple syrup recipe
• peppermint simple syrup
• mocha syrup
• Salted caramel syrup
• Vanilla syrup
• Gingerbread simple syrup