Brown Sugar Syrup

Learn how to make homemade Brown Sugar Syrup that tastes just like Starbucks. This two-ingredient simple syrup adds deep, caramel flavor to coffee, tea, and cold drinks. Enjoy coffeehouse-quality beverages straight from your home.

By following just a few easy steps, you can make coffeehouse-style homemade brown sugar syrup. This simple syrup is convenient to have around when you want to add a rich, sweet flavor to your hot and cold beverages.

In short, brown sugar is dissolved in hot water (see our recipe for making traditional simple syrup here). Using brown sugar syrup instead of granules sweetens cold and iced drinks without leaving undissolved sugar settled at the bottom of your drink. Brown sugar syrup is especially good for sweetening cold brew coffee.

What does brown sugar simple syrup taste like?

While simple syrup made with white sugar is great for adding sweetness, simple syrup made with brown sugar is great for adding sweetness AND flavor. That flavor comes from the molasses in brown sugar.

That said, the difference between light and dark brown sugar is the amount of molasses in it. The amount of molasses in brown sugar also impacts the depth in flavor. Dark brown sugar (which has more molasses) results in a deeper more caramel-toffee-like flavor. Light brown sugar will give you a more subtle caramel taste.

Why You Should Make Brown Sugar Syrup From Scratch

• Just two-ingredients – brown sugar and water, so no weird chemicals and preservatives.
• Brown sugar simple syrup is great for hot and cold drinks.
• Budget-friendly! Make your favorite Starbucks copycat drinks right at home.
• Shell-life. If stored correctly, simple syrup lasts up to 2 weeks.
• Great DIY gift idea for the Starbucks lover in your life.

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🥄Ingredients & Equipment

Brown sugar simple syrup is inexpensive and easy to make with just two simple ingredients.

• Brown Sugar – Use either light or dark depending on how deep you want the flavor to be. Light brown sugar will give you light caramel flavor and dark brown sugar lends deeper caramelized-toffee flavor.
• Filtered Water – doesn’t have any impurities, so while it’s not necessary to use filtered, doing so will result in better taste and color.
• Sea Salt – is optional, but adding just a pinch of sea salt greatly enhances the caramel and toffee flavor.

You’ll need the following gadgets to make brown sugar syrup (or at least something similar that will get the job done).

• Saucepan – to boil the water to dissolve the brown sugar in.
• Sealed Jars or Bottles – When sealed correctly, this syrup stores safely for a couple of weeks.
• Funnel – Using a funnel will make pouring the syrup into its storage container much easier.

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📃How To Make Homemade Brown Sugar Syrup

Follow these easy steps and you’ll be an expert simple syrup maker in no time.

1️⃣ Add ingredients to saucepan:

In a small saucepan, add water, brown sugar, and salt (if using). Turn the heat to medium. Stir well.

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2️⃣ Continue stirring:

Continue stirring over medium heat until the brown sugar is dissolved completely (about 5 minutes). The liquid does not need to come to a boil in order for the sugar to dissolve.

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3️⃣ Let cool:

Once brown sugar is dissolved, remove the saucepan from heat and let cool for at least 10 minutes.

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4️⃣ Store:

Using a funnel, pour cooled brown sugar syrup into sanitized jars or bottles that can be sealed with a lid.

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🌟Recipe Tips

You can use either light or dark brown sugar, but for a deeper, more toffee-life flavor, you’ll want to use dark brown sugar. The extra molasses makes a big difference.

Make it even sweeter by adding 1 to 2 tablespoons of molasses to the saucepan with the water and brown sugar.

For the best tasting brown sugar syrup, use filtered water.

To prevent spilling hot liquid, be sure to let the syrup cool for at least 10 minutes before funneling the syrup into containers.

The container you use (whether it be a glass jar, plastic bottle, etc.) should be sanitized first to prevent bacterial growth.

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🔁Variations

This brown sugar syrup is the best for sweetening drinks with caramel flavor. Listed below are ways to build on that crave-worthy caramel flavor by enhancing it with additional unique flavors.

• Maple Brown Sugar Syrup: Add a 1/4 teaspoon of maple extract to the syrup.
• Cinnamon Sugar Syrup: Add 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon or a cinnamon stick to the syrup while it simmers and cools.
• Vanilla Sugar Syrup: Add 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract or a vanilla bean pod to the syrup while it cooks and cools.
• Pumpkin Spice Syrup: Add 1/4 cup pumpkin puree, 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice and 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract to the simmering mixture.

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♻How To Store Brown Sugar Syrup

You’ll probably want to double your batch of syrup because it’s delicious and dissolving sugar with heat sterilizes it, extending its shelf life.

Storing: Once cooled to room temperature, pour the brown sugar syrup into an airtight container, seal and refrigerate for 1 to 2 weeks. Give it a good shake before each use.

Freezing: When stored in a sterile airtight freezer-safe container, brown sugar syrup can be safely frozen for up to 3 months.

📝IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT SAFE STORAGE: Basic simple syrup stays fresh longer than flavored simple syrups.

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❔FAQ

Add Brown Sugar Syrup to Homemade Cold Brew Coffee with Cold Foam!