Brown Sugar Syrup

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This simple brown sugar syrup is finished and ready to use in five minutes. It has a deep caramel flavor that is perfect for your drinks, pancakes, waffles, desserts and so much more! .

brown sugar syrup being poured into coffee

Why you'll love it

It is a delicious twist on a traditional simple syrup or vanilla simple syrup because the brown sugar gives the syrup a subtle toffee/caramel flavor.

You need only a few minutes to make it. Just three ingredients that you likely already have at home.

It is such a simple and delicious way to

Ingredient notes

ingredients in bowls for simple syrup using brown sugar

There are only two ingredients to make your syrup. Brown sugar and water. But which type of brown sugar is best?

Light Brown Sugar - Light brown sugar typically has a ratio of 1 tablespoon of molasses to one cup of granulated sugar. It has a more subtle flavor, especially in the syrup

Dark Brown Sugar - There is typically double the amount of molasses in the sugar for dark brown sugar. It offers a more robust flavor, but can become bitter if you are making a particularly thicker syrup.

Both are great depending on the intensity of flavor you want. If you plan on adding other flavors to your mixture, I would recommend leaning toward light brown sugar to better balance all the flavors. What is great is that if you don't have any at home, you can make brown sugar easily and customize the depth of your brown sugar flavor entirely.

How to make

Making your syrup takes only a few minutes and requires very little work on your end.

Add the brown sugar and water to a heavy-bottomed medium saucepan.
Turn the heat on medium and stir continuously until the sugar is fully dissolved.
Remove from heat and leave it to cool completely.
Transfer to an airtight container.

brown sugar and water being added to saucepan

Storage notes

For the longest shelf life, keep the syrup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 - 4 weeks. Clean off the lip of the container and lid so there is no syrup or dampness to help extend the shelf life.

The syrup will last at room temperature in an airtight container for up to a week.

Flavor inspiration

This brown sugar syrup is perfect for getting creative!

You can add spices such as ground cinnamon, chai spice, pumpkin spice, or even mulling spices to add comforting warmth and dimension to the syrup.

You can also add caramel, maple, or honey to the syrup to add more depth and flavor.

Add in a teaspoon of your favorite extracts to the syrup to get notes of vanilla, or what ever extract you prefer using!

container filled with simple syrup made with brown sugar — cre

Recipe FAQs

How do I thicken the syrup?

Thickening the syrup is very easy. Add another 1 - 2 tablespoons of brown sugar to the mixture and heat it just enough to dissolve the sugar. You can add more tablespoons of sugar as needed to reach your desired thickness. If you want thinner syrup, stir in more water.

How can I use this for boba tea?

If you are making this for boba tea, you need a thicker, sweeter syrup. You can do this by doubling the brown sugar and leaving the same amount of water.

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