Foolproof Brown Sugar Syrup

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Sweeten your coffee and tea with brown sugar simple syrup for a rich, caramel-like flavor. It’s incredibly easy to make at home using 2 ingredients.

Homemade brown sugar syrup in a glass bottle.

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Brown Sugar Syrup

Brown sugar syrup is a simple syrup that’s made with brown sugar instead of white, granulated sugar. Simple sugar is liquid sugar, which makes it easy to add to drinks, especially iced beverages since it mixes in well.

Made with just brown sugar and water, light or dark brown sugar can be used to make the syrup.

Brown sugar has a deep, caramel flavor since it’s made with molasses and it tastes great in coffee and black tea. It’s perfect for making homemade Starbucks Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso. It’s great in milk tea, bubble tea, iced chai lattes, and Brown Sugar Iced Coffee.

RELATED: Vanilla Simple Syrup

Recipe Highlights

  • An easy 2-ingredient recipe that’s made in less than 5 minutes.
  • Make a batch and store it in the refrigerator to have on hand to flavor and sweeten drinks. The syrup is also great for flavoring cold foam and whipped cream.
  • The recipe makes a cup of brown sugar syrup.

RELATED: 17 Simple Syrup Recipes

Ingredient Notes

Brown sugar syrup ingredients.
  • Brown sugar: Any kind of brown sugar works but if you want a richer, more caramel flavor, go for dark brown sugar since it contains more molasses.
  • Water: Use filtered water for a better tasting simple syrup.

For full ingredients and detailed instructions, please see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Brown sugar and water in a saucepan.

Step 1: Put brown sugar and water in a saucepan and simmer. Stir to make sure sugar dissolves completely.

Take off heat and cool.

Pouring brown sugar syrup into a glass bottle.

Step 2: Pour brown sugar syrup into an airtight container.

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Expert Tips

  • This recipe makes a cup of brown sugar syrup which is 16 tablespoons. Use 1-2 tablespoons of syrup to sweeten each cup of coffee or tea.
  • If you want to give your brown sugar syrup an upgrade, add a little vanilla extract, which I consider a flavor enhancer. It’s not necessary, but if you have it, use it. Add a teaspoon of vanilla extract to the recipe.
  • The syrup is good for 3 weeks when stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Questions You May Have

Do I need to bring the brown sugar and water to a boil?

It’s not necessary to boil the water. You can even stir brown sugar in hot water until the sugar dissolves.

Can I use this syrup to make a drink for kids without any coffee or tea?

Yup, you can make a brown sugar steamer which is brown sugar syrup stirred into a cup of warm milk. It’s basically a kid-friendly latte. Use 1-2 tablespoons of syrup into a cup.

What is brown sugar?

Brown sugar is white sugar with molasses added. You can make brown sugar at home if you have the two ingredients. To make dark brown sugar, combine a cup of white sugar and 1/4 cup of molasses. (Use any kind of molasses except blackstrap.)

Pouring brown sugar syrup into a cup of coffee.

More Simple Syrup Recipes

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Foolproof Brown Sugar Syrup

Author: Jee Choe
Sweeten your coffee and tea with brown sugar simple syrup for a rich, caramel flavor.
4.8 from 120 votes
Prep Time 4 minutes
Total Time 4 minutes
Course Drinks
Yield8 servings

INGREDIENTS
 

  • ¾ cup water
  • ¾ cup brown sugar

INSTRUCTIONS

  • Put brown sugar and water in a saucepan and simmer.
    Stir to make sure sugar dissolves completely.
  • Take off heat and cool.
  • Pour syrup into an airtight container.
    The syrup will keep for 3 weeks in the refrigerator.

NOTES

  • Recipe makes 1 cup (16 tablespoons) of syrup. Use 1- 2 tablespoons of syrup per 1 cup of coffee.
  • It’s not necessary to boil the water. You can even stir brown sugar in hot water until the sugar dissolves.
  • Light or dark brown sugar can be used. The difference between light and dark brown sugar is how much molasses is in it and the more there is, the more caramel and toffee flavor the syrup will have. If you want a richer, more caramel flavor, go for dark brown sugar since it contains more molasses.
  • If you want to give your brown sugar syrup an upgrade, add a little vanilla extract, which I consider a flavor enhancer. It’s not necessary, but if you have it, use it. Add a teaspoon of vanilla extract to the recipe.

NUTRITION

Calories: 78 | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 1g | Sodium: 7mg | Potassium: 27mg | Sugar: 20g | Calcium: 17mg | Iron: 1mg

9 thoughts on “Foolproof Brown Sugar Syrup”

  1. 5 stars
    Good and easy to make! I made a small test batch, added a drop of vanilla and a pinch of salt. This is wonderful and great in homemade shaken espressos ☺️

    Reply
  2. 5 stars
    My husband and i love a coffee in the morning with caramel in and it was getting expensive and sometimes difficult to get so i started making my own.
    I kept having disasters with white sugar but then i found your recipe and haven’t looked back since and my husband loves it too, would recommend this way and with a bit of vanilla in too yummy

    Reply
  3. 5 stars
    Love this and is been delicious in my iced Coffee. Very similar to a local drink at a coffee shop here I love.
    Question on the nutritional facts, is that per serving or the whole cup of syrup?

    Reply
  4. For french toast, pancakes etc, boil gently together 8 minutes on med heat – 2c.brown sugar, 1 cup bottled water, 1 & 1/2 sticks marg. or butter. Stir well at first to dissolve sugar. Key: let sit and cool at least 10 minutes to thicken…I ran out of syrup one morning for pancakes!

    Reply
  5. Hey, love how simple this recipe is. I was just wondering if I could add an essence to it. Like vanilla or caramel? Can’t wait to try it!

    Reply
    • Hi Christine, you can add a little vanilla extract to the recipe but for caramel, I would add it separately, when you’re making the drink.

      Reply

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