Brown Sugar Syrup

Brown Sugar Syrup is just as easy to make as any typical simple syrup, but it has a more robust flavor, making it perfect for everything from adding to coffee and tea to drizzling over pancakes in the fall and winter (though you can enjoy it year round!).

Jump to:

• ❤️ Why you'll love this recipe
• 🗒 Ingredients
• 🤎 Light brown or dark brown?
• 👩‍🍳 How to make brown sugar syrup
• 🧋 How to use
• 🎉 Variations on recipe
• ⏲️ How to store
• 🥳 How to make more
• 🛒 Where to buy
• 🥣 More syrup recipes
• 📖 Recipe
• 💬 Comments

I've been making simple syrup for years and have A LOT of syrup recipes on this blog. Almost every time I make a new syrup, I use granulated sugar to make it.

But sometimes you want a syrup that's going to be a bit more rich and robust. Sometimes you want a syrup that screams fall and winter. And that's when you use brown sugar.

I use brown sugar to make my apple syrup and part brown sugar to make cinnamon dolce syrup. But I wanted a syrup that was a bit more versatile and could be used in most everything.

This brown sugar syrup is just as easy to make as any classic simple syrup (i.e. SO easy), but it has a deeper flavor with a deep caramel flavor and is perfect for all your cool weather coffee drinks and recipes.

You can even make a Starbucks copycat with it!

❤️ Why you'll love this recipe

If you love adding simple syrups to your cocktails, coffees, breakfasts, and more, you'll want to try this brown sugar syrup designed for when you want a richer flavored syrup.

Also, if you're hoping to make Starbucks copycat drinks at home, this brown sugar syrup will come in handy for quite a few of them!

If you've made a basic simple syrup before, you'll be happy to know this one is just as easy as one made with white sugar (all you're doing is swapping the type of sugar!). And if this is your first time making a syrup, you'll have no trouble at all as it couldn't be simpler.

You can keep a jar of the syrup in your fridge for about a month and use it whenever you want to add a little extra caramelized sweetness to your food and drinks.

🗒 Ingredients

You only need two ingredients to make this brown sugar syrup and you can probably guess what they are:

• Water
• Brown sugar

Be sure to view the recipe card at the bottom of this post for ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions.

🤎 Light brown or dark brown?

You can use either light brown or dark brown sugar to make this syrup. The only difference between light and brown sugar is the amount of molasses content in them with dark brown sugar having a bit more.

I've done a few side-by-side comparisons and the taste is very similar no matter which type of brown sugar that's used.

👩‍🍳 How to make brown sugar syrup

This syrup couldn't be easier to make. All you're going to do is add the water and brown sugar to a small saucepan.

And bring to a boil.

Once boiling, lower heat and let the mixture simmer for about 10 minutes, until sugar is completely dissolved and syrup has thickened a bit.

Note that it will continue to thicken as it cools.

Remove from heat and pour the syrup into a heat-proof bowl or mason jar. Place bowl or jar in fridge to cool completely before using.

Before you add it to anything, give the syrup a little taste. You'll instantly see how it's different than regular simple syrup. It has a slight molasses flavor and definitely has a richer flavor than syrup made with granulated sugar.

The flavor is SO good and is my go-to syrup in the cooler weather.

🧋 How to use

This brown sugar syrup has so many uses, year-round, but especially in the fall and winter. It's a liquid sugar that pairs well with both drinks and foods! Here are a few of my favorite ways to use it:

• Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso: If you're as obsessed with Starbucks' shaken espressos as I am, you'll want to use this syrup to make a copycat Starbucks Brown Sugar Shaken Espresso with oat milk.

• Hot and iced coffee: Even if you're not making a fancy coffee drink, you can add brown sugar syrup to any hot coffee or iced coffee. It's a great coffee syrup and adds a richer flavor than regular sugar or simple syrup

• Hot and iced tea: It's also great in hot tea and iced tea. I especially like it in chai tea.

• Cocktail ingredient: While simple syrup is frequently used in cocktails, you don't often see brown sugar in ingredient lists. But it's the perfect addition to fall and winter cocktails, especially those that are made with bourbon or dark rum or any drink made with cinnamon, apple, or pear.

• Homemade soda: Use this syrup to sweeten your homemade sodas. You can use it in any of your favorite drinks.

• Pancake, waffle, and french toast topping: This brown sugar syrup can easily be used as a substitute for maple syrup as it shares the sweet and robust flavor and has a similar look.

• Oatmeal or yogurt topping: If you like to add a little extra sweetness to your oatmeal or yogurt, brown sugar syrup gives it a cozy fall morning feel.

• Ice cream drizzle: It's also delicious drizzled over vanilla, chocolate, or coffee ice cream.

• Fruit glaze: Brush a little syrup on fruit you're going to broil or grill for a delicious caramelized flavor. It's especially delicious on apples, pears, and bananas. I also recommend drizzling it over a grapefruit half before you broil it. It's SO good!

• Roasted vegetable glaze: The brown sugar syrup will also help bring out the natural sweetness of vegetables like sweet potatoes, butternut squash, carrots, and turnips. It's also delicious on brussels sprouts.

• Cake moistener: You can brush any flavor of homemade cake with this syrup to keep it moist and give it a molasses-like sweetness.

• Glaze or marinade for meats: You can use the syrup as a glaze or marinade for the meat of your choice, including pork, chicken, and salmon.

Please share with me how you're using this brown sugar syrup!

🎉 Variations on recipe

This brown sugar syrup is obviously quite simple as it's made with just brown sugar and water. But there are so many additions you can make to it to change the flavor profile a bit. Here are some ideas:

• Add cinnamon sticks or ground cinnamon (essentially you'll end up with a more robust cinnamon dolce syrup)

• Add vanilla extract or paste (or a vanilla bean) for new levels of flavor

• Add ground nutmeg, ground allspice, or pumpkin pie spice to give the syrup extra festive fall flavor.

• Add fruit like sliced apple or pear. You can even use this recipe for apple brown sugar simple syrup.

• Add bourbon or dark rum for complex flavors with a kick.

• Add espresso for a more intense (and delicious flavor).

• Add chili powder or smoked paprika for some heat.

⏲️ How to store

I recommend storing the syrup in an airtight container in the fridge. When stored properly, it should keep fresh for about a month, so you can pull it out and use it whenever you want!

I love storing simple syrups in glass jars, like mason jars- this one fits perfectly in an 8 oz jar since it makes a cup.

Some of my syrups make more than a cup in which case you'll want larger jars.

🥳 How to make more

Of all my simple syrup recipes, this is the easiest one to make a big batch of! All you have to do is double or triple the water and the brown sugar.

Since I use a 1:1 ratio of each ingredient, it's very simple and you should be able to make a triple batch all in the same saucepan. You may just need to simmer it for a little extra time.

And you'll definitely need a large jar to store it in.

🛒 Where to buy

I think it's incredibly easy to make your own homemade brown sugar syrup, but I also totally understand if you prefer to purchase it. When you buy a bottle of shelf stable syrup, it generally lasts even longer than a month.

If you can't find it in your grocery store, here are a few options you can purchase online:

• Portland Sugars Brown Sugar Syrup
• Collins Brown Sugar Simple Syrup
• Starbucks Brown Sugar Syrup (this one is pricey, but its the one Starbucks uses)
• Locca Brown Sugar Syrup (a lot of review say this one tastes like Starbucks)
• Monin Spiced Brown Sugar Syrup

🥣 More syrup recipes

Be sure to check out my page filled with simple syrup recipes, but if you're looking for perfect cool weather syrups, definitely try these:

I hope this brown sugar syrup recipe brings some extra joy to your fall and winter! But I also kind of hope you make a batch or two in the summertime, too.

How will you use this syrup?

📖 Recipe