Brown Sugar Syrup: 5 Recipes & 5 Tips on How to Make It Yourself

Jacqueline Eisenbraun (Senior Editor)

Brown sugar syrup is a delicious alternative to simple syrup. Its molasses content gives it a deep flavor with hints of caramel and toffee. The syrup can be purchased at some retailers, or you can make it at home to give it a personal touch. Read on for recipes that will take your dishes to the next level.

Many trendy cafes and coffee houses use brown sugar syrup in their recipes. For example, Starbucks uses it to add flavor to many of its beverages. But the syrup can easily be made at home to offer a customized taste.

Here are some basics to be aware of when making your home recipe.

What Brown Sugar Syrup Is

What Brown Sugar Syrup Is

Brown sugar syrup is a liquid sweetener. It is made with equal parts brown sugar and water. Its molasses content gives it a rich, sweet flavor.

The syrup can be used for a variety of culinary purposes. It is often used to sweeten drinks like coffees, lattes, and espressos. It can also top waffles, pancakes, and French toast.

Also interested in chocolate syrups? Here you’ll find more information.

Ingredients of Brown Sugar Simple Syrup

Ingredients of Brown Sugar Simple Syrup

You can add ingredients to brown sugar syrup as you see fit. But it is typically made with a few key ingredients. These include:

• Brown Sugar: Brown sugar is rich in molasses which gives the syrup a deep flavor.
• Water: Water gives the syrup its liquid consistency.

How Brown Sugar Syrup is Made

How Brown Sugar Syrup is Made

Brown Sugar Syrup is easy to make. Here’s how you do it:

1. Combine equal parts brown sugar and water in a saucepan. Heat over medium heat.
2. Stir until the sugar is dissolved (1-2 minutes). Allow the mixture to cool to room temperature before use.

Recipe Ideas: How to Make Brown Sugar Simple Syrup Yourself

Recipe Ideas: How to Make Brown Sugar Simple Syrup Yourself

Several brown sugar syrup recipes allow you to play around with the basic components. Here are some examples of how you can get creative in your kitchen.

Jalapeno Simple Brown Sugar Syrup

Jalapeno Simple Brown Sugar Syrup

In today’s culinary world, sweet and spicy combinations are all the rage. Jalapeno simple brown sugar will give your breakfast foods and beverages an extra kick. The recipe requires the following steps:

1. Combine 1/2 cup brown sugar and ½ cup water in a saucepan.
2. Add one thin slice of jalapeno and 1 tsp. of lime juice. Heat over medium heat.
3. Stir until sugar is dissolved and let cool.

Chamomile Simple Brown Sugar Syrup

Chamomile Simple Brown Sugar Syrup

Chamomile is known for its soothing effects and flavor. Chamomile simple brown sugar syrup is the perfect addition to your nighttime cup of tea. Here’s how to make it:

1. Combine ½ cup brown sugar and ½ cup water in a saucepan.
2. Add 2 tbsp. dried chamomile. Heat over medium heat.
3. Stir until sugar is dissolved and let cool.

Rosemary Blackberry Simple Brown Sugar Syrup

Rosemary Blackberry Simple Brown Sugar Syrup

Rosemary and blackberry will give your beverages a tart, fruity floral taste. The antioxidants in blackberries are beneficial to health. Here’s how you can combine the ingredients into a delicious brown sugar syrup:

1. Muddle 10 blackberries by placing them in the bottom of a cocktail glass or shaker. Use a pressing mechanism and twisting movements to crush the fruit and extract the oils.
2. Combine blackberries, ½ cup brown sugar, and ½ cup water in a saucepan. Heat over medium heat.
3. Stir until sugar is dissolved and let cool.
4. Garnish with rosemary sprig.

Pink Peppercorn Simple Brown Sugar Syrup

Pink Peppercorn Simple Brown Sugar Syrup

Contrary to the name, pink peppercorns are berries. They have a mild pepperiness and a floral fruity flavor. They are known for their antiseptic, diuretic, and disinfectant properties. Here’s how you can add them to your brown sugar syrup:

1. Combine ½ cup brown sugar and one ½ cup water in a saucepan.
2. Add 3 tbsp. pink peppercorns. Heat over medium heat.
3. Stir until sugar is dissolved and let cool.

Mint Simple Brown Sugar Syrup

Mint Simple Brown Sugar Syrup

Mint adds a zing that blends perfectly with the sweet, rich taste of brown sugar syrup. It will add the ideal flavor to coffee, tea, and hot chocolate. The recipe steps are as follows:

1. Combine ½ cup brown sugar and ½ cup water in a saucepan.
2. Add 12 mint leaves. Heat over medium heat.
3. Stir until sugar is dissolved and let cool.
4. Remove mint leaves before serving.

Tips for Homemade Brown Sugar Syrup

Tips for Homemade Brown Sugar Syrup

Here are some tips to keep in mind when making brown sugar at home. They will help you take your recipes to the next level:

Mix Different Ingredients

Mix Different Ingredients

Get creative by mixing different ingredients into your brown sugar. You can add fruits, spices, and a variety of other ingredients. Customize your syrup as you see fit.

Make Your Syrup Thicker

Make Your Syrup Thicker

You can make your syrup thicker by stirring it longer during the heating process. A thick syrup will be ideal when added to a breakfast meal. A minute or two should do the trick, but you can experiment to find the thickness that’s right for you.

Try It in Different Dishes

Try It in Different Dishes

Brown sugar syrup is typically recommended for beverages and breakfast dishes. But there’s no saying what else it might taste good in. It can add flavor to Indian rice and even some meats. Explore your options to find new ways to integrate it into your meals.

The Best Brown Sugar Syrups

The Best Brown Sugar Syrups

Brown sugar syrup is easy to make at home. But you can also buy it at the store. Here are some store-bought brown sugar syrups that are recommended.

Torani Brown Sugar Cinnamon Syrup

Torani Brown Sugar Cinnamon Syrup

Torani Brown Sugar Cinnamon Syrup adds a rich flavor to your meals and beverages. It is perfect for a variety of hot and cold drinks and dishes. It is made with pure cane sugar and natural flavors.

Monin Spiced Brown Sugar Syrup

Monin Spiced Brown Sugar Syrup

Monin Brown Sugar Syrup has a light cinnamon flavor that makes it the perfect addition to coffee, teas, desserts, and ciders. It is a gourmet blend that will elevate recipes. It’s made with simple ingredients like pure cane sugar, water, and natural flavors.

Portland Syrups Brown Sugar Simple Syrup

Portland Syrups Brown Sugar Simple Syrup

Portland Syrups specializes in small-batch, low-sugar products made with natural botanicals and natural flavors. They use 100% farm-direct natural cane sugar. They avoid additives, preservatives, and artificial ingredients. Their brown sugar syrup is the perfect pantry item.

Collins Brown Sugar Simple Syrup

Collins Brown Sugar Simple Syrup

Collins is made with real brown sugar. It is ideal for coffee and cocktails. It will give your drinks a lift that’s sure to impress your guests.

Skinny Mixes Sugar-Free Brown Sugar Cinnamon Simple Sugar

Skinny Mixes Sugar-Free Brown Sugar Cinnamon Simple Sugar

Skinny Mixes Sugar-Free Brown Sugar Syrup is perfect for people looking to maintain a healthy weight, as well as those on restrictive diets. It has 0 calories, 0 sugar, and 0 carbs. It is made with water, natural and artificial flavors, and preservatives.

Drinks With Brown Sugar Syrup You Get at Starbucks (+ Calories)

Drinks With Brown Sugar Syrup You Get at Starbucks (+ Calories)

Starbucks is largely responsible for the popularization of brown sugar syrup. It is a flavorful component of many of their beverages. Here are a few you may consider ordering:

Brown Sugar Cappuccinos

Brown Sugar Cappuccinos

Cappuccinos are made by combining espresso and steamed milk. Foam is added to the top to counter the bitterness of the coffee and provide a signature look. Brown sugar syrup will make the drink even sweeter while adding a rich toffee taste.

Calories: A Starbucks Cappuccino is 140 calories. A pump of brown sugar is typically 10 calories per serving. Figure the calorie count accordingly.

Brown Sugar and Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew

Brown Sugar and Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew

A Starbucks Cold Brew is made by steeping coffee grounds in cold or room-temperature water overnight. The drink is bitter and highly caffeinated. Starbucks uses vanilla and brown sugar to sweeten the taste.

Calories: 110 calories + brown sugar a 10 calories per pump

Brown Sugar Caffe Mocha

Brown Sugar Caffe Mocha

Caffe Mochas are made by combining steamed 2% milk, 4 pumps of mocha sauce, and the Starbucks Signature Espresso Roast. It is often topped with whipped cream. Brown sugar will combine well with the chocolate and add an extra element of sweetness.

Calories: 370 calories + brown sugar with 10 calories a pump (note, you can reduce the calories by forgoing whipped cream

Iced Brown Sugar Oat Milk Shaken Espresso

Iced Brown Sugar Oat Milk Shaken Espresso

A Shaken Espresso is made by combining oat milk, ice, 3 shots of espresso, and 4 pumps of brown sugar into a cocktail shaker. The drink has a sweet creamy taste that’s countered by the acidity of the coffee. It’s the perfect drink for a summer day.

Calories: 120 calories

Brown Sugar Espresso Frappuccino Blended Beverage

Brown Sugar Espresso Frappuccino Blended Beverage

A Starbucks Frappuccino is made by combining 1 shot of espresso, 3 pumps of Frappuccino roast, and whole milk in a blender. Brown sugar can be added before blending to sweeten the taste. 3 pumps are an ideal serving suggestion.

Calories: 210 calories + brown sugar a 10 calories a pump

How to Use Brown Sugar Syrup: Popular Drinks and Food

How to Use Brown Sugar Syrup: Popular Drinks and Food

Brown sugar syrup can be added to a variety of drinks and food to sweeten up the flavor and add richness. When it comes to the recipes you can include them in, the sky’s the limit. But here are a few that are recommended favorites.

Coffee

Coffee

Add brown sugar syrup to your coffee instead of sugar. It will counter the bitterness perfectly. It will make the ideal morning pick-me-up.

Here you’ll learn more about coffee and delicious coffee alternatives.

Boba

Boba

Brown sugar syrup is perfect for sweetening up your tea. It tastes especially good in Boba, a tea-based drink that originated in Taiwan. The drink contains tapioca pearls that are often simmered in brown sugar.

Cocktails

Cocktails

You may be surprised to find out how many cocktails taste terrific with an added dash of brown sugar syrup. It is perfect in a Bourbon Mash, Mojito, Stiff Hot Chocolate, Mint Julep, and more. Be sure to have a bottle in your home bar.

Oatmeal

Oatmeal

Brown sugar syrup is the ideal complement to a variety of breakfast foods. It tastes especially good when added to oatmeal. It will add flavor to plain oatmeal or meld with flavored oatmeal to enhance the taste.

Cream Cheese and Other Spreads

Cream Cheese and Other Spreads

Your toast and bagel spreads will taste even better with brown sugar syrup added. It brings the perfect amount of sweetness to cream cheese, peanut butter, and Nutella. Get creative when preparing your morning meals.

Other Uses of Brown Sugar Syrup

Other Uses of Brown Sugar Syrup

Brown sugar syrup is an ideal recipe item. But it can also be used for non-culinary purposes. Here are some to consider:

• Skincare: Brown sugar is often used in skincare. Its small granules exfoliate the skin. It is a natural humectant providing moisturizing properties. It removes dead cells from the skin reducing dead skin, scarring, and acne.
• May Relieve Menstrual Cramps: Brown sugar has long been used in traditional Chinese medicine to reduce menstrual cramps. A review published in the Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine shows it may provide nourishment to counter blood loss during menstruation. Recent research backs its effectiveness in relieving cramps and other menstrual symptoms.
• Other Health Benefits: Brown sugar may treat digestive issues by reducing pain during excretion. It may improve cold and asthma symptoms when combined with brown sugar. It is said to be a natural short-term energy booster.

Best Substitutes for Brown Sugar Syrup

Best Substitutes for Brown Sugar Syrup

Brown sugar syrup is an ideal sweetener for beverages and food items. But if you don’t have any in your house, there are a few substitutes that will do the trick. These include:

Maple Syrup

Maple Syrup

Maple syrup has a rich, sweet taste similar to brown sugar syrup. It is commonly used on breakfast items. It may also be added to drinks.

Honey

Honey

Honey is another sweet, liquid sweetener. In addition to adding flavor to foods, it also has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties. It may soothe coughs and promote wound healing.

Agave

Agave

Agave comes in mild, medium-intensity, and dark varieties. The darker it is, the stronger its caramel flavor. It is also vegan, and it has antioxidant properties.

Molasses

Molasses

Molasses is a brown sugar component. It has a similar flavor and a syrupy texture. It makes an ideal brown sugar syrup substitute.

Final Thoughts

Brown sugar syrup brings a terrific sweetness to a variety of foods and beverages. It is easy to make at home and customize to your liking. You can also purchase it at retailers or have it added to your coffee house drinks. How will you be integrating it into your dietary routine?

(20 votes, average: 4.50 out of 5)
You need to be a registered member to rate this.

Loading...