• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Recipes
  • About
  • Cookbook
  • Veganuary
  • FREE ebook
  • Shop

A Virtual Vegan

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • About
  • Cookbook
  • Veganuary
  • FREE ebook
  • Shop
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • About
    • Cookbook
    • Veganuary
    • FREE ebook
    • Shop
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Beverages

    Published: Sep 9, 2022 · Modified: Oct 13, 2022 by Melanie McDonald · This post contains affiliate links · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. · Leave a Comment

    Brown Sugar Syrup

    JUMP TO RECIPE PIN WATCH VIDEO
    5 from 2 votes
    Brown Sugar Syrup

    Learn how to make Brown Sugar Syrup at home! It's super easy, ready in just 10 minutes and has a rich caramel, cinnamon flavour. Use in coffee, tea, cocktails, baking, or as a budget-friendly maple syrup alternative on pancakes.

    a spoonful of brown sugar syrup over a jar

    Recreate your favourite Starbucks syrup at home with my easy copycat Brown Sugar Syrup recipe. Just like my apple brown sugar syrup, it's much cheaper than buying the bottled Starbucks version, and the taste is virtually the same.

    This delicious liquid sweetener is toasty and cozy with caramel, toffee and cinnamon undertones and it's so versatile. Use it and other vegan coffee syrup recipes to flavour and sweeten your hot and cold beverages (including cocktails!). You can even use it as a budget-friendly alternative to maple syrup for drizzling on pancakes etc.

    In this Brown Sugar Syrup recipe post:

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • How To Make Brown Sugar Syrup
    • Storage
    • How To Use Brown Sugar Syrup
    • Flavour variations
    • Recipe FAQs
    • Recipe Video
    • Recipe

    Ingredients

    ingredients needed to make this recipe

    All you need to make this recipe are 3 simple vegan staples. Brown sugar, salt, cinnamon and of course some water.

    You can use dark brown sugar or light brown sugar depending on the depth of flavour you want. For a richer, more caramel-like flavour, I recommend using dark brown sugar because it contains more molasses and has a stronger, deeper flavour.

    How To Make Brown Sugar Syrup

    Brown Sugar Simple Syrup is really easy to make. Simply add everything to a pan, bring to a boil, then simmer gently for 10 minutes.

    Storage

    Decant syrup into a bottle or jar and store in the fridge. It will keep for up to 4 weeks. You can also freeze it although some crystallization may occur. To remedy this, once defrosted, warm up the syrup in a small pan. This will dissolve the crystals.

    How To Use Brown Sugar Syrup

    Brown Sugar Syrup really comes into its own when used in beverages like coffee, iced coffee, tea, iced tea, lattes and cocktails (especially whiskey and bourbon-based ones). Because it's a liquid, it is much easier to mix into drinks (especially cold ones), than regular brown sugar.

    Use your syrup to recreate your favourite Starbucks drinks like the Iced Brown Sugar Oat Milk Shaken Espresso. Other ways to use it include:

    • Drizzled over pancakes & waffles. It's especially good with my banana pancakes and my pumpkin pancakes.
    • Sweetening and flavouring oatmeal
    • In smoothies, shakes and hot cocoa
    • Get some tapioca pearls and make boba/bubble tea (check the FAQs for how to adjust the ratio of sugar to water slightly for this)
    • Flavouring/glazing desserts & baked goods
    • Brushing on cakes to add flavour and moisture
    • Soaking the sponge layer in vegan trifle
    • Stirred into warm almond milk or cashew milk for a cozy, milky, child-friendly drink
    an Iced Brown Sugar Oat Milk Shake Espresso

    Flavour variations

    Try adding a cinnamon stick instead of ground cinnamon, fresh or ground ginger, pumpkin spice, apple pie spice, chai spice, cardamom, nutmeg, allspice or a little orange peel. Add these at the start then remove any solids just before decanting.

    A teaspoon of vanilla extract can also be added but don't do this until the syrup has been taken off the heat. This preserves its delicate flavour.

    Recipe FAQs

    What is the difference between brown sugar syrup and simple syrup?

    Simple syrup is made with white sugar, brown sugar syrup is made with brown sugar.

    What brown sugar to water ratio do you use for boba tea?

    Boba tea uses a thicker, sweeter syrup. Usually 2 parts sugar to 1 part water. So if you are wanting to make this brown sugar syrup recipe to use in Boba, I recommend doubling the brown sugar. The method will stay exactly the same.

    How do you thicken brown sugar syrup?

    This recipe does create a fairly thin syrup but it will thicken slightly as it cools. If you prefer it thicker simply simmer it longer so it reduces further.

    If you try this recipe, let me know how you like it by leaving a comment and rating below! And be sure to join my mailing list for more deliciousness!

    Recipe Video

    Recipe

    a spoonful of brown sugar syrup held over a jar of syrup

    Brown Sugar Syrup

    Author: Melanie McDonald
    5 from 2 votes
    Learn how to make Brown Sugar Syrup at home! It's super easy, ready in just 10 minutes and has a rich caramel, cinnamon flavour. Use in coffee, tea, cocktails, baking, or as a budget-friendly maple syrup alternative on pancakes.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe SaveSaved!
    PREP TIME: 2 minutes
    COOK TIME: 10 minutes
    Servings: 12 1 tablespoon servings (makes about ¾ cup total)

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 cup (200 grams) brown sugar
    • 1 cup (240 ml) water
    • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
    • ¼ teaspoon sea salt
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    INSTRUCTIONS
     

    • Add the brown sugar, water, cinnamon and salt to a small pan. Stir to combine.
    • Bring to a boil then turn to a gentle simmer, stirring or swirling occasionally, for 10 minutes. By then it should have visibly reduced by about half.
    • Remove from the heat, allow to cool a little, then pour into a small jar or other heat proof lidded container.

    NOTES

    If you are planning on using this syrup as a maple syrup alternative I recommend simmering it for an extra 2 to 3 minutes so it becomes a little thicker. 
    Store syrup in a sealed jar/container in the fridge for up to 4 weeks. Syrup can also be frozen although some crystallization may occur. To remedy this, once defrosted, warm up the syrup in a small pan. This will dissolve the crystals. 

    NUTRITION

    Serving: 1tablespoonCalories: 70kcalCarbohydrates: 18gProtein: 0.02gFat: 0.001gSodium: 55mgPotassium: 25mgFiber: 0.04gSugar: 18gVitamin A: 0.2IUVitamin C: 0.003mgCalcium: 17mgIron: 0.1mg

    Nutritional information is provided for convenience. The data is a computer generated estimate and should be used as a guide only.

    Tried this recipe?Rate it & leave your feedback in the comments section below, or tag @avirtualvegan on Instagram and hashtag it #avirtualvegan

    Hungry For More?

    • Incredible Vegan Hot Chocolate
    • Vegan Pumpkin Spice Latte
    • Vegan Coffee Syrup Recipes
    • Pumpkin Spice Syrup
    69 shares

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a comment Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Melanie McDonald

    I'm Melanie McDonald (but you can call me Mel), best-selling cookbook author and creator of A Virtual Vegan. I share well-tested, flavour-packed vegan recipes with clear, step-by-step instructions. My goal is to give you the confidence to cook amazing vegan food from scratch.

    More about me →

    Trending now!

    • Perfect Vegan Yorkshire Puddings
    • Lentil Shepherd's Pie
    • Cinnamon Roll in a Mug
    • Vegan Potato Soup
    • Vegan Butter
    • Vegan Banana Pancakes

    ❊ GET MY COOKBOOK ❊

    Vegan Comfort Cooking Melanie McDonald

    Amazon / Book Depository / Books-A-Million / Barnes & Noble / Indigo

    "Meaty' Vegan Recipes

    • Vegan Ham
    • Vegan Chicken Breasts
    • Vegan Sausage Recipe
    • Vegan Beef
    • Vegan Roast
    • Gluten-Free Seitan Roast

    See more →

    Footer

    ↑ back to top


    About Me
    My Cookbook
    Privacy

    Subscribe
    Contact me
    Work With Me

    Accessibility
    Nutrition
    Media

    Copyright © 2023 A Virtual Vegan- All Rights Reserved.