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.
Looking for more coffee syrups? Check out my apple brown sugar syrup and pumpkin spice syrup next!
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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. See my tip for how in the recipe notes!
Mel x
Ingredients
Here are the pantry staples you need to make your own brown sugar syrup:
Brown sugar - 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.
Salt - Important for enhancing the brown sugar flavour.
Cinnamon - The perfect brown sugar partner. It helps to build a warm, cozy flavour profile that complements the caramel and molasses notes of the sugar.
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:
- 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.
- Use an alternative to maple syrup or pancake syrup (reduce it further so it becomes thicker - see recipe).
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 wait until the syrup has been taken off the heat. This preserves the vanilla's delicate flavour.
Recipe FAQs
Simple syrup is made with white sugar; brown sugar syrup is made with brown sugar. If you need one, a simple syrup recipe is included in my Vegan Coffee Syrup Recipes roundup post.
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.
This recipe does create a fairly thin syrup, but it will thicken slightly as it cools. If you prefer it thicker, simply simmer it for a few minutes.
Because brown sugar syrup is diluted with water, it takes a bit more to match the sweetness of sugar. Start by replacing your regular brown sugar with 1½ to 2 teaspoons of syrup for every teaspoon of solid sugar. Be cautious the first time and add it gradually until your drink is perfectly sweet for you. You'll know exactly how much to use each time after that!
Recipe
Easy Brown Sugar Syrup
Author:WATCH HOW TO MAKE IT
Ingredients
- 1 cup (200 grams) brown sugar
- 1 cup (240 ml) water
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
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 or until it has visibly reduced by about half. If you are using this syrup as a maple syrup alternative, I recommend simmering it for an extra 2 to 3 minutes so it reduces a little further.
- Turn off the heat and allow the syrup to cool to room temperature. Pour into a small jar, bottle, or lidded container, then refrigerate.
NOTES
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Kayla Krittenbrink says
Love this! So simple to make and I love to use it to make brown sugar shaken espresso drinks!!
Melanie McDonald says
Glad you're enjoying it Kayla. If you haven't tried my apple brown sugar syrup I recommend giving that one a try too!