This Brown Sugar Simple Syrup only calls for 3 ingredients and it takes just 15 minutes to make! You can add it to coffee, lattes, and cocktails, or drizzle it on pancakes, waffles, or any desserts!
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Why This Recipe Works
Perfect for coffee - This syrup is inspired by the popular Starbucks brown sugar syrup I first made for the Iced Brown Sugar Oat Milk Shaken Espresso. It's delicious in any latte both hot and cold! You can mix it with other syrups or use it on its own.
Great for any time of the year - Brown sugar in coffee is delicious all year round and I can never get tired of it! If you'd like to try a more fall version of the syrup, check out this Apple Brown Sugar Syrup.
Easy and simple - The syrup calls for just 3 ingredients - brown sugar, water, and vanilla. It couldn't be more simple! Plus it only takes 15 minutes to make!
Ingredients
- Brown sugar - I like using dark brown sugar for a stronger flavor but regular brown sugar also works great.
- Water - You'll need water and sugar in a 1:1 ratio. Use filtered water if possible.
- Vanilla extract - A little bit of vanilla rounds out the flavor and sweetness of the syrup without adding too much flavor. I highly recommend it! You can also use vanilla bean paste or vanilla powder.
Variations and Substitutions
DIY brown sugar - If you don't have any brown sugar on hand, you can mix 1 cup of cane sugar with 1-2 tablespoon of molasses if you have it.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Add dark brown sugar and water to a medium saucepan.
- Bring the mixture to a boil stirring constantly until the sugar dissolves.
- Lower the heat and simmer for 10 minutes stirring occasionally.
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- Take the syrup off the heat and stir in vanilla extract.
- Pour the syrup into a glass jar or a bottle and store it in the fridge.
- Wait for the syrup to cool completely before closing the jar with a lid.
Serving Suggestions
- Coffee - You can sweeten your cold-brew or French press coffee with this syrup, as well as regular brewed coffee.
- Lattes - This syrup is made for the Iced Brown Sugar Oat Milk Shaken Espresso but you can also add it to any other coffee lattes on its own or with other syrups. Try it in this Iced Cinnamon Dolce Latte!
- Cocktails - This syrup is great in cocktails, especially coffee cocktails like this Rum Espresso Martini or this Chai White Russian.
- Desserts - Drizzle the syrup over desserts or ice cream. You can also add it to desserts where you would use a liquid sweetener like maple syrup.
- Breakfast - You can drizzle it over pancakes, waffles, oatmeal, or French toast instead of maple syrup. Try it on these Chocolate Chip Pancakes!
Storing
The syrup can be stored in an airtight jar or a bottle in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. Make sure you're always using a clean spoon when measuring the syrup to avoid it going bad sooner.
If you don't use all of it in time, you can also freeze it. Just pour it into an ice cube tray for easy use. You can brew your coffee right over the frozen syrup to help it defrost faster.
FAQs
Regular simple syrup is made with white sugar or cane sugar and water. Brown sugar syrup is made with brown sugar and water. In this recipe, I used dark brown sugar to enhance the flavor even more.
It definitely does but it does last a while. As long as it's kept in an airtight container in the fridge it will keep for 2 weeks well. I often keep syrups that are made with just sugar and water for around 3 weeks but always make sure it doesn't smell off or that there isn't any mold.
Other Syrups
If you're looking for other similar syrups you can use in lattes or cocktails, definitely check out the five below! The chai is especially my favorite! Go to Flavored Syrups to see all the latest ones.
- Chai Simple Syrup
- Vanilla Simple Syrup
- Gingerbread Simple Syrup
- Chocolate Simple Syrup
- Chestnut Praline Syrup
📖 Recipe
Brown Sugar Simple Syrup
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: 10 mins
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 1 ⅓ cup 1x
- Category: Syrup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegan
Description
This Brown Sugar Simple Syrup only calls for 3 ingredients and takes 15 minutes to make! Add it to coffee, lattes, cocktails, or drizzle on pancakes, waffles, or desserts!
Ingredients
- 1 cup packed dark brown sugar
- 1 cup water
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Add dark brown sugar and water to a medium saucepan.
- Bring the mixture to a boil stirring constantly until the sugar dissolves.
- Lower the heat and simmer for 10 minutes stirring occasionally.
- Take the syrup off the heat and stir in vanilla extract.
- Pour the syrup into a glass jar or a bottle and store it in the fridge. Wait for the syrup to cool completely before closing the jar with a lid.
Notes
Store the syrup in an airtight container, jar, or bottle in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
You can freeze any leftover syrup in an ice cube tray.
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Yu says
This recipe only takes three ingredients! It is so simple and delicious, which is perfect for my daily coffee.
Gloria says
Homemade simple syrup is the best. A great food gift too. Perfect for beverages and more.
Alexandra says
Simple to make and so delicious. I love this with my cold brew coffee for that added hint of sweetness. I love your suggestion of serving with pancakes!
Amy Liu Dong says
I always have this at home and use it for my coffee and my other drinks.
Loreto and Nicoletta says
Hi Amy, this is such a great share. Nice to have a simple syrup like this to have ready for coffees or desserts. So simple and flavorful with the addition of vanilla!
Jamie says
A quick and simple recipe to make. I need to make this and add this to my ice-cold coffee.
Leslie says
This brown sugar syrup is perfection! Especially with a nice cold cup of iced coffee! YUM!
Kathryn says
This is such a delicious syrup, I love it in the mornings in my coffee! It's such a treat and better than the kind from Starbucks!
Carrie Robinson says
I have never made simple syrup with brown sugar before! This is a genius idea. :) I can think of a few things this would be awesome in.