Simple syrup is a vital ingredient in cocktail making. It adds sweetness and body, which enriches flavours and gives cocktails a smooth drinking experience. Regular simple syrup is sweet and to the point, while brown sugar syrup is treacly and lingering. It melts into cocktails with all the smoothness of a Barry White number, adding layers of caramel, toffee, and vanilla. It’s an easy way to add depth to cocktails, and with this brown sugar syrup recipe, you’ll mix up hit after hit.
Brown Sugar Syrup Recipe
PREP TIME 5 min
INSTRUCTIONS
01
Heat the water in a small pan over low heat
02
Add the brown sugar and heat slowly while stirring to dissolve the sugar completely
03
Cool the syrup to room temperature before transferring it to a glass jar or bottle with a lid
04
Store in the fridge for up to a month
How to use brown sugar syrup in cocktails & other drinks
Brown sugar syrup can be used in any cocktail that requires simple syrup, but it’s best in cocktails that would benefit from the added caramel richness. Cocktails with rich bourbon, peaty whiskey, or spicy rum are great candidates for a brown sugar syrup recipe swap. You could even use it to add a caramel flavour layer to a fruity, frozen Daiquiri.
This recipe for brown sugar syrup is also brilliant in both hot and cold coffee. Whip up lattes or homemade frappes and sweeten them with your brown sugar syrup. If you have leftover syrup, use it on pancakes, waffles, or fresh fruit. Delicious!
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Variations
One of the best things about homemade syrup is its endless amounts of variations. Whole spices or vanilla pods can be steeped in the warm liquid to infuse with flavour. For a fruity citrus twist, grate zest into the syrup. If you want a fragrant floral or herbal note, steep edible lavender or fresh herbs and then strain.
You can also explore the different types of brown sugar, like light and dark. The difference is the amount of molasses syrup in the sugar. The more refined sugar is, the less molasses it contains. White sugar is refined until all the molasses are removed. Some other exciting sugar options to try are turbinado, demerara, and muscovado. They are all raw sugars that range from golden brown to dark and sticky, and each sugar has a unique texture and flavour.
You also might like: Delicious Simple Honey Syrup.
How to store brown sugar syrup
The best way to store any sugar syrup is to bottle it after it’s cooled and store it in the fridge. But before you do that, ensure you sterilise the bottle in boiling water just to be safe.
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
The basic recipe for brown sugar syrup is equal parts water and sugar. There are only two ingredients so spend a little extra and buy good-quality brown sugar. The less refined, the better.
Brown sugar syrup is made from natural sugar, so it is not an artificial sweetener.
