Sweeten and elevate your typical non-alcoholic drinks with a delicious brown sugar simple syrup! It includes complex flavors of molasses, caramel, and toffee.
Including brown sugar in the basic syrup component makes sweetening drinks much simpler than mixing them in. It’s particularly brilliant for cold drinks, like ice cold lattes and mocktails, when including just a regular sugar would take until the end of time to break down. Learn how to do that here!
Brown Sugar Simple Syrup Recipe Variations

Brown Sugar Simple Syrup
Ingredients
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 cup water
- 1 tsp non-alcoholic vanilla extract
Instructions
- In a small saucepan, combine the water and dark brown sugar.
- Cook over medium-high heat, occasionally stirring, for 10 to 15 minutes or until the sugar dissolves.
- Add vanilla extract after turning the heat off.
- For about an hour, allow the syrup to cool to room temperature in the pan.
- Pour into an airtight container, then keep it there for up to a month.
We have already outlined a basic recipe for brown sugar simple syrup in our list of 21 simple syrup recipes. But we want to highlight brown sugar simple syrup recipe variations so you can have different choices depending on the kind of drink you’re making!
Here’s the most basic brown sugar simple syrup recipe by Feast + West.
Ingredients
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup water
Instructions
- Combine the brown sugar and water in a medium pan over medium heat. Mix until the sugar has broken down, and don’t let bubble.
- Remove from warm and let the mixture cool totally.
- Store in a mason jar for around one month.
Brown sugar simple syrup can be a great addition to a variety of drinks, adding a rich caramel-like flavor and sweetness. Here are some ingredients you can combine with brown sugar simple syrup to create your own unique beverages:
- Citrus Fruits: Citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes can complement the sweetness of brown sugar simple syrup. You can muddle citrus slices or use their juices to balance the flavors.
- Spices: Cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves can add warmth and depth to your drinks. You can infuse the brown sugar simple syrup with these spices for a flavorful twist.
- Herbs: Fresh herbs like mint, basil, and rosemary can provide a refreshing and aromatic element to your drinks. Muddle or gently bruise the herbs before adding them to the mix.
- Ginger: Fresh ginger or ginger syrup pairs well with brown sugar simple syrup, adding a spicy and zesty kick to your beverages.
- Vanilla: A hint of vanilla extract or vanilla bean can enhance the overall flavor profile of your drinks, adding a subtle sweetness and warmth.
- Berries: Berries like strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries can be muddled and combined with brown sugar simple syrup to create fruity and refreshing drinks.
- Coconut: Coconut water or coconut milk can be combined with brown sugar simple syrup for a tropical twist in your beverages.
- Cream or Milk: For creamy beverages, consider adding a touch of cream or milk along with brown sugar simple syrup. This combination works well in hot drinks like lattes.
- Soda Water: Mixing brown sugar simple syrup with soda water creates a homemade soda with a unique flavor profile.
- Non-alcoholic spirits: Brown sugar simple syrup pairs exceptionally well with spirits when making cocktails, so it’s just right to pair it as well with non-alcoholic spirits available in the market. Create flavorful mocktails with brown sugar simple syrup that compliments the flavor of alcohol-free alternatives, like rum.
- Tea: Experiment with different types of tea, such as black tea, chai, or herbal teas, and add brown sugar simple syrup for a comforting and aromatic beverage.
Remember to balance the sweetness of the brown sugar simple syrup with the other ingredients in your drink to create a harmonious flavor profile. Adjust the quantities based on your taste preferences, and don’t hesitate to get creative with your combinations.
Elevate Your Non-Alcoholic Drinks With Brown Sugar Simple Syrup

Brown sugar simple syrup can be used to create a wide variety of non-alcoholic drinks that are flavorful and refreshing. Here are some ideas for your next mixology session in your kitchen:
Brown Sugar Iced Latte
Did you know that brown sugar simple syrup can amp up your coffee? With this recipe from Mama’s Guide Recipes, you’ll soon be craving this simple Iced Latte.
Ingredients
- ¼ cup very strong cold coffee
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon vanilla syrup
- ½ cup full cream milk of choice (any milk)
- 2 cups ice cubes, divided
Instructions
- Combine coffee with a handful of teaspoons of brown sugar and vanilla syrup in a mason jar or other container with a tight-fitting cover (to taste).
- Include ½ glass of ice. Shake till foamy while covering firmly.
- Prepare a huge 1 glass of ice and add the milk of your choosing.
- Include the foamy coffee blend at the top of the mixture. Mix and include more ice cubes if necessary.
Brown Sugar Bubble Tea

With only 2 common ingredients, this thick and gooey brown sugar syrup for boba or milk tea has the greatest caramel flavor. This recipe from International Desserts Blog can be used to coat cooked tapioca pearls or as the rich syrup in tiger milk tea. The syrup can be made in just a few minutes, giving beverages a rich, sweet flavor.
Ingredients
For the boba pearls:
- 5 cups water
- ½ cup boba pearls (quick cook kind)
- ¼ cup brown sugar simple syrup
For the bubble tea:
- 1 cup milk
- 2-3 tea bags or 2-3 teaspoons of loose tea
- Brown sugar boba pearls
- Cheese cap (optional)
Instructions
For the boba pearls:
- When the water is boiling, add the boba and stir. The boba should be boiled until they float to the top. The saucepan should be covered and let to boil for 5 minutes.
- Boba should be taken out of the pot and placed in a dish of cold water using a slotted spoon. Place the boba in a small basin of brown sugar simple syrup after a few minutes.
For the bubble tea:
- Over medium heat, bring a medium-sized pot of water to a boil. Cook the tapioca pearls for 3 minutes with the lid on. Then, turn off the heat, take the pot off the burner, and continue cooking for an additional two to three minutes.
- Cooked tapioca should be strained. Cooked boba should be added to the brown sugar syrup.
- The brown sugar boba pearls are ready once you give them a good stir to coat.
Old Fashioned Mocktail
A warm and simple fall beverage, we’ll turn this Brown Sugar Old Fashioned cocktail by The Littlest Crumb into a sweet and interesting non-alcoholic drink. It contains handmade brown sugar simple syrup, cinnamon, and maple syrup.
Ingredients
- 3 tbsp brown sugar
- 2 tbsp water
- ½ tbsp maple syrup
- ½ tsp cinnamon
- 1 oz non-alcoholic whiskey alternative
- 1 oz brown sugar simple syrup
- 2-3 dashes of non-alcoholic bitters
- 1 x 1-inch orange peel
Instructions
- On a small saucepan over medium heat, warm the brown sugar, maple syrup, cinnamon, and water simultaneously. Until the brown sugar has completely dissolved, keep heating the syrup while occasionally stirring. Keep the syrup from boiling. After taking the syrup off the heat, allow it to cool for a while.
- In a cocktail glass with ice, combine your whiskey alternative and brown sugar simple syrup. The bitters are then added. To thoroughly combine all the ingredients, stir well.
- The orange peel should be twisted over the beverage and added as a garnish. Enjoy!
Non-Alcoholic Irish Coffee

The Irish Cream Iced Coffee Mocktail by Encharted Cook is delightfully creamy and sweet. Brown sugar simple syrup is used to sweeten cold, black coffee before it is poured over ice and topped with whipped cream flavored with Irish Cream.
Ingredients
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 4 teaspoons Irish cream syrup
- 8 ounces black coffee, cold
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar simple syrup
- ¼ cup Irish whipped cream
- Chocolate sprinkles or sweetened cocoa powder
Instructions
- Fill a small basin with cool heavy cream.
- The heavy cream should be combined with Irish cream syrup.
- The cream should only be whipped with a whisk or a tiny fork until it becomes thick. When the cream gently slides off a spoon and forms rounded shapes, it has thickened.
- Pour the cold coffee over ice in a tall glass after combining it with two teaspoons of brown sugar simple syrup.
- Add three to four generous tablespoons of Irish Cream to the coffee.
- Add chocolate sprinkles or sweetened cocoa powder as a garnish.
Creating Easy Brown Sugar Syrups At Home
In a world full of flavors, crafting your own brown sugar simple syrups at home is a rewarding journey. With just brown sugar and water, you can unlock a treasure of sweetness that transforms your drinks and dishes. From zesty lemonades to cozy chai lattes, these syrups add a magical touch.
So, grab a pot, stir in the sugar, simmer, and let your homemade brown sugar syrups awaken a symphony of taste in every sip and bite. Get ready to savor the simple pleasure of homemade goodness!
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Brown Sugar Simple Syrup FAQs
What is the difference between classic syrup and brown sugar syrup?
The main difference between classic and brown sugar syrup lies in their ingredients and resulting flavors. The classic syrup is neutral and clear, serving as a simple sweetener, while brown sugar syrup brings in a richer, caramel-like taste due to the presence of brown sugar’s molasses content. The choice between the two syrups depends on the desired flavor profile and the specific application in your drinks or dishes.
What is the brown sugar syrup at Starbucks?
Starbucks offers a variety of flavored syrups that can be added to their beverages to enhance flavor. One of these options is likely the “Brown Sugar Syrup.” This syrup adds a sweet and slightly caramelized flavor to Starbucks drinks.
Please note that Starbucks frequently updates its menu and offerings, and the availability of specific syrups may vary depending on location and the current seasonal offerings.
Why does my brown sugar syrup get hard?
Brown sugar syrup can sometimes become hard or crystallized due to a few factors, primarily related to the sugar’s natural properties and storage conditions. Here are some reasons why your brown sugar syrup might get hard:
1. Temperature changes
2. Evaporation
3. Impurities
4. Storage conditions
Does brown sugar syrup taste good?
Yes, brown sugar syrup does taste good! Brown sugar syrup is known for its unique and delicious flavor. It has a rich, caramel-like taste with subtle hints of molasses. This flavor profile adds depth and complexity to various dishes and beverages, making them more flavorful and enjoyable.