Demerara Simple Syrup

This Demerara Simple Syrup boasts a rich texture and a toffee-like flavor. It’s crafted with just two ingredients and takes less than 10 minutes to make!

This exquisite, rich demerara syrup is the secret ingredient for elevating your cocktails and beverages to a whole new level. A little will go a long way since it’s sweeter and thicker than your regular simple syrup recipe.

If you want to experiment with different flavor profiles for your syrups, try this brown sugar simple syrup, strawberry simple syrup, blackberry simple syrup, peach simple syrup, raspberry simple syrup, apple brown sugar syrup, cranberry simple syrup, or blueberry simple syrup.

To replace the regular brown syrup, use this demerara syrup recipe for drinks and beverages like iced almond milk latte, espresso gin martini, peppermint espresso martini, or espresso tonic.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Simplicity: This syrup is easy to make. It requires just two ingredients – demerara sugar and water – mixed and heated until dissolved. This straightforward process makes it an accessible option for enhancing various beverages and recipes.
• Flavor and Texture: The syrup has a rich, caramel-like flavor due to the natural molasses in demerara sugar, which adds depth and complexity to drinks and dishes. The slightly thicker texture than regular simple syrup contributes to a more luxurious mouthfeel.
• Customizable: Rich demerara syrup is highly versatile. You can easily adjust the sweetness and flavor intensity to your liking by altering the sugar-to-water ratio. You can infuse it with flavors like vanilla, cinnamon, or citrus to create unique variations that complement various recipes and beverages. This adaptability makes it simple to customize the syrup to suit your taste and culinary requirements.

What is Demerara Sugar

Demerara sugar is a minimally refined sugar made from sugarcane, known for its large, amber-colored crystals and distinct, subtle molasses flavor. Named after the Demerara region in Guyana, where it originated, this sugar retains more natural molasses than white granulated sugar.

Demerara sugar is used as a topping for baked goods and in coffee, tea, cooking, and baking recipes. It adds a crunchy texture and rich caramel flavor to any dish. Read the following article to learn more about demerara sugar and its characteristics and effects.

Ingredients

• Demerara sugar: I used demerara sugar for this recipe. Demerara sugar is a minimally processed raw sugar that is ideal for sweetening beverages and desserts. Its large, crunchy granules characterize it.

See recipe card for quantities.

Substitutions and Variations

• Use different sugar: You can use turbinado or muscovado sugar instead. Turbinado sugar is very similar to demerara, although it has a slightly finer texture and has less molasses than demerara. Muscovado is another raw cane sugar, but it has a higher moisture content, making it stickier and trickier to work with.
• Use a different water/sugar ratio: For this recipe, I made rich syrup, otherwise known as a 2:1 ratio, 2 cups of sugar for 1 cup of water. You can use different ratios, like 1:1, a traditional simple syrup ratio, or semi-rich syrup, which calls for a 1.5:1 ratio, 1.5 cups of sugar for 1 cup of water. The higher the sugar amount, the thicker and sweeter the syrup.
• Add spices: For different flavor notes, add some spices, like vanilla, cinnamon,ginger, or nutmeg.
• Add fruit: To make fruity syrup variations, add different fruits, like berries, apples, peaches, etc.
• Add herbs: To infuse your syrup with aromatic flavors, add rosemary, lavender, or other herbs.

How to Make Rich Demerara Syrup

Step 1: Add demerara sugar and water to a medium-size pot.

Step 2: On a medium heat, simmer until the sugar completely dissolves (6-7 minutes).

Expert Tips and Tricks

• Heat gently: Heat the mixture over medium heat, stirring constantly to ensure the sugar dissolves without burning. Avoid boiling the mixture, as it can affect the flavor and consistency.
• Cool before using: Allow the syrup to cool completely before using it in drinks or recipes. This helps to achieve the desired consistency and prevents dilution in cold beverages.
• Store and label properly: Store the cooled syrup in a clean, airtight container in the refrigerator. It can last for up to a month but always check for signs of spoilage before use. Always label and date your syrup container to keep track of its freshness and ensure you use it within the optimal time frame.
• Use less syrup: Since this is a rich syrup, it’s thicker and sweeter. Use less than regular simple syrup. Adjust based on personal taste.
• Use a small funnel when transferring the syrup: To ensure easy transfer without spilling, I recommend using a small funnel when pouring the syrup into a jar or a syrup dispenser.

How to Use Demerara Syrup

• Cocktails: In classic cocktails like an Old Fashioned or a Daiquiri, replace regular simple syrup with demerara syrup to infuse a more decadent, complex sweetness. For tiki drinks such as Mai Tais or Pina Coladas, incorporate this syrup for its deep, caramel-like flavor that pairs exceptionally well with rum and tropical juices.
• Mocktails: Add demerara syrup to enhance the flavor of mocktails such as Virgin Mojito or Shirley Temple. This syrup provides a more sophisticated sweetness than regular simple syrup. You can use it in lemonade, iced tea, or sparkling water with a hint of citrus to create a more refined, non-alcoholic beverage.
• Lattes and other beverages: Add a spoonful of rich demerara syrup to lattes, iced coffee, and hot tea to bring out a more decadent and robust sweetness that complements the beverage’s natural flavors. Don’t hesitate to use it in specialty drinks like chai lattes, hot chocolate, or smoothies to elevate the flavor with a touch of caramel.
• Breakfast: For a unique and delightful flavor, consider using rich demerara syrup instead of maple syrup to top pancakes, waffles, or French toast. You can also stir it into oatmeal, porridge, or yogurt to add a touch of sweetness with a hint of molasses, creating a more flavorful breakfast option.

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