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    Home » Tips » Demerara Syrup

    Published: Nov 4, 2022 by Lisa · This post may contain affiliate links, which means we make a small commission off items you purchase at no additional cost to you.

    Demerara Syrup

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Demerara syrup in measuring beaker.
    Syrup in mason jar with sugar in background.
    Simple syrup in mason jar.
    Demerara syrup in a jar with label.

    The weather is turning cooler and the drinks are getting darker. This means you need this homemade Demerara Syrup in your fridge. Demerara Syrup is a simple syrup made with Demerara sugar instead of white sugar for a richer flavor. It only takes a few minutes to make and uses 2 ingredients!

    Cocktail syrup in a jar with sugar in the background. this recipe

    Fall & winter cocktails with brown alcohol seem to go hand in hand. These warm, inviting sipping drinks are generally stronger and are best sweetened with a simple syrup with richer flavor like this Demerara Syrup.

    What is Demerara sugar? It's a cane sugar with a large grain and is pale amber in color. It has a slight toffee and caramel flavor and can replace brown sugar in many recipes.

    Demarara Syrup tastes great in this Old Fashioned. Add a meat and cheese tray and happy hour (dinner) is ready!

    Jump to:
    • Why you should make Demerara Syrup
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • FAQs
    • Expert Tips for making Demarara Syrup
    • More cocktail favorites
    • Recipe

    Why you should make Demerara Syrup

    ✔️ It's inexpensive. You can buy Demerara syrup at the store but since it is essentially sugar water, it is much less expensive to make your own at home.

    ✔️ The flavor can't be matched. The caramel and toffee flavor is a great complement to brown spirits making it the sweetener of choice for many bourbon drinks.

    ✔️ It has a good shelf life. Demerara syrup will stay fresh in the refrigerator for 2 weeks. The recipe is easy to scale to make as much or as little as you need.

    Ingredients

    This two ingredient syrup couldn't be simpler to make.

    Glass measuring cup with water and package of demerara sugar.

    Ingredient Notes:

    Demerara Sugar: This type of sugar is a must for this recipe. Find Demerara Sugar in the baking aisle at your local grocery store or online at Amazon.

    Instructions

    It only takes a few minutes to make this simple syrup at home.

    Sugar in saucepan.

    Place demerara sugar in a small saucepan.

    Water being poured over sugar in pan.

    Add water to sugar.

    Sugar and water in pan.

    Stir and heat over medium heat until the sugar dissolves.

    Demerara syrup in pan.

    Once sugar is completely dissolved, remove it from heat, cool it, and then store it in the refrigerator.

    FAQs

    What is the difference between Demerara sugar and turbinado sugar?

    Turbinado sugar is made from the first processing of sugar cane and has a higher molasses content than Demerara. Demerara sugar has more of a caramel/toffee flavor and turbinado has a molasses flavor. Both have large grains and make good substitutions for each other when the texture is needed.

    What is the difference between Demerara syrup and simple syrup?

    Demerara syrup is made with Demerara sugar and simple syrup is made with white sugar. Demerara syrup has a richer flavor with caramel and toffee undertones while simple syrup is a plain sweetener without flavor. Both are easy to make at home and are great for cocktails.

    What is rich Demerara syrup?

    Rich simple syrup has more sugar than water. Instead of using the traditional 1:1 ratio that most simple syrups use, a rich syrup calls for a 2:1 ratio of sugar to water. The result is a richer, sweeter syrup.

    What else do you do with Demerara sugar?

    Now that you have some demerara sugar on hand, you will find many other ways it can be used. Sprinkle it on top of your blueberry muffins before baking to get a nice crunchy texture or stir it into plain oatmeal for a hint of sweetness. Many people also enjoy it in their coffee or tea.

    Syrup in a measuring beaker.

    Expert Tips for making Demarara Syrup

    ✘ Use Demerara sugar, not turbinado sugar. Both can be used to make simple syrup but the flavor profile will be different. Demerara sugar gives you a toffee flavor whereas turbinado will have more of a molasses flavor.

    ✘ Heat it thoroughly. Cook the syrup until all of the sugar is dissolved to get a smooth syrup.

    ✘ Refrigerate it. Demerara syrup will stay fresh for 2 weeks when stored properly in the refrigerator. We love to use a mason jar to store it.

    More cocktail favorites

    Now that you have some Demerara Syrup on hand, use it to make these other cocktail favorites.

    • Tequila Old Fashioned
    • Rum Sour
    • Best Old Fashioned recipe
    • Tequila Sour
    
    
    Did you make this recipe? We'd love to hear your thoughts! 
    
    Please rate the recipe and leave a comment below. Your feedback helps us and your fellow readers! 
    
    
    
    Demerara syrup in mason jar with label.

    Recipe

    Red beaker filled with demerara syrup.

    Demerara Syrup

    Garnish With Lemon
    Demerara syrup is a toffee flavored simple syrup used to sweeten cocktails. It takes minutes to make at home!
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 3 mins
    Cook Time 7 mins
    Total Time 10 mins
    Course Tips
    Cuisine American
    Servings 8 ounces
    Calories 100 kcal
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    • Saucepan
    • Measuring Cups
    • Silicone Measuring Cups

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 cup Demerara sugar
    • 1 cup water

    Instructions
     

    • Place sugar and water in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir and heat until sugar is dissolved.
      1 cup Demerara sugar, 1 cup water
    • Cool completely and store in the refrigerator until ready to use.

    Notes

    ✘ Use Demerara sugar, not turbinado sugar. Both can be used to make simple syrup but the flavor profile will be different. Demerara sugar gives you a toffee flavor whereas turbinado will have more of a molasses flavor.
    ✘ Heat it thoroughly. Cook the syrup until all of the sugar is dissolved to get a smooth syrup.
    ✘ Refrigerate it. Demerara syrup will stay fresh for 2 weeks when stored properly in the refrigerator. We store ours in a mason jar.
    Rich Demerara Syrup
    Rich simple syrup has more sugar than water. Instead of using the traditional 1:1 ratio that simple syrups use, use a 2:1 ratio of sugar to water for a rich, sweeter syrup.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1ounceCalories: 100kcalCarbohydrates: 25gSodium: 2mgPotassium: 7mgSugar: 25gCalcium: 4mgIron: 0.1mg

    Nutrition info not guaranteed to be accurate.

    Did you make this recipe?Tag us on Instagram or leave a comment!
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    About Lisa

    Hi, I’m Lisa! Looking for the party? It’s probably at my house. Nothing brings me more joy than sharing good food with friends and family. That and a seriously good cocktail.

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