Demerara Syrup
Demerara syrup is made with minimally refined brown sugar crystals, sometimes called raw sugar, for a complex sweetness and smooth caramelized flavor. This simple syrup is a popular ingredient in many classic cocktails, such as the old fashioned and the Sazerac, as well as many tiki favorites.
Why we love this demerara syrup
- Demerara syrup has a unique molasses-y flavor to it, making it an easy way to elevate your cocktails and play around with flavors.
- It’s super easy to make, just like regular simple syrup, with a 1:1 ratio of sugar to water.
- It’s perfect for making cocktails, but it’s also great in coffee and teas. Try some in your morning tea, or use it to make a shaken espresso at home.
Here’s what you’ll need to make it
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Equipment
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Ingredients & substitutions
- Demerara sugar – Demerara sugar is a variety of sugar that is golden brown in color and slightly larger crystals than white granulated sugar. It’s minimally processed, giving it a more rich complex flavor. It is not the same as American-style brown sugar.
- Water
How to make demerara simple syrup
Make the syrup. Combine the sugar and water in a saucepan and simmer it over medium-low heat until the sugar dissolves. Stir as needed until the sugar dissolves.
Allow to cool. Remove the pan from the heat, and allow the syrup to cool for about 5 – 10 minutes. Once the syrup has cooled slightly, transfer to an storage container.
Refrigerate and store. Cocktail simple syrup can be refrigerated for up to 1 month. If you want it to last longer, stir in 1 ounce of spirits, such as vodka or rum, to fortify it and extend its life.
Everything you need to know demerara sugar syrup
Demerara syrup is a simple syrup (1:1 ratio of water to sugar). It’s just made with Demerara sugar for a more complex flavor. If you want to make this a rich simple syrup, you can increase the sugar to 2 cups.
The best substitute for demerara sugar would be turbinado sugar. It is also minimally refined cane sugar that has a similar texture and flavor to demerara sugar. If you are unable to find either of these sugars you can try using a light brown sugar, although it has a higher moisture content and a slightly different flavor, it should give a similar flavor when used in a cocktail.
No, while these sugars both have a more caramelized flavor than granulated white sugar they are processed differently. Demerara sugar is a minimally processed cane sugar with coarse sized crystals and a caramel flavor, while brown sugar is refined and molasses enriched white granulated sugar give you a softer sugar with a toffee flavor.
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Demerara Syrup
Demerara syrup is made with minimally refined brown sugar crystals, sometimes called raw sugar, for a complex sweetness and smooth caramelized flavor. This simple syrup is a popular ingredient in many classic cocktails, such as the old fashioned and the Sazerac, as well as many tiki favorites.
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 16 1x
Ingredients
- 1 cup demerara sugar
- 1 cup water
Instructions
-
In a large saucepan, combine Demerara sugar and water. Bring the liquid to a simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the sugar has dissolved.
- Remove from heat and allow the syrup to cool to room temperature.
- Transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 1 month.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Mixers
- Method: Stovetop
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 Ounce
- Calories: 65
- Sugar: 16.6 g
- Sodium: 1 mg
- Fat: 0 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 16.7 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 0 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
Keywords: demerara syrup, demerara simple syrup, rich demerara syrup, demerara sugar syrup
This post contains affiliate links. I may earn commission from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. I will never recommend a product I don’t use or trust.
