You will not believe just how easy it is to make this Starbucks brown sugar syrup recipe! With only two simple ingredients and less than five minutes of your time you'll be saving money by whipping up Starbucks inspired coffee drinks right at home!
Starbucks is a coffee shop known for its flavored syrups, sauces, and coffee concoctions. One of the newer and more popular syrups is the brown sugar syrup!
Instead of going to Starbucks, you can make this easy recipe in no time and use it in any of your homemade coffee or espresso drinks. It's a great way to save a little money and still enjoy the sweet flavor!
This brown sugar syrup is rich in flavor, with notes of molasses and caramel, perfect for adding sweetness to your coffee, cold brew, or espresso drinks. This delicious syrup could also be used to make cocktails or to sweeten iced tea!
If you love making Starbucks-inspired drinks at home, be sure to check out this homemade Starbucks pumpkin spice sauce! It's another super simple recipe, with all of those delicious fall flavors!
What is Starbucks brown sugar syrup made of?
Starbucks' brown sugar syrup is simply brown sugar dissolved in water along with some natural flavors and preservatives, resulting in a rich molasses flavored simple syrup. This syrup is featured in some popular Starbucks recipes, like the Iced Brown Sugar Oat Milk Shaken Espresso.
What is brown sugar syrup?
Brown sugar syrup is another version of a classic simple syrup, which is typically a 1:1 ratio of granulated sugar dissolved in water. Using brown sugar instead of white sugar results in a liquid sweetener with deeper flavor. Sugar syrups are commonly used as a liquid sweetener or flavoring for coffee, tea, and cocktails, or to moisten cake layers before frosting.
What does brown sugar syrup taste like?
Brown sugar syrup has a rich, sweet taste with a hint of molasses and notes of toffee and caramel flavor. It has a more complex flavor compared to a classic simple syrup made with white sugar.
Depending on the type of sugar used and any additional ingredients, the flavor of brown sugar syrup can vary. Some brown sugar syrups have a deeper molasses flavor and others have added cinnamon or vanilla flavor.
Ingredients
This copycat Starbucks brown sugar syrup recipe only calls for two ingredients, resulting in a super simple recipe made from ingredients you likely already have on hand.
- Brown sugar: You can use light brown sugar or dark brown sugar. Dark brown sugar will result in a stronger flavor, as it has more molasses. The recipe here is made with light brown sugar.
- Water: Nothing fancy here, just plain old water!
Variations
You can add more layers of flavor by adding some additional ingredients to the brown sugar syrup, if desired.
- Cinnamon stick: Add one cinnamon stick to the saucepan along with the brown sugar. The cinnamon flavor will infuse as the mixture heats.
- Maple syrup: You can add some pure maple syrup if you like maple flavor. Pancake syrup is not recommended as it is not true maple syrup.
- Salt: A pinch of salt can enhance the flavors in your syrup but isn't absolutely necessary to add.
- Vanilla: Add up to 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract to the syrup after you remove it from heat.
- Classic Syrup: Use white granulated sugar to make Starbucks classic syrup.
Stovetop instructions
Making brown sugar syrup is honestly so simple!
- Add the brown sugar and water to a small saucepan over medium heat.
- Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer until the brown sugar dissolves
- Then, remove from heat. This whole process should take less than 5 minutes.
- Once dissolved, allow the syrup to cool before storing for later use.
Microwave instructions
- To make this syrup in the microwave, simply combine the sugar and water in a microwave safe measuring cup.
- Microwave on HIGH power one minute at a time until the sugar dissolves, stirring after each minute.
- It should take about 2-3 minutes to dissolve the sugar, times may vary depending on the strength of your microwave.
- Once the sugar is dissolved, remove the measuring cup form the microwave and allow the mixture to cool.
Storage
Store your brown sugar syrup in an airtight container, like a mason jar or food safe glass pump jar, in the refrigerator. You must refrigerate this syrup because it does not contain any preservatives like the store-bought versions have.
You can refrigerate this syrup for about 2-3 weeks. Discard the syrup sooner if it looks cloudy, like anything funky is growing, or has an off smell. Again, without preservatives, this syrup will not have quite as long of a shelf life as commercially made varieties.
How to use brown sugar syrup
Use the brown sugar syrup to make your favorite Starbucks copycat drinks or just add 1-2 tablespoons of syrup to your favorite espresso, Nespresso, coffee, or tea.
Top tips
- Don't overcook the syrup: Heat the mixture just until the sugar dissolves. You'll know it's dissolved when the syrup turns clear. (It will be brown, but not cloudy.) This usually happens just about the time the mixture comes to a full boil.
- Half or double the recipe: Make more or less of this syrup as you see fit. Simply use equal parts of brown sugar and water.
FAQ
It's hard to say if the Starbucks brown sugar syrup actually has cinnamon in it. The ingredients listed are: invert sugar, brown sugar, water, natural flavor, salt, and potassium sorbate. Cinnamon flavor could be one of the natural flavors, but actual cinnamon does not appear to be one of the ingredients.
No, brown sugar syrup is a liquid sweetener made by dissolving granulated brown sugar in water. Brown sugar syrup is ideal for drinks or applications where the granulated sugar would not blend as quickly or easily as the liquid syrup.
Starbucks brown sugar syrup is free of gluten-containing ingredients. While Starbucks does not list any allergens for this product, it does contain natural flavors, which some people on a strict gluten-free diet try to avoid.
More Starbucks Copycat Recipes
I hope you enjoy this homemade brown sugar syrup recipe! It truly is so easy yet so delicious! Check out more Starbucks copycat recipes!
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Starbucks Brown Sugar Syrup
Ingredients
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 cup water
Instructions
Microwave
- Place ingredients in a microwave-safe measuring cup. Cook on HIGH for 2-3 minutes, stirring after each minute, just until the sugar dissolves.
Stovetop
- Add the brown sugar and water to a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring the mixture to a simmer, stirring occasionally, just until the sugar dissolves.
- Once dissolved, remove from heat and cool completely before storing in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
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