Demerara syrup, simple syrup’s darker sibling, is sweet and rich with a lovely caramel flavor. A popular addition to bourbon and rum cocktails, you can easily make your own. This easy recipe has only 2 ingredients and takes only 5 minutes to make!
Why you’ll love this recipe
- This cocktail syrup works beautifully in a wide range of cocktails! I love substituting it for the spiced syrup in this Rum and Ginger Beer cocktail as well as in a Mojito.
- If you love Bourbon cocktails, try it in this Old Fashioned or in this kicked up Kentucky Mule.
- You can buy this syrup in higher end grocery stores and in some liquour stores. But with 2 ingredients and a 5 minute prep time, it could not be easier or cheaper to make your own!
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🥘 Ingredients
- Demerara sugar – you can find demerara sugar in some specialty grocery stores and you can order it from Amazon. If you can’t find it you can substitute raw sugar or turbinado sugar.
- water
🔪 Instructions
As I said, this demerara syrup couldn’t be easier to make!
- Add the sugar to a medium saucepan.
- Add the water.
- Heat over medium high heat until the mixture boils.
- Stir and continue to cook until the sugar has fully dissolved.
Storage
The syrup will last up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator.
HINT: To extend the syrup’s shelf life, you can add a tablespoon of vodka to the syrup which inhibits mold.
Questions
Demerara syrup uses the same ratio and ingredients as simple syrup. The only difference is that instead of using white sugar, demerara syrup uses demerara sugar which is less refined and contributes a caramel flavor to the syrup.
Brown sugar is a combination of white sugar and molasses and has a much finer grain. Demerara sugar has a coarser grain and is minimally processed. Both sugars have a similar flavor although demerara doesn’t dissolve into batters as well as brown sugar does.
Demerara sugar originally came from the sugar cane fields that were located in the colony of Demerara. Demerara was on the north coast of South America in what is today, Guyana.
📖 Variations
Although delicious on it’s own, you can easily infuse this syrup with other flavors. Here are some suggestions.
- Spiced – add a cinnamon stick, 4 cloves and 5 allspice berries to the sugar and water mixture to infuse the syrup with additional spice notes.
- Vanilla – add a vanilla bean to the sugar and water mixture or add ½ teaspoon of vanilla extract or paste to the syrup after cooking.
- Salt – add ¼ teaspoon of salt to the sugar and water mixture for a take on salted caramel.
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📖Recipe
Equipment
- medium saucepan
- Measuring cups
Ingredients
- 1 cup Demerara Sugar
- 1 cup water
Instructions
- Add the sugar and the water to a medium saucepan.
- Heat the mixture until boiling, stirring occasionally.
- Cook for another minute or two, until the sugar is fully dissolved.
- Cool and store in a covered jar in the refrigerator.
Recipe Notes
Ingredients:
- Demerara sugar can be found in some high-end grocery stores and specialty cookware stores. You can also buy it online at Amazon. If you can’t find or don’t have Demerara sugar you can substitute raw or turbinado sugar.
Storage:
- You can store the syrup in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
- For longer storage, add 1 teaspoon of vodka to the syrup and stir. The alcohol will help inhibit mold formation.
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