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    Home » All Recipes » Syrups, Sauces & Essentials

    Demerara Syrup

    July 24, 2022 by Emily Leave a Comment

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    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Caramelly, toasty, and rich, Demerara Syrup is the simplest way to level up your cocktail arsenal. Made with just 2 ingredients in about 5 minutes, this delightfully dark simple syrup will add delicious toffee-flavored goodness to everything it touches!

    Jar of demerara syrup next to cocktails.
    Jump to:
    • What is Demerara Sugar?
    • About This Recipe
    • Ingredients & Substitutions
    • Equipment
    • How To Make Demerara Syrup
    • Optional Variations
    • Expert Tips
    • Demerara Syrup Cocktails
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Craft Cocktails and Beverages to Try
    • More DIY Recipes
    • Demerara Syrup

    What is Demerara Sugar?

    Named for the Dutch (and then British) colony where it was first produced in what is now considered Guyana in South America, demerara sugar is one among many “raw” sugars like turbinado, jaggery, and piloncillo.

    Made from sugarcane, demerara is a light amber color with a medium-coarse grain and flavor profile that evokes notes of molasses, caramel, and toffee. It is often used as a garnishing sugar to add crunch to muffin tops and cookies, but can also be simmered down into demerara simple syrup for making cocktails and mocktails.

    Traditionally, demerara sugar is made by cutting sugarcane into pieces, extracting its juices, simmering the juice down into a dark syrup that is basically unrefined molasses, then crystallizing the syrup by adding “seed crystals.” 

    The syrup and crystals are then separated in a centrifuge, washed to remove all but a predetermined amount of the molasses, and then filtered through screens to ensure that each grain is between 0.3 - 0.5mm.

    Since demerara sugar is minimally processed (it is only crystallized once, as opposed to granulated sugar or brown sugar which is crystallized twice), it retains more trace nutrients like calcium, magnesium, iron, and several of the B-vitamins.

    That said, while many would prefer to think of demerara as a “healthy” sugar, it’s still sugar. Calorically speaking, it is the same as white sugar. It also has roughly the same glycemic index as regular sugar, which means it affects blood sugar levels in the same way.

    Bowl of demerara sugar.

    About This Recipe

    Made with just 2 ingredients — demerara sugar and water — this deliciously rich simple syrup is a snap to make. Simply simmer equal amounts of the two ingredients by volume until the sugar dissolves and voila! You’ll have a rich demerara syrup that’ll add tons of flavor to cocktails (like my Pear Brandy Sour or Rye & Cynar Cocktail), mocktails, and desserts.

    It’s an essential ingredient in many old-school tiki cocktails (it pairs especially beautifully with rum), though demerara syrup can also be used as a more flavorful substitute for regular simple syrup in any number of recipes like an old-fashioned with a caramel hint!

    Aside from being fast and easy to whip up, this rich demerara syrup can also be flavored in various ways by adding dried herbs or spices. Try jazzing things up by adding a vanilla bean, whole cloves, bark cinnamon, star anise, or whole cardamom pods.

    Ingredients & Substitutions

    As promised, you only need two ingredients to make this demerara syrup recipe and take your cocktails to the next level with delicious caramel notes. Here’s your shopping list:

    • Demerara Sugar - Substitutes include turbinado sugar, muscovado sugar, jaggery, or piloncillo. You can also swap in regular brown sugar, though it won’t have the same level of complexity as some of the less refined sugars.
    • Water - If possible, I suggest using filtered water for the best flavor.
    Labeled ingredient shot for the demerara simple syrup recipe.

    Equipment

    This demerara syrup recipe is easy and doesn’t require much equipment. Here’s what I suggest you grab:

    • Heavy-Bottomed Small Saucepan - Heavy-bottomed cookware distributes heat more evenly, which helps to prevent scorching. 
    • Squeeze Bottle & Funnel - While this is technically not essential for making demerara syrup, it is by far the best way to store it in the fridge and/or use in cocktail recipes. Once the syrup cools enough to handle, use the funnel to add it to the squeeze bottle and store for up to 2-4 weeks in the refrigerator. 

    How To Make Demerara Syrup

    Making simple syrup of any kind is an easy endeavor, including when you use demerara sugar. Let's get started!

    Step 1: Pour your measured water and raw sugar into a saucepan and heat on medium

    Step 2: Cook, stirring the mixture until your larger sugar crystals has completely dissolved.

    Step 3: Cool. Remove from heat and let cool. Pour into a clean bottle and refrigerate for up to 2-4 weeks.

    CONTINUE IF INFUSING — 

    Step 4: Add desired infusion ingredients and continue heating for 30 seconds before removing from heat.

    Step 5: Steep. Allow syrup to infuse for half an hour as the simple syrup cools completely and comes to room temperature. Strain syrup into an airtight container and store it in the fridge.

    Optional Variations

    As with any type of simple syrup, there are boatloads of ways to add flavor. Here are some of my favorite demerara syrup variations:

    • Vanilla Bean
    • Clove
    • Ginger
    • Star Anise
    • Cardamom

    For even more ideas, check out my simple syrup recipe post on 15+ Simple Syrup Infusions to Master!

    Expert Tips

    • Store in a squeeze bottle. It makes it easy to squirt out just the right amount into a cocktail jigger or over top of your favorite cake layers.
    • Add vodka to extend the shelf life. Adding about ½ shot of vodka to the cooled demerara syrup will help to make it last longer.

    Demerara Syrup Cocktails

    Head on over to my Pear Brandy Sour recipe or Rye & Cynar Cocktail post made with demerara syrup to give your syrup a try!

    Pear Brandy Sour made with demerara syrup.
    Pear Sour
    Rye & Cynar Cocktail made with turbinado syrup.
    Rye & Cynar Cocktail

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What is the difference between demerara sugar vs. turbinado sugar?

    While both are considered “raw” sugars because they have only been crystallized once, demerara sugar has a more potent caramel-toffee flavor than turbinado. That said, they are good substitutes for one another, as they both have a light amber hue and a nice crunchy consistency.

    What is the difference between demerara sugar vs. brown sugar?

    Brown sugar is more processed than demerara sugar, with an extra crystallization step. Brown sugar is granulated white sugar that has molasses added back to it. Brown sugar is also much finer than coarse demerara sugar.

    If you want to use brown sugar to make this syrup recipe, I suggest opting for dark brown sugar because it has a more pronounced molasses flavor. That said, it won’t have the same level of complexity as demerara.

    What is a good substitute for demerara syrup?

    I’d suggest using turbinado, muscovado, or dark brown sugar to make a rich toffee-flavored simple syrup. You can also swap in regular simple syrup, though the flavor of the final result will be less nuanced than if you used demerara syrup.

    Craft Cocktails and Beverages to Try

    • Raspberry Margarita
    • Raspberry Martini
    • Blueberry Shrub with Basil Mocktail (Simple and Refreshing)
    • Raspberry Simple Syrup

    More DIY Recipes

    • Blackberry Simple Syrup
    • How to Make Raspberry Compote
    • How to Store Sourdough Bread
    • How to Make Brown Butter

    As always, I love seeing your creations and hearing from you! If you try this easy recipe for Demerara Syrup, leave a star rating below and share your creation with me on social media! You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, Youtube and Pinterest - for more delicious recipes sent straight to your inbox, sign up for my newsletter!

    Demerara Syrup

    Caramelly, toasty, and rich, Demerara Syrup is the simplest way to level up your cocktail arsenal. Made with just 2 ingredients in about 5 minutes, this delightfully dark simple syrup will add delicious toffee-flavored goodness to everything it touches!
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate Recipe
    Course: Cocktails
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: Simple Syrup Recipe and Infusions
    Prep Time: 30 minutes
    Cook Time: 5 minutes
    Total Time: 35 minutes
    Servings: 8
    Calories: 97kcal
    Author: Emily Laurae

    Equipment

    • Saucepan
    • Spatula

    Ingredients
     

    • 1 cup (240 g) Water
    • 1 cup (200 g) Demerara Sugar

    Instructions

    • Pour your measured water and demerara sugar into a saucepan and heat on medium
      1 cup Water, 1 cup Demerara Sugar
    • Cook, stirring the mixture until your sugar has completely dissolved.
    • Remove from heat and let cool.
    • Pour syrup into an airtight container and store in the fridge.

    Notes

    Expert Tips
    • Store in a squeeze bottle. It makes it easy to squirt out just the right amount into a cocktail jigger or over top of your favorite cake layers.
    • Add vodka to extend the shelf life. Adding about ½ shot of vodka to the cooled demerara syrup will help to make it last longer.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 97kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Sodium: 2mg | Potassium: 1mg | Sugar: 25g | Calcium: 1mg | Iron: 1mg
    Enjoyed this recipe?Mention @emilylaurae or tag #emilylaurae!

    More Syrups, Sauces & Essentials

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    • 2-Ingredient Raspberry Purée 
    • How to Make Whipped Butter
    • Blueberry Goat Cheese

    About Emily

    Emily is the recipe developer, writer, and food photographer behind Emily Laurae. After finishing Pastry School and working as a chef in the restaurant industry, she created this blog to share those skills with home bakers and creators all over the world!

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