• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Emily Laurae
  • Recipe Index
  • About
  • Contact
  • Portfolio
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Spring Recipes
  • About
  • Subscribe
  • Portfolio
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Spring Recipes
    • About
    • Subscribe
    • Portfolio
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
    • YouTube
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Syrups, Sauces & Essentials

    Demerara Syrup

    Published: Jul 24, 2022 · Modified: Sep 26, 2023 by Emily Laurae · This post may contain affiliate links.

    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    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?
    • ⭐ Why You’ll Love This Recipe 
    • 🍴Ingredients
    • ⚒️ Equipment
    • 📖 Step by Step Instructions
    • ⏲️ Substitutions & Variations
    • 👩🏻‍🍳 Expert Tips
    • 🍹 Demerara Syrup Cocktails
    • 💭 Recipe FAQs
    • Craft Cocktails and Beverages to Try
    • Demerara Syrup
    • 💬 Comments

    ❓ 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.

    ⭐ Why You’ll Love 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.

    Give these delicious syrups a try once you get a hand for making your own syrups at home: Passion fruit syrup, orange simple syrup, blackberry syrup and strawberry syrup!

    🍴Ingredients

    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. 

    📖 Step by Step Instructions

    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.

    Demerara sugar in a small bowl.
    Demerara syrup in a saucepan.

    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.

    ⏲️ Substitutions & 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

    💭 Recipe FAQs

    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

    • Rose matcha latte near roses on a counter.
      Rose Matcha Latte: A Floral Twist on Your Green Tea Latte Recipe
    • Rose old fashioned cocktail on the counter near roses.
      Rose Old Fashioned Cocktail: A Floral Twist on a Classic Sip (Quick & Easy!)
    • Rose simple syrup on the counter next to fresh roses.
      How to Make Rose Simple Syrup: A Floral Sweetener for Drinks, Desserts & More
    • Matcha affogato recipe thumbnail.
      Matcha Affogato Recipe: An Easy Green Tea Dessert

    If you try this recipe for Demerara Syrup, please leave a 🌟 review 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.

    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 3 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate Recipe
    Course: Cocktails
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 35 minutes 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 and Essentials To Try

    • Almond cream in a bowl with a spatula on the counter.
      Almond Cream (French Almond Frangipane Recipe)
    • Cinnamon cream cheese frosting in a bowl.
      5 Minute Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe
    • Blueberry Preserves in a glass container near toast and butter.
      Easy Blueberry Preserves without Pectin
    • Strawberry puree in a small bowl next to fresh strawberries.
      Easy Strawberry Purée Recipe (For drinks, desserts and more!)

    About Emily Laurae

    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!

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    No Comments

    5 from 3 votes (3 ratings without comment)

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    emily laurae sidebar

    HELLO MY FRIENDS, I'M EMILY!

    I'm a professionally trained pastry chef, sharing a collection of my favorite recipes, tips, and tricks for you to create and enjoy in your home kitchen!

    RECIPES

    Spring Recipes

    • Mini lemon meringue tarts on the counter with toasted meringue.
      How to Make Mini Lemon Meringue Tarts with Homemade Lemon Curd

    • Strawberry charlotte cake on a white marble platter with small strawberries.
      How to Make a Classic Strawberry Charlotte Cake (Charlotte aux Fraises)

    • Matcha cookies with white chocolate chips.
      Easy No-Chill Bakery-Style Matcha White Chocolate Cookies

    • Strawberry macarons on the counter near fresh strawberries.
      How to Make Strawberry Macarons with Buttercream and Jam Filling

    Trending Recipes

    • Dutch oven sourdough bread - baked in a dutch oven.
      How to make Sourdough Bread (Dutch Oven Method)

    • 15+ Flavored Simple Syrup Recipes for Cakes, Cocktails, Coffee, and More!
      15+ Flavored Simple Syrup Recipes for Cakes, Cocktails, Coffee, & More!

    • How to make Sugared Berries
      How to make Sugared Berries

    • Chewy Molasses Cookies with Candied Ginger Stack
      Chewy Molasses Cookies with Candied Ginger

    • Medicine ball tea - Starbucks copycat.
      Medicine Ball (5 Minute Starbucks Copycat Hot Tea Recipe)

    • Sourdough grilled cheese sandwich sliced in half on a plate.
      The Ultimate Sourdough Grilled Cheese Sandwich (with VIDEO)

    FEATURED ON

    Featured image including martha stewart, sur la table, southern living,walmart and albertsons.

    Footer

    About

    • About Page
    • Privacy Policy
    • Accessibility
    • Photography Gear Guide
    • Shop

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up so you're the first to know about new recipes, kitchen tips, and events!

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Classes & Events
    • Collaborations & Partnerships
    • Special Orders

    Copyright © 2025 Emily Laurae of ACD Studio - All Rights Reserved

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required

    Recipe Ratings without Comment

    Something went wrong. Please try again.