Brown Sugar Simple Syrup (with Pandan Leaves)

Making brown sugar simple syrup (with pandan leaves) is easier than you think! I'm adding a Thai twist to this classic dish with the added pandan leaves. For this simple syrup recipe, only 3 simple ingredients are needed! Water, brown sugar, and pandan leaves.

Pair this homemade brown sugar simple syrup with black grass jelly drink, it's a perfect match made in heaven!

The pandan leaves add a Thai twist with rich and aromatic flavors to this sweet syrup that's perfect for adding to cocktails or any of your favorite drinks and culinary creations. 

Recipes you can use bronw sugar simple syrup in are, 10-minute tamarind tea, Tom Yum cocktail, hibiscus iced tea, butterfly pea flower tea and tamarind cocktail.

Jump to:

• Why you'll love this easy brown sugar syrup
• What is Brown Sugar Syrup
• Ingredients for Brown Sugar Syrup
• How to Make Brown Sugar Syrup Recipe
• Helpful kitchen notes and tips
• How to use brown sugar simple syrup
• Helpful kitchen tools for this recipe
• How to use your brown sugar simple syrup
• Variations
• Substitutes
• Storage
• Top tip
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Related recipes you'll love
• Brown Sugar Simple Syrup (with Pandan Leaves)
• Related
• Pairing

Why you'll love this easy brown sugar syrup

• This delicious brown sugar syrup is a versatile sweetener that complements cold drinks and hot beverages. It's a great syrup when you want a sweet flavor added to your food. 
• It's an easy recipe! The 3 key ingredients are water, brown sugar, and pandan leaves. The simple steps to make this syrup is also a plus. Add water, sugar, and pandan, and let it simmer.  That's it! 
• This homemade syrup creates complex flavors with toffee notes and deep caramel flavor from the brown sugar. The rich and fragrant pandan leaves add the rice brown sugar flavor. 
• It's customizable. You can jazz up your basic simple syrup using different types of brown sugar and additional flavors. Use palm sugar to make it even more Thai! 
• Elevate your homemade drinks and desserts to gourmet levels by making brown sugar syrup. 

What is Brown Sugar Syrup

Brown Sugar Syrup is a liquid sweetener made from different kinds of brown sugar-like dark brown sugar, palm sugar, jaggery, or muscovado sugar. The simple syrup tastes even better than regular simple syrup because it has a richer and more interesting flavor. Add it to your coffee, iced tea, hot chocolate, cocktails, and other drinks to make them extra delicious.

Ingredients for Brown Sugar Syrup

The ratio of sugar to water is the same as a classic simple syrup which is a 1-1 ratio: one part water and one part sugar. Feel free to play around with the amount of the ratio as needed for your dietary preference. Adjust the final use of the syrup in your recipe as needed. 

• Water. Filtered water is ideal, but use what's available to you. 
• Brown sugar. Use dark brown, light brown, palm sugar, jaggery, or cane sugar. White sugar is typically used for the classic simple syrup, but we are going for the rich, deep caramelized flavors from the molasses content used in brown sugar. 
• Pandan leaves. Find these at your local Asian grocery store in the fresh produce or frozen section. 

How to Make Brown Sugar Syrup Recipe

Step 1: In a small pot, combine water, brown sugar, and pandan leaves. Whisk together well before and during the cooking process until the sugar dissolves. Use more sugar for thick syrup; for thinner syrup, use more water. 

Step 2: Allow the mixture to simmer gently for 5-7 minutes to infuse the flavors. For a thicker syrup, let it simmer for up to 10 minutes. Remove from heat and let it cool to room temperature.

Step 3: Discard the pandan leaves from the liquid sugar. Pour the syrup into an airtight glass bottle or mason jar for easy pouring and storage.

Helpful kitchen notes and tips

• Wrap the pandan leaves into a 5-6 inch bunch by wrapping the long leaves around them or using cooking twine.
• The choice of brown sugar will influence the depth and richness of the syrup's flavor.
• For a quick and easy version, you can use a commercial brown sugar simple syrup available at grocery stores or online shops.

How to use brown sugar simple syrup

Brown Sugar Syrup is a fantastic addition to a wide range of drinks, including iced coffee, cold brew, hot coffee, hot chocolate, and more. It can also be drizzled over ice cream or used in desserts like French toast.

Helpful kitchen tools for this recipe

• A small saucepan for simmering the syrup.
• A glass jar or bottle with a pour spout for easy pouring and storage.

How to use your brown sugar simple syrup

• Drizzle your homemade Brown Sugar Syrup over oat milk lattes, iced teas, or your favorite coffee drinks. It's also a great addition to cocktails and mocktails.

Variations

• Use palm sugar instead of brown sugar. Jaggery is also amazing, with a deeper caramelized taste and color. 
• Experiment with different types of brown sugar, like muscovado sugar or demerara sugar, to achieve unique flavor profiles.
• In a pinch, white sugar or cane sugar is fine as substitutes. You won't get the rich brown sugar flavor or color like brown sugar, but they will work as sweeteners. 

Substitutes

• Instead of pandan leaves, try aromatic herbs like lemongrass, ginger, or kaffir lime leaves.
• For a more wintery feel, use whole dry spices like cinnamon sticks, star anise, cardamom, or whole cloves.

Storage

• Store your Brown Sugar Syrup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a month.

Top tip

• The addition of molasses to brown sugar contributes to its deeper flavor. Dark brown sugar has more molasses than light brown sugar.

Frequently Asked Questions

Related recipes you'll love

• Tom Yum simple syrup. An herbal-infused syrup full of exotic flavors and aroma!
• Japanese Roku Gin with orange blossom simple syrup
• Empress gin with lavender simple syrup
• Mekhong Whiskey sour with pineapple juice
• 10-minute tamarind iced tea drink

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Pairing

These are my suggested drinks to use your brown sugar simple syrup with.