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      Home » Drinks

      Brown Sugar Simple Syrup (with Pandan Leaves)

      Published: Aug 22, 2023 by Suwanee · This post may contain affiliate links.

      Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe

      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!

      Spoon lifting brown sugar syrup over a jar.

      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

      Brown sugar simple syrup ingredients  on the table.

      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. 

      Brown sugar, water, pandan leaves.

      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.

      Simply syrup in a pot with pandan leaves.

      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.

      spoon lifting brown sugar syrup.

      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.
      Brown sugar simple syrup in a glass jars.

      Frequently Asked Questions

      What type of brown sugar should I use for a rich flavor?

      Dark brown sugar or muscovado sugar will offer a deeper and more pronounced richer flavor.

      Can I use this syrup in cocktails?

      Brown Sugar Syrup adds a wonderful complexity to cocktails like Old Fashioneds and other mixed drinks.

      How do I add a touch of citrus to the syrup?

      Add a strip of orange peel while the syrup simmers for a delicate citrus aroma.

      Can I make this syrup without any added flavors?

      Of course, a simple Brown Sugar Syrup is perfect for versatile use in a wide range of drinks and dishes.

      Can I find brown sugar syrup in coffee houses or local coffee shops?

      Some coffee houses and local coffee shops might offer their version of brown sugar syrup as an addition to their beverage line.

      Can I use this syrup in iced tea?

      Brown Sugar Syrup is a delightful sweetener for cold beverages like iced tea.

      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

      **Love a recipe you've tried? Please leave a 5-star rating in the recipe card below and a review in the comments section further down the page. Or follow me on Facebook, Pinterest, or Instagram!**

      Print
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      Simply syrup in glasses.

      Brown Sugar Simple Syrup (with Pandan Leaves)


      ★★★★★

      5 from 1 review

      • Author: Suwanee
      • Total Time: 15
      • Yield: 15 1x
      • Diet: Gluten Free
      Print Recipe
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      Description

      Making simple brown sugar syrup (with pandan leaves) is easier! 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. 


      Ingredients

      Scale
      • 1 cup of water. Filtered water is ideal, but use what's available to you. 
      • 1 cup of brown sugar. Use dark brown, light brown, palm sugar, jaggery, or cane sugar.
      • 2 pandan leaves. Find these in the Asian market in the fresh or frozen section.

      Instructions

      1. Combine water, brown sugar, and pandan leaves in a small pot. 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. 
      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.
      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. That's it! You're done! Keep your syrup in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 weeks!

      Notes

      • 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.

      ** Thank you so much for visiting my blog! This is truly a passion for me. If you have enjoyed these recipes and appreciate the hard work I put into them, I would love it if you would share them with your friends! Your recommendation is the highest review I could hope for, and I’d appreciate it! **

      • Prep Time: 2
      • Cook Time: 13
      • Category: Drinks, easy recipe
      • Method: stovetop
      • Cuisine: Fusion

      Keywords: brown sugar simple syrup, brown sugar syrup, simple syrup, brown syrup, how to make simple syrup, simple syrup brown sugar

      Did you make this recipe?

      Please rate and review this recipe in the comment section below so I can improve and make it a better experience for you!

      Related

      Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:

      • Moo Yang grilled pork slices on a platter.
        Moo Yang Recipe (Thai Grilled Pork Neck) 
      • Thai Pork Omelette (Kai Jeow Moo Sap)
      • Sticky Asian ribs on a plate on the table.
        Sticky Asian Ribs 
      • Jeow Som Sauce in a bowl.
        Jeow Som (Lao Spicy Dipping Sauce)

      Pairing

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

      • Tanqueray Sevilla orange blossom drink on a tray on the table.
        Tanqueray Seville Orange Gin Cocktail with Blood Orange
      • kir royale cocktail in 2 champagne glasses with berry garnish
        Kir Royale French Champagne Cocktail
      • 2 glasses of Roku gin and tonic with orange peel garnish
        Japanese Roku Gin Cocktail with Orange Blossom Syrup
      • strawberry roku gin and tonic cocktail in a cocktail glass
        Strawberry Roku Gin and Tonic Cocktail

      More Drinks

      • Grass Jelly Drink in 2 glasses.
        Grass Jelly Drink with Brown Sugar Syrup (เฉาก๊วยนมสด)
      • Butterfly blue milk tea in a glass.
        Blue Milk Tea Recipe with Boba
      • Evaporated milk pouring into green tea.
        Thai Green Tea (ชาเขียว)
      • Thai iced coffee in a glass on the table.
        Thai Coffee (Oliang)

      Reader Interactions

      Comments

      1. Nancy

        August 27, 2023 at 2:04 pm

        Incredible easy to make! Loved the pandan leaves addition, brilliant! It smell so good!

        ★★★★★

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