This brown sugar vanilla simple syrup is made with just a few pantry staples and comes together in minutes. Perfect for coffee, tea, boba, cocktails, and dessert, this syrup is an easy upgrade from classic simple syrup and stores well in the fridge for everyday use.
Equipment
- Small saucepan
- Measuring cups
- Bottle or jar
Ingredients
- 1 cup brown sugar light or dark
- 1 cup water
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract or 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste
- Pinch of salt optional
Instructions
- Combine brown sugar and water in a small saucepan over medium heat.
- Stir gently until the sugar fully dissolves and the mixture looks smooth and glossy, about 3 to 4 minutes. Do not boil.
- Remove from heat. Stir in vanilla and salt.
- Cool in the pan for a few minutes, then transfer to a clean jar or bottle.
- Cool completely before refrigerating. Keeps for 3 to 4 weeks.
Notes
Add vanilla off the heat, not before. Heat destroys the aromatic compounds.
Don’t boil. A gentle dissolve is all you need and prevents bitterness.
The syrup thickens as it cools so don’t cook it longer if it looks thin in the pan.
For 2:1 (thicker, dessert-style): use 2 cups sugar to 1 cup water. Not recommended for coffee drinks.
Freeze in ice cube trays (~2 tbsp each) for up to 3 months.
Yield: 1 cup (240 ml)