Demerara Sugar Syrup is a sweet simple syrup that has a rich golden color and a lovely molasses taste to it. This Demerara Syrup Recipe will make a beautiful addition to your favorite drink or baked good.

What is demerara sugar?

Demerara sugar is an unrefined sugar made from crystallized evaporated cane juice that still contains trace amounts of molasses. Demerara sugar has a light brown/caramel color and the sugar crystals are larger in size that regular white sugar.

Demerara sugar is similar to brown sugar but in demerara the sugar crystals are often larger and more often than not, brown sugar is made by replacing part of the molasses back into the sugar rather than not removing it in the first place.

Demerara sugar is also a fun addition to cookies and brownies because it adds a rich flavor and a slight crunch to the texture of the baked goods because of the larger sugar crystals.

small mint colored bowl of demerara sugar

Ingredients Notes

ingredients for demerara simple syrup on a white background

All you need is two ingredients-- demerara sugar and water. It is truly that simple.

How to make demerara syrup

demerara sugar being poured into a small saucepan

Step 1. In a small saucepan, combine demerara sugar and water.

Step 2. Simmer over medium heat until the sugar dissolves. Stir often so that it doesn't burn.

finished demerara simple syrup in a pan on a wooden stand

Recipe Tips

Allow to cool before use for cocktails or any recipe that calls for simple syrup.
This sugar syrup recipe calls for equal parts sugar and water, so as long as you follow that ratio, adjust the amount you want to make accordingly! Feel free to make more or less depending on the amount of syrup you want to end up with. The final product in this recipe will yield about 1 ½ cups of syrup.
This demerara simple syrup will keep for 4 weeks in the fridge, in an airtight container.

Substitutes for demerara sugar

light brown sugar
turbinado sugar
raw sugar
cane sugar (this will not give you the same rich golden color as demerara sugar syrup, but this will still create a sweet syrup).

syrup in a small glass jar with a spoon to the side

How to Use

Demerara simple syrup can be used for alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages to sweeten them. It is wonderful, because using it ensures that there no sugar granules at the bottom of the glass!

It's great to sweeten up this easy sun tea recipe or a classic arnold palmer.

completed syrup with a lid on top and a sugar canister in the background

If you tried this Demerara Sugar Syrup Recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it goes in the comments below. I love to hear from you.