How to make Demerara Syrup

Now I know what you may be thinking… “What is demerara syrup?”

Demerara sugar is a type of sugar that lies in between white sugar and brown sugar. It is less processed than white sugar, so it contains more molasses tasting notes, however the molasses flavor in demerara is still less complex in comparison to brown sugar.

Texture-wise demerara actually has larger particles than both white and brown sugar which can make it harder to break down. That’s why we have to turn it into a syrup to be able to use in both cocktails and mocktails.

Adding demerara syrup in cocktails is great when you want to add a little more depth of flavor in the drink.

This post is all about how to make demerara syrup.

So let’s make it!

Ingredients

These are the ingredients you will need to make demerara syrup:

Demerara sugar: As said before, demerara sugar is a type of sugar that lies between white and brown sugar. Demerara sugar can be purchased either in sugar cube form or in regular granulated sugar form.
Water: We need water to liquify the sugar which will allow the flavor of the sugar to incorporate easier in drinks.

How to make demerara syrup

Demerara syrup is incredibly easy to make!

Along with it only utilizing 2 ingredients, the measurements of the ingredients are equal parts.

For this post, I am going to make 2 cups total of demerara syrup, which means we’re going to measure 1 cup of demerara sugar & 1 cup of water.

The only form of demerara sugar available to me comes in cubes, so I have to weight it on a food scale first to make sure I’m using the same amount sugar in as the water.

A quick tip I want to mention: Most food scales only have measurements of ounces, grams, and mililiters on the system.

Now, as a bartender I am actually already used to measuring ingredients in the form of ounces. So this means I now will be making a total of 16 oz of syrup and measuring 8 oz of demerara sugar and 8 oz of water. This ounces measurement is exactly the same amount as the cups measurement listed earlier.

Converting different forms of measurements from one to another can be difficult, however for me using a measurement equivalent chart helps the process become a lot more efficient.

If you would like to have a full measurement conversion chart (which is super helpful as a bartender!) for yourself, here is one of my favorites off amazon, which is also magnetic! This chart is also helpful if you want to make a bigger batch than what I’m making int this post.

Buy on Amazon

Okay let’s actually get into making the syrup now!

After turning on a food scale, adjust the measurement to ounces.

Next, place an empty plate or bowl on the scale and press “TARE.” By pressing “TARE” it will erase the weight of the plate which will then allow the scale to only calculate the weight of the sugar.

Now add the demerara sugar cubes onto the scale until it reads 8 oz.

Next, we’re going to prepare our water.

Pour 8 oz (aka 2 cups) of water into a pot and bring to a boil.

Once the water has boiled, add in the 8 oz of demerara sugar, and set the stove temperature to a simmer.

Stir the syrup until all the sugar crystals dissolve.

Then, turn off the heat and let the syrup cool.

And that’s pretty much how to make demerara syrup.

It’s super easy right!

How to use demerara syrup

Now that we have made this wonderful demerara syrup, there are endless possibilities of what you can use it for. You can use it in cocktails, mocktails, coffee, tea, and baking. It’s even delicious used as a drizzle for desserts and breakfast foods like pancakes.

Demerara syrup can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to one month.

This post was all about how to make demerara syrup.