Brown Sugar Syrup: A Starbucks Copycat Recipe

I love indulging in a morning coffee shop drink or enjoying tea from my favorite local café. While those visits can be a delightful way to kickstart my day, relying on them too often can become quite an expense.

To remedy this, I began making homemade vanilla coffee syrup, which I keep on hand for dressing up my coffee creations at home. After getting hooked on Starbucks’ brown sugar syrup, I knew I had to develop my own homemade version.

We can all agree that fall and holiday seasons are peak coffee shop times, right? The popularity of drinks like pumpkin spice and peppermint lattes is unmatched. Starbucks introduced their brown sugar syrup, which has become a sensational favorite.

This syrup adds a rich, deep sweetness, making it perfect for both hot and iced drinks. However, with the expensive daily trips to Starbucks, I started crafting my own version at home. This homemade brown sugar syrup captures the same luscious molasses flavor and is incredibly simple to use in various beverages.

Using a 2:1 sugar-to-water ratio allows for a thicker, luxurious texture that elevates any drink.

Ingredients You’ll Need

• Dark brown sugar
• Water
• Cinnamon sticks
• Pure vanilla extract

If you find yourself out of dark brown sugar, you can easily create a substitute at home. Also, if you’ve got hardened brown sugar, check out methods to soften it before use.

This recipe not only calls for brown sugar, but we also incorporate cinnamon sticks for an extraordinary flavor pairing. The warmth of the cinnamon beautifully complements the rich molasses notes of dark brown sugar.

You can substitute vanilla bean paste or a split vanilla bean for the vanilla extract if desired.

In a medium saucepan, combine the brown sugar and water over medium heat. Add the cinnamon sticks and bring the mixture to a boil while stirring to dissolve the sugar.

Once boiling, reduce the heat and let it simmer for about two minutes until fully dissolved.

Remove from heat and allow to cool before removing the cinnamon sticks. Stir in the vanilla and pour the syrup into a glass jar for refrigeration. For iced drinks, chill the syrup beforehand for optimal flavor.

Store your brown sugar syrup in an airtight container in the refrigerator. In a clean environment, it can last almost indefinitely. However, if you see signs of spoilage or if it smells off, discard it immediately.

If gifting this syrup, inform your recipient that it can remain fresh for up to a month for safety.

Wondering how to utilize your homemade brown sugar syrup? It’s perfect as a sweetener in hot and iced coffee, lattes, and even makes a delightful addition to various tea flavors.

Combine it with your favorite milk and homemade chai concentrate for an amazing chai latte or use it in milk tea and boba drinks. It even adds a delightful twist to cocktails!

Consider creating a barista gift basket featuring this syrup, a jar of your favorite coffee beans, a coffee mug, and milk frother for a thoughtful present.