Choose Your Own Adventure For Flavorful Brown Sugar Syrups

Searching for a different sort of sweetener? Brown sugar syrups hit that sweet spot in more ways than one. Whether you use them to jazz up drinks, add them to baked goods, or drizzle them over a lackluster bowl of oatmeal is totally your choice. However, that's not the only option you have when it comes to working with brown sugar syrup. Delight tastebuds even further by infusing the syrups.

Like simple syrup, which is made by dissolving equal parts of granulated sugar in water, brown sugar syrup is crafted in much the same way. The only difference is that brown sugar syrup uses, well, brown sugar. Aside from a darkened hue, brown sugar also changes the flavor of the syrup slightly. A blend of refined white sugar and molasses, brown sugar imparts notes of toffee and caramel with intensity depending on how much molasses is added.

Already adding an incredible amount of depth in comparison to one-dimensional simple syrup, brown sugar syrup can be used in its most basic form. However, to take things up a notch, why not add an extra ingredient or two?

Once brown sugar and water have been whisked together to craft a standard simple syrup, you're ready to infuse with whatever complimentary flavors your heart desires. Simply add any ingredients and allow the mixture to steep for at least 30 minutes or until the mixture fully cools, removing them before adding the syrup to an airtight container to store.

As for what ingredients work best, flavors that complement brown sugar such as warm spices (like cloves, cinnamon sticks, or vanilla beans) are a great place to start experimenting. Likewise, citrus peels and dehydrated apple slices, toasted nuts, roasted coffee beans, or even loose tea leaves can produce an enticing end product. However, you can also work with all sorts of wild card ingredients, opting for contrasting flavor pairings that balance the decently saccharine syrup. For example, savory additions like sprigs of woody rosemary, chunks of zesty ginger, or a pinch of salt can all create balance. Even fiery peppers like a jalapeño or bird's eye chili can make for a pleasantly unexpected flavored syrup.

Whatever you decide to steep, brown sugar syrup is the perfect vessel to do so. Delivering sweetness but also a world of flavor thanks to the infusion process, these syrups are guaranteed to become a secret weapon in your future culinary pursuits. The only thing left to do is to enjoy the deliciously rich journey.