How To Make Brown Sugar
Want to know how to make brown sugar that’s just as good as store-bought? It’s as easy as 1-2-3!
Who doesn’t love using brown sugar when baking? It’s great for its versatility and rich caramel flavor. Especially when making these vegan brownies and vegan brown sugar cookies.
The molasses in brown sugar helps retain moisture which, when used in baking, results in a delectably soft texture.
Making brown sugar is so easy and only contains two ingredients: granulated sugar and molasses.
Jump To
Homemade Brown Sugar Recipe
- Add 1 cup sugar and 2 tablespoons unsulfered molasses into the bowl of a stand mixer. Use 3 tablespoons molasses for dark brown sugar. If mixing by hand, place ingredients into a spacious, sturdy mixing bowl.
- Mix on low speed to combine, then raise to medium speed until blended thoroughly. If mixing by hand, massage the molasses into the sugar using a spoon. Using the back of the spoon, press any clumps into the side of the bowl until the mixture is uniform.
- Store your homemade brown sugar in a sealed, airtight container to keep it moist.
Notes and Substitutions
- If you’re in a pinch and all out of molasses, you can swap it out for maple syrup or dark corn syrup. While they won’t offer the same depth of flavor, they will definitely do the trick!
- If you didn’t want to use refined sugar in your recipe, you could easily substitute for coconut sugar instead.
- Create custom brown sugar by adding cinnamon, pumpkin spice, or vanilla.
Key Tips for Success
- If your brown sugar seems too dry at first, just keep mixing! Trust the process.
- Don’t forget to sweep the bottom of the bowl when mixing by hand to ensure all the white sugar gets worked into the molasses.
- Use a light layer of oil to prevent your measuring spoons from sticking. Molasses will easily pour from the spoon this way.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the differences between light and dark brown sugar?
The difference between light and dark brown sugar is that one contains more molasses than the other. Dark brown sugar contains more molasses.
Is there a difference in taste between light and dark brown sugar?
Dark brown sugar will have a deeper flavor, providing more of a distinct caramel, toffee-like flavor.
Can light and dark brown sugar be used interchangeably in baking?
While the two are not identical, they can usually be used interchangeably! Dark brown sugar has more molasses, making it more dense, moist, and acidic.
This will slightly alter taste and texture, but not enough to worry about. That said, if looking for that depth of flavor we talked about, you might want to opt for dark brown sugar.
Speaking of things that have a toffee-like flavor…
Check out this delicious Vegan Sticky Toffee Pudding recipe!
More Baking Tips
- How To Make Vanilla Extract
- Cacao vs Cocoa Powder for Baking
- Shortening in Baking
- Baking Powder vs Baking Soda
- How To Measure Baking Ingredients Correctly
Homemade Brown Sugar
Ingredients
- 1 cup (200 g) granulated cane sugar
- 2 tablespoons (30 ml) unsulfured molasses
Instructions
- Add the sugar and molasses into the bowl of a stand mixer. Use 3 tbsp molasses for dark brown sugar. If mixing by hand, place ingredients into a spacious, sturdy mixing bowl.2 tablespoons (30 ml) unsulfured molasses ,1 cup (200 g) granulated cane sugar
- Mix on low speed to combine, then raise to medium speed until blended thoroughly. If mixing by hand, massage the molasses into the sugar using a spoon. Using the back of the spoon, press any clumps into the side of the bowl until the mixture is uniform.
- Store it in a sealed, airtight container to keep it moist.
Notes
- Add a slice of bread or apple to the container, close it tightly and allow it to sit overnight or for a few days if the sugar is rock hard.
- You can also add the hardened sugar to a microwave-safe container with a few drops of water, cover the container and microwave on High for 20 seconds.
- You may also warm it in an oven-safe dish with a few drops of water at 200°F/100°C for 15 minutes or until softened.