Don’t rush to the shop the following time you run out of brown sugar. Make this selfmade substitute as an alternative! Be taught the way to make brown sugar with 2 components in 5 minutes!
For less difficult baking ideas and substitutions, try my tutorials on selfmade buttermilk and the way to make cake flour, too!

Why You Ought to Make This Brown Sugar Substitute
Are you able to make brown sugar at house? Sure! And it’s SO straightforward to do. You probably have 5 minutes, a bag of white sugar, and a jar of molasses in your pantry (leftover out of your final batch of molasses cookies, clearly), you may make this straightforward substitute. Right here’s why it is best to:
- 2 components. With simply 2 widespread pantry components, it can save you your self the emergency sprint to the grocery retailer the following time you run out of brown sugar.
- Scalable. This fundamental recipe could be doubled, tripled, or quadrupled, or you may make a half-batch. Hold leftovers hermetic in your cabinet till you want them.
- Gentle or darkish. Make a lightweight or darkish model relying on what a recipe requires. You should use this substitute in all your favourite baking concepts, savory dishes, and extra.


What Is Brown Sugar?
As soon as upon a time, brown sugar consisted of unrefined sugar crystals that also contained some traces of molasses. These days, nevertheless, it’s made largely by including molasses to sophisticated white sugar. Primarily, what we’re doing right this moment!


Elements You’ll Want
Beneath are some fast ingredient notes. Scroll to the recipe card on the backside of the publish for a printable components checklist.
- White Sugar – We’ll flip common white granulated sugar into selfmade brown sugar with this straightforward DIY.
- Molasses – You’ll wish to use darkish molasses or mild molasses, and never blackstrap molasses, which has a bitter style. Make certain to examine the labels on the jars!




Find out how to Make Brown Sugar
To make your personal mild brown sugar, all it’s essential do is mix 2 cups of granulated white sugar with ¼ cup of molasses. Stir. Tada! In case you’d prefer to make darkish brown sugar as an alternative, double the quantity of molasses to ½ cup. See the recipe card for printable directions.
Suggestions for Success
How straightforward was that? I’ll depart you with these fast last ideas:
- Use the correct molasses. You’ll discover 3 varieties of molasses in shops, however solely 2 sorts are acceptable for baking: mild or darkish molasses. Just remember to don’t use blackstrap molasses, which has a really bitter, not-great taste.
- Press out any clumps. In case you discover that the molasses is forming clumps within the sugar, use a rubber spatula or the again of a spoon to press the clumps towards the facet of the bowl to interrupt them up.
- Retailer hermetic. I am going into extra particulars on this under, however be sure that to retailer this sugar hermetic immediately. Air causes sugar to harden, so the earlier you retailer it, the higher.


Continuously Requested Questions
Can I take advantage of this in its place in recipes?
Sure! In case you’re out of brown sugar, you should utilize this selfmade substitute in any baking or cooking recipe, from roasted carrots to pound cake to chocolate chip cookies.
Can I make brown sugar with out molasses?
In case you don’t have molasses, you possibly can attempt substituting equal quantities of pure maple syrup or darkish buckwheat honey on this recipe. It received’t be the actual factor, nevertheless, so it received’t have the identical depth of taste.
Why did my brown sugar harden?
Publicity to air causes the molasses in brown sugar to dry out, leading to hardened sugar. Correct hermetic storage is vital! I like to recommend storing your sugar in a Ziploc bag or hermetic container, with as a lot air eliminated as potential. See the part under for particulars.
How do I soften brown sugar?
In case your sugar has hardened, there are a few tips that you should utilize to melt it. The primary possibility is to position a bread slice in with the sugar. Bizarre, perhaps, however your sugar ought to soften inside a number of hours! In case you’re in a rush, microwave the hardened sugar in a microwave-safe bowl lined with a humid paper towel for 20 seconds. This helps to melt it rapidly.


Find out how to Retailer
One of the simplest ways to retailer brown sugar is in an hermetic container or a Ziploc bag. I just like the Ziploc technique because it’s straightforward to press out the surplus air.
In case you’re utilizing a Tupperware container or related, I like to recommend urgent a bit of plastic wrap towards the floor of the sugar earlier than closing the lid. Correctly saved, sugar will preserve for as much as 6 months (or longer).
Extra Baking Substitutes and Tutorials
Description
Be taught the way to make brown sugar at house with simply 2 components: white sugar and molasses! This selfmade brown sugar substitute is prepared in minutes. Double the quantity of molasses for darkish brown sugar!
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup molasses
- In a big bowl stir collectively the sugar and molasses till mixed and evenly mild brown in coloration.
- Retailer hermetic.
Notes
- This recipe makes mild brown sugar. To make darkish brown sugar double the quantity of molasses.
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