How To Make Brown Sugar - with only 2-ingredients - So Quick and Easy. (2024)

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Learn how to make brown sugar in just five minutes with only two ingredients! Whether you run out or just want a BETTER version of store bought, this brown sugar substitute is the perfect recipe.

What is Brown Sugar

Light brown sugariswhite sugarcombined withmolasses. The molasses gives the sugarmoisture(giving it the softtexture), a darker color and a lightcaramel flavor.

Dark brown sugarcalls for twice theamount of molassesgiving it a darker color and richer flavor.

Brown sugar gives such a nice flavor forbakingand even cooking.Here are some of our favorites:Granny Cake, Banana CrumbMuffins, Chocolate Chip Cookies,Pineapple Ham,Pecan Pie,Banana Bread, GingerbreadKiss Cookies andCandied Pecans.

Can you use Regular Sugar instead of Brown Sugar? Yes! However, baking is a science and there’s usually a good reason why a recipe is calling for brown sugar. Which means, it’s not best to sub in granulated sugar and expect the same result. It’s likely that either the texture, the flavor, or both won’t get the best result.

Ingredients For Brown Sugar Substitute

It’s so easy to make yourown brown sugar substituteat home and you only need twoingredients!You will need different amount of the molasses depending on if you make light brown sugar vs dark brown sugar.

• Sugar:You need regularwhite granulated sugarfor the base of therecipe.
• Molasses:Use this to add that warm and slightly smokey flavor you get with regular sugar.

How to Make Brown Sugar

• Step 1. In a standingmixer, food processor or even your fingertips, add the sugar and molasses and combine until fully incorporated. All the stickiness should be gone when it’s done.Spoonthe mixture into a sealed container.
• Step 2.Use thisrecipefor all of your favorite bakedrecipes! Enjoy!

How To Soften Brown Sugar

First, you will need to make sure tostore correctly. Thishomemade brown sugar recipecan last almost indefinitely and stored atroom temperature.

It’s very frustrating to open a box, bag or jar (both light and dark) to only find a rock solid clump. This happens when themoisturedries up, likely due to improperstorage. It’s best to store your sugar in anairtight container. I prefer to use this Brown Sugar Keeper container.

If hardening does occur, use this method to soften. Just place your block in amicrowave-safe bowl. Lay adamp paper towelover the bowl and microwave it in 20-second intervals, loosening with aforkbetween each interval, until it’s soft.

Brown Sugar Substitute

Homemade brown sugar is not only easy to make but tastes like any store-bought recipe. You can use our homemade version for any recipe you need and some brown sugar replacement ideas for other recipes! Be sure to share these simple swaps with your friends and family who run out of sugar.

Here are the best brown sugar alternatives.

1. Make Your Own – follow our method in the recipe box for the best result for texture, sweetness and flavor.
2. White Sugar – you can always replace brown sugar with white granulated sugar using a 1 to 1 ratio. For example: 1 cup of white sugar combined with 1 cup of molasses. Just expect a crispier texture like in cookies. The brown sugar has more of a moisture content so the texture will definitely be different.
3. Honey, Maple syrup or Agave nectar – liquid sweeteners like these will work well with nice flavors for non baked recipes, like sauces and glazes. If replacing with one of these,use 3/4 the amount of what the recipe calls for.
4. Turbinado Sugar – Turbinado is a great alternative raw sugar with larger granules and is best used as finishing sugar for sprinkling on top of breads, muffins, etc… Not the best alternative for mixing into a batter.
5. Coconut Sugar – extracted from the sap of coconut palm tree flowers, this sweetener has a similar flavor to brown sugar, but will not have the same moisture content.
6. Muscovado Sugar – similar in color and has a bit higher molasses content.
7. Palm Sugar – this sweetener adda color and consistency that is similar to brown sugar or demerara sugar but it is not as moist. However, it hasa wonderful flavor with hints of caramel and butterscotch.

NOTE: These seven brown sugar substitutes willnotproduce the same exact results other than our recipe listed below. The result will not be as dark and the flavor will not be as deep and rich. Your baked goods might be lighter in color and the results can vary based on the recipe. However, these will work if needed.

More Homemade Pantry Staples:

• Homemade Ranch Dressing
• Easy Homemade Pizza Dough Recipe
• Homemade Whipped Cream Recipe
• Homemade Cheese Sauce