How To Make Brown Sugar at Home
Homemade brown sugar is a simple combination of granulated sugar and molasses. Here's how to make both light and brown sugars at home.
Makes1 cup
Prep5 minutes
Brown sugar is the sticky, fragrant sweetener that adds moisture and flavor to so many of our favorite baked goods, from chocolate chip cookies to banana bread. But if you find yourself staring into an empty box, don’t fret — you’ve likely got everything you need to make brown sugar from scratch.
Although we often think of them as two totally different entities, brown sugar is simply granulated sugar that has been enhanced with molasses. So whether you need a cup or a pound, or light or dark, you’re just two ingredients away from brown sugar at home. Here’s how to make it.
What’s the Difference Between Light Brown and Dark Brown Sugar?
The only difference between light and dark brown sugar is the ratio of molasses to sugar. Dark brown sugar has more molasses, so you’ll need more of it to make dark brown sugar at home. The following ratios (and the recipe below) yield 1 cup brown sugar, but the recipe can easily be scaled up. For example, you could use 1/4 cup molasses for every 1 pound of granulated sugar.
Light brown sugar: Use 1 tablespoon molasses for every 1 cup sugar.
Dark brown sugar: Use 2 tablespoons molasses for every 1 cup sugar.
The Best, Easiest Way to Make Brown Sugar
There are a few ways to combine the sugar and molasses. You can use a large bowl and fork, which is low-tech and easy. You can also mix it up in a zip-top bag — make sure it’s tightly sealed, then massage the mixture until combined. But giving it a few quick pulses in the food processor is the fastest, easiest way to mix up brown sugar at home.
Storing and Using Homemade Brown Sugar
Your homemade brown sugar can be used right away for baking or cooking, or it can be stored in an airtight container, where it will keep well for up to one month. Just as you would with store-bought brown sugar, lightly pack it into your measuring cups whenever you use it.
Read more: 5 Ways To Keep Brown Sugar Soft
How to Make Brown Sugar
Homemade brown sugar is a simple combination of granulated sugar and molasses. Here's how to make both light and brown sugars at home.
Prep time 5 minutes
Makes1 cup
Nutritional Info
Ingredients
- 1 cup
granulated sugar
- 1 to 2 tablespoons
molasses (not blackstrap)
Equipment
Measuring cups and spoons
Medium bowl and fork, or food processor
Instructions
Measure out the granulated sugar and molasses. Measure 1 cup granulated sugar. Measure 1 tablespoon molasses for light brown sugar or 2 tablespoons for dark brown sugar.
Combine the sugar and molasses. Place the sugar and molasses in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the blade attachment. Pulse until the molasses is completely incorporated into the sugar, about 1 minute. Alternatively, place the sugar and molasses in a medium bowl and use a fork to slowly work the molasses into the sugar.
Use or store the brown sugar. If not using immediately, store in an airtight container at room temperature up to 1 month.
At Kitchn, we know how important it is to find recipes that are worth your time. That’s why every tutorial — like this one — features recipes that have been tried and tested by our team of developers and at-home cooks from across the country. Questions or feedback for us? Say hello: recipes@thekitchn.com.