How to make a Brown Sugar Substitute

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Learn to make a brown sugar substitute at home! You can make homemade brown sugar if you need some and don’t want to make a trip to the grocery store. With just two ingredients you can make a substitute in no time!

Easy Brown Sugar Substitute

We’ve all been there: you’re making a recipe and realize you don’t have an ingredient. It’s the worst – especially if you don’t want to go to the grocery store (again). It’s nice to know some easy baking substitutions when this happens. A lot of ingredients you bake with regularly can be made at home or substituted with something different.

This recipe will tell you how to make a substitute for brown sugar – with just 2 ingredients!

What is brown sugar?

Brown sugar is a type of sugar that has added molasses in it. That’s why it’s brown: it’s the molasses mixed with white sugar.

What’s the difference between brown sugar and white sugar?

All sugar is made from sugar cane or sugar beets. When the cooking process happens, the liquid that comes from the sugar can becomes a combination of molasses and sucrose. Depending on the kind of sugar being made, all or some of the molasses is removed and then the product is dried and crystalized into sugar.

Granulated sugar (or white sugar) has had all the molasses removed and is pure sucrose. Brown sugar contains some of that original molasses (or has added molasses), creating it’s brown color and distinct flavor.

Because of the molasses, brown sugar has more moisture in it than granulated sugar (which is why you’re able to pack it).

Light vs. Dark Brown Sugar

Light brown sugar and dark brown sugar are basically the same except for the molasses content. Dark brown sugar has more molasses than light, which gives it a darker and more complex flavor.

2 Ingredeints Needed

Homemade brown sugar is one of the things you can make at home! It’s easy to do with just two ingredients:

Granulated Sugar – also called white sugar
Molasses – unsulferd molasses is best

how to make a brown sugar substitute sugar and molasses in bowl

How do you make brown sugar?

Simply add 1 tablespoon of molasses to 1 cup of white sugar and stir. This will create a light brown sugar substitute!
For dark brown sugar, simply add more molasses.

What can I use if I don’t have brown sugar?

Substitutions like this don’t always produce the same results, so I recommend sticking to using actual brown sugar or making your own with granulated sugar and molasses.

White Granulated Sugar: 1:1 substitution
DIY Brown Sugar with Maple Syrup: Make the recipe below, but using maple syrup if you don’t have molasses.
Coconut Sugar: You can substitute this 1:1
Turbinado Sugar: Use this 1:1
Maple Syrup, Agave or Honey: Skip the actual sugar and use one of these liquids, but use about 3/4 cup for every 1 cup brown sugar called for.

Note: You can substitute these, however it will change the outcome of your recipe. For example, cookies made with brown sugar are softer, so using white sugar will make them crispier.

FAQs

Can you make brown sugar without molasses?

What if you don’t have molasses? Well, then you’re kind of out of luck and a grocery store run is in your future. However, you can substitute maple syrup for brown sugar. It’s a bit tricky: use about 2/3 cup pure maple syrup for each cup of brown sugar, and reduce the liquid in the recipe by 1/4 cup.

Why do you pack brown sugar?

Because brown sugar is sticky, it’s important to pack it (press it down) so that you fill in all the air bubbles and air pockets created when you scoop it. White sugar fills in a measuring cup like sand, because it’s fine and not sticky. Brown sugar is the opposite.

Can brown sugar substitute for white?

Yes but it will change the outcome of the recipe slightly. Because of the moisture, brown sugar adds softness to recipes. Cookies made with just white sugar may be a bit crunchier depending on the recipe, etc.

Favorite Brown Sugar Recipes

Brown Sugar Substitute Recipe

5 from 3 votes

Learn how to make a brown sugar substitute with only 2 ingredients!

Recipe Video

Prep Time 5

Total Time 5

Yield 1 cup

Serving Size 1 cup

Save Recipe Rate Recipe Print Recipe

Ingredients

▢ 1 cup granulated sugar
▢ 1 tablespoon molasses

Instructions

Stir together sugar and molasses with a fork. Use as directed in recipe.

Recipe Notes

For dark brown sugar, add more molasses. Store brown sugar in an airtight container with a brown sugar saver so it doesn’t dry out.

Recipe Nutrition

Nutritional information not guaranteed to be accurate

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Author Dorothy Kern

It’s so easy to make substitute brown sugar by just mixing molasses and white sugar!

10 Comments

Rosemary Gallagher says:

October 16, 2019 at 6:55 am

Thank you for these great handy tips. I learned a lot.

Cathy says:

October 14, 2019 at 3:12 pm

Wow, great to know, thanks for sharing this great tip!

Holly says:

August 10, 2011 at 11:05 pm

This is an awesome tip-I’m gonna file this one for emergency brown sugar outtage;) thanks!!!

The Better Baker says:

August 10, 2011 at 8:20 pm

I love it! And did you know if you want DARK brown sugar, you just add a little more molasses? Such a handy tip! Stop by my blog when you can and check out a giveaway going on…http://thebetterbaker.blogspot.com/2011/08/500-fans-giveaway.html

justjenn says:

August 10, 2011 at 4:57 pm

Great tip!