How to make Homemade Brown Sugar

Name: How to make Homemade Brown Sugar
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 15 min
Ingredients: 1 cup granulated sugar; 1 Tablespoon molasses

Patricia

November 16, 2023

Sugar and molasses fully combined to make brown sugar.

easy

16 servings

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Brown sugar made easy.

Learn how to make homemade brown sugar at home! It’s a very simple and cost-effective process. In fact, all you need is two ingredients: sugar and molasses. The recipe is a straightforward process that requires minimal hands on effort.

Why homemade?

We’ve all been there. In the middle of a recipe only to find out you’re at the bottom of the brown sugar bag. This is a convenient solution when you’re short on store-bought brown sugar or prefer a homemade touch. It can be used as a substitute in any recipe that calls for brown sugar.

Brown sugar vs. Granulated white sugar.

All sugar has the same purpose and is used as a sweetener in recipes but they differ in terms of composition. Let’s break down the difference between the two.

Brown sugar

Brown sugar is simply granulated white sugar and molasses. Light brown sugar has a lower molasses content than dark brown sugar, making the flavor mild and robust. Because of the addition of molasses, brown sugar is more moist.

Granulated white sugar

Made from sugarcane or sugar beets. Granulated white sugar is crystalized, refined and granulated. During the refining process, impurities are removed and the remaining sucrose is crystallized into fine granules. It lacks molasses. Often uses for sweetness in recipes but lacks flavor.

How to make brown sugar at a glance.

For the easiest convenience, use a kitchen aid mixer or hand held mixer but a whisk will do the job. All things considered, it’s a great kitchen tip to store in the back of your mind.

Combine sugar and molasses

Add sugar and molasses to a stand mixer bowl. For the easiest convenience, use a stand mixer or hand held mixer but a whisk will do the job.

Mix until fully combined

This part takes a little bit of time. Until the sugar hydrates with the molasses, just keep mixing. Just keep in mind, naturally, molasses clumps may form. Use the back of a spatula or your hands and press against it. It will quickly dissolve.

How to prevent brown sugar from hardening.

Brown sugar hardens when it loses its moisture and the molasses solidifies. Simply put, air hardens brown sugar. A handy brown sugar hack to help prevent the sugar from hardening by maintaining moisture involves a slice of bread. Bread acts as a moisture retainer and keeps the brown sugar soft and easy to use.

Another moisture-retaining method is to use a porous disk that gets soaked in water and placed in the brown sugar bag or container. It helps keep the sugar soft by releasing moisture over time. You know those sugar saver cute bears you’ve seen around social media? Shop your own bear today!

How do you re-soften hard brown sugar?

Place a damp cloth or a slice of bread in the container with the brown sugar. Seal the container tightly and let it sit overnight. The moisture from the paper towel or bread is said to help soften the sugar.

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