How to Make Brown Sugar

A cup of brown sugar with a tablespoon full in the middle.

4 from 1 vote

Out of brown sugar mid-recipe? This easy homemade brown sugar substitute made with molasses and granulated sugar comes together in minutes and delivers rich flavor without a last-minute trip to the store.

Prep Time5

Total Time5

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: All

Servings: cup

Author: Trang Doan

Equipment

Mixing Bowl
Spatula

Ingredients

1 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon molasses use 2 tablespoons for dark brown sugar

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Add granulated sugar and molasses to a medium mixing bowl. Use a small spatula with a sturdy handle to press the molasses into the sugar against the side of the bowl until there are no more lumps of molasses and sugar in the mixture and the brown sugar is moist, velvety and even in color.
1 cup granulated sugar, 1 tablespoon molasses

Notes

Store homemade brown sugar in an airtight container.
Use in any recipe that calls for brown sugar just as you would the store-bought version.
Use a terra cotta brown sugar saver to keep brown sugar moist.
If you want to make a larger batch, I don't recommend making more than double. It becomes harder to mix when you have too much ingredients.

Nutrition