Homemade Brown Sugar

If you’ve ever gone to make cookies and you found you ran out of brown sugar, or it had gone hard with no way to soften it – this homemade brown sugar is the solution for you! You only need 2 ingredients, and a few minutes and you can make your own brown sugar at home.

A glass jar full of brown sugar, and losely piling over the top.

Homemade brown sugar is actually really simple, its made from just two ingredients: molasses and white granulated sugar.

I do think the molasses flavor is a little bit stronger in the homemade version, but it tastes delicious (and this is coming from a girl who likes to eat a spoonful when she’s making cookies).

It works perfectly well in your baked goods, and is such a great quick fix when needed.

Ingredients Needed

This is a quick overview of the ingredients you’ll need for this Brown Sugar Recipe. Specific measurements and full recipe instructions are in the printable recipe card below.

Granulated Sugar
Molasses – Use an unsulphured molasses, that is not black strap so it doesn’t give a bitter flavor

How to Make Brown Sugar at Home

Step 1. Combine the granulated sugar and molasses in a medium sized mixing bowl.

Step 2. Stir them together until you have no clumps of molasses and they are completely mixed together (the mixture will all be the same color with no dark or light spots).

Tips and Tricks:

Press out the clumps – Press the clumps of molasses against the side of the bowl with your rubber spatula to spread them out and mix them into the sugar.
Use a Food Processor – You can also use a food processor to make your own brown sugar, which will save your arms a bit of work. Make sure to scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl a few times as you mix to prevent the molasses from clumping anywhere in the food processor.

A Tablespoon measuring spoon full of brown sugar in front of a jar of it.

What’s the difference between light and dark brown sugar?

Light brown sugar and dark have different ratios of molasses to granulated sugar. Dark brown sugar will have a higher amount of molasses, and will be a darker color.

For Light Brown Sugar – use 1 TBS of molasses for every cup of granulated sugar
For Dark Brown Sugar – use 2 TBS of molasses for every cup of sugar

Storage Instructions

Store the sugar in an airtight container. It should stay good for up to 1 month. You can keep it soft with a terra cotta brown sugar bear.

FAQs

Why did my brown sugar get hard?

Brown sugar gets hard with air contact. I like to store mine in a bag where I can press out any extra air, before sealing, and then place that into an airtight container.

How can I soften my brown sugar?

There are a few ways to soften brown sugar that has gone hard. If you have time place a slice of bread or a couple large marshmallows into the container. After a day the sugar should now be soft, and the bread will be hard.

If you’re in a hurry, you can soak a paper towel in water and squeeze out the extra. Add the moist paper towel above the bowl of brown sugar and microwave in 20 second bursts, breaking apart any big chunks after each time in the microwave.

Can you make brown sugar without molasses?

Brown sugar is made with sugar and molasses. You can make a substitute that will work for your baking by substituting equal amounts of pure maple syrup or honey for the molasses The results will have a much lighter color and a different flavor than if it is made with molasses.

A jar full of brown sugar with a big tight packed scoop over the top.

Ways to use Brown Sugar

Easy Edible Cookie Dough Recipe
Homemade Cookies – such as Chocolate Chip Cookies or Coffee Cake Cookies
Sweet Breads or Muffins
Cinnamon Sugar Pecans
Brown Sugar Bacon
Simple Brown Sugar Glaze for Ham
Veggies Such as Sweet Carrots
Seasonings – such as on our Blackened Tilapia
On Oatmeal or Cereal

An overhead photo of a jar of homemade brown sugar.

This is so quick and easy to make with two pantry ingredients. It’s a great thing to know how to make when your sweet tooth craving strikes and you’ve run out of brown sugar!

If you make this Homemade Brown Sugar, please leave a comment and 🌟 rating letting me know what you think! If you post the photo on Instagram, please tag me – I’d love to see what you’re making!

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