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Whether you run out of brown sugar right when you need it, or you just love making more foods from scratch, it's easy to make your own Homemade Brown Sugar! With just 2 ingredients, white sugar and molasses give you the best, fluffiest brown sugar, perfect for baking, topping oatmeal, and replacing your store-bought brown sugar!
- Everything is Better Homemade! - This is one homemade swap that will make you never want to buy store-bought brown sugar again! Why buy a whole bag that gets old and hard before you can use it up, when this homemade pantry staple is so much better? I like that I can make a small batch so it stays light and fluffy and super rich in flavor!
- Easy 2-Ingredients! - I'd always heard that brown sugar was just white sugar with molasses in it, but never thought to bother making it. Until one day I ran out when making my Blackened Chicken Tacos, and was about to run to the store when I thought I'd try it. I can't believe how easy and just plain better it is, I'll never go back!
- Try your Homemade Brown Sugar sprinkled over Crockpot Steel Cut Oatmeal, and add it to Apple Banana Bread Muffins or this Pear Blueberry Crisp!
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Ingredients
You've likely got white sugar and an old jar of molasses in the back of the pantry! Next time your run out of brown sugar, skip the store run and try making your own!
- White Sugar - Just regular, cheap basic white sugar! Or you can use organic cane sugar which has a slight tan color.
- Molasses - You probably have an old bottle of molasses in the cabinet, but don't worry, it has a super long shelf life. Put it to good use, any type of molasses will work. Try my Rich Molasses Braised Beef Roast with the rest!
See recipe card for quantities.
How to Make Homemade Brown Sugar
So easy, at first it doesn't seem quite right, but keep mashing and homemade brown sugar comes together like magic!
Step 1 - Add 1 cup sugar and 1 Tablespoon molasses to a bowl.
Step 2 - Stir and mix with a spoon.
Step 3 - Really use the back of the spoon to mash the molasses into the sugar.
Step 4 - It takes a few minutes of mashing, but all of a sudden it comes together and you know it's done!
Step 5 - Store it in a jar with a lid, it will keep for months!
Recipe Notes & Tips
- Use the Back of a Spoon to Mash - Mixing and mashing with the back of a spoon will incorporate the molasses. If it doesn't seem to be mixing in, don't worry, just keep mashing!
- Light to Dark Brown Sugar - You can adjust the amount of molasses up or down a bit if you want a lighter or darker brown sugar. While I think 1 cup sugar to 1 Tablespoon molasses is the perfect blend, you can use up to 2 Tablespoons molasses for a very dark brown sugar.
- Ways to Use your Homemade Brown Sugar - Your homemade brown sugar can be used just the same as store-bought! It's great for baking, like in these Apple Cinnamon Raisin Scones or Peach Crisp. Use it in savory dishes too like these Blackened Salmon Rice Bowls with Mango Salsa or this Butternut Squash Casserole. It's delicious to candy nuts for this Apple Walnut Salad! My kids love it on oatmeal and can really tell the difference, homemade is just so much better!
- How to Store - Homemade Brown Sugar can be stored just like store-bought, in an airtight container in the pantry. I like using a mason jar! It will keep for months!
Recipe FAQs
Yes! While this homemade brown sugar can easily be mashed by hand with a spoon, you can also mix it in a food processor or a stand mixer.
Yes, being able to make just what you need is one of the benefits of homemade brown sugar! You can easily make a smaller batch, or double or triple the recipe if you need more. A food processor or mixer may be helpful for making a larger batch.
Yes, most any molasses will work great! I used the bottle of Brer Rabbit brand mild flavor molasses that has been in my pantry for years! Blackstrap molasses is stronger and can be a bit bitter, but probably whatever you have in the pantry will work just fine!
More Recipes to Make Instead of Buy!
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How to Make Homemade Brown Sugar
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Print Pin RateIngredients
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 Tablespoon molasses
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a bowl and mix.
- Really use the back of a spoon to mash the molasses into the sugar. It takes a bit to come together, but keep mixing and mashing and all of a sudden, it's the perfect consistency.
- Store in an airtight container or a jar in the pantry. It will keep for months!
Notes
- Recipe can be doubled or tripled and could be mixed in a food processor or stand mixer.
- Light to Dark Brown Sugar - You can adjust the amount of molasses up or down if you want a lighter or darker brown sugar. Use up to 2 Tablespoons of molasses for very dark brown sugar.
- Nutrition info is for the full recipe, about 1 cup of brown sugar.
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