**In this post we are stocking the pantry but this time we’re making brown sugar.**

*We’re going to talk about what brown sugar is & then you will see how easy it is to make it!*

Homemade Brown Sugar

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This is a simple recipe that can be mixed up with just a few minutes of your day & some elbow grease.

Homemade brown sugar has only 2 ingredients: granulated sugar & molasses

Before I share the recipe let’s talk about what brown sugar & what molasses is, the recommended amounts of molasses you would want to use. Be sure to check out the notes & substitutions section of this post for additional ways you might want to customize this recipe.

What is Brown Sugar?

Simply put it is refined sugar with added molasses. The added molasses is what gives brown sugar its signature color.

Sounds pretty simple to me. The only difference between different varieties of brown sugar is the amount of added molasses.

Light brown sugar is most commonly used in baking. Typically light brown sugar contains approximately 3% molasses by weight.

Dark brown sugar contains approximately 7% molasses by weight.

You could follow those percentages or you could play around with the recommended molasses measurements

Light brown sugar → ½ - 1 ½ Tbsp of molasses per cup of sugar

Dark brown sugar → 1 ½ Tbsp - ¼ cup of molasses per cup of sugar

I personally like to use 1 ½ Tbsp per every 1 cup of sugar

While there is quite the range I think that the type of molasses you are using will also play a part in the finished product

Image of sugar & molasses before it’s been thoroughly mixed

What is Molasses?

Molasses is the liquid sweetener obtained by sugar cane or sugar beets & is a byproduct of the sugar refining process.

Types of molasses

Light → Lightest in color & sweetest in flavor as it contains the highest amount of sugar of all the molasses. It is often used in baking. My light molasses was sold under the name fancy molasses
Dark → darker in color & less sweet. It is commonly used in baking where a bolder flavor is desired such as when making gingerbread
Blackstrap → darkest in color, least sweet with a bitter flavor. I do not recommend this type if you can avoid it. If this is the only type you can find give it a try & see what happens
Unsulfured → molasses that has been produced without the use of sulfur dioxide as a preservative.

I’m personally using Fancy Molasses from Crosby which is a light & unsulfured version.

A 20g serving of fancy molasses contains

Calories 60
Fat 0 g
Carbohydrates 16 g
Fiber 0 g
Sugars 12 g
Protein 0.2 g
Cholesterol 0 mg
Sodium 0 mg
Potassium 200 mg 4%
Calcium 30 mg 2%
Iron 0.5 mg 3%
Riboflavin 0.225 mg 17%
Magnesium 10 mg 2%

Homemade Brown Sugar

Image of sugar & molasses after it’s been thoroughly mixed

Equipment:

Mixing bowl
Whisk, spoon, fork & fingers for mixing
Measuring cups & spoons
Storage jar

Ingredients:

Granulated or castor sugar
Molasses

Method:

Add the desired amount of granulated to a mixing bowl
Add the desired amount of molasses to the bowl
Mix until everything is well combined

Shelf Life & Storage:

Store in an airtight container for up to 6 months
A nontransparent container is ideal as this will limit the sugars exposure to air & dry conditions which can leave brown sugar in a solid mass as it loses its moisture content
Consider adding a moisture retainer to the container such as a slice of bread, replacing as needed

Notes & Suggestions:

In a pinch when I don’t want to mix up a batch I like to just add the amount of sugar called for & mix in a small amount of molasses.
Feel free to adjust the amount of molasses to suit your desires
Store bought brown sugar weighs more than granulated sugar. Once you add the molasses the weight difference will be very miniscule so you will be able to substitute it 1 for 1 in any recipe
Add vanilla extract or spices for a unique flavor
Using too much molasses will result in an overly moist brown sugar. Always start with less & gradually add more
Consider adding a moisture retainer to the container such as a slice of bread, replacing as needed
If you don’t have molasses you could try using maple syrup, honey or agave nectar. The flavor will vary but in a pinch I don’t see why it wouldn’t work. Start by mixing up a small amount & see how it goes then increase the batch size if you like it