How to Make Homemade Brown Sugar (Easy 2-Ingredient Recipe)
Make homemade brown sugar with just sugar and molasses. This easy 2-ingredient recipe is ready in minutes and perfect for baking.
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There always seems to be one ingredient that’s missing (or super hard) right when you’re ready to bake—and for me, it’s usually brown sugar! Thankfully, making homemade brown sugar couldn’t be easier. All you need are two simple pantry staples, and you’ll have soft, fresh brown sugar in just a couple of minutes. Quicker than running to the store!
Whether you’re making cookies, muffins, coffee cake, or your favorite barbecue sauce, this homemade version works just like store-bought brown sugar. Once you try it, you may never buy another bag again.
If you keep sugar and molasses (which lasts forever) in your pantry, you’ll always have brown sugar whenever you need it.
Why You’ll Love This Homemade Brown Sugar Recipe
- Only 2 simple ingredients
- Ready in less than 5 minutes
- Perfect for baking and cooking
- Easy to make light or dark brown sugar
- Stores well for months
- Simple to double or triple for meal prep
What Is Brown Sugar?
Brown sugar is simply white sugar mixed with molasses. The molasses gives brown sugar its soft texture, rich caramel flavor, and beautiful golden color.
Making it at home allows you to control the ingredients and even use organic cane sugar if you prefer.
Ingredients
- 1 cup granulated sugar (I love using organic cane sugar.)
- 1 tablespoon unsulphured molasses
For Dark Brown Sugar
If you’d like a richer flavor, simply use:
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons unsulphured molasses
That’s it!
Prefer to watch? The full video tutorial is included just below the recipe card.
How to Make Homemade Brown Sugar
- Add the sugar to a medium mixing bowl.
- Pour in the molasses.
- Mix with a fork, spatula, or hand mixer until the molasses is completely incorporated and no streaks remain.
The sugar will become soft, fluffy, and evenly brown.
Can I Use a Stand Mixer?
Absolutely! If you’re making a double or triple batch, a stand mixer makes the job even easier. Simply add the sugar and molasses to the mixing bowl and mix on low speed until everything is evenly combined.
Why Keep Molasses on Hand?
A jar of unsulphured molasses is one of those pantry staples that comes in handy more often than you might think. Here are a few delicious ways to use it:
- Make homemade brown sugar anytime you run out.
- Whisk up homemade BBQ sauce with rich, smoky-sweet flavor.
- Bake soft and chewy oatmeal raisin cookies.
- Add depth to gingerbread, molasses cookies, and spice cakes.
- Stir a spoonful into baked beans for classic homemade flavor.
- Use it in marinades for meats or roasted vegetables.
A single jar lasts a long time, making it an inexpensive pantry staple that’s always worth having on hand.
Storage Tips
Store homemade brown sugar in an airtight container or mason jar at room temperature.
To help keep it soft:
- Use an airtight container.
- Keep it away from moisture.
- If it starts to harden over time, place a slice of bread(I am always partial to my sourdough bread), a marshmallow (check out my homemade marshmallow recipe), or a brown sugar saver in the container overnight to soften it again.
Properly stored, homemade brown sugar will last for several months.
Can I Make a Larger Batch?
Yes! This recipe doubles and triples beautifully.
For example:
Double Batch
- 2 cups sugar
- 2 tablespoons molasses
Triple Batch
- 3 cups sugar
- 3 tablespoons molasses
For dark brown sugar, simply use 2 tablespoons of molasses per cup of sugar.
Making a larger batch is a great way to keep homemade brown sugar on hand whenever you’re baking.
Ways to Use Homemade Brown Sugar
This homemade brown sugar is perfect in:
- Chocolate chip cookies
- Oatmeal cookies
- Cinnamon rolls
- Coffee cake
- Muffins
- Barbecue sauce
- Baked beans
- Homemade marinades
- Oatmeal
Anywhere a recipe calls for brown sugar, this homemade version works beautifully.
Tips for Success
- Unsulphured molasses provides the best flavor.
- Organic cane sugar works wonderfully if you prefer less processed ingredients.
- Mix until no molasses streaks remain.
- A stand mixer makes mixing larger batches effortless.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I substitute homemade brown sugar for store-bought?
Yes! Use it as a 1:1 replacement in any recipe.
What’s the difference between light and dark brown sugar?
Light brown sugar contains less molasses, while dark brown sugar contains more. Dark brown sugar has a deeper caramel flavor and darker color.
Why did my brown sugar get hard?
Brown sugar hardens when it loses moisture. Keeping it in an airtight container helps prevent this.
Can I freeze homemade brown sugar?
Yes! Store it in a freezer-safe bag or airtight container. Let it come to room temperature before using.
Final Thoughts
Homemade brown sugar is one of those simple kitchen staples that’s incredibly handy to know how to make. It takes just a couple of minutes, uses pantry ingredients you may already have, and tastes just like the store-bought version.
Whether you’re baking cookies for your family or whipping up your favorite homemade barbecue sauce, this easy recipe will ensure you never have to run to the grocery store for brown sugar again.
Let me know how you used it in the comments below!
From My Colorado Kitchen to yours, happy baking!
Don’t forget to pin this for later!
Homemade Brown Sugar
Make homemade brown sugar with just sugar and molasses. This easy 2-ingredient recipe is ready in minutes and perfect for baking.
Ingredients
- 1 cup granulated sugar (organic cane sugar works great)
- 1 tablespoon unsulphured molasses
Instructions
- Add the sugar and molasses to a mixing bowl.
- Stir with a fork, spatula, or hand mixer until the molasses is completely incorporated.
- Store in an airtight container at room temperature.
For dark brown sugar: Use 2 tablespoons of molasses for every 1 cup of sugar.
Notes
- Use unsulphured molasses. It has the best flavor for homemade brown sugar and is the type most commonly used in baking.
- Organic cane sugar works beautifully. I love making this recipe with organic cane sugar, but regular granulated sugar works just as well.
- For dark brown sugar, use 2 tablespoons of molasses for every 1 cup of sugar instead of 1 tablespoon.
- Mixing options: A fork or spatula works well for small batches. If you're making a double or triple batch, a hand mixer or stand mixer makes it quick and easy to evenly incorporate the molasses.
- Scale the recipe easily. This recipe can be doubled, tripled, or even quadrupled by keeping the same ratio of 1 tablespoon molasses per 1 cup sugar (or 2 tablespoons for dark brown sugar).
- Storage: Store homemade brown sugar in an airtight container at room temperature. If it begins to harden over time, place a slice of bread, a marshmallow, or a brown sugar saver in the container overnight to help soften it.
- Shelf Life: Homemade brown sugar will keep for several months when stored in an airtight container.
- Substitution: Use this homemade brown sugar as a 1:1 replacement for store-bought light brown sugar in any recipe.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1/4 CupAmount Per Serving: Calories: 257Sodium: 2mgCarbohydrates: 65gSugar: 65g
Nutrition facts are calculated automatically and are approximate.
