How to Make Brown Sugar

Running low on a key ingredient, but don’t want to run to the store? We’ve got you covered. With just two pantry staples, you can learn how to make brown sugar in under 5 minutes, saving money and your recipe.

Whether you’re out of brown sugar or just love a good DIY kitchen hack, this guide will show you how to make light or dark brown sugar from scratch, along with clever substitutions using maple syrup, honey, or agave. You’re never stuck without brown sugar again.

This recipe is really cheap to make, and it's perfect for anyone who bakes often or wants to avoid buying multiple kinds of sugar. We love this method because it’s frugal, fast, and fully customizable.

Want darker brown sugar? Add more molasses. Prefer a lighter flavor? Use less. It's as easy as mix-and-store (or use). Whether you're making gooey cookies, soft breads, or just sweetening your morning oats, having this DIY brown sugar trick in your back pocket is a game-changer. It’s one of those simple wins that feels pretty magical.

🥘 Ingredients

• Granulated Sugar: The base for brown sugar, giving it sweetness and structure.
• Molasses: Provides that rich color, moisture, and signature caramel flavor. The more you add, the darker the sugar. *See below for homemade brown sugar without molasses.

For specific ingredients and measurements, please see the recipe card below.

🧾 Substitutions

Molasses: If you’re out, use maple syrup, honey, or agave nectar. The flavor will vary slightly, but still offer that moist texture and sweetness.

White Sugar: You can also try coconut sugar or turbinado sugar for a naturally brown sugar-like alternative. Keep in mind, these won't mix the same way but offer a similar flavor profile.

📖 Variations

You can easily make different shades of brown sugar:

• Light Brown Sugar: Use less molasses (1 tablespoon per cup sugar).
• Dark Brown Sugar: Add more molasses (2 tablespoon per cup).

🔪 Instructions for How to Make Brown Sugar

Step 1: Add white granulated sugar to a mixing bowl.

Step 2: Add molasses (1 tablespoon for light, 2 tablespoon for dark). (Image 1).

Step 3: Mix with a fork, whisk, or hands until evenly colored and clump-free. (Image 2).

Step 4: Adjust molasses to taste.

Step 5: Store in an airtight container.

🥣 Molasses Alternatives

• Maple Brown Sugar: Swap molasses for pure maple syrup for a twist of maple flavor, great for breakfast recipes!
• Honey or Agave Versions: A sweeter, milder version perfect in tea or oatmeal.
• Maple Syrup: Mix 1 tablespoon of pure maple syrup with 1 cup of white sugar. Stir well. Great for a mild, maple-flavored brown sugar alternative.
• Coconut Sugar: Swap 1:1 with brown sugar. It’s naturally brown, caramel-like, and unrefined. Perfect for baking.
• Date Sugar: Made from dried ground dates, it offers rich flavor and color. Use as a 1:1 brown sugar replacement.
• Molasses Substitutes: Use dark corn syrup or golden syrup to mimic the moisture and richness of molasses.

📝 Note: These swaps may alter texture or flavor slightly but work well in a pinch, especially in baked goods, sauces, or rubs.

🌑 Make Dark Brown Sugar from Light

Have light brown sugar but need it darker? No problem! Just mix in more molasses.

How-To: Add 1–2 tablespoons of molasses per cup of light brown sugar, depending on how dark you want it. Stir well with a fork or whisk until fully combined and evenly colored. Store in an airtight container.

🧊 How to Soften Brown Sugar

One of the downsides of brown sugar’s moist texture is that it tends to harden and clump over time. It’s tempting to toss it and buy a new bag, but if you’re like me (a frugal mama who hates wasting food), that’s the last thing you want to do!

Luckily, there are several budget-friendly ways to soften brown sugar, some for quick fixes, others for long-term storage.

Quick Ways to Soften Brown Sugar

These methods are perfect if you need your sugar right now:

• Microwave + Damp Paper Towel: Place the brown sugar in a microwave-safe bowl. Lay a lightly damp paper towel on top and microwave in 20-second intervals, fluffing with a fork in between until soft.
• Bread or Marshmallow Method (Overnight): Add a slice of fresh bread or a few marshmallows to a sealed bag or container of hardened sugar. Let sit overnight. The sugar will absorb the moisture and soften up.
• Damp Tea Bag Method: Place a damp (not dripping) tea bag inside the container with the sugar. Seal tightly and wait a few hours or overnight.

⚠️ Note: Be cautious with these methods. Too much moisture can cause sugar to turn white, melt, or even get sticky. And that slice of bread? If forgotten, it can mold, yikes!

🐻 My Favorite Way to Keep Brown Sugar Soft

After trying all the tips and tricks, I finally found a long-term solution I absolutely love: a terracotta brown sugar saver, especially the adorable little terracotta bears.

Here’s how it works:

1. Soak the terracotta disk or bear in warm water for a few minutes.
2. Pat it dry with a towel.
3. Place it in an airtight container with your brown sugar.

That’s it! It keeps your sugar soft without over-moistening it, and there’s no need to mess with bread, marshmallows, or microwaving.

✨ Bonus: My kids love spotting the “sugar bear” in the jar!

If you don’t have a bear, any food-safe terracotta piece will work, just make sure it’s clean. Or, you can even buy special brown sugar containers with built-in terracotta inserts.

With one of these little helpers, you may never need to soften brown sugar again, because it stays soft from the start!

🍬 What to Make With Brown Sugar

Now that you know how to make, store, and soften brown sugar, it’s time for the fun part, using it! Whether you’re baking, cooking, or whipping up a cozy drink, brown sugar adds unbeatable depth, richness, and sweetness to every dish.

From savory dinners to sweet breakfasts and everything in between, these ideas will have you asking, “What should I make next?”

Must-Try Recipes With Brown Sugar

• Garlic Brown Sugar Pork Tenderloin. Juicy, flavorful, and wrapped in a caramelized garlic-sugar crust, this roast is weeknight easy and holiday worthy.
• Apple Pie Baked Beans. Sweet, savory, and packed with comforting fall flavor. A show-stopping side dish perfect for potlucks and BBQs.
• 10-Minute Salted Caramel Sauce. Made with pantry staples and ready in minutes, this sauce is amazing on apples, brownies, coffee, or by the spoonful.
• Honey Baked Spiral Ham. Sticky-sweet glaze meets tender, juicy ham. An affordable centerpiece that tastes like it came from a gourmet deli.
• Eggless Chocolate Chip Cookies. Soft, chewy, and egg-free, these cookies are budget-friendly, allergy-aware, and impossible to resist.
• Salted Caramel Banana Pancakes. Pillowy pancakes meet buttery caramel and fresh banana. Dessert-for-breakfast vibes fully approved.
• Maple Bacon Dip. Creamy, dreamy, and addictive. Perfect for brunch spreads, parties, or any time you crave a sweet-savory mashup.
• Small Batch Cinnamon Rolls. Makes just four perfect rolls, because not every craving needs a dozen.
• Instant Pot Apple Pie Filling. Speedy, sweet, and delicious. This filling is ready in minutes and perfect for pies, crisps, or spoonfuls.
• Clone of a Cinnabon Cinnamon Roll. Soft, gooey, sweet cinnamon bliss. This homemade version is a keeper for holidays and weekend baking.

More Delicious Uses for Brown Sugar

• Baked Goods. Cookies, brownies, banana bread, apple crisp, gingerbread, carrot cake, muffins.
• Sauces & Glazes. BBQ, teriyaki, honey mustard, caramel sauce, maple glaze, bourbon dessert drizzle.
• Breakfast & Brunch. Brown sugar pancakes, French toast topping, oatmeal, overnight oats, sweet potato hash.
• Side Dishes. Candied pecans, glazed carrots, baked beans, brown sugar Brussels sprouts.
• Marinades & Rubs. Perfect for ribs, chicken, pork, and salmon, it adds balance and caramelization.
• Drinks & Cocktails. Brown sugar simple syrup, spiced cider, brown sugar lattes, classic Old Fashioneds.

✨ With brown sugar in your pantry and a little inspiration, the options are endless. Sweet or savory, weekday or holiday, get ready to stir up something incredible.