Sometimes, it’s worse to know that you are run out of the star ingredient in your recipe. This thing happens with everyone. Maybe you forget to buy some extra bags of Brown Sugar this time. You need not worry by the way! We have some handy Brown Sugar substitutes so that you don’t need to bother your neighbors to ask for some Brown Sugar or running to the grocery store. You have to know what is Brown Sugar actually so that you can choose the best substitute for your recipe/dish.
Table of Contents
What is Brown Sugar?
Brown Sugar is basically a sucrose sugar product having a brown color due to the inclusion of molasses. It is either unrefined or partially refines soft sugar having sugar crystals with some molasses content. It is also produced by the addition of molasses to refined white sugar.
Nutrition Profile of Brown Sugar:
- Calories 380 kCal
- Carbohydrate 98.09 g
- Protein 0.12 g
- Niacin 0.1 mg
- Folate 1.0 mcg
- Panthothenic Acid 0.1 mg
- Choline 2.3 mg
- Betaine 0.1 mg
- Calcium 83.0 mg
- Iron 0.71 mg
- Magnesium 9.0 mg
- Phosphorus 4.0 mg
- Potassium 133.0 mg
- Zinc 0.03 mg
- Copper 0.047 mg
- Sodium 28 mg
- Manganese 0.1 mg
- Selenium 1.2 mcg
Health Benefits of Brown Sugar:
- Brown Sugar helps to improve digestion.
- It also helps to boost energy naturally.
- Brown Sugar is really helpful for those who have some respiratory problems like asthma.
- It is beneficial for pregnant women also.
- Brown Sugar is good for your skin too. It hydrates the skin and moisturizes it too.
What can You Substitute for Brown Sugar?
As we know that it feels bad when we come to know that we are run out of the star ingredient. It would not good to say that we can’t complete our recipe without Brown Sugar. As we always say every ingredient has its substitute. We just have to find it. But here, you don’t need to go anywhere to find the best substitute for Brown Sugar. We have already found it and listed it down below. You can choose what you have right now in your kitchen to complete the recipe.
1. White Sugar with Molasses:
A mixture of White Sugar and molasses can be the best substitute for Brown Sugar. You just have to take 1 cup (200 g) of granulated white sugar with 1 tablespoon(15 ml) of molasses. This mixture results in light brown sugar. If you need dark brown sugar, you can increase the quantity to 2 tablespoons (30 ml).
2. White Sugar with Maple Syrup:
The traditional method of making Brown Sugar is easy when you have molasses and granulated White Sugar. If you don’t have molasses in your kitchen, you can swap molasses with Maple Syrup. It won’t change the final product. You just have to take 1 cup (200 g) of granulated white sugar with 1 tablespoon(15 ml) of pure Maple Syrup to make a Brown Sugar alternative for your recipe.
3. Coconut Sugar:
Coconut Sugar is marked as a healthier sugar replacement. It contains vitamins, minerals, and fibers that are not mostly found in refined Brown Sugar. Coconut Sugar is basically made from the sap of coconut trees. You can easily replace Brown Sugar with Coconut Sugar in a ratio of 1:1. Coconut Sugar is dry in nature because it doesn’t hold as much moisture. This can affect the texture of your baked goods. You have to add some butter or oil to maintain the moisture of the baking goods.
4. Raw Sugar:
Raw Sugar like Demerara makes a great Brown Sugar substitute. Its light color and caramel flavor make it almost similar to Brown Sugar. However Raw Sugar is drier and more coarse than Brown Sugar which may impact the end result of the recipe/dish. Most of the time the granules of coarse Raw Sugar don’t mix with the dough or batter perfectly. This gives a different grainy texture to low-moisture baked goods. There is one solution for this. You can grind Raw Sugar in a grinder before using it in your recipe. This fine texture will easily integrate into your recipe and give you the best replacement.
5. Muscovado Sugar:
Muscovado Sugar is refined sugar but not as refined as Brown Sugar. It contains molasses-like traditional Brown Sugar. This minimal refined sugar has moisture-based content which is higher than regular Brown Sugar. This nature of Muscovado Sugar makes it clumpy or sticky. It can be used in the same ratio as Brown Sugar. You may sift the Muscovado Sugar clumps before using them in your recipe/dish.
6. Date Molasses:
Date Molasses is a powerful syrup that is dropped on yogurt and baked into granola. If your recipe/dish calls for Brown Sugar, use about half as much date molasses by weight. It is also served with a side which is a type of pudding popular in North Africa and the Middle East.
7. Date Sugar:
Dates are natural sweeteners and are mostly used in Middle Eastern countries’ confectionaries to make smoothies. It is made by baking date paste with maltodextrin. Date sugar is a healthy replacement for Brown Sugar, especially for those who want to cut back on refined sugar. This sugar is made from ground dehydrated dates. It can be equally swapped for either Brown or White Sugar. Dates really beneficial to give natural energy to the body.
8. Turbinado Sugar:
Turbinado Sugar is milder and lighter than any other unrefined sugar type. It is made by pressing the sugarcane, which can cause large grain sizes in Turbinado Sugar. Its large grain is also low enough in moisture-loving molasses to have a nice crunch. sprinkle it over Marian Burros’ beloved plum torte for texture.
9. Palm Sugar:
The boiled sap of sugar palm, this amazing sweetener is sold as a thick paste in solid cones in many Southeast Asian markets. You can use it to add the rounding thickness to south curries or transform David Lebovitz’s ginger cake, along with the young ginger and Galangal.
10. Maple Sugar:
Maple Sugar is granulated sugar produced with Maple Syrup and has a lot in common with Brown Sugar. It lacks some hygroscopic properties of Brown Sugar. Still, it is sweeter in taste. If your recipe calls for Brown Sugar, it would be best to use Maple Sugar in the recipe. You can try it with rum apple cake which is gluten-free.
11. Honey, Maple Syrup, or Agave Nectar:
With a simple modification in a recipe, honey, maple syrup, or agave nectar are all perfect alternatives for Brown Sugar. All the replacements are liquid. You want to notice how extra moisture may affect the outcome of your recipe, especially when it comes to baking the goods. The exact measurements of substitution may vary and depend on the particular Recipe.
You can replace each cup of brown sugar (200 grams) with 2/3 cup (160 ml) of the liquid sweetener of your choice. For every 2/3 cup (160 ml) of liquid sweetener used, reduce other liquid sources by approximately 1/4 cup (60 ml).
12. Jaggery:
Jaggery is unrefined cane sugar. It is molded into solid blocks. It is traditionally used in many South Asian cuisines, and its earthy flavor is perfect in savory Andhra chippa karamu (a spicy tamarind sauce) or in less traditional Spicy Chocolate Chip–Hazelnut Cookies.
13. Maple Syrup:
Maple syrup was produced and consumed first in North America by Native Americans for many centuries prior to European colonization. It’s wonderful drizzled over pancakes and waffles, of course, but also try it in this airy frosting, or layer it into this outrageous walnut cake.
14. Barley Malt Syrup:
Barley Malt Syrup is prepared with barley grain. Barley grain is sprouted and then heated until it makes a syrup. The syrup is evaporated, resulting in a highly concentrated sweetener.
15. Plain White Sugar:
Well, if you don’t have the above-listed substitutes right now. You can use plain White Sugar granules without fear of ruining your recipe. White sugar lacks the same rich flavor that Brown Sugar adds to a recipe. It all depends on the type of recipe, sometimes you may not notice much flavor change at all. Whereas you may notice some differences between the texture of baked goods like cookies. You may notice that Brown Suger provides a chewiness to the baked goods, but White Sugar provides crispiness to the baked goods.
FAQ:-
Can you substitute Brown Sugar for White Sugar?
Yes, you can substitute Brown Sugar for White Sugar when you don't have any other ingredient. White sugar lacks the same rich flavor that Brown Sugar adds to a recipe.
How do you make homemade Brown Sugar?
Pour molasses on top of white sugar in a bowl. For light Brown Sugar mix ½ cup white sugar with 2 tsp. molasses. Now, stir it well until combines and give the dark brown color. You can use a fork to break clumps. Now, Store this homemade Brown Sugar in an airtight container to keep it from drying out.
Does Brown Sugar make you gain weight?
Brown Sugar is low in calories, it doesn't pile up weight like White Sugar. Still, it's a type of sugar, you should limit the intake of Brown Sugar to stay healthy and fit.
How do you make Brown Sugar without Molasses?
You can make Brown Sugar without Molasses. Here are some alternatives to Molasses. Now, you can make your Brown Sugar at home without having Molasses. 1. Add a tablespoon of maple syrup to a cup of granulated sugar. 2. Agave Nectar can also be used as Molasses in making Brown Sugar at home. Just mix a tablespoon of Agave Nectar to a cup of granulated sugar. 3. Rum flavoring also adds a flavor similar to Molasses. 4. You can also use Buckwheat honey. It has a strong flavor like Molasses.
Now, you know the best Brown Sugar Substitute. You can choose according to what you have in the kitchen or you can also buy from amazon. Please! comment down below your questions, and let us know how much informative is this article for you. 🙂
