If you’re out of brown sugar and need some for a recipe, you can easily make it at home using granulated sugar and molasses. Here’s a simple method.

I usually keep my pantry well stocked, but one day I ran out of brown sugar and needed its moist, molasses-rich texture for a recipe. Then I realized I had molasses on hand. A quick search confirmed what many of us suspect: brown sugar is simply granulated sugar combined with molasses. It’s straightforward to make—just combine the two and mix until the molasses is evenly distributed.
Start by adding the molasses to the bottom of a large mixing bowl, then pour in the granulated sugar. At first the mixture will look clumpy as the molasses coats the sugar:

Mix for a few minutes and the clumps will begin to break up. You can use a hand mixer, a stand mixer, or pulse briefly in a food processor. Stirring by hand with a spoon works too, but it takes a little more time.

Continue mixing until the molasses is fully incorporated and the sugar has an even color and texture. The resulting brown sugar should be soft and slightly moist, ready to use just like store-bought brown sugar.

Transfer the brown sugar to an airtight container to keep it soft. Stored properly, it will be ready to use in cookies, sauces, and any recipe that calls for brown sugar.
Brown Sugar Recipe
2 cups
Ingredients
- 1 lb sugar (about 2 cups)
- 3 oz molasses (1/4 cup)
Instructions
- Place the molasses in the bottom of a large mixing bowl and add the sugar on top.
- Use a hand mixer, stand mixer, or food processor to combine until the molasses is evenly distributed. The mixture will look clumpy at first; continue mixing until the clumps are gone and the sugar has an even, soft texture.
- Store the finished brown sugar in an airtight container to keep it soft. It’s now ready to use in any recipe calling for brown sugar.
Nutrition
Carbohydrates: 231 g,
Sodium: 18 mg,
Sugar: 231 g
Nutrition is estimated using a food database and is intended only as a guideline for informational purposes.