10 Delicious Brown Sugar Substitute Ideas (2024)

The next time you’re jonesing for some late-night chocolate chip cookies (or apple crumble, coffee cake, berry cobbler...) only to reach into your cupboard and discover you’re completely out of brown sugar, fear not. There are alternative solutions that don’t involve running out to the grocery store in your PJs for some more. Not that there’s any shame in that, of course.

Consider a few of these last-minute back-up plans.

The Ultimate Guide to Baking Substitutions

01of 10

More White Sugar

10 Delicious Brown Sugar Substitute Ideas (1)

Even if you’re out of brown sugar, chances are you’ve got plenty of granulated white sugar on hand—so use it to your advantage. Use the same amount of white sugar as the recipe calls for brown sugar, and you should be just fine. If you’re making cookies, they may turn out a bit crispier than if you’d used brown sugar, but it won’t be a deal-breaker.

If the recipe calls for light brown sugar, and all you have is dark, you can use equal parts of white granulated sugar and dark brown sugar to make light brown sugar.

02of 10

Muscovado Sugar

10 Delicious Brown Sugar Substitute Ideas (2)

Muscovado sugar is basically unrefined sugar cane that still has molasses in it (and plenty of it), which makes it a smart substitute for brown sugar if you’re looking for something that packs a real punch flavor-wise.

It comes from the island of Mauritius, just off the coast of Africa, and is much darker than your usual brown sugar variety. As a result, it’s much richer in flavor. You'll likely notice its delicious caramel flavor and slightly smoky aftertaste, which is why it can be found in everything from ginger cookies to barbecue sauce.

One more perk? It’s known for being moister than other sugars, so it won’t clump together when used in baking recipes.

03of 10

Coconut Sugar

10 Delicious Brown Sugar Substitute Ideas (3)

Coconut sugar comes from the palm of a coconut that’s been boiled and dehydrated. And while it has around the same general calorie count as white sugar, it’s much lower in fructose, which is why it’s often pegged as a “healthier” option. (Take this with a grain of—ahem, salt—since the same amount of calories is the same amount of calories.)

Its caramel color looks fairly similar to brown sugar, but its similar taste to white sugar is what really makes it an ideal substitute when you’re looking for a replacement.

04of 10

White Granulated Sugar + Molasses

10 Delicious Brown Sugar Substitute Ideas (4)

In a pinch, you can go the DIY route and make your own brown sugar by "blitzing" some granulated white sugar with molasses. That’s all brown sugar really is, anyway.

And the best part is, it’s super-easy.

Start with 1 cup of white sugar and a tablespoon of molasses for light brown sugar. Use 2 tablespoons of molasses for dark brown sugar. Combine the two by mixing them with a fork or a mixer until evenly combined. Voila! You have yourself some fluffy and delicious brown sugar in seconds.

5 Ways to Get Clumps out of Brown Sugar

Maple Sugar

10 Delicious Brown Sugar Substitute Ideas (5)

Maple sugar comes straight from maple syrup as opposed to sugar cane, and as a result, it adds a sweet and unmistakably delicious maple taste to almost any recipe. It’s commonly used to top off dishes like oatmeal or porridge but can easily stand in as a substitute for brown sugar in baking and works well in things like pies and cookies.

You can also look into trying other unrefined sugar options like palm sugar, which comes from sugar palm trees, or piloncilo, which comes from Mexican sugar cane and is typically sold in the form of a cone. While trickier to find in a grocery store, their interesting flavor profiles make them well worth hunting down and trying.

06of 10

White Granulated Sugar and Honey, Agave, or Maple Syrup

10 Delicious Brown Sugar Substitute Ideas (6)

Combining white sugar with molasses may be a better brown sugar substitute, but if you don't have molasses, other liquid sweeteners like honey, maple syrup, or agave nectar will work as well. You should mix a tablespoon or two of the liquid sweetener into a scant 1 cup of white sugar to replace a cup of brown sugar.

Are Honey and Maple Syrup Really Healthier Than Sugar? We Asked Nutritionists

07of 10

Liquid Sweeteners Like Agave, Honey, or Maple Syrup

10 Delicious Brown Sugar Substitute Ideas (7)

If you don't have granulated sugar, either, you can opt to just use a liquid sweetener like honey, maple syrup, or agave—but you'll need to make a few tweaks to the recipe to make it work. Use 2/3 of a cup of liquid sweetener for every cup of brown sugar, and reduce other liquids in the recipe (like milk) by 2 tablespoons.

Your cookies or cake may be ready a few minutes early if you use a liquid sweetener instead, as it can caramelize faster.

08of 10

Turbinado Sugar

10 Delicious Brown Sugar Substitute Ideas (8)

Consider this (often called raw sugar) a lighter version of muscavado sugar. It's sugar that's partially refined, so it still retains some of the molasses and some of that brown sugar flavor and taste. You can use it one-for-one in lieu of brown sugar.

09of 10

Date Sugar

10 Delicious Brown Sugar Substitute Ideas (9)

Date sugar is actually fruit—dried dates are pulverized into a fine powder that's similar to granulated sugar. It's often used as a healthier alternative to white or brown sugar, and you can use it as a one-to-one replacement. However, keep in mind that date sugar doesn't "melt" into the baked good like regular sugar, so you may have a little grittiness.

10of 10

Applesauce

10 Delicious Brown Sugar Substitute Ideas (10)

Applesauce has long been used to help make baked goods healthier, either as a substitute for oil or for sugar. You can use it as a one-to-one substitute (1 cup applesauce for every cup of brown sugar). However, you will need to reduce the other liquids in the recipe by 2 tablespoons to account for the extra liquid.

The Ultimate Guide to Baking Substitutions

10 Delicious Brown Sugar Substitute Ideas (2024)

FAQs

10 Delicious Brown Sugar Substitute Ideas? ›

White Granulated Sugar and Honey, Agave, or Maple Syrup

Combining white sugar with molasses may be a better brown sugar substitute, but if you don't have molasses, other liquid sweeteners like honey, maple syrup, or agave nectar will work as well.

What is a good substitute for brown sugar? ›

White Granulated Sugar and Honey, Agave, or Maple Syrup

Combining white sugar with molasses may be a better brown sugar substitute, but if you don't have molasses, other liquid sweeteners like honey, maple syrup, or agave nectar will work as well.

What can I substitute for 2 cups of brown sugar? ›

For every cup of brown sugar called for in your recipe, substitute 1 cup (198g) white granulated sugar and 2 teaspoons (14g) molasses for light brown sugar; or 1 cup (198g) white granulated sugar and 1 tablespoon (21g) molasses for dark brown sugar.

How to make brown sugar without molasses or syrup? ›

Add a tablespoon of buckwheat honey to a cup of white granulated sugar. This honey is darker than orange blossom or wildflower honey and has a strong flavor much like molasses that will come through in the resulting sugar.

What sweetener tastes like brown sugar? ›

You can still create a suitable substitute for brown sugar if you have a liquid sweetener like maple syrup, agave nectar, honey, brown rice syrup, or date syrup. Of these, date syrup is your best bet thanks to its caramel-like, almost nutty flavor that's reminiscent of molasses.

What is a substitute for 1 cup of brown sugar? ›

Mix 1 cup of granulated sugar with 1 tablespoon of molasses to mimic a cup of light brown sugar. Mix 1 cup of granulated sugar with 2 tablespoons of molasses to mimic a cup of dark brown sugar. If you don't have molasses on hand, you can combine white sugar with another liquid sweetener, like maple syrup or honey.

How much maple syrup to replace 1 cup brown sugar? ›

Maple syrup offers a delicious caramel, toffee-like flavor, making it ideal for fall treats like pumpkin bread or oatmeal muffins. To use it in baking, use ¾ cup maple syrup per 1 cup of white or brown sugar, says Ziata.

What is a good substitute for sugar in cookies? ›

Honey Or Syrup

General recommended substitution ratios are as follows: For every cup of sugar, you can replace it with a 1/2 cup to 2/3 cup of honey or 2/3 cup agave. If using maple syrup or molasses, 3/4 cup to 1 cup will do the trick.

How much honey to replace brown sugar? ›

Use less honey than sugar.

Some honey, like acacia honey, is extra sweet, while some, like chestnut, is much less so, but the general rule to adhere to is as follows: The Rule: For every 1 cup of sugar, substitute 1/2 to 2/3 cup honey.

What is the best sugar replacement for diabetics? ›

5 Sugar Substitute Ideas for People With Diabetes
  1. Stevia. While you can buy stevia sweetener packets, it also grows as a plant — and some websites make harvesting and drying your own look easy. ...
  2. Coconut Palm Sugar. ...
  3. Erythritol. ...
  4. Advantame. ...
  5. Yacon Syrup.

Is there a sugar free brown sugar? ›

Brown sugar replacements provide the aroma, sweetness, and texture of regular brown sugar, but without all the calories and sugar content. They are divided into two groups: (1) zero-calories and sugar-free, and (2) reduced-calories and NOT sugar-free. They taste, smell, and feel soft and moist like LIGHT brown sugar.

Can I use Karo syrup for brown sugar? ›

Can Karo® Pancake Syrup be substituted for brown or granulated sugar in recipes? Although corn syrup and granulated sugars are both sweeteners, the added moisture in corn syrup means it isn't a simple substitution in baked goods, since those recipes demand a balance of dry and wet ingredients.

What is the best substitute for brown sugar? ›

A combination of white sugar and molasses is your best bet for a brown sugar substitute, as that's exactly what brown sugar is made of (1). To make your own light brown sugar, mix 1 cup, or 200 grams (g), of granulated white sugar with 1 tablespoon (tbsp.), or 15 milliliters (mL), of molasses.

What are the two main ingredients in brown sugar? ›

Brown sugar is granulated cane sugar with added molasses. It is coarser and more moist than white sugar and imparts a unique flavor and dark color to food systems. Two main forms of brown sugar are available: Unrefined.

How to make 1 cup of brown sugar? ›

To make light brown sugar, combine 1 cup white granulated sugar and 1 Tbsp. molasses (increase to 2 Tbsp. molasses for dark brown sugar). No need to whip out the blender or food processor—you can mix this by hand.

What sugar is the same as brown sugar? ›

Brown sugars

It's the same as normal caster sugar, but it's unrefined, so has more caramel flavours.

Can I replace brown sugar with maple syrup? ›

For most recipes, maple syrup can easily be used to replace an equal amount of granulated white or brown sugar. To substitute for a cup of sugar, replace it with 1 cup of maple syrup and reduce the quantity of other liquids in the recipe by ¼ cup (60 ml) total. *This method works for most recipes.

What is the healthiest alternative to sugar? ›

Stevia and monk fruit are both naturally derived from plants and some people feel they have a flavor very similar to regular sugar. The FDA says these sweeteners are “generally regarded as safe,” which means they are safe to use for their intended purpose.

Can you substitute brown sugar for honey? ›

Now, as it is not liquid, you need to mix the sugar with water (milk and eggs will work too) to get a paste-like viscosity similar to that of honey. To substitute brown sugar for honey, simply add half a cup of water for every three cups of sugar.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Ms. Lucile Johns

Last Updated:

Views: 6141

Rating: 4 / 5 (41 voted)

Reviews: 88% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Ms. Lucile Johns

Birthday: 1999-11-16

Address: Suite 237 56046 Walsh Coves, West Enid, VT 46557

Phone: +59115435987187

Job: Education Supervisor

Hobby: Genealogy, Stone skipping, Skydiving, Nordic skating, Couponing, Coloring, Gardening

Introduction: My name is Ms. Lucile Johns, I am a successful, friendly, friendly, homely, adventurous, handsome, delightful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.