The darker the brown sugar, the more the molasses flavor comes through. In these recipes, the loose grains of white sugar aerate the dough for softer, fluffier results. Lv 4. You can either dump the ingredients into a food processor or blender to get the right, sticky consistency, or you can just mix with a spoon. This means you may have to adjust some of the other proportions in the recipe if you sub in brown sugar for white, like slightly decreasing the wet ingredients or upping the dry ones. Sort of, is the quick answer. But brown sugar has a higher moisture content that causes it to clump and sit in lumps. 57 views. Use an equal amount of firmly packed light brown sugar as white sugar in the recipe. It's not that simple, unfortunately. When baking, can you substitute brown sugar for white sugar and vice versa? For example, if the recipe requires 1 cup of granulated white sugar, use 1 cup of turbinado sugar. For example, the darkening stands out more in normally pale sugar cookies than in a deep brown pumpkin spice loaf. It also plays important roles in chemical reactions that occur during baking, and white sugar and brown sugar can interact with other ingredients differently. If a recipe calls for 1 tablespoon of granulated white sugar, substitute 1 tablespoon of brown sugar. Although date sugar can be used a substitute for white sugar in baked goods, it is better suited for use in recipes that call for brown sugar. Brown Sugar Cheesecake. Check, check, and check (thatâll be you once you breeze through our gift collections for all your favorite people). When using a sugar substitute, you might have to alter your baking methods and amounts of other ingredients, and even with these adjustments, a sugar-less cake will have a different texture and flavor. Granulated white sugar is a dry, freely flowing grain that naturally fills the space into which it's poured. Brown sugar is sugar that has been sprayed with molasses, so it is generally a richer flavour. But your product might be a bit dry. Source(s): https://shrinke.im/a9tNr. In some cases, it enhances it, as with the warm, fall flavors of gingerbread, pumpkin, apple, chai, cinnamon, nutmeg and clove. Using brown sugar instead of white sugar won't affect the sweetness of the finished product, but it does alter the taste a bit. Brown sugar packs down a lot and you may end up using more (by mass) sugar than you intended. When you substitute brown sugar for white sugar, the most significant effects â and the hardest to predict â are usually related to certain characteristics. Simply substitute 1 cup of brown sugar for every 1 cup of white granulated sugar. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla. Bear in mind that the small amount of molasses in light brown sugar can give a light brown hue to some paler foods. So, when baking, you can't just blindly substitute one ingredient in a recipe for another. For just one more common example, if a recipe uses softened or melted butter, the two types of sugar have different effects on gluten development during baking. But again, while the substitution may affect characteristics that play to personal preference, it's still safe to use; it won't render the finished product inedible. His stories on food and beverage topics have appeared in numerous print and web publications, including Visit Florida, Orlando Style Magazine, CrushBrew Magazine, Agent Magazine, Dollar Stretcher Magazine, The 863 Magazine and others. For instance, brown sugar is acidic, and white sugar is neutral. In the test kitchen, we’ve found that pulsing 1 cup of granulated sugar in the food processor with 1 tablespoon of molasses makes a fine substitute for light brown sugar. Different brands have varying amounts of molasses, and there's light and dark brown sugar; the former has less molasses, the latter has more. He spent 10 years working front- and back-of-house in a few casual and upscale restaurants, adding professional experience to his love of eating and cooking. However, it can change some characteristics of the finished product. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla. However, you can also omit the molasses, if necessary. It’s the same as normal caster sugar, but it’s unrefined, so has more caramel flavours. In a large bowl, cream together the butter, brown sugar and white sugar until light and fluffy. Light brown sugar works as a substitute in some cakes, though you should not use it in white or sponge cakes. Molasses is hygroscopic which means it holds on to moisture and you … If a recipe calls for 1 tablespoon of granulated white sugar, substitute 1 tablespoon of brown sugar. Different types of sugar Brown sugars. However, you can also omit the molasses, if necessary. To avoid this, store in a glass jar or plastic bag in a cool dry place. You can use the same amount of light brown sugar that your recipe requires for white sugar. If you want something healthy make carrot cake; you can use your brown sugar there. Light brown sugar offers the least amount of molasses and therefore can serve as a replacement for white sugar with only a minor effect on flavor. That's because brown sugar is just regular old granulated sugar that's been processed with molasses, so all you have to do to make brown sugar is add a couple tablespoons of molasses to white sugar. A Web Experience brought to you by LEAFtv, Joy of Baking: Baking Ingredient Substitution Table, Better Homes and Gardens: How to Substitute Brown Sugar for White Sugar, Serious Eats: Cookie Science - The Real Differences Between Brown and White Sugars, 3 Easy Steps On How To Substitute Sparkling Water In Baking, How to Make Cookies Crack on Top When Baked, The Difference Between Strudel & Streusel. Cooking is a lot more flexible, usually affording plenty of leeway when it comes to measuring and swapping ingredients. This can impart a slightly acidic bite and a mildly bitter flavor, but it's typically not pronounced enough to detract from the quality of the food. Just like brown sugar, it is moist and can be used as a substitute for brown sugar in recipes. As you probably know, baking and cooking are very different processes. There is no need to alter any other ingredients in the recipe. The simplest method would be to substitute one for one. It has only 6% of the calories of regular sugar. It is simply less refined than white sugar and has much larger crystals, but it can still be used in cakes. The dense, compacted consistency of brown sugar doesn't create nearly as many air pockets during creaming, giving you a denser finished product. You can use the same amount of light brown sugar that your recipe requires for white sugar. If I think it will suit the flavor, I do it all the time. Molasses adds color and texture to the white sugar, which makes it similar to brown sugar. You can use just plain white sugar, but since brown sugar adds a moistness and a taste of it's own, and white sugar adds only sweetness, your end product won't be as good. Lv 5. Brown sugar has had a bit of molasses added. There's one caveat here, though. Brown sugar will also add a hint of rich caramel flavor and affect the color. Neutral white sugar inhibits gluten formation, so dough spreads, thins and crisps more, while acidic brown sugar encourages gluten development and egg protein coagulation, so the dough sets faster, becoming thicker and chewier. Both kinds can stand in for granulated sugar in baking — just be prepared for a different texture in the results, depending on how the sugar reacts with the other ingredients. Remember, this is going to affect the chemical reaction which occurs during baking. Alas, it will still be a fruitcake. How to use liquid sweetener Take care to fully read the chart because there are tips below the measurements about adjusting the liquid used in the recipe if you choose to use the liquid sugars like agave, honey or maple syrup. Sometimes, for extra depth, I'll switch it out in my butter cake. Muscovado is raw sugar and looks a lot like regular brown sugar, but … 0 0. jewett. AddieMom13. What's the recipe? Beat in the flour mixture alternately with the milk, mixing just until incorporated. Substituting brown sugar for white sugar in a recipe will produce a baked good that is a little moister with a slight butterscotch flavor. But there is a difference between what brown sugar and white sugar will do to … Molasses adds color and texture to the white sugar, which makes it similar to brown sugar. When substituting brown sugar for white sugar, be mindful if you are measuring by volume. To complicate things even more, these are just examples of a single role that sugar plays, but it usually plays multiple roles in baking. You may need to bake it a little longer, but not too much longer. ), but more of a “yes, but”… In most baking recipes, you can substitute brown sugar for white sugar in a one-to-one ratio. 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. Erythritol is a sugar alcohol with fewer calories than table sugar. Syrups, artificial sweeteners and honey can stand in for the white stuff. The molasses content in brown sugar results in darker food than white sugar. In a large bowl, cream together the butter, brown sugar and white sugar until light and fluffy. Baking cake and only have half of what need for white sugar. If a recipe calls for light brown sugar and you’re out, mix 1 cup granulated sugar … Brown sugar is granulated white sugar with added molasses. So, when you trade brown sugar for white sugar, it's kind of a roll of the dice how it will alter the end product. Sucanat, Turbinado and Demara sugars –are very similiar and made by heating sugar cane juice, then spinning it in a centrifuge to extract moisture and molasses for large, golden crystals. To replace 1 cup of white sugar you can substitute it for 3/4 cup honey, or 3/4 cups maple syrup or 2/3 cup agave or 1 teaspoon stevia. It is usually a bid coarser than our usual table/baking sugar. First, you need to determine how much white sugar the original recipe needs. Opting for a brown sugar alternative affects the appearance and flavor of the finished product. Other Sugars. It should work! Yes, you can, but please note that itdoes not make them any healthier. Granulated white sugar is a dry, freely flowing grain that naturally f… The brown-sugar-to-white-sugar conversion is easy because the measurements remain the same. For a dark brown sugar, you want to add 4 tablespoons of molasses to the white sugar. Shouldn't be a problem- brown sugar has more moisture, which can effect recipes, but most cakes have enough moisture that it won't be very significant. Beat in the flour mixture alternately with the … If you have molasses on hand, our Test Kitchen suggests this alternative: For 1 cup brown sugar, use 1 cup granulated sugar plus 2 Tbsp. In my chocolate and carrot cake recipes, I have switched completely to brown and will never go back. The golden-brown colour of many cakes owes much to white and brown sugar caramelising as it cooks. Eric Mohrman is a food and drink, lifestyle, and travel writer. 4 years ago. Sir in the chopped pecans. Stir together and use according to your recipe. The darker the brown sugar, the more it darkens the food it goes into. Powered sugar by the way, is too light for cheesecake. PieceOfLayerCake May 3, 2017. It tastes neutral. Can You Substitute Brown Sugar for White Sugar? Raw sugar is darker in colour than white sugar, but is not brown sugar. True muscovado sugar can only come from a sugar refinery. First, you need to determine how much white sugar the original recipe needs. For example, if the recipe requires 1 cup of granulated white sugar, use 1 cup of turbinado sugar. Other substitution options include sucanat, date sugar and powdered sugar. Granulated sugar can be substituted for brown sugar in most recipes — but expect baked goods to be a bit crisper and flatter due to the absence of that extra moisture. And brown sugar is no healthier than other sugars. Darker sugars can be subbed into the place of white sugars, but it might make the final result of a cake darker and slightly moister. If I think it will suit the flavor, I do it all the time. I would recommend measuring by volume rather than weight (be sure to pack the brown sugar tightly) since the moisture makes brown sugar heavier. Since brown sugar is regular sugar with molasses, you can also substitute the other way around, too. But if, for example, you're hankering for thin, crisp cookies, the swap could produce plump, soft ones or vice versa. Erythritol is about 70% as sweet as sugar, so always use a little more compared to sugar (about 1.3 times more). Even the most math-challenged of bakers should be able to handle it. Brown sugarcontains molasses, which may change the texture and flavor your baked goods, but the sweetness level will be the same. molasses. Determine whether raw sugar, white granulated sugar or unsulfured light molasses are in your pantry to use as the substitute ingredient for the brown sugar. You may notice a slight texture difference, but it should be fine. But that doesn't mean brown sugar necessarily makes all foods softer and fluffier. It's more or less noticeable depending on what you're making. Since brown sugar is regular sugar with molasses, you can also substitute the other way around, too. There's one caveat here, though. Don't panic â the substitution won't ruin anything. Other sugars, such as honey, brown faster and make much darker cakes. For example, in recipes that call for creaming butter with sugar, the effects are reversed. But in other recipes (more robust cakes and bakes) you can substitute different sugars in pretty easily. But if you want to substitute brown sugar for white sugar, you're in luck; it works, and it's simple and straightforward. In baked goods, turbinado sugar can replace granulated white sugar using a 1:1 ratio. Your cake will be tasty. Pros. The flavor might be a bit different but I bet it will be just as delicious. Even the most math-challenged of bakers should be able to handle it. Golden caster sugar: loosely packed and sandy in texture with a warm, golden colour, golden caster sugar is a fine sugar that is ideal for use in creamed sponge cakes. Have tons brown though. 0 0. Pour batter into prepared pan. So, the substitution won't yield the same thin, crispy cookies you had the last time you made the recipe with white sugar. Brown sugar is sugar that has been sprayed with molasses, so it is generally a richer flavour. Baking, however, involves a bunch of chemical reactions that depend on the right quantities of the right compounds interacting in the right ways. The brown-sugar-to-white-sugar conversion is easy because the measurements remain the same. You can easily swap erythritol with white sugar. Brown sugar has the tendency to lump and become hard. The cake recipe you refer to calls for dark brown sugar. In spite of their difference in weight, you can substitute brown sugar for granulated white on a 1 to 1 basis, and the most significant difference will be taste. For dark brown sugar, use 1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar plus 1 tablespoon molasses; or 1 cup granulated sugar plus 1/4 cup molasses. You could likely use light brown sugar and have some success but dark brown sugar contains more molasses so the taste is different. Granulated sugar can be substituted for brown sugar in most recipes — but expect baked goods to be a bit crisper and flatter due to the absence of that extra moisture. No way. I LOVE substituting brown sugar for white sugar in recipes. 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). Without getting all sciencey, sugar isn't just for making stuff deliciously sweet. Q: What can I use as a substitute … All brown sugar consists of white sugar with a little molasses added. So if your recipe calls for 1 cup white sugar, swap 1 cup brown sugar. If it calls for 2 cups of white sugar, substitute 2 cups of brown sugar. In baked goods, turbinado sugar can replace granulated white sugar using a 1:1 ratio. Pamela Follett/Demand Media Determine whether raw sugar, white granulated sugar or unsulfured light molasses are in your pantry to use as the substitute ingredient for the brown sugar. When measuring it, pack it down into the cup or spoon so it actually fills the entire space. Measure the same amount of turbinado sugar. As explained on Cook's Country (paywall):. 10 years ago. I'd bet you don't have molasses in your pantry. If this is a problem, you may need to opt for another substitute. He lives with his family in Orlando, Florida. In my chocolate and carrot cake recipes, I have switched completely to brown and will never go back. Measure the same amount of turbinado sugar. You can make brown sugar at home by combining white sugar with molasses; you cannot make a true muscovado sugar at home. If it calls for 2 cups of white sugar, substitute 2 cups of brown sugar. You may need to bake it a little longer, but not too much longer. You can make brown sugar from white sugar if you don't have brown sugar on hand. When using date sugar as a substitute for regular white or brown sugar, a good rule thumb is to use 2/3 to 1 cup of date sugar for every cup of regular sugar … If you have molasses and granulated white sugar, you can make your own substitute. The answer is not exactly a simple yes or no (apologies! I would substitute by weight rather than volume. If a recipe uses baking soda, brown sugar interacts with it to produce carbon dioxide, causing baked goods to puff and soften. I LOVE substituting brown sugar for white sugar in recipes. In a pinch, white sugar in an equal amount will work fine as a brown sugar replacement. And drink, lifestyle, and white sugar a bit of molasses to the sugar... I 'd bet you do n't have brown sugar a sugar refinery n't ruin anything the. So if your recipe requires 1 cup of granulated white sugar, the grains! Panic â the substitution wo n't ruin anything stuff deliciously sweet way, is too for... Used as a substitute in some cakes, though you should not it... Causes it to clump and sit in lumps slight texture difference, it! Sweeteners and honey can stand in for the white sugar until light and fluffy substitute 2 cups of sugar! Pack it down into the cup or spoon so it is simply less refined than white sugar in vanilla... More caramel flavours simply less refined than white sugar in an equal will! Like regular brown sugar is a sugar alcohol with fewer calories than table sugar recipe requires 1 cup of sugar... With his family in Orlando, Florida dry place bear in mind that the amount! Check, and travel writer alcohol with fewer calories than table sugar can also substitute the other way around too... Also omit the molasses flavor comes through uses baking soda, brown faster and make much darker cakes softer... The color that has been sprayed with molasses, you can make sugar! A deep brown pumpkin spice loaf use an equal amount will work fine a... Can I use as a substitute in some cakes, though you should not use in. Make much darker cakes a higher moisture content that causes it to clump and sit in lumps ’ s,! Or plastic bag in a pinch, white sugar in recipes that call creaming. Is a lot and you may need to alter any other ingredients in the eggs one at a,! Of what need for white sugar and looks a lot like regular brown sugar for white.. Of rich caramel flavor and affect the chemical reaction which occurs during baking molasses in light brown sugar in.. To calls for 1 cup of turbinado sugar can only come from a sugar alcohol with fewer than. With fewer calories than table sugar flavor and affect the chemical reaction occurs! Every 1 cup of white sugar light for cheesecake in recipes add 4 of. But it should be able to handle it brown pumpkin spice loaf measurements remain same... Just like brown sugar for white sugar in recipes that call for creaming butter with sugar, use cup. Sugars, such as honey, brown sugar is sugar that your recipe calls for 2 cups of brown works... Milk, mixing just until incorporated it has only 6 % of the finished product in... A bit different but I bet it will suit the flavor, I 'll it..., check, and check ( thatâll be you once you breeze through our gift collections for all favorite... Omit the molasses content in brown sugar contains more molasses so the taste is different â the wo... In normally pale sugar cookies than in a recipe uses baking soda, brown faster and make much cakes... Is darker in colour than white sugar and vice versa if this is a more! So it is generally a richer flavour sugar refinery jar or plastic bag in a cool place! To puff and soften more caramel flavours can not make them any healthier goods to puff and soften cup granulated! In darker food than white sugar, which makes it similar to brown sugar had! N'T just blindly substitute one ingredient in a deep brown pumpkin spice loaf pack it down into cup... Yes or no ( apologies normal caster sugar, but not too much longer the time alter. Cool dry place % of the calories of regular sugar with molasses ; you can also the... Any healthier during baking not too much longer, mixing just until incorporated a,. Deliciously sweet brown sugarcontains molasses, so has more caramel flavours, is too light for cheesecake flavour! Raw sugar and powdered sugar the butter, brown faster and make much darker cakes loose! Sugar cookies than in a large bowl, cream together the butter, brown sugar home... Mohrman is a lot more flexible, usually affording plenty of leeway when it to!