Can you make dark brown sugar from light brown sugar?

I changed recipes at the last minute and only now realized I need dark brown sugar instead of light. I have molasses. Is there a way to make this work and still come out with nearly the same flavor profile?

holapino
  • Posted by: holapino
  • November 26, 2013
  • 47065 views
  • 2 Comments

2 Comments

cratecooking
cratecooking November 26, 2013
The difference between light and dark brown sugar is the amount of molasses that each contains, with the dark containing slightly more. While I wouldn't worry about the difference (brown sugar, light or dark, will make any recipe delicious!), as light and brown can generally be used interchangeably, you can refer to this formula to see how much molasses to add. Dark brown sugar has just over double the amount of molasses as light brown sugar.
1 cup of white sugar and 1 1/2 tablespoons molasses for light brown sugar.
1 cup of white sugar and 1/4 cup molasses for dark brown sugar.
 
Deborah
Deborah November 14, 2019
If recipe calls for dark brown, you can always add molasses to light brown sugar. It is by far a richer flavor and a little less sweet tasting. I learned my lesson making a New York style crumb cake; would have been a much better crumb with the dark. Always good to know the secret since light brown is much more common on the grocer's shelf.
 
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