Can you use light brown sugar in place of dark brown sugar?

Category: food and drink desserts and baking
4.7/5 (2,645 Views . 30 Votes)
ANSWER: Yes, there is a difference between light brown sugar and dark brown sugar, but you can make substitutions if you only have one type on hand. If the recipe calls for light but dark is all you have, use a packed 2/3 cup dark and 1/3 cup white for every packed cup of light sugar needed.



Herein, when a recipe calls for brown sugar should you use light or dark?

The difference between light and dark brown sugar is the amount of molasses that's been added to the sugar. Light brown sugar is subtle, while dark brown sugar has a more intense molasses flavor. You can use them interchangeably in any recipe that calls for brown sugar, per your preference.

Additionally, what can I substitute for light brown sugar? Maple syrup is an effective substitute for liquid sweeteners like molasses and honey; you can also use to replace light brown sugar in many recipes. Use a 2/3 cup of maple syrup for every cup of light brown sugar that your recipe requires.

Just so, can I use dark brown sugar instead of light brown sugar in chocolate chip cookies?

You can substitute dark brown sugar for the light brown sugar in the cookie recipe, however the cookies will be slightly darker in colour and will have a slightly more caramelly/toffee taste to them.

What can I use in place of dark brown sugar?

Just add a tablespoon of molasses to a cup of light brown sugar to turn it into dark brown sugar. This will give you the real deal. If you don't have molasses, use a tablespoon of maple syrup instead, or just use your light brown sugar in place of the dark brown sugar that's called for.

32 Related Question Answers Found

What does dark brown sugar do in cookies?

Dark brown sugar contains some molasses, so combining that with butter makes these cookies have an amazingly soft and chewy texture. This recipe will also work with light brown sugar or white sugar, but the cookies may turn out less chewy and more crumbly.

Does dark brown sugar make a difference?

Not really. For the most part, dark and light brown sugars can be used interchangeably in recipes, as technically dark brown sugar simply has a slighter higher molasses content. However, more molasses does mean dark brown sugar has slightly higher levels of acidity and moisture.

How do you make homemade brown sugar?

How to Make Brown Sugar
  1. Pour molasses on top of white sugar in a bowl. For light brown sugar mix ½ cup white sugar with 2 tsp. molasses. For dark brown sugar mix ½ cup white sugar with 1 Tbsp.
  2. Stir until well combined. I like to use a fork to help break up clumps.
  3. Store your brown sugar in an air tight container to keep it from drying out.

Does Brown Sugar go bad?

Brown sugar never really goes bad! Although of best quality within 2 years, brown sugar lasts indefinitely and can even be restored if it becomes hard. The shelf life of brown sugar depends on the best before date and how the brown sugar is stored.

When should I use dark brown sugar?

In general, if a recipe calls for brown sugar, it refers to light brown. Dark brown sugar (also called old-fashioned brown sugar) tends to be reserved primarily for recipes like baked beans, gingerbread, spice cakes, and other dishes where you really want a deep molasses flavor.

Is there a difference between light and brown sugar?

The difference between light and dark brown sugar is simply the amount of molasses each contains. Light brown sugar has less molasses per total volume of sugar (about 3.5% according to Rose Levy Beranbaum) while dark brown sugar has more (6.5%).

What Brown sugar is best for baking?

Brown sugar is white granulated sugar that has had cane molasses added to it. The two types of brown sugar, light and dark, refer to the amount of molasses that is present. Light brown sugar is used more often in baking, while dark brown sugar, with a bolder molasses flavor, is delicious used as a rub for steaks.

Which is healthier light or dark brown sugar?

As a result, brown sugar does contain nutrients from molasses such as calcium, potassium, iron and magnesium, while plain white sugar does not. The distinction comes from the amount of molasses each sugar contains. Light brown sugar contains around 3.5 percent molasses and dark brown sugar contains 6.5 percent.

Does dark brown sugar make cookies chewy?

The proportion of sugar in most cookie dough recipes is so high that only about half of the sugar dissolves during mixing. Brown sugar makes cookies moister and chewier than does white sugar. That's because it contains molasses (about 10 percent molasses for light brown sugar and 20 percent for dark brown sugar).

Does brown sugar make cookies softer?

Sugars, like fats liquefy in the oven. White sugar will make your cookies crispier while brown sugar contains more moisture and will result in a softer and more chewy cookie.

Is dark brown sugar healthy?

Because of its molasses content, brown sugar does contain certain minerals, most notably calcium, potassium, iron and magnesium (white sugar contains none of these). But since these minerals are present in only minuscule amounts, there is no real health benefit to using brown sugar.

Is golden brown sugar the same as brown sugar?

Golden brown sugar (also called light brown sugar) is made by combining white sugar with molasses; it has a less pronounced molasses flavor than dark brown sugar.

Is Trader Joe's brown sugar dark or light?

So Trader Joe's Organic brown sugar is half way between dark and light brown sugar in terms of color, but what you can't see is the size of the sugar granules which seems larger than the non organic brown sugar.

Which is better dark brown sugar or light brown sugar?

Light brown sugar has less of it; dark brown sugar has more. The lower proportion of molasses in light brown sugar means that it has a milder flavor, while dark brown sugar has a more intense flavor.

How much dark brown sugar equals light brown sugar?

-For each 1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar called for in a recipe, use 1 1/2 tablespoons molasses plus 1 cup granulated sugar. To make light brown sugar from dark brown sugar: -To make light brown sugar from dark brown sugar, use 1/2 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar and 1/2 cup granulated sugar.

What makes a cookie soft?

A cookie that spreads less during baking will be thicker, softer, and chewier, even without any extra rise from leavening. Sugar: Using brown sugar, which is more acidic and hydrophilic, retains moisture during baking. This creates a softer, moister end product.

How do you soften brown sugar?

A quicker way to soften brown sugar is to put a moist paper towel in a plastic bag with the sugar and microwave it for 20 seconds. If you are leery about microwaving plastic, you could also put the sugar in a glass or ceramic bowl with a moist paper towel and cover it with a lid or plate.