Brown sugar is white sugar with molasses mixed back in — it adds moisture, chew, and caramel notes to cookies and sauces. Whether you ran out mid-recipe or need a dietary swap, here are the best substitutes for brown sugar, with exact amounts.
Use: 1 cup white sugar + 1 tbsp molasses for 1 cup brown sugar
Mix well (use 2 tbsp molasses for dark brown sugar).
Exact match.
Use: 1:1 for 1 cup brown sugar
Swap directly.
Similar caramel flavor; less moist.
Use: 1:1 for 1 cup brown sugar
Swap directly.
Deeper molasses flavor.
The best all-round substitute is White sugar + molasses: use 1 cup white sugar + 1 tbsp molasses for 1 cup brown sugar. Mix well (use 2 tbsp molasses for dark brown sugar). Exact match.
Yes. Use 1:1 for 1 cup brown sugar. Swap directly. Similar caramel flavor; less moist.
Vegan options: White sugar + molasses, Coconut sugar, Muscovado sugar.
Use 1:1. Swap directly.
Missing something else? Search all 48 ingredients in the substitute finder.