Homemade Brown Sugar

Time to stop buying, and start making:

DIY (Vegan) Brown Sugar

DIY brown sugar, ready for baking, and a bottle of Plantation Blackstrap molasses. 

There are at least three fundamental truths about cooking/baking me that apply to this post. One: I'm a cheapskate, theres no denying it. Two: I like to DIY whenever/ wherever possible and three: I like/ need my pantry to be VERY well stocked at all times. Organic vegan sugar and black strap molasses are two things I ALWAYS have on the shelves. These are the only ingredients you'll need to make your very own brown sugar. We've all had plenty of experience with store bought kind; its always rock hard or clumpy, or (if buying organic) a little too pricey for what it is. Why not just make it yourself? Less buying, more DIY-ing! After making this and using it for the first time you'll wonder how you ever used anything else. You can halve or quarter or double the recipe; make a large batch and store it in an airtight container for as long as it lasts, or make it as needed for your recipe. As long as you have molasses and sugar on hand you can whip it up in a snap.

I prefer unsulphured blackstrap molasses over traditional molasses. Its a bit more expensive but is more flavorful and a bit sweeter with a much higher nutrient content, including potassium, B vitamins and 20% of your RDA of iron per tablespoon (we vegans always need a little more iron in our diets). Blackstrap is a richer, darker molasses, so a small amount will make a very light brown sugar, the more you add the darker it will get. I usually begin with 2tbsp to 1 cup of sugar,
adding more if I want the sugar a bit darker. 

If you decide to splurge for the blackstrap molasses, and I strongly encourage you to do so, here's a little side recipe for you:

Stir 1 tbsp of molasses into a heated cup of your favorite non-dairy milk and drink up.

That's it! Its a delicious and nutritious warm winter beverage, perfect for breakfast on a snowy day or just when you need a little pick-me-up.
A great iron boost too!

Molasses drizzled over organic sugar, ready to mix.

this will be a short recipe...

DIY Brown Sugar:

1 cup of organic vegan sugar

2-4 tbsp of unsulphered
blackstrap molasses

Place your sugar in a large bowl.

Drizzle in 2 tbsp of molasses to start. 

Using a dinner fork, mix the molasses into the sugar until it is well incorporated.

This should take a few minutes. Don't get discouraged if it look like the mix isn't coming together, keep mixing, it will incorporate perfectly.

If you find small molasses chunks remaining, simply break them up with your fork and mix them in.

If you want your brown sugar darker, repeat the process with the extra
1-2tbsp of molasses until you reach the desired color.

And there you have it. 5 minute DIY brown sugar. How easy was that???

Now get baking!