Brown Sugar vs White Sugar: Baking Differences and How to Measure Both

You are making cookies and the recipe calls for brown sugar — but you only have white. Can you swap them? Understanding the difference changes your baking for the better.

What Makes Brown Sugar Different

Brown sugar is white sugar with molasses added back in. Light brown sugar = 3.5% molasses (mild, caramel flavour). Dark brown sugar = 6.5% molasses (stronger, complex). White sugar = 0% molasses (pure sweetness).

How Each Sugar Affects Baking

How to Measure Brown Sugar

Always pack brown sugar firmly into the cup — press it down until it holds the cup shape when turned out. A packed cup = 200-220g. Use our brown sugar converter for exact gram amounts.

Substitution Ratios

• 1 cup white sugar → 1 cup brown sugar: slightly chewier texture, deeper colour
• 1 cup brown sugar → 1 cup white + 1 tbsp molasses: recreates brown sugar

Browse all sweetener conversions or use the main converter.