Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission if you click on the link and make a purchase.
This is a step-by-step, very easy guide on how to soften brown sugar. If you have found yourself with rock hard brown sugar, not to worry! This post will show you how to get it back to normal brown sugar that’ll be perfect for these Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies–a crowd favorite!
The Dilemma of Hard Brown Sugar
Have you ever gone to your pantry wanting to make cookies and then realize that the brown sugar is totally hard and dried out? I recently was craving these Banana Chocolate Chip Cookies and it was such a bummer! Don’t worry because I realized this is a common problem and there are a few fast and easy solutions.
The Best Ways To Soften Brown Sugar:
- Use an apple – You can actually place a sliced apple into your brown sugar bin and the moisture from the apple should transfer to the brown sugar.
- Using clay tiles. They sell clay tiles specifically for keeping brown sugar moist. Most bakeries use these and they are very effective. But unfortunately it’s not always something easy and assesble.
- Microwaving the brown sugar. You can always add the brown sugar and a drop of water or two to a bowl. And then turn the microwave on high for 1 minute. This works like a charm. (I don’t own a microwave. I know, I know…)
- Bread – White sandwich bread works best for this but any bread will work. Add a slice of bread to the bin and all of the moisture from the bread will transfer to the brown sugar.
How to Soften Brown Sugar
My favorite method is with a piece of bread. It’s so simple and I usually have a piece of bread readily available to sacrifice to this endeavor.
- I added the blocks of brown sugar to a bowl. If you have a big container of brown sugar, you can simply skip this step and just add the slice of bread to the bin.
- Add the bread. Wrap the bowl tightly with plastic wrap. And wait. I like to give it at least four hours but ideally just leave it overnight.
- Unwrap and it and be stunned at the soft brown sugar.
Brown Sugar FAQs
First we have to discuss, what is brown sugar. Each granule of sugar is coated in a thin layer of molasses. That’s really what brown sugar is: brown sugar coated and mixed with a bit of molasses. When the sugar is fresh and moist, the molasses that coats it, slips against the other granules easily. When it looses its moisture, that molasses hardens.
The good news with hard brown sugar is that it can easily be re-hydrated. Molasses can absorb moisture from either bread or a clay plate or water (see above) and then you can proceed to use it in whatever recipe or way you like.
Cookies That Call for Brown Sugar
If you tried this how-to on How to Soften Brown Sugar or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!
How to Soften Brown Sugar
Ingredients
- 1 hard brown sugar
Different Options:
- 1 slice bread, (white bread works great)
- 1 sliced apple
- 1 clay tile , (for brown sugar softening)
Instructions
To Soften Brown Sugar:
- Add the brown sugar to a large bowl (or if your brown sugar is stored in a big bin, you can just add the things to that) and place the apple or bread right on top. Wrap it tightly with plastic wrap and let it sit for at least 4 hours, ideally overnight.
- When you wake up, you can unwrap the bowl and you'll be met with soft brown sugar.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Very informative! I mistakenly put brown sugar in the fridge n it stayed soft.
I must get into spring cleaning. I feel so zen-like clean after this post
oh just thought – do you think this would work with solidified almond paste and marzipan?!
Oooo…I’m not sure. I don’t use marzipan a ton but I’ve always had luck (not sure what recipe you want to use) in thinning it out in a pan with a splash of milk.
Imagine working in a professional kitchen and having a big bucket of brown sugar hardening! It hardens repeatedly. We don’t have time to mess around with bread. We break/scoop out a portioned amount and soften it..usually flashing it in the oven will do it. It softens fairly quick, so keep an eye on it! Another method I’ve seen is leaving it out in the sunlight. It works, but takes longer.
I can’t believe you had the patience to use bread!!
It only took a day for me and I don’t need brown sugar every day like you probably do. A friend of mine runs a bakery and she uses the microwave trick.
Wow, this is great! Now I won’t have to keep throwing away the brown sugar! I can’t believe you don’t own a microwave! It’s a great principle, but sometimes a girl just needs some instant gratification (and a break). What do you make popcorn in?
I make it the very ol’ fashion way: in a pan! I kinda like it. But honestly, I’ve definitely been thinking of getting a microwave. I just need to figure out a space where I can put it. 🙂
I need to try this, thanks for sharing!!
This is so helpful! As I am a person constantly battling trying to sift through hard lumps of brown sugar and never thought to google it! As you are now going full out on spring cleaning, do you have any tips on keeping those pesky moths that ruin perfectly good flour out of the pantry? They’re returning after just getting rid of them… Help!
Yes, transfer your flours into airtight containers. I’ve been scouring the internets for the best (and most affordable) containers so when I’m done I’ll be sure to share!
If you store flour in the freezer, the little buggers won’t hatch…. Believe it or not, the eggs are in the grain before it is ground….
Love this since my brown sugar always seems hard!
I live in AZ where EVERYTHING get dry and hard (an open box of crackers will still be fresh after months). I store my opened bags of brown sugar in a large zip lock bag with a damp paper towel. So, bag in bag with a with damp towel in between. It works better than the bread thing – which my grandma did share years ago.
You’ve just revolutionized my life. This is amazing.
magic!