Brown sugar adds a rich, caramel-like flavor to your baked goods, sauces, marinades, and more, making them irresistibly delicious.
But not all brown sugars are created equal, and choosing the right one can make a huge difference in your recipes.
So, let’s explore the world of brown sugar and help you discover the best options available!
Light vs dark brown sugar
Brown sugar is made from white sugar mixed with molasses, giving it a moist texture and a distinctive caramel-like flavor. There are two main types: light and dark brown sugar.
Light brown sugar: Light brown sugar is the most commonly used type of brown sugar. It has a delicate molasses flavor and a lighter color. This variety contains less molasses than its darker counterpart, making it ideal for recipes where you want a subtle caramel taste without overwhelming sweetness. All of the brands I mention below are light brown sugar.
Dark brown sugar: Dark brown sugar, as the name suggests, is darker and has a more robust molasses flavor. It contains a higher percentage of molasses, which gives it a deeper, more pronounced taste. Dark brown sugar is excellent for recipes where you want a bolder, more intense caramel flavor, such as gingerbread or certain barbecue sauces.
In many recipes, you’ll find that the choice between light and dark brown sugar is explicitly mentioned. However, if the recipe doesn’t specify, it’s generally safe to assume that it requires light brown sugar.
How to choose the best brown sugar
To find the best brown sugar, I ranked brands using the following five categories:
- Ingredients: Brown sugar should have one or two ingredients: sugar and molasses. Look for brands that use high-quality sugar and molasses without any additives or fillers.
- Consumer feedback: On top of my own experience, I looked at consumer reviews and ratings to gauge the overall satisfaction of buyers with each brand’s product.
- Nutrition: While brown sugar is not typically considered a significant source of nutrients, choosing a minimally processed or organic brown sugar option can be a slightly better choice compared to heavily processed versions. Look for brown sugars labeled as “raw” or “unrefined” as they may retain slightly more of the molasses content and minerals, though the difference in nutritional value is minimal.
- Track record: The reputation and history of a brand can also play a role in determining its quality. Established brands with a long history of producing reliable products are more likely to provide consistent results.
- Price: Finally, I considered the price point of each brand to identify budget-friendly options without compromising on quality.
Top 10 brown sugar brands
Now, let’s delve into the top 10 brown sugar brands that stood out in my evaluation:
| Overall Rank | Brand (click link to buy) | Best for |
| 1 | 365 by Whole Foods Market Organic Light Brown Sugar | Overall |
| 2 | Domino Premium Pure Cane Light Brown Sugar | Runner-up |
| 3 | Augason Farms Brown Sugar | Longest shelf life |
| 4 | C&H Golden Brown Sugar | Budget-friendly |
| 5 | Relative Foods Organic Brown Sugar | Flavorful |
| 6 | Trader Joe’s Organic Brown Sugar | Darker color |
| 7 | Happy Belly Light Brown Sugar | Amazon brand |
| 8 | Wholesome Sweeteners Certified Organic Light Brown Sugar | Buying in bulk |
| 9 | Natural Earth Products Organic Light Brown Sugar | N/A |
| 10 | Unpretentious Light Brown Sugar | N/A |
#1 Best Overall: 365 by Whole Foods Market Organic Light Brown Sugar
365 by Whole Foods Market earns the top spot as the best overall brown sugar. It ticks all the boxes when it comes to quality ingredients, positive consumer feedback, and a reasonable price point. This organic light brown sugar is an excellent choice for both novice and experienced bakers.
Ingredients: Organic Brown Sugar.
#2 Runner-Up: Domino Premium Pure Cane Light Brown Sugar
Domino Premium Pure Cane Light Brown Sugar takes the runner-up position. It consistently bakes perfectly, leaving no crystal chunks behind. If you want a reliable and readily available option, Domino is a great choice.
Ingredients: Brown Sugar.
#3 Best for Long Term Storage: Augason Farms Brown Sugar
If you’re looking to stock up on brown sugar for long-term use, Augason Farms Brown Sugar is an ideal option. Packaged in small cans, it boasts an impressive shelf life of up to 30 years! Whether you’re a prepper or just prefer to have pantry staples on hand, this brown sugar has you covered.
Ingredients: Brown sugar (sugar, invert sugar cane molasses).
#4 Best Budget-Friendly Option: C&H Golden Brown Sugar
For those watching their budget, C&H Golden Brown Sugar is a budget-friendly option that doesn’t compromise on quality. It’s a trusted brand that consistently delivers a sweet, molasses-infused flavor to your baked goods.
Ingredients: Sugar, Molasses.
#5 Best Raw Taste: Relative Foods Organic Brown Sugar
If you’re a fan of the raw, unprocessed taste of brown sugar, Relative Foods Organic Brown Sugar is a perfect match. This variety has bigger crystals, allowing you to truly savor the molasses flavor. Plus, it comes in a heavy-duty resealable bag for added convenience.
Ingredients: Organic cane sugar and organic molasses.
#6 Best Darker Brown Sugar: Joe’s Organic Brown Sugar
Trader Joe’s Organic Brown Sugar is known for its quality. Since it’s organic, you may pay a little more than other brands, but I really like this one for cookies and other baking. The taste and color are somewhere in between a light and dark brown sugar.
Ingredients: Organic Brown Sugar.
#7 Best Amazon Brand: Happy Belly Light Brown Sugar
Happy Belly Light Brown Sugar, an Amazon brand, is a worthy contender, though it has a coarser texture compared to some other brands. It’s an excellent choice if you’re looking for a brown sugar option available on Amazon.
Ingredients: Sugar.
#8 Best Bulk: Wholesome Sweeteners Certified Organic Light Brown Sugar
Wholesome Sweeteners Certified Organic Light Brown Sugar is your go-to choice when you need brown sugar in bulk. It’s perfect for commercial bakers, large families, or anyone who goes through brown sugar quickly.
Ingredients: Organic Brown Sugar.
#9 Natural Earth Products Organic Light Brown Sugar
For those who prioritize organic and natural products, Natural Earth Products Organic Light Brown Sugar is a top pick. It offers the quality you expect from organic products and is a great addition to your pantry.
Ingredients: Organic Brown Sugar.
#10 Unpretentious Light Brown Sugar
Rounding out our top 10 list is Unpretentious Light Brown Sugar. While it may not have the name recognition of some other brands, it delivers reliable results and a great molasses flavor.
Ingredients: Sugar, Invert Sugar, Cane.
Comparing brown sugar brands nutrition facts
Brown sugar primarily consists of carbohydrates, mainly sucrose, and contains minimal amounts of essential nutrients such as iron, calcium, and potassium, but it is not a significant source of vitamins or minerals.
As you can see from the table below, each brand has roughly the same amount of calories, carbs, and sugar per teaspoon. Even for the brands where I wasn’t able to find any nutrition information, we can assume they are similar.
The glycemic index (GI), or how quickly a food affects your blood sugar, of brown sugar is around 55 – 65. If you’re looking for something slightly lower (and potentially healthier), check out coconut sugar, which has a GI of between 50 – 54.
| Per 1 Tsp | Calories | Fat (g) | Sodium (mg) | Carbs (g) | Sugar (added) (g) | Protein (g) |
| 365 by Whole Foods Market Organic Light Brown Sugar | 15 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| Domino Premium Pure Cane Light Brown Sugar | 15 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| Augason Farms Brown Sugar | 10 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| C&H Golden Brown Sugar | 15 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| Relative Foods Organic Brown Sugar | 15 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| Trader Joe’s Organic Brown Sugar | 15 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| Happy Belly Light Brown Sugar | 15 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| Wholesome Sweeteners Certified Organic Light Brown Sugar | No info given | |||||
| Natural Earth Products Organic Light Brown Sugar | No info given | |||||
| Unpretentious Light Brown Sugar | 15 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 |
Leave a Comment