How to Soften Brown Sugar

Learn how to soften brown sugar with this easy solution! It is so frustrating to open up a container of brown sugar only to discover it’s as hard as a rock. The good news is you can have it soft, moist, and ready for baking again in a flash with the help of a wet paper towel and your microwave. 

I also share 4 other simple methods to soften brown sugar with the help of a slice of bread, sliced apple, a little water, or a piece of terra cotta! However, the microwave method is my go-to because it’s the fastest and easiest way to restore hard brown sugar to its former glory. For more easy how-tos, check out how to soften butter, how to melt chocolate chips, and how to make powdered sugar.   

Why Do I Need To Soften Brown Sugar?

If you’re baking chocolate chip cookies, coffee cake, peanut butter cookies, cinnamon rolls, or anything using brown sugar, you’ll need to soften hard brown sugar to measure it accurately and to make it easier to blend into a dough or batter.

Brown sugar naturally tends to clump if it dries out, and this means it doesn’t dissolve into wet ingredients as easily or beat with butter into a fluffy consistency. If you don’t soften your brown sugar to make sure it’s lump-free before using it, you can also end up with little pebbles of sugar throughout your doughs, batters, and frostings, which is unpleasant to eat and can cause problems in the oven. 

5 from 4 votes

How To Soften Brown Sugar

Learn How To Soften Brown Sugar with 5 easy methods. For my favorite, the microwave method, you only need a damp paper towel for soft, moist brown sugar in well under a minute.

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Course Ingredient

Cuisine American

Prep Time 2 minutes minutes

Cook Time 1 minute minute

Total Time 3 minutes minutes

Servings 1 cup

Calories 836kcal

Author John Kanell

Equipment

• ▢
  Bowl
• ▢
  Paper towel
• ▢
  Microwave

Ingredients

• ▢ 1 cup light brown sugar

Instructions

• Place the brown sugar in a mixing bowl.
• Wet a paper towel thoroughly, then wring out the excess.
• Place over top of the sugar and microwave for 1 to 2 increments of 20 seconds.
• Use a fork to break up the sugar. Use it immediately or store it in an airtight container.

Notes

• Use a microwave-safe bowl. For safety, make sure the bowl you are using is microwaveable. 
• Be sure to wring out the paper towel well. You want to add some moisture back into the sugar, but you don’t want it dripping with water. Dripping water can start to melt the sugar and cause it to clump even more or turn pasty.

Nutrition

Calories: 836kcal | Carbohydrates: 216g | Protein: 0.3g | Sodium: 62mg | Potassium: 293mg | Sugar: 213g | Calcium: 183mg | Iron: 2mg

*Nutrition Disclaimer

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How To Soften Brown Sugar 

1. For the microwave method, place the hardened brown sugar in a microwave-safe bowl. 

2. Wet and wring out a paper towel. It should be damp, not dripping with water.

3. Place the damp paper towel on the sugar and microwave for 20 seconds, 1 to 2 times. 

4. Break up the brown sugar clumps with a fork. The soft brown sugar is ready to use in any recipe needing brown sugar! 

5 Ways to Soften Brown Sugar

The microwave method is the quickest and mentioned previously! These are 4 additional ways to soften brown sugar and are excellent for softening large amounts of hardened sugar. 

• Water method: Place 8 ounces of brown sugar and ¾ teaspoon of water in a zip-top bag. Knead it together until the clumps break apart and the sugar feels soft.
• Bread method: Place a slice of fresh bread on top of the sugar in a bowl or container. Cover it tightly and let it sit for several hours or the next day until softened. Remember to remove the piece of bread to prevent mold growth. 
• Clay tile method: Soak an unglazed clay tile (also called a sugar bear or brown sugar saver) in water for 10 minutes, then pat it with a dry towel to remove excess water. Place the wet terracotta tile in the container with the brown sugar for several hours or until softened. You can also keep the tile in the sugar for storing.
• Apple method: Place apple slices on top of brown sugar in a bowl. Wrap it tightly with plastic wrap and let sit for 4 hours or overnight. Keep in mind that this method should only be used if you plan to use the sugar immediately after softening. It can also impart a slight apple flavor, so it’s great if you need brown sugar for something like apple muffins or banana bread, where added apple flavor would be complementary. 

How To Keep Brown Sugar Soft

Add a few large marshmallows to the container of brown sugar! You’ve probably heard me talk about this in my YouTube videos, but this is my go-to method for storing brown sugar. Marshmallows contain moisture that the sugar can absorb over time to keep it soft, but they have a stable shelf life, so they won’t cause the sugar to turn bad. Replace the marshmallows when they start to feel hard.

You can also keep a sugar bear or brown sugar saver tile in the container. You will need to re-soak it every few months. 

Make Your Own Brown Sugar

If your brown sugar is just too hard to soften despite your efforts, learn how to make brown sugar with two ingredients: molasses and white sugar! It is a quick and easy homemade brown sugar substitute. 

Pro Tips For Softening Brown Sugar

• Soften the sugar ahead of time if possible. If you know your brown sugar has hardened and you want to bake, plan to soften it in time. While the microwave method is very quick, some of the other methods can take several hours but are better for softening large batches of sugar. 
• Break up the sugar by hand after softening. This ensures that all of the clumps are removed and the sugar is ready for baking.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you’ve tried this post on how to soften brown sugar, then don’t forget to rate it and let me know how you got on in the comments below. I love hearing from you!