Brown sugar is a sweetener that contains sucrose. From banana bread – to our favorite chocolate cookies – brown sugar is an essential ingredient of many of the baked products we love.
Brown sugar can be found in a refined and unrefined state. Most of the time, we use refined brown sugar. There are many types of brown sugar that are relatively less common, including: turbinado sugar, free-flowing sugar, and muscovado sugar.
The brown sugar is a source of carbohydrates and calories, but lacks in minerals and vitamins. It contains lots of other benefits, if consumed adequately.
Nutritious facts about brown sugar:
A teaspoon of brown sugar contains:
- Fat: 0g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 0g
- Carbs: 4.5g
- Sodium: 1.3 mg
- Calories: 17.5
- Sugar: 4.5 g
The 17.5gms of calories in a teaspoon of brown sugar, come from the carbohydrates. There is no fat, protein, and fiber, but it has the minimum amount of glycemic in a teaspoon. If the amount of brown sugar increases, then the glycemic load will also increase.
Additionally, when you consume brown sugar in a large quantity, it provides the essence of minerals and micronutrients.
A full cup of brown sugar contains: 183mg of Calcium with a small amount of Selenium, Potassium, Iron, and Magnesium.
The quantity of molasses also plays a vital role in making the true color of brown sugar. To know how it differs from white sugar – in taste and nutrients – let’s dive deep into how brown sugar is made? and what’s the difference between light brown sugar and dark brown sugar?
What’s the difference between light and brown sugar?
Brown sugar is made by mixing molasses in the normal white sugar. Combine the sugar and molasses in an airtight jar, plastic bag, or plastic bowl, and stir it well until all the sugar turns brown.
To make light brown sugar, add one tablespoon to one cup of white sugar, use 2 to 3 tablespoons for giving it a darker brown shade.
You can also use maple syrup, golden syrup, or agave syrup to give it the exact moisture like molasses, but of course, the flavor would be different.
Brown sugar or white sugar: which one is better
As you already know that brown sugar is a mixture of white sugar and molasses. Both white sugar and brown sugar are taken out from the same plant (sugarcane). That’s why they both contain almost similar qualities.
In most cases, brown sugar may beat white sugar as it contains less calories than white sugar, and provides rich nutrients because of the maple syrup.
Some experts also say that brown sugar doesn’t have enough minerals – so using it instead of the white sugar – is not justifiable.
However, there is not much difference of calories. A teaspoon of brown sugar contains 15 grams of calories, while the same amount of white sugar contains 16.3 grams of calories.
Although the difference is minor, you can say that the difference can only be seen in their appearances rather than in taste, nutrients, or minerals.