OLD FASHIONED SUGAR PIE RECIPE {BROWN SUGAR PIE} (2024)

FAQs

What are the ingredients in brown sugar? ›

While sugar beets and sugar cane are used to make white granulated sugar, only molasses from sugar cane is used in the production of brown sugar. Molasses from sugar cane is what gives brown sugar its color, with less needed to make light brown sugar and more for dark brown sugar.

One tablespoon of molasses per cup of granulated sugar will make something close to "light brown sugar." Add additional molasses a half-tablespoon at a time for a richer flavor and darker color closer to dark brown sugar.

Light or dark molasses work well for most baking projects, but seek out unsulphured molasses for the purest flavor. If you don't have molasses on hand, you can substitute an equal amount of pure maple syrup, agave nectar, date syrup, or a dark honey (like buckwheat) in the homemade brown sugar recipe above.

It's also known as finger pie (you can mix it with your fingers), transparent pie, Hoosier pie and desperation pie (when fruit wasn't available or money was tight and you really wanted a piece of pie).

The famous dessert reportedly originated in the 1850s in resourceful Amish communities in Indiana. According to What's Cooking America, the pie consisted of only four simple ingredients: brown sugar, flour, heavy cream, and an 8-inch pie crust at 325 degrees Fahrenheit.

Brown sugar is refined white sugar with molasses added back to it. Muscovado sugar is less refined, so it retains much of its molasses component. The amount of molasses determines whether it is “light” or “dark”: the darker the sugar, the more molasses it contains.

In most baking recipes, you can substitute brown sugar for white sugar in a one-to-one ratio. So, if your recipe calls for one cup of white sugar, swap one cup of brown sugar. The sweetness level will be the same, but the brown sugar may change the texture of your baked goods.

A light brown sugar has about 3.5% molasses and dark brown sugar has about 6.5%. That added molasses in dark brown sugar is what gives it more depth of flavor, which is why you'll see it in recipes where it's an important ingredient like when you make barbecue sauce.

Grandma's Molasses comes in two grades: Original and Robust. Original molasses: amber color, used to sweeten hot cereals, yogurts or hot drinks (like coffee, tea or cocoa).

Mold on molasses can look like a barely perceptible slick on the surface, or a noticeably fuzzy, discolored patch. If you see even a tiny spot, throw out the entire jar. Molasses can also expire in less obvious ways. If it seems to have separated or has an unpleasant odor, it's also time to purchase a new bottle.

Can you add molasses to sugar to make brown sugar? ›

Yes. 1 cup white sugar plus 1 tablespoon molasses makes light brown sugar. 2 tablespoons makes dark, or you can make it any color you like. Use plain molasses, not dark or blackstrap unless you want really strong flavor.

What is the Difference Between a Sugar Cream Pie and Custard or Chess Pie? Chess pies and custard pies are mixed and poured right into the pie crust, and they contain eggs. A sugar cream pie is made without eggs, and the filling is usually prepared on the stovetop, reducing the overall baking time.

The butter tart is different from the sugar pie given the lack of flour in the filling. The butter tart is different from pecan pie in that it has a "runnier" filling due to the omission of corn starch.

Tarte au sucre: The tarte au sucre dessert found in Northern France and Belgium resembles a tartlet made from brioche dough, baked with a top layer of sugar, cream, and butter. The French-Canadian brown sugar pie from Quebec resembles a traditional pie and features maple syrup and white or brown sugar in the filling.

Also known as Tart au Sucre, this indulgent pie has a gooey, deeply caramelized sugar filling primarily made with brown sugar and/or maple syrup, eggs and cream that is encased in a flaky crust.