How to Burn Brown Sugar
The process of burning sugar so it turns brown and melts is called "caramelizing." This is often done with white sugar, but the molasses in brown sugar gives the caramel a darker color and richer flavor. Caramelizing sugar is most often a component of candy recipes, but it is also a good cake topping and an accent to sweet potatoes or other vegetables. Sugar can be caramelized to different degrees, from the "small thread" stage (simply melted sugar, often used in frostings) to "black jack" or "monkey's blood" (scorched dark with a burning flavor, used for nothing). Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Water
- Thick-bottomed pan
- Spoon or other stirring implement
- Lemon juice or vinegar (optional)
- Stove
- Oven mitt or towel
- Food brush or clean paintbrush (optional)
Instructions
-
-
1
Place a cup or more of brown sugar in the pan. Stir in water until the sugar reaches the consistency of wet sand.
-
2
Optionally, squeeze in a small amount of lemon juice or a dash of vinegar to prevent crystallization.
-
-
3
Place pan over medium-high heat.
-
4
As the sugar melts, swirl it around in the pan. Allow it to boil. Be sure to wear oven mitts or cover your hands with a towel to prevent burning.
-
5
Optionally, wipe down the sides of the pan with a wet food brush or paintbrush to prevent sugar crystals from gathering.
-
6
Boil the sugar until it reaches the desired consistency. Check this by dropping bits of the sugar into a cup of water and checking the results against the chart in Resource 1.
-
1
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Heather Winters/Polka Dot/Getty Images
