What Can You Make with Molasses?

Learn more about molasses and find out how to use molasses in cooking. It’s not just for cookie baking! Wait until you see what you can make with molasses.

Every fall, we make our family favorite soft molasses cookies. And then the rest of the year, that molasses jar just sits in the back of the pantry…till the following year. Does that happen at your house, too?

Have you wondered what you can make with molasses, other than cookies? I have! So I looked for recipes that use molasses and learned a little more about it in the process.

spoonful of molasses over glass jar full of molasses

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What is molasses made of?

Molasses is a thick, viscous syrup that is a by-product of the sugar refining process. It is made from sugar cane or sugar beet juice that has been boiled down to concentrate the sugars.

The molasses that remains after the first boiling is called light molasses, while the molasses that remains after the second boiling is called dark molasses. Molasses varies in color, depending on the type of sugar it is made from and the number of times it has been boiled.

Does molasses go bad?

Molasses can last for years on the shelf if it is stored properly. However, it can become rancid over time and should be replaced every few years.

Molasses can also become hard and crystallized, making it difficult to use in recipes. If your molasses has gone bad, it will have an off flavor and a distinctively sour smell.

It is best to discard any molasses that has been stored for more than two years. While molasses can be a useful ingredient in your cooking repertoire, keep an eye on its expiration date. Otherwise, you may find yourself with a molasses that has gone bad.

Can you freeze molasses?

You can freeze molasses for long-term storage. Be sure to seal it tightly in an airtight container to prevent freezer burn.

While molasses freeze well, it can be tricky to get it out of the container once it has frozen solid. For this reason, it is best to freeze molasses in small portions that can be easily thawed. When frozen, molasses will last for up to 6 months.

You can thaw frozen molasses by setting the container in a bowl of warm water. Once thawed, molasses may not be as thick as it was before freezing, but it will still be usable.

If you need to thaw molasses quickly, you can set the container in a bowl of hot water. Never thaw molasses or any other food item in the microwave, as this can cause uneven thawing and lead to bacteria growth.

Pennsylvania Dutch Shoofly Pie made with molasses

Grandma’s Original Molasses

Brer Rabbit Unsulphured Molasses

Organic Molasses

How to use molasses in cooking

Molasses has a distinct, slightly bitter flavor that can be used to add depth and richness to a variety of dishes. Molasses can be used in both sweet and savory recipes, and it is a common ingredient in baked goods, sauces, and marinades.

When cooking with molasses, it is important to keep in mind that it is fairly concentrated, so you will need to use less molasses than you would other sweeteners such as honey or maple syrup.

Molasses is a versatile ingredient that can be used in many different ways. With its rich flavor and lower price tag, molasses is a great substitute for maple syrup in any recipe. It also works as a substitute for brown sugar.

Can molasses be substituted for maple syrup

Molasses can be used as a substitute for maple syrup in many recipes. It has a similar flavor profile, and can be used interchangeably in most cases.

Molasses is also less expensive than maple syrup, making it a good option for those on a budget. Molasses can be used in baking, as a topping for pancakes or waffles, or as a sweetener in coffee or tea.

When substituting molasses for maple syrup, use the same amount of molasses as you would syrup. molasses is a bit thinner than syrup, so you may need to adjust the consistency of your recipe accordingly.

molasses muffins on wire rack with aqua background

Can molasses be substituted for brown sugar

One common use for molasses is as a substitute for brown sugar. When substituting molasses for brown sugar, it is important to keep the following tips in mind:

Molasses is much more viscous than brown sugar, so it may be necessary to reduce the amount of liquid in the recipe.
Molasses is also more intensely sweet, so less may be needed to achieve the desired level of sweetness.
Molasses imparts a distinctive flavor that may not be desirable in all recipes.

As a result, molasses should only be used as a substitute for brown sugar in recipes where its unique flavor will be complementary.