Ingredient Weight Converter · sweetener
Light Brown Sugar: cups to grams
1 cup of light brown sugar weighs 213 grams. Use the converter below for any other amount, or check the quick-reference table.
Light Brown Sugar baseline: 1 cup = 213 g.
Common amounts
| Cups | Tablespoons | Grams | Ounces (weight) | Milliliters |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1/4 cup | 4.0 | 53 g | 1.88 oz | 59 mL |
| 1/3 cup | 5.3 | 71 g | 2.50 oz | 79 mL |
| 1/2 cup | 8.0 | 107 g | 3.76 oz | 118 mL |
| 2/3 cup | 10.7 | 142 g | 5.01 oz | 158 mL |
| 3/4 cup | 12.0 | 160 g | 5.64 oz | 177 mL |
| 1 cup | 16.0 | 213 g | 7.51 oz | 237 mL |
| 1.5 cups | 24.0 | 320 g | 11.27 oz | 355 mL |
| 2 cups | 32.0 | 426 g | 15.03 oz | 473 mL |
| 3 cups | 48.0 | 639 g | 22.54 oz | 710 mL |
| 4 cups | 64.0 | 852 g | 30.05 oz | 946 mL |
Why measuring light brown sugar by cup goes wrong
Brown sugar is granulated sugar coated with molasses. The molasses is what makes it clump and what makes the recipe say 'packed.' Light brown sugar firmly packed runs about 213 grams per cup. Loose, scooped brown sugar can be as little as 165 grams in the same cup — a 25 percent error that the recipe author absolutely did not expect.
Practical tips for working with light brown sugar
To pack brown sugar, scoop it into the cup and press it down with the back of a spoon until it holds its shape when you turn the cup over. If the sugar has hardened in the bag, microwave it for 15 seconds with a damp paper towel laid on top — the steam softens it without melting. A slice of bread or apple in the bag overnight does the same thing more slowly.
Note from this ingredient's record: Firmly packed. When a recipe says 'packed,' press the sugar into the cup with the back of a spoon until it holds the cup's shape when turned out.
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