What Is Golden Sugar And What Does It Taste Like?

For avid home bakers that are up on the latest trends and products, golden sugar might already be a staple of their pantry. However, for those who bake less often, this new kind of sugar might be a head scratcher. Like ruby chocolate was introduced as an additional option among the line-up of white, milk and dark chocolates, golden sugar is another shade on the spectrum from white to dark brown. Now bakers have one more option between granular and light brown sugars.

Golden sugar can easily be added into or substituted into recipes that call for white sugar or light brown sugar because its flavor is similar to both. Those that want just the slightest hint of molasses or more depth of flavor introduced into their desserts can give this new product a try. It shouldn't greatly alter the flavor or color, but it could be an interesting alternative for things like making caramel or other sugar-forward treats.

Golden sugar is the latest creation from the brand Domino and is non-GMO verified, kosher certified, and gluten-free (via PR Newswire). "As a company, we are dedicated to crafting products with a commitment to quality and innovation," said Paula Summers, vice president of marketing for the ASR Group. "By providing this new option for baking, we are continuing to help bakers celebrate life's sweetest moments, but now with a less processed alternative."

Though the golden sugar is less processed, it is simply a lighter version of brown sugar. What you'll find inside the bag are beautiful golden-colored sugar crystals that have a whisper of the molasses flavor and aroma you know and love from brown sugar. It's is a very versatile type of sugar that can walk the line between white and light brown sugar, which makes it a perfect alternative to use in cakes or even cookies. 

All sugar comes from plants like sugar cane or sugar beets (via Healthline). The plants develop natural sugar that is then pressed out of the plants as sugar-laden juice. The juice is then processed and purified so that a thick, very dark brown molasses syrup is made. After that, the process determines what kind of sugar will be made. The molasses syrup is placed in a centrifuge, which spins the syrup at such a high speed the liquid molasses is spun out of the sugar so only crystals remain.

The most highly processed sugar is white sugar because all of the molasses is removed from the sugar. Dark brown sugar is the least-processed sugar because it has the most molasses left inside the sugar crystals. Both light brown and golden sugar fall between white and dark brown sugar with varying levels of molasses left behind with the sugar crystals. The crystals are then dried and packaged.

Golden sugar tastes like granulated sugar with just a touch of molasses (via Domino Sugar). So, it won't have quite as deep of a flavor as light brown sugar and definitely won't be as rich as dark brown sugar. Imagine the flavor of golden sugar like white sugar with just a drop of sweetness added in. If you were to use it with granulated sugar, the flavor of the molasses would likely be minimized just as it would be maximized should you incorporate it in with brown sugar.

Other flavors that are often used with brown sugar such as strong spices — like ginger, cloves, and nutmeg — would be amplified due to the lack of the molasses flavor. Recipes that call for more mellow flavors like sugar cookies or vanilla cake would have a more complex flavor, thanks to the hint of warmth from the molasses. So, consider what flavors you want to shine when choosing which kind of sugar to use in the recipe, but know that golden sugar will not significantly alter the flavor of your desserts among other things.

One of the best things about golden sugar is that it can easily be substituted for white granulated sugar (via Taste of Home). Unlike other sugar substitutes, you don't have to make odd measurements to account for the amount of sugar a recipe calls for. Instead, you can simply substitute golden sugar in a one for one measurement. That means if your recipe calls for half a cup of white sugar, you can use half a cup of golden sugar instead.

Golden sugar works just like regular sugar, which implies that it can be used in all kinds of ways just like regular sugar would be. From pies to your morning cup of joe, golden sugar can be mixed in just like you would granular sugar. Since golden sugar is so versatile and can be used in so many ways, it might be a great bag of sugar to keep on hand in the pantry as a substitute for those times you run out of granular sugar or light brown sugar.

Customers looking to give golden sugar a try can find it alongside all other kinds of Domino sugar. From local grocery stores across the country to online vendors like Amazon and more, customers can find golden sugar quite readily. Simply look for it on the baking aisle among the other kinds of sugar. According to Taste of Home, a 1.75-pound bag of the new Domino golden sugar sells for about $10 on Amazon.

The only stipulation is that the sugar is currently only stocked in grocery stores on the East Coast. However, anyone can purchase the new shade of sugar online to be shipped to their home. To celebrate the new sugar, Domino has a food truck tour that will make stops all along the East Coast between July and September (via PR Newswire). So, if you're lucky enough to be in Washington, D.C., Baltimore, New York, Boston or even Philadelphia, keep an eye out for the branded food truck this summer and fall.

Although Domino's golden sugar is billed as less-processed and marketed in a way that makes it appear to be healthier, the sugar is in fact no healthier than other sugars be it white, light brown or dark brown. Golden sugar is only marginally less processed than white sugar too. So, those looking for a sugar option that has not been heavily processed should likely turn to dark brown sugar or other natural options like honey, molasses, maple syrup or even agave syrup. 

Raw and unrefined sugars will be less processed than refined sugars, which under-go multiple crystallizations (via What Sugar). Though it isn't clear, it appears that Domino golden sugar would fall under the refined sugar category. According to HEB, FatSecret and FitBit, all of the sugars — white granular, light brown and golden — all have 15 calories per teaspoon. They also have 4 grams of carbs per teaspoon too. So, it really comes down to which sugar taste you prefer and what you decide to use it in.