Choose the right kind of molasses the next time you bake.

Whether baking cookies or grilling pork tenderloin, molasses syrup is available to add some flavor to your dish.

Find out how to choose the right molasses for your sweet and savory dishes.

dark molasses

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What Is Molasses?

Molasses is a thick, dark syrup made during the sugar-making process.

First, the sugar cane is crushed and the juice is extracted.

Sliced Sweet Potato Pie with Molasses Whipped Cream

Credit: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

The juice is then boiled to form sugar crystals and removed from the liquid.

The thick, brown syrup left after removing the sugar from the juice is molasses.

This process is repeated several times to produce a different pop in of molasses each time.

Old-Fashioned Gingerbread

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Nutrition note: Unlike refined sugar, molasses contains some vitamins and minerals.

One tablespoon contains almost 60 calories with 15 grams of sugar.

Most commercial brands in grocery stores will be the unsulphured throw in.

Molasses Crinkles Recipe

Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez

What Is Light (Original, Regular, or Mild) Molasses?

It’s the tamest flavor and works well to boost other supporting ingredients instead of being intense and overpowering.

Use regular molasses forholiday cakes, pecan pies, andmolasses cookies.

Molasses-Soy Glazed Salmon and Vegetables

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When a recipe calls for any molasses, regular is your best option.

What Is Dark (Robust, Full, Second) Molasses?

Its flavor dominates, so you must be careful when you cook with it.

It balances well with ginger, so dark molasses is ideal for gingerbread cake.

Use it in baked beans and barbecue sauces on fatty meats for savory dishes.

When To Use Blackstrap Molasses?

Never use it in sweet dishes or substitute blackstrap molasses for any other kind.

What Are Substitutes for Molasses?

Suppose you are low on molasses and can’t run to the store.

Theseeasy substitutes will work in a pinch.

Upgrade your traditional sweet potato pie for this flavorful and fall-spiced dessert.

Use a store-bought pie crust to simplify this recipe.

Adding molasses to a classic gingerbread recipe boosts the sweet quality without overpowering the buttery, spicy mix.

Pumpkin pie spice can substitute the ground spice if you don’t have them all on hand.

Molasses Crinkles Cookies

Recipe:Molasses Crinkles Cookies

Some things are classics for a reason.

This holiday staple cookie has the perfect blend of cinnamon, ginger, and cloves.

The robust molasses flavoring complements the mixture by adding just enough sweetness.

Substitute the salmon for chicken or shrimp because this glaze works well in many recipes.

U.S. Department of Agriculture.FoodData central, molasses.

Herbst, Ron, and Herbst, Sharon Tyler.The Deluxe Food Lover’s Companion.

United States, Sourcebooks, 2015.