Topic 6 Sugars: renewed

What are the functions of sugar in baking?

• Adds sweetness & flavor

• Creates tenderness & fine texture

• Provides crust color

• Extends shelf life (acts as preservative)

• Creams with fats

• Foams with eggs

What are the types of sugar found in nature?

• Sucrose – from sugar cane/beets

• Lactose – found in milk

• Maltose – from malt (barley)

• Fructose – found in fruit

What are the functions of sugar in baking?

• Adds sweetness & flavor

• Tenderizes & improves texture

• Enhances crust color

• Preserves & extends shelf life

• Creaming agent with fat

What are the categories of granulated sugar?

• Regular (table sugar) – standard use

• Caster sugar – very fine, better for batters

• Sanding sugar – coarse, decorative use

• Pearl sugar (sugar nibs) – doesn’t dissolve easily

• Coarse sugar – good for syrups

What is brown sugar and how should it be stored?

• 85–92% sucrose + molasses & impurities

• Adds acidity → reacts with baking soda

• Not for white cakes

What is Demerara sugar?

• Crystalline, dry brown sugar

• Not moist like regular brown sugar

What is confectioners’ sugar and what are the types?

• Finely powdered sugar + 3% starch

• 10X – smoothest for icing

• 6X – less likely to lump, used for dusting

What are examples of liquid sweeteners in baking?

• Corn syrup

• Honey

• Maple syrup

• Molasses

What are the main cookie make-up methods?

• Drop cookies

• Icebox cookies

• Bar cookies

• Cut-out/Rolled cookies

• Pressed or Piped cookies

• Wafer/Stenciled cookies

What are some cookie baking tips?

• High temp = chewy cookies

• Low temp = crisp cookies

• Even spacing, uniform size

• Double sheeting, rotate pans

How should cookies be stored?

• Airtight container (up to 1 week)

• Don’t mix crisp & soft types

• Most cookies and raw dough freeze well

What’s the difference between sugar beet and sugar cane?

• Beet: Root; temperate climates; 12–14% sugar

• Cane: Grass; tropical climates; 14–20% sugar

• Cane grows in FL, LA, TX; beet in 11 states (mostly MN)

• Brazil (top cane grower), Europe (top beet grower)