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16 Things To Know Before Baking With Domino Sugar

Learn some sweet facts about the iconic sugar brand.

Headshot of Hannah DoolinBy Hannah Doolin
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Whether you're an amateur baker or a wannabe vying for a spot on "The Great British Baking Show," you've probably got a bag of sugar somewhere in your pantry—and chances are it's Domino Sugar. The iconic brand, with its variety of products, has been on the market for 115 years, and its distinctive yellow packaging is recognizable nearly everywhere. Before you dive into your long list of Christmas cookies, read up on Domino's interesting history, their latest product offerings and tips to making your holiday baking sweeter than ever.

1

The U.S. sugar industry got started in New York.

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The industry took root in the United States just before the turn of the century in New York City when William Havemeyer (pictured) started in the business with his brother, Frederick. Raw sugar from the Caribbean, South America, and South East Asia came through Manhattan’s shipping ports and was processed and packaged in local refineries before being shipped across the country. The Havemeyer family opened their own refinery on Vandam Street in 1807, which would be passed down for years to come.

2

Florida is America's largest sugercane-producing state.

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ASR Group

There's a long history of sugar production in Florida, as well. The Fanjul family launched a sugarcane farming and milling company in Palm Beach County, FL, in 1960, producing 10,000 tons of raw sugar in their first harvest. Sugar production in this family dates back to the 1850s in Cuba, and their business (now known as Florida Crystals) has since grown to include two sugar mills, a sugar refinery, packaging and distribution center, and a rice mill in the Sunshine state.

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3

Domino quickly became a leading name in sugar.

Ad For Domino Sugar
Jay Paull//Getty Images

In 1906, the Domino Sugar brand received its U.S. trademark. Some believe the name "Domino" was given since the sugar cubes resembled game tiles. Today, Domino Foods, Inc. is the largest marketer of refined sugar in the U.S. with a combined production capacity of 2.2 million metric tons of sugar per year.

4

World War II rations affected the business.

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Sugar sales were halted in 1942 when access to the countries providing raw sugar was cut off during World War II. Customers were limited to two pounds of sugar per month.

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5

Domino later joined forces with other sugar brands.

Girl Dressed as Maid to Serve Domino Sugar Cane Cubes
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52 family farmers in South Florida joined together to create the Sugar Cane Growers Coop. The group later partnered with Florida Crystals in 1998 to acquire a refinery in Yonkers, NY, and the American Sugar Refining Company was created. Domino joined the ASR family in 2001.

6

You’ve probably used Domino’s granulated sugar.

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Sold in bags, boxes and canisters marked with the brand’s iconic, bright yellow color and familiar blue-and-red logo, Domino’s granulated sugar products have been on the market for 115 years.

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7

And you might recognize Domino's sister brands.

One kilogram bags of Redpath white sugar on a store shelf.
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Domino is a part of ASR Group along with iconic brands such as C&H Sugar, Redpath, and Tate & Lyle—which creates popular products like Golden Syrup, sold in the U.K.

8

Sugar comes from a plant.

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Did you know that this key baking ingredient grows in a field? It originates with sugarcane—a tall, fibrous plant packed with sucrose. When sugarcane is harvested, it’s cut at the bottom of the stalk, then the plant regrows and can be harvested again in a year. Sugar is one of nature’s most efficient agricultural crops from the field to the table.

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9

The refining process is fascinating.

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After sugarcane is harvested and cut into small pieces, it’s run through rollers that crush the stalks seven times to extract their juices. The juice is heated and clarified, removing impurities. The resulting thick syrup is crystallized and continues to grow.

10

Domino aims to minimize its environmental footprint.

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Hannah Doolin

Domino makes focused efforts to reduce waste and engage in responsible sourcing and farming practices. Resources such as water vapor and fiber leftover from the refining process are reused to produce electricity and make plates and other disposable containers. The company's biomass power plant produces clean, renewable energy that powers its sugar operations as well as local homes.

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11

The difference between white and brown sugar is molasses.

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Domino Sugar

During crystallization, molasses is left around some of the sugar crystals. When creating white sugar, the remaining molasses is washed away, leaving behind 99.5% sucrose. Light brown and dark brown sugars are the result of varying levels of remaining molasses that’s incorporated into the final product. This keeps the sugar moist and lends rich, caramel flavor to recipes where light and dark brown sugars are used, such as brownies, cookies, BBQ sauces and marinades.

12

So what’s powdered sugar?

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Confectioners sugar, which you’ve probably used to whip up a batch of frosting, fudge or homemade Christmas candy, is granulated sugar that’s been pulverized into a fine powder. Domino’s confectioner’s sugar also contains cornstarch to prevent caking.

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13

Domino just released a brand-new type of sugar.

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Domino's latest product, Golden Sugar, is a less processed form of their famous granulated sugar. While white sugar is refined to remove all color, Golden Sugar maintains some of the naturally occurring molasses left behind during the crystallization process.

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14

Domino Golden Sugar is easy to use in recipes.

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Golden Sugar is made from pure cane sugar, but has a golden color and hint of molasses flavor. It works cup-for-cup and dissolves just like white sugar, so bakers can sub it in to any recipe.

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15

Sugar adds much more than sweetness.

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Emily Hlavic Green

Sugar is not just an agent for sweetness in recipes—it adds texture, flavor and water content, contributing to different results depending on the type you choose to use. Check out how sugar can affect the flavor and chewiness of cookies and brownies.

16

Domino's corporate baker has some clever tips.

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Whether you need basic, step-by-step recipes or tricks for perfecting your baked goods, Domino's corporate baker has you covered. The site offers baking tips ranging from how to store and soften brown sugar to hacks for controlling cookie spread to pointers for decorating with royal icing.

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