Despite what your dentist might say, sweeteners are staple ingredient that belong in every pantry. Most commonly used in baking, sugars are also an essential ingredient in soups and sauces (to counter the tartness of other ingredients). Depending upon the origin of the sweetener, it will add a characteristic flavor to each recipe. Below is a short list of the most common sweeteners that every home cook should have on hand.

Granulated Sugar

Whether referred to as Granulated, White, coarse, or lump, table sugar the most commonly used sweetener. It is the essential sweetener for desserts, cereals, beverages and sauces. Commonly sold in 5 lb bags, there should always be at least one on hand.

Confectioners Sugar

Also known as powdered or 10X sugar, confectioners sugar is simply granulated sugar that has been crushed to a fine particle size (a small percent of starch is also added to prevent lumping). In addition to being used for dusting cakes and cookies, it is also used in making frosting. Keep a 1 lb box.

Brown Sugar

Brown sugar comes in both Lite and Dark varieties. It is a less refined version of granulated sugar with some molasses added (3.5% in Lite and up to 6.5% in Dark). The darker the sugar the stronger the molasses flavor. When used in baking it is typically the Lite version that is used, unless specified otherwise. This is because the Dark Brown sugar is moister which may affect the density of the final product. It is also used as a topping for certain vegetable dishes. Depending on the amount of baking you do, you may opt to stock only 1 box of the Lite variety.

Syrups

Although maple is the most popular flavor, corn syrup, molasses, and grenandine are also available. Each variety provides a distinctive flavor and should be used appropriately. Aside from their obvious uses at breakfast, syrups are used in baking, and can also be used as substitute sweeteners if a particular flavor is desired.

Honey

Made from flower nectar by bees, honey comes in many varieties whose flavor is determined by the flowers used to produce it. Honey is naturally sweeter than sugar it adds a characteristic flavor to many baking recipes. Honey has an extremely long shelf life, so a little honey can last a very long time.