Are you making a recipe that calls for coconut sugar but you just ran out? Don’t fret! Here is a list of coconut sugar substitutes that you can use when cooking and baking in the kitchen!
Why Use Coconut Sugar
Coconut sugar comes from the coconut palm plant. The juice of this plant is collected and then dried. Simply!
You want to use coconut sugar in a way that the strong flavor complements the recipe. It would be great to sweeten a hot cup of coffee, sprinkle on a yogurt parfait, or certain baked goods.
Coconut sugar vs sugar
Coconut sugar has a reputation for being “healthy”. But is it really?
Coconut sugar contains a few more minerals than table sugar. Coconut sugar contains zinc, calcium, potassium and iron. If you use a sweetener, that’s a great bonus.
The thing is, the amount of these minerals is minimal. If you don’t enjoy the taste of coconut sugar over the taste of regular sugar, it might not be worth the swap!
Keep in mind that both types of sugar contain the same amount of calories and carbohydrates: 15 calories and 4 grams of carbohydrates per teaspoon.
The bottom line is that you treat both coconut sugar and typical sugar as one and the same.
List of substitutes for coconut sugar
1. Brown Sugar:
Brown sugar is just plain old sugar with molasses. The closest coconut sugar substitute you can find is bright Brown sugar. Another difference between brown sugar and coconut sugar is that the grains of light and dark sugar are smaller than coconut sugar.
2. Sucanat:
Sucanat is not a very popular sweetener. It is made from sugar cane, like regular sugar, but is still similar in color to coconut sugar. Flavor-wise, it has a slight caramel flavor, making it a decent coconut sugar substitute.
3. Sugar:
Sugar is probably your first instinct to substitute it for coconut sugar. Plain old cane sugar is cutie pie than coconut sugar and has a less intense flavor profile. All in all, sugar is a pantry staple and can easily be a substitute for coconut sugar.
4. Treasure:
Honey has some amazing health benefits. It’s more “natural,” has antibiotic properties, and is better known: it can help with a sore throat. A key difference is that honey becomes more liquefied while coconut sugar crystallizes. Both are sources of a flavorful sweetener and can be used interchangeably!
5. maple syrup:
As expected, maple syrup has a caramel maple flavor while coconut sugar has a coconut flavor. Another problem with using maple syrup as a coconut sugar substitute is that one is more liquified while the other is in granular form.
6. date sugar:
Have you ever been on a date? If not, chances are even less likely that you’ve tried date sugar! It’s not a very popular sweetener, although it does provide some nutrients! It’s a great coconut sugar substitute if you can find it at the store.
7. Stevia:
Stevia could be a category of its own. It is a non-nutritive sweetener, meaning it has and is zero calories 100 times sweeter than regular sugar! For these reasons, stevia is not a great substitute for coconut sugar. If you’re looking for something sweet without the sugar, check out these 6 Sugar-Free Desserts to cure your sweet tooth!
8. Monk Fruit:
Monk fruit and coconut sugar have a few similarities and a few differences. They both have a lower glycemic index and are plant-based. Where they differ is in taste and nutrition. Monk fruit has no calories and it is a lot of sweeter than coconut sugar.
When NOT to use coconut sugar
Coconut sugar has large grains of sugar. That means it takes longer for the pieces to unravel. If you’re making something that’s only slightly heated, the sugar won’t dissolve and you’ll be sure to grab a few bites of coconut blossom sugar!
In some recipes you do not want coconut flavor. That’s totally fine – just use a sweetener that complements the dish rather than distracting from it.
Takeaways for coconut sugar substitutes
- Coconut blossom sugar is great for certain recipes
- From a nutritional point of view, coconut sugar and regular sugar are very similar
- Light brown sugar is one of the best substitutes for coconut sugar
- In these cases, you should opt for a coconut sugar substitute instead of coconut sugar
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Still craving something sweet?
If you want something sweet, give one (or a few) a taste of these sweet treats! Don’t forget to post a picture on Instagram and tag me so I can see how it turns out!
