Demerara sugar is a type of raw cane sugar with large, golden-brown crystals and a slightly toffee-like flavor. Its coarse texture makes it ideal for sprinkling on baked goods or adding to beverages for a subtle crunch and sweetness.
If you don’t have demerara sugar on hand, several substitutes can replicate its flavor, texture, or both, ensuring your recipe stays on track.
What Is Demerara Sugar?
Demerara sugar is minimally processed, retaining some of the natural molasses from sugarcane, which gives it its characteristic golden color and mild caramel flavor. The large crystals provide a satisfying crunch and visual appeal, making it a popular choice for topping baked goods, such as muffins and cookies, or sweetening hot beverages.
5 Substitutes for Demerara Sugar
1. Turbinado Sugar
Turbinado sugar, often labeled as “raw sugar,” is one of the best substitutes for demerara sugar. It has similar large crystals and a mild molasses flavor, making it an almost identical match in both texture and taste.
Turbinado sugar is widely available and can be used as a 1:1 substitute in recipes that call for demerara sugar.
2. Granulated Sugar
Granulated sugar is a common and easily accessible substitute for demerara sugar. While it lacks the molasses content and toffee flavor, its texture makes it a suitable replacement for recipes where sweetness is more important than texture or color.
3. Light Brown Sugar
Light brown sugar provides a similar molasses flavor to demerara sugar but has a much finer texture. It’s an excellent choice for recipes that don’t rely on the coarse crystals for crunch, such as cakes, cookies, and sauces.
Light brown sugar is readily available in grocery stores and can replace demerara sugar in equal amounts.
4. Golden Caster Sugar
Golden caster sugar is a finer-grained sugar with a light golden color and a subtle caramel flavor. It doesn’t have the large crystals of demerara sugar but offers a similar taste, making it a good substitute in recipes where the sugar dissolves, such as syrups and batters.
5. Coconut Sugar
Coconut sugar is made from the sap of coconut palms and has a mild caramel flavor similar to demerara sugar. While its crystals are finer, it works well as a substitute in recipes where texture isn’t critical. It’s also a natural and less processed option, making it appealing to those seeking healthier alternatives.
Coconut sugar is widely available and can replace demerara sugar in equal amounts.
Tips for Using Substitutes
- For Texture: Choose turbinado sugar if you need a crunchy topping for baked goods.
- For Flavor: Light brown sugar or golden caster sugar are excellent options to replicate demerara sugar’s flavor.
These substitutes ensure your recipes maintain their sweetness, flavor, and texture even when demerara sugar isn’t available, providing a variety of options for baking and cooking needs.