Everything you need to know about coconut sugar
CE
October 22, 2015 84 Comments
Is coconut sugar good for you? Is it an adequate white sugar substitute for healthy baking and how do I use it? Find answers to all of these questions in this post!
What is coconut sugar?
Coconut sugar also called coconut crystals or coconut palm sugar sometimes is a great alternative to refined white sugar.
The golden brown coconut sugar is obtained by heating the sap of the coconut flower until most liquid has evaporated. In other words, it’s hardly processed.
Now, does that make it a “healthy” alternative to white sugar? Is coconut sugar good for you? Let’s have a look.
Coconut Sugar vs White Sugar aka. Is coconut sugar good for you?
As you can see from the chart, coconut sugar and granulated sugar have a very similar nutritional profile.
One tablespoon of coconut sugar has 45 kCal and 12 grams of carbs, while one tablespoon of white sugar has 48 kCal and 12.6 grams of carbs. Pretty much identical.
If you’re just looking to reduce your calorie or carb intake, coconut sugar might not be the good choice for you.
But what these numbers don’t tell you is that coconut sugar has a much lower glycemic index than white sugar. It means that it won’t make your blood sugar spike as normal sugar does. It’s also a bit more nutritious.
Where white sugar basically provides empty calories, coconut sugar contains a small amount of minerals like zinc, iron, calcium, and potassium.
The takeaway here is that coconut sugar is probably not your friend if you’re trying to lose weight, but is still a better choice than refined white sugar because it’s less processed and more nutritious.
So is coconut sugar good for you? Well, it depends on what your goals are. Weight loss or overall health.
How to use coconut sugar for cooking and baking
Using coconut sugar is quite similar to cooking and baking with brown sugar. It has a light but distinctive flavor, close to brown sugar or molasses.
Keep in mind that it will make your batter brown, so it’s not ideal for some recipes.
If you’ve never tried coconut sugar before, start with a recipe that has been developed using coconut sugar, try it and see how you like it. Then you can start replacing it in your favorite recipes.
To replace white sugar with coconut sugar in your recipe, the ratio is usually 1 for 1 (use 1 cup of coconut sugar for 1 cup of granulated sugar).
You might need to play around with your recipe, adjust the other ingredients and the baking time but I found the substitution pretty easy to do.
Where to buy coconut sugar
- In the “health food” aisle of your supermarket, or sometimes even in the “baking” aisle, next to the white sugar. My local supermarket (Coles) carries different brands in both aisles (one is organic, the other is not).
- In a health food store
- If you can’t find it in stores, Amazon has a great selection of brands and it might be your cheapest option. Browse the different brands here.
Recipes using coconut sugar
Now that you know everything about coconut sugar, let’s get to the actual cooking!
Here’s a selection of my favorite recipes. And watch out this space, there’s plenty more coming your way!
–{Healthier} Apple Pie Oatmeal Bars (pictured)
–Apple Pie Spice Muffins (Gluten Free)
–Healthy Blueberry Muffins (Gluten Free)
–Lemon Pie Bars (Gluten Free)
–Double Chocolate Zucchini Bread (Gluten Free)
–Cherry Oatmeal Bars (Gluten Free)
And for the most recent recipe using coconut sugar, click here.
Still, have questions about coconut sugar and how to use it? Ask below and I’ll do my best to answer them!
There is great information here. I love baking with coconut sugar, I try to work it into many dessert recipes. Thank you for this helpful post!
Have you ever tried to make chocolate with coconut sugar?
Hi there. No, I have not tried it myself but I know a lot of brands that sweeten their chocolate bars with coconut sugar! There are also plenty of coconut sugar chocolate recipes online – now you got me curious and I want to look into it myself! Thanks for the inspiration!
Great post, Marie! I knew that coconut sugar was healthier, at least insofar as it is less refined. But I didn’t know about the lower glycemic load. Very interesting. We’ve been using evaporated cane juice instead of refined granulated sugar, because it’s less processed. Around here, the coconut sugar is harder to find (until we get our Sprouts grocery on our side of town), but I will probably be using it more in my cooking now.
This is a great article! I love coconut sugar so much and I adore baking with it in place of white sugar!
This is so interesting…thank you so much for sharing! Coconut sugar has become my favorite sugar…i love it!
Coconut sugar is a natural and healthier sweetener.Like table sugar, coconut sugar is a blend of glucose and fructose.We have studies showing fructose contributes to insulin resistance, diabetes, heart disease, and obesity.I like this blog.
In my world, people looking for a good substitution for white sugar, is also looking for a worthy substitution for all purpose flour. True there is gluten free all purpose but it is sooooo processed. I would love some of your delicious recipes to use almond, coconut or even einkorn flour. Those of us who do alternative baking also usually can’t tolerate corn, gluten, soy and a lot of times dairy. Gratefully I can get away with raw dairy! Thanks for your input!
Hi!
I am following a recipe that calls for light brown sugar, however, I only have coconut palm sugar. Would the ratio be 1:1?
Usually it is, yes! What’s the recipe?
I’m making plum butter (overnight crock pot recipe) and I’m short on brown sugar. Will using some coconut palm sugar change the taste much?
No it’s really similar, you can definitely use coconut sugar instead!
I just found my coconut sugar in the pantry (I forgot I had it) and it is as hard as a rock, do you know any way to soften it?
Yes it happens to me too sometimes and I just try to “hammer” it a little. If this doesn’t work, you could try to pulse it in your food processor.
Well actually this is the first time I hear about coconut sugar! I often use brown sugar when making sweets, but I am now excited to try coconut sugar instead, especially that I love coconut sweets!
Oh I’m excited to hear how you like coconut sugar!
I want to do a carrot cake I’ve done before which has 225g of light brown sugar, can I just replace like for like with coconut sugar?
Yes you definitely can! I would maybe add a little less coconut sugar (say 200g) because the flavor is a bit stronger than light brown sugar, but other than that, you can substitute it with the same proportion
I used coconut sugar when I was making Swiss roll today, but I found my eggs didn’t rise as much as when I use caster sugar. Why is this? I ended up having to use a smaller baking tray.
It could be because coconut sugar has a larger grain than caster sugar – you could try pulsing it in the food processor to make it finer.
Does coconut palm sugar expire? I forgot I had some, oops! Don’t know if it’s ok to still use it.
I think it’s pretty much like refined sugar. If it looks fine then you’re probably good to go!
Can you make a simple sugar syrup using coconut sugar?
I don’t see why not. The syrup might be a bit brownish though – it could be important depending on what you’re planning to do with it.
Can you use coconut sugar after the expiration date? Thank you
The taste might be slightly altered but it’s 100% safe. I’ve done it before.
Thank you, I hope it turned out okay as I am bringing the baking to a family gathering.
You should be all good! Hope your family enjoyed the treat 🙂
Tried coconut sugar in my coffee (with milk) and it’s great tasting… similar to brown sugar! Love it and will now be using it with my coffee and also tea (herbal).????
It’s delicious, isn’t it?! Glad you loved it Rosario 🙂
Hi Marie. I like you, use it measure for measure. There is one thing I have noticed however, when using a normal recipe like cake, (I am gluten free so my flour is also) I find cookies, or cakes are a wee bit dryer than a refined sugar product. I was wondering if you have noticed the same and if so if you have figured out a solution. I think regular sugar actually has moisture. So I am thinking water, oil or syrup addition may bridge the gap. Would love to hear your opinion. PS. There is a brand that is now offering a finer grain/blonde color. I find my coffee bean grinder can get me finer for those of you wondering about the granular size. 🙂
I use coconut sugar in all my baking and I love it, but when I use it in milk pudding or vanilla ice cream the result have this brownish grey color, it is totally unappetizing. Can I find white coconut sugar?
Thanks
Unfortunately I’ve never see white coconut sugar – I don’t think it exists. And they would have to process it a lot, potentially with harsh chemicals, to make it white so I’m not sure it would be a healthy option anyway 🙂
What about freezer jam? Would the ratio still be 1:1? I’m trying to recreate all my favorite recipes replacing cane sugar with coconut sugar. TIA
Yes, I think it would be the same ratio!
Why when I blend a cup of coconut sugar do I get less than a cup after blending?
Because when it’s blended, the sugar becomes thiner and takes up less volume in the cup
I don’t tolerate sugar so use stevia. Can stevia be substituted for coconut sugar (wish I could use c sugar) any idea of the exchange for it?
Stevia is a whole different beast – you can’t use it exactly like you would coconut sugar (although it’s similar). Check out this guide, you probably find an answer to your questions: https://wholenewmom.com/kitchen-tips/stevia-what-it-is-and-how-to-use-it/ 🙂
Hi! I’m supposed to stay away from refined sugar as it is a high inflammatory agent. Do you know anything about where coconut sugar sits, as far as being an inflammatory agent?
I’m sorry I’m not sure and I wouldn’t feel comfortable giving medical advice as I’m not qualified to do so.
I have an issue when baking with coconut sugar; the end product is a bit dry/crumbly. I made a wonderful coffee cake using the same recipe I have used for years and, it came out slightly dry and “crumby” (too many crumbs, almost crumbly). I also made some “blondes”, same dryness issue. Everything has tasted great and I’m not going to stop using it, but, has anyone altered any of the other ingredients to fix the dryness/crumbles?
That’s really interesting. I’ve never noticed this issue. Hopefully someone can chime in and help you!
I add a tsp of olive oil to the recipe (when baking) which helps with the moistness.
Oh my goodness I’m one of those really old fashion types well over 65 just stat some pain management treatments for my old bones broke my backinseveralplac3s it’s recomended not to use white sugar as it dose aggravate inflammation in those areas so a completely new life style of eating the one thing I would not change is my tea or coffee had to have sugar not like suryup but sweeter I absolutely refuse to use artificial sugar that fake stuff just sits in my mouth for days but I’ve decided this week to try a natural sugar coconut sounded awsome with lest processing with it well to the point I’m on my third day of use I’m happy to report it’s good replacement and being natural my body knows what to do with it not turning it into some toxic wAste stored in the fat best of all it’s not gmo contaminated I bought organic as I have for my complete lifestyle change all foods organic or they not passing through this mouth yes that’s one of my illnesses toxic thank you for allowing me to text here with my thoughts blessings to all yup cookies are on my list next to make as a southerner sweets are just in our blood . Any feed back is welcomed .
Happy to read coconut sugar worked well for you Gaby!
My coconut sugar is hard, can I soften it?
Have a look at this article, it should help you (brown sugar is similar to coconut sugar): https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-soften-hard-brown-sugar-58602
In making cranberry sauce, can I use coconut sugar instead of white sugar? I have seen the comments above with the ratio 1:1 for baking. Is it same for sauces?
Yes, coconut sugar would be perfect for cranberry sauce and you can use the same amount you would for white sugar. Happy thanksgiving!
What about cheesecake. I saw no real recipe online for using Coconut sugar. I guess according to your blog its just a swap out .. maybe using slightly less for flavor?
The issue with cheesecake is that coconut sugar will darken the white batter, and yes, you might taste it a bit, unless the recipe is heavy on the lemon or vanilla extract. In terms of texture, I think it would work just fine.
I love using coconut sugar but can I use it in a fudge recipe and get the same fudge texture?
Yes, I think it would work fine! But know that brands have different grain size. If yours is on the bigger side, you may want to blend the sugar first (in a blender or food processor) to make sure it’s fine and doesn’t make your fudge grainy.
Can you substitute coconut sugar for raw cane sugar in a brownie recipe?
Yes, absolutely!
Trying to make cookies that call for almond flour and maple syrup..2 c of Flour/1/2 c syrup.
I want to use coconut sugar instead of maple syrup but since this is a dry ingredient, I am wondering should I add some water to combine ingredients, and how much to add?
You are right, substituting a dry ingredient for a wet one can be tricky. I’m not an expert baker at all, but I wouldn’t recommend using water.
Wondering if I can use coconut sugar in place of granulated sugar in a braised red cabbage recipe. I haven’t tried coconut sugar yet but am intrigued by the glycemic benefit. Thank you!
I think it should work well, yes! I’m sure the taste will be good, I’m just wondering about the color but since it’s red cabbage (=pretty dark) it shouldn’t alter the presentation either.
will there be a difference in the texture and colour if I use coconut sugar instead of white sugar in cupcakes
I wouldn’t use coconut sugar in cupcakes if you care about how they’ll look. Unless the batter is already dark (if you’re making chocolate cupcakes for instance) the coconut sugar will turn the white batter brown-ish so not they prettiest 🙂
Hi! Can I substitute coconut sugar in place of muscovado sugar?
Absolutely!
Can coconut sugar be used in chocolate making? I want to use organic cacao powder, raw cacao butter and coconut sugar.
Hi Diana! Yes, you can make chocolate bars with coconut sugar as a sweetener and I think there are some great recipes online! Feel free to share your experience with the community, if you try one of them. Cheers
Hi there!
I have a condition called pica, in which I have the craving to eat sand. This occurs because I am anaemic (= I have a an iron deficiency). Instead of eating sand I substitute it by eating coconut sugar, more than several times a day. Is that a bad thing for my health?
Hi Eve! I’m afraid I can’t answer your question, this is something you need to ask your doctor. All the best!
Hi Marie
Can coconut sugar be caramelized?
Hi Helen! I would say that depends on the type of recipe… Are you thinking creme brulee or caramel sauce? Keep in mind that coconut sugar burns at a lower temperature than white sugar.
I just made peanut butter cookies and used coconut sugar. They taste the same using the 1/1 ratio, but I had to cut the cooking time almost in half. The cookies were burning around the edges. The recipe also called for 375 * which I ended up lowering to 350*. Hope that this helps other bakers. That’s funny… I don’t consider myself a baker. I’m just lucky that I can cook!
Is coconut sugar similar to regular sugar that it would last past its expiration date?
You betcha! There is nothing in sugar that “goes bad” in a traditional sense. If exposed to moisture, it can become hardened and form rocks, but is still edible.
I’ve been using coconut sugar for some time now.You can use substitute it in most recipes.I have found in baking cookies they are dried out.If someone knows what to do let me know please.
Hi Sonjia! Baked goods with coconut sugar are often a bit on the crispier side if you replace brown sugar with coconut sugar 1:1 without adding additional moisture. The reason is that there is molasses in brown sugar, which makes it wetter and adds moisture to your cookies. I hope this helps 🙂 Have an excellent day.
Can you use Coconut Sugar when baking bread? and if so at what ratio and does it require more moisture?
Hi Bob! I wish I could help you but I’m not familiar with bread making at all. Hopefully others can chime in and help you!
Can I use coconut sugar for a cheesecake?
I’m not sure it’d be ideal. What kind of cheesecake is it? If it’s a classic white one, I’m afraid the coconut sugar would make the batter dark and look unappetizing. For the base no problem though.
Will egg yolks thicken when whipping coconut sugar instead of white sugar?
Yes, they do