When it comes to palm sugar substitutes, there are a lot of options out there.
But which one is the best for you? Here are 13 palm sugar substitutes, all with their unique benefits.
Let’s find out right away what they are!
13 Palm Sugar Substitutes
Here are my top picks for substituting Palm Sugar.
1. Brown Sugar
Great for baking
Brown sugar is the most efficient and easily available alternative to Palm sugar and works best for baking purposes for its strong binding capacity.
With brown sugar, do remember that brown sugar tends to be sweeter, has a moist and stickier texture, and can be mixed with molasses for better-baked results.
How to substitute
Since Brown sugar has a heavier texture and sweeter taste, a slightly less amount of it works as well as Palm sugar, does.
Try this easy snack with Brown sugar.
2. Maple Syrup
Maple syrup is a liquid sweetener that works best for sauces and glazes but can well be used for cookies, pies, cookies, pancakes, and cocktails to get the same rich sweetness.
Please remember that since maple syrup is a liquid sweetener, the quantity of other liquid ingredients should be adjusted accordingly to get the required consistency.
How to substitute
A 3/4th cup of Maple syrup can be used to substitute every cup of palm sugar for any sweet sauce or glaze.
Here are some unique ways to enjoy Maple syrup.
3. Coconut Sugar
Extracted from the sap of coconut trees, Coconut sugar looks and tastes almost the same as palm sugar and can be replaced in every baked good and drink.
It is important to note that coconut sugar is drier and holds comparatively less moisture than thick and sticky palm sugar. Additional butter or sugar could help fix this.
How to substitute
Coconut sugar and Palm sugar can be replaced with each other in a 1:1 proportion to get the desired texture in the recipe.
Here’s how to bake with coconut sugar.
4. Date Sugar
Date sugar is derived from dehydrated and processed dates that can efficiently be used to substitute palm, brown, and white sugar in both baked goods and savory sauces.
A small caution: Dried date sugar is rich in fiber and may not dissolve instantly and has a slightly less natural sweetness than palm sugar but is rich in nutrients making it a healthy swap.
How to substitute
Date sugar can be used to equally substitute palm sugar in most recipes as they have the same texture while adjusting the quantity of other ingredients.
Delicious Christmas cake with Date sugar.
5. Honey
Honey is a liquid sweetener swapped for palm sugar with the same level of sweetness for several recipes with its distinct woodsy and floral aroma.
Do keep in mind the difference in textures. Honey is a liquid and one should be mindful when using it to replace palm sugar in baked goods by reducing the quantity of other liquid ingredients accordingly.
How to substitute
It is recommended to substitute one cup of palm sugar with a 2/3rd cup of honey to attain the same consistency in batter or dough.
Try this tasty Russian Honey cake.
6. Molasses
Molasses combined with white sugar will give you the same consistency and similar flavor as Palm sugar and can be used for baking cookies, cakes, and more.
Remember that the mix of white sugar and molasses will often give you light brown sugar that is lighter in texture than palm brown sugar, but a great swap nonetheless.
How to substitute
One cup of white sugar is often mixed with one tablespoon of molasses to get the desired amount of homemade palm sugar.
Cookies with Molasses.
7. Cane Sugar
Cane sugar is another great alternative to Palm sugar for most baked recipes like pancakes, cakes, cookies, and pies, and can also be added to sauces, marinades, and drinks.
Do remember that Cane sugar has a lighter texture and does not have the same earthy, woodsy, and organic flavor that Palm sugar has but is sweeter than the latter.
How to substitute
A slightly more amount of Cane sugar is recommended when replacing that amount of Palm sugar due to its lighter consistency.
Crispy toast with Cane sugar.
8. White Sugar
Plain white sugar can effectively substitute Palm sugar in nearly every recipe, sweet and savory, without giving away a hint about the replacement.
A small caution: White sugar has a drier and crispier texture compared to the moist and stretchy texture of brown sugar, which may cause small changes in the texture of your goodies.
How to substitute
White sugar can be equally substituted for brown sugar in a 1:1 proportion for most recipes.
Try these luscious brownies with white sugar.
9. Golden Monk Fruit
Golden Monk fruit, also known as Lo Han Guo is a native Chinese fruit known for its natural and calorie-free sweetness that can be used in cocktails, dairy desserts, condiments, and more.
It is important to remember that Monk fruits are hard to find in most countries and tend to be much sweeter than palm sugar and should be added accordingly.
How to substitute
Since monk fruit is sweeter than palm sugar, a slightly lesser amount should be sufficient for most dishes and can be increased accordingly.
10. Stevia
Granulated white Stevia is another reasonable substitute for Palm sugar and is best for sweetening tea, coffee, and even an oat bowl with its organic sweetness.
A small caution: Stevia can sometimes have a strong aftertaste and may overpower the overall taste of a baked dessert and is not recommended for baked goods.
How to substitute
A small amount of granulated Stevia can go a long way when it comes to sweetening any recipe but should not be overused.
Here’s how to bake with Stevia.
11. Muscovado Sugar
Muscovado sugar contains molasses and is extracted from cane juice making it similar in properties and texture to Palm sugar and perfect to be used for baked goods.
Do note that Muscovado sugar is thicker, stickier, and has a smoky taste, unlike palm sugar. Therefore, a lighter or smaller quantity of the latter is recommended.
How to substitute
A slightly lower quantity of Muscovado sugar would be ideal to replace the required amount of palm sugar to attain the same sweetness.
Chocolate chip cookies with Muscovado sugar.
12. Jaggery
Jaggery is unrefined sugar extracted from sugarcane or palm and is one of the main natural sweeteners in most South Asian cuisines.
Remember that Jaggery is naturally sweeter than brown sugar and has a crumbly texture. Therefore other binding ingredients should be added accordingly to attain the desired consistency.
How to substitute
A whole cup of Jaggery can be safely used to substitute one cup of Palm sugar for most recipes.
Try this cake made with Jaggery.
13. Rock Sugar
Rock sugar is extracted from cane, palm, or beet and has an uneven, hard, and subtly sweet flavor that goes well with both sweet desserts and savory meat marinades.
Do note that Rock sugar is not as sweet as palm sugar and all the other above-mentioned substitutes and should be used in larger amounts to attain the desired sweetness.
How to substitute
A slightly larger amount of Rock sugar is recommended for both sweet and savory dishes when replacing Palm sugar.
Try these colorful Rock sugar candies.
FAQs
Coconut sugar, brown sugar, plain white sugar, maple syrup, and honey are considered to be the best substitutes for Palm sugar as they can be used for both sweet and savory dishes. They will all give you the sweetness you are looking for when baked.
When using any of the above-mentioned ingredients, a subtle difference in flavor, aroma, and texture is often noticed.
No, Palm sugar and Coconut sugar are both organic plant-based sugar substitutes but are not the same. Palm sugar is extracted from the sap of sugar or date palm tree while coconut sugar is from the bud of coconut tree flowers.
They are both naturally sweet and can be used to substitute each other in most dishes and desserts.
Yes, Brown sugar is one of the most commonly available alternatives for Palm sugar for desserts like pies, cookies, pancakes, and much more. Palm sugar tends to be slightly sweeter than brown sugar but can be used nevertheless.
The quantity and measurement of other ingredients should be adjusted when substituting sweeteners in desserts.
Honey can be an efficient substitute for Palm sugar for almost any recipe that requires it as they have the same level of sweetness and consistency. Honey can be used to replace Palm sugar in desserts, beverages, and savory sauces.
Honey also tends to be sweeter at times so it is recommended to use small amounts and increase as required.
Bottom Line
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