Coconut sugar vs plain

Donna S. (Q&A ID 15904)

Can coconut sugar be substituted for plain sugar in baking, and if not, what happens? Is there a time when coconut sugar is specifically indicated?

Lynn C. (Q&A ID 662)

Hi Donna -

We haven't baked with coconut sugar much here at Milk Street and baking with sugar alternatives can be tricky, but coconut sugar works pretty well in a 1-1 substitution for white, granulated sugar as long as you manage your expectations.

To understand the pitfalls of baking with coconut sugar, it’s important to understand the traditional role of sugar in baked goods. In addition to providing sweetness and flavor, refined sugar helps create structure, moistness, and chewiness. The chemical bond between sugar and water locks in moisture, creating tender cookies that are less likely to dry out.

Alt-sugars have a different chemical makeup, which frequently means they lack these useful qualities. In other words, you shouldn’t expect a cookie made with coconut sugar to behave exactly like a cookie made with refined sugar. It won't be as moist and chewy. Still, coconut sugar easily dissolves into simple syrups and creams into butter and eggs. 

Best,

The Milk Street Team