11 Best Coconut Sugar Substitutes

When it comes to cooking healthy, there are a ton of substitute options out there for various ingredients.

Things like dairy and sugars and flours are some of the most common ingredients that people regularly look for alternatives to, in order to find a better solution. 

Coconut sugar is a popular choice for a sugar substitute.

This low-glycemic sugar option is sweeter than traditional sugar and really is more similar to brown sugar in both flavor and texture but it does have more flavor as well as that coconut flavor, which not everyone loves. 

But sometimes, you just don’t have it on hand. And some people just can’t handle coconut. Luckily, there are some great alternatives to coconut sugar.

So what is a good coconut sugar substitute? The best substitutes for coconut sugar are light brown sugar, sucanat, maple syrup, raw honey, date sugar, agave/agave syrup, maple sugar, stevia, xylitol, turbinado sugar, and white sugar. Which you choose will come down to the primary feature you needed coconut sugar for.

When you find yourself needing a substitute for the substitute, don’t give up! There are some good alternatives to coconut syrup so you have options if this is a flavor you don’t care for or you simply can’t find coconut sugar easily at the store.

In this guide, we will share with you the best coconut sugar substitutes on the market.

There are several really great options out there and we’re here to break them down for you and point you in the direction. We will share a bit of a buyer’s guide as well as your options to get you all of the necessary information. 

Keep reading to learn the 11 best coconut sugar substitutes and more!

Choosing A Coconut Sugar Substitute

Before we set you loose on a list of substitutes, we thought it might be beneficial to share some details to help you make an educated decision.

It’s important to know just why you are substituting and what it is about that substitute that really is the important element to acquire. 

Take a look at these details. 

What Is Coconut Sugar? 

If you aren’t super familiar with coconut sugar, here is a quick overview.

This sugar is made from the coconut palm tree. The sugar is made from the sap of the tree and is considered to be a low-glycemic sugar option. 

Coconut sugar is often used as a replacement for brown sugar or white granulated sugar. It is more comparable to brown sugar, but it can be used to substitute for either one in most cases. 

Coconut sugar is granulated. So as far as texture goes, it is actually more comparable to white or “regular” granulated table sugar. It also tends to be less sticky than brown sugar usually. 

On the same note, it is more packed together and almost powdery than brown sugar so it takes a little more work to use than brown sugar. 

Consider What You’re Making

In general, most types of sugar can ultimately be substituted for one another, and other sweet sources like honey can even be used in many instances.

But what you decide to use as a substitute for coconut sugar might depend on what you are making or even what you have on hand. 

Sugar may be sugar, but swapping one type for another can dramatically affect a recipe, so it’s important to pick a substitute for coconut sugar that has the same key feature.

Otherwise, you’ll have to research how to adjust the amount of sugar you use and maybe even how to adjust the ratios of other ingredients in your recipe.

Coconut sugar has a definitive flavor to it, while also having a unique granulation. With that in mind, most of your substitutes are going to create a similar effect but they may not taste exactly the same. 

You might also find that you prefer a specific flavor over a texture in your recipe so make your decision based on what it is you are making and the alternative that you think will be the best fit. 

The 11 Best Coconut Sugar Substitutes

Choosing a substitute isn’t hard once you know your options and remember, you may already have some of these options on hand.

Now, use the details of what you are making, and what you prefer or have on hand and check out this list of coconut sugar substitutes to try out. 

Below, you will find our top picks of the 11 best coconut sugar substitute options out there. 

1. Light Brown Sugar

You know that coconut sugar is an often used as an alternative to brown sugar. It’s no surprise that the substitution works both ways. When you need a substitute for coconut sugar, why not try out light brown sugar instead? 

Light brown sugar is basically sugar with molasses in it and you will find that the combination comes very close to that of coconut sugar. The flavor is similar and the textures really aren’t too far off either. 

We recommend light brown sugar because the color, flavor, and texture are really the closest you are going to get to coconut sugar overall. 

2. Sucanat

Sucanat is the next best thing that is very similar to coconut sugar.

This is a twist from raw sugar but it is organic. It’s overly sweet so you get that flavor that is more consistent with brown sugar but you have the typical consistency of cane sugar with flavor and color. 

Sucanat is different from everyday granulated sugar because in the refining process, it maintains all of the molasses.

It is not filtered and it is not bleached to white. The only processing that takes place is used to crystallize the mix and remove anything solid in the process. 

One thing we want to point out about sucanat is that it tends to have larger granules and be more solid. If you’re dissolving it, it will take more work to do so.

You can also blend it or run it through a food processor to help if you need this alternative to dissolve for your recipe. 

Use the same amount of sucanat as you would coconut sugar when using this as a substitute. 

3. Maple Syrup

Maple syrup is a good substitute for coconut syrup because it has that sweet flavor you’re looking for. As a syrup, it naturally does not come in granulated form, but it will be usable just the same. 

If you want hearty sweetness that is similar to coconut sugar, this will be a great choice!

Maple syrup comes from maple trees, as you probably already know. It can be any maple tree but in the end, you get a thick syrup that is very sweet and almost a little on the nutty side as far as flavor.

This flavor is what makes it great as an alternative to coconut sugar. 

When substituting with maple syrup, you need far less in your recipe. Use about 1/4 cup of maple syrup to every cup called for of coconut sugar and you should get the flavor substitution about right. 

Just remember to go easy on maple syrup when using it in recipes!

4. Raw Honey

Raw honey is another liquid substitute that can be really great. The thing about honey is that it is very sweet but it is also natural so it’s a relatively healthy alternative to some of the other substitutes out there. 

Raw honey, as you probably already know, is a thick, almost syrupy substance. The sweet flavor will give you a comparable result to any recipe as coconut sugar might as well. 

Again, this is a syrupy ingredient and it’s not granulated like coconut sugar. Much like maple syrup, you don’t need nearly as much raw honey as you would sugar.

When you substitute with honey, start with about ¼ cup of honey to each cup of coconut sugar your recipe calls for. If you need more, add little by little, with maybe a teaspoon at a time.

If you don’t have a local honey source you already love, here’s a suggestion:

It’s just simple, delicious honey.

5. Date Sugar

Date sugar is a granulated sugar that is very similar to coconut sugar. Loaded with the nutritional elements of dates, date sugar can technically help you get some fiber, minerals, vitamins, and even antioxidants in this particular alternative. 

Date sugar is made using dates that have been dried and chopped.

It’s hard to dissolve, however. So if you’re sweetening some sort of drink, we don’t recommend this option. However, if you’re just baking or cooking,date sugar can be a good choice. 

Substitute date sugar in equal portions to coconut sugar. 

It’s a USDA certified organic product that is naturally sweet and will work well for your substitution needs. 

6. Agave

If you like the idea of using a syrupy alternative, agave is an awesome choice and agave has a lot of health benefits as well.

Agave syrup is pretty similar to honey and oftentimes recommended as a substitution for honey so it makes sense that it would also make it to this list since honey is one of our options. 

This is syrup that is very sweet and also rich. It is made with agave nectar and sometimes you might just see it called agave or agave nectar instead of syrup. It’s thick like molasses or honey and comes from the blue agave plant. 

While agave has health benefits, a lot of the minerals are lost during processing so you don’t get as many of those benefits when using syrup.

And just like the other syrupy items we’ve shared, you’re going to start with ¼ cup per 1 cup of coconut sugar called for. 

The brand even offers a tip for using their product. They suggest you use about half as much of this agave as you would for most syrups. You can always add more later if you really need to.

7. Maple Sugar

If you like the flavor of maple syrup but you want a granulated sugar consistency, maple sugar might be a great option for you. This will have a similar flavor to maple syrup but it comes in a granulated sugar form. 

Maple sugar comes from the sap of maple trees and sugar just takes it one step farther than syrup and processes down into granules. They are essentially the same thing but in different forms. 

Use it in roughly the same proportions as coconut sugar.

It’s chock full of mapley goodness and it’s the perfect substitute for coconut sugar.

8. Stevia

Stevia is a sweetener that is often used when you want something besides sugar. It’s considered a low-carb and healthier sugar substitute and it will work as a substitute for coconut sugar as well. 

Stevia can be found in granules like sugar or it can also be found in liquid form. It’s sweet but it might produce a slight aftertaste in some things. It will work well for cooking and baking but the after taste may be noticeable in liquids. 

Stevia is easy to find at most grocery stores. We recommend the granulated form when replacing coconut sugar. In this form, you can use it in equal proportions – but it may be best to start out with slightly less stevia, since it’s so sweet.

Although this may not be the best form for some recipes, it’s perfect if you need something sweet in drinks.

9. Xylitol

This is another low-carb option which some think may be a healthier alternative to sugar.

Xylitol can sometimes have a bit of an aftertaste so it may not be perfect for all liquids but it will work nicely for dry foods, cooking, and baking purposes. 

Xylitol is very sweet like cane sugar and comes from a natural source. It comes from natural fruits and vegetables in order to create a sweetener that isn’t so unhealthy. 

Xylitol is also typically easy to find at grocery stores and you can substitute in equal proportions. 

The resealable pouch makes it easy to pour and measure or grab just a teaspoon at a time, whatever your needs may be.

10. Turbinado Sugar

Turbinado sugar is a specialty sugar extracted from sugarcane and one that you may never have heard of.

This sugar comes in coarse granules that are the same color as brown sugar and also very similar in sweetness as well. You may also hear it referred to as demerara sugar. 

This sugar has a lot of molasses so it is sweeter than your traditional brown sugar, making it more similar in sweetness. Since it’s more coarse, you may need to blend it down a bit for your recipe. 

Substitute turbinado sugar in equal proportions to coconut sugar. 

11. Granulated White Sugar

Finally, while it’s not our top choice, you can substitute granulated white sugar for coconut sugar.

Again, coconut sugar is sometimes used as a substitute for white sugar so it makes sense that the substitution could work both ways. 

If you have regular cane sugar on hand and need a quick fix, this will certainly work just fine! You can substitute cane sugar in equal portions to coconut sugar.

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