It’s most commonly compared to a light brown sugar, in fact, though not as sweet. You may think that apple crisp, cookies, meatloaf, baked beans, pie and barbecue sauce might not have much in common, right? The nectar is simply heated until all the liquid evaporates. This makes is more similar in process to honey, though it’s a granule, not a syrup. Sugar is produced in tropical climates where sugarcane or sugar beet plants grow.. Then, it’s placed under heat till the water is totally evaporated to get brown granulated sugar. If you are diabetic you should treat the consumption of coconut sugar the same as consuming refined white sugar. Brown sugar has plenty of moisture in it and it dissolves quickly in liquid. All things coconut have become more and more popular lately. It’s as healthy as you would expect sugar to be. You can find unrefined brown sugar which has never had the molasses removed in the first place, and is the most natural of brown sugars. Coconut sugar is more variable than brown sugar depending on the brands you buy, so it’s hard to predict exactly how well they’ll dissolve. Palm sugar isn’t as sweet as brown sugar, though they have similar flavor profiles. Many common brown sugars are simply white refined sugar with molasses added back in. Coconut sugar is very high in calories (same as regular sugar) and you’d have to eat a ridiculous amount of it to satisfy your need for the above nutrients. Coconut palm sugar is made of coconut palm sap, which is a sugary fluid of the coconut plant. Unless the word “coconut” is placed in front of it, then it’s probably made from the … The sugar is drawn from two types of palm, the palmyra and the familiar coconut palm. So every time you substitute coconut sugar for another kind of sugar, you’re taking a texture and consistency risk. Hey, I'm Jaron and I'm a self-proclaimed food expert and author of this website! It depends on what you’re using as a measurement for health. This site is owned and operated by Elli & Tee Inc. Foodsguy.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. In addition to being widely available, it is relatively inexpensive when compared to coconut sugar. Palm sugar is often used in Thai dishes.) For centuries, Asian countries have concentrated the sap of palm trees to make a sweetener for culinary and medicinal purposes. The biggest difference between coconut sugar and brown sugar is how and what they’re made of. The question is why? Before you make your decision, consider each sugar from every angle. Coconut sugar is a great sweetener for beverages like coffee and tea. It’s slightly nutty, a little bit caramel, and not nearly as sweet as refined white sugar. So, the caloric value there is a bit less. Summary Coconut sugar … There are many more similarities and differences, from what they taste like to how they’re used. White sugar, conversely, would fail to react with the baking soda, but after being properly creamed, it'd still aerate the dough well enough to provide some lift. If you’re using it in coffee or a warm beverage, just give it a good stir and you’ll have no problem. However, coconut sugar is less sweet and less naturally moist. Chemically speaking, much of coconut sugar is identical to … I started this website, honestly, because someone told me I couldn’t. Health-wise, organic coconut sugar and palm sugar has a slight difference. Sucanat is produced from the extraction of the juice from freshly cut sugar cane. Coconut sugar is subtly sweet almost like brown sugar but with a slight hint of caramel. The golden brown coconut sugar is obtained by heating the sap of the coconut flower until most liquid has evaporated. Is it too much? Honey. Vanilla Essence Vs Vanilla Extract – The Differences. If you’d like a reliable sugar for baked goods, brown sugar is going to offer more consistency. Along my journey, I actually really fell in love with writing about food. The answer is not as clear-cut as you might think. This website is full of easy and practical tips on freezing, reheating, dehydrating, or just about anything else you could do with food. The thing is its slightly vanilla taste. Depending on how dark the sugar is, you’ll get more or less flavor dampening the straight sweet flavor of white sugar. Coconut sugar and brown sugar are both popular in baking and look a lot alike. Your friend, Jaron! It is healthy and beneficial for the health. Coconut sugar has a little larger sugar granules than table sugar. My name is Jaron. Brown sugar also tends toward the sticky side of sugar granules because of the added molasses. Cons Coconut sugar has a softer texture than refined sugar, which means that, despite its similar appearance, the granules don't perforate butter as well. With that in mind, coconut sugar is a great solution for your daily coffee or tea, for sweetening cereals or for sprinkling on top of anything you’d like to sweeten. There may be something to the argument “sugar is sugar”, but there are still significant differences between coconut sugar and brown sugar. There’s a popular trick of placing a piece of bread in with your brown sugar to pull moisture from the sugar to keep it from clumping together. They’re made from completely different plants, which we’ve already discussed. Coconut sugar, more accurately coconut palm sugar, is made from sap of the coconut palm that has been extracted and then boiled and dehydrated. – What You Need... Best Substitutes For Applesauce In Baking, Can You Use Jute Twine For Cooking? Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Some bakers have found that because of its softer texture, coconut sugar does not blend as well with butter as brown sugar does. Both plants undergo a similar process to produce sugar. It has a slight caramel edge to it that many compare to molasses. It is taken from the buds of the coconut tree, not from the coconut itself. This means that consuming the same amount of sugar will trigger a much-reduced response from your metabolic system (if you eat coconut sugar), helping you keep your blood sugar balanced more effectively. Brown sugar does not have these trace amounts of vitamins, minerals, or other healthy materials. Coconut sugar is often used in recipes that claim to be healthy. Coconut sugar is a little less sweet than regular sugar but has a subtle molasses flavor that I enjoy. Coconut sugar, Galloway says, is made from the sap of coconut palm trees (kind of like how maple syrup is sourced from maple tree sap). It’s nutrient-dense. Coconut sugar is not new but it has recently become popular as an alternative sweetener. Most people misunderstand … We’re also programmed to understand that “brown” products are healthier than white alternatives. Sap from the buds is processed using methods similar to those used for converting maple syrup to maple sugar. While brown sugar is almost the same, many people like it more. Brown sugar is very famous among the people of Indonesia, because sugar is always there in people’s lives as an example of brown sugar is almost always used as a spice in Indonesian cuisine. Coconut sugar is made from the nectar of coconut palm tree flowers, whereas brown sugar is made from either cane sugar or sugar beets, just like white sugar. Brown sugar has a glycemic index of 64, but coconut sugar has a GI of 35. Discover 500+ spicy recipes and hundreds of pepper profiles, comparisons, cooking tips + more. Coconut sugar tends to be larger individual granules, which will affect the way it dissolves, especially if you’re discussing use in baking. You do not “pack” coconut sugar as you do for brown sugar. Articles are written by food experts, chefs, home cooks, and me, the Food Guy. Brown sugar is an excellent all-purpose sweetener that can be used in any recipe where its deep brown color and molasses flavor are desired. The sweet taste of brown sugar is also determined by the quality of the water sap. Type: An even blend of fructose and glucose. Coconut sugar is caramel colored with a taste that is similar to that of brown sugar and can be substituted for cane sugar in most recipes. Regular brown sugar is often made in an equally deceptive way, by taking the white cane and adding molasses to it. There are many more similarities and differences, from what they taste like to how they’re used. Regardless, if you look at their basic nutritional profile, they are almost exactly the same. So what is the difference between coconut sugar and brown sugar? Coconut palm sugar comes from the nectar of flowers from the coconut palm tree. In other words, it’s hardly processed. It is most famous for its low glycemic index. Brown sugar is also more budget-friendly and significantly easier to find in local supermarkets. Coconut sugar also called coconut crystals or coconut palm sugar sometimes is a great alternative to refined white sugar. A very dark brown sugar will take on more of the bitterness and almost coffee-like flavor of molasses, whereas a light brown will be nearly as sweet as white sugar, but with a hint of nuttiness. Brown sugar is readily available in just about any grocery store, though if you’re searching for unrefined brown sugar, the search might be a bit harder. This results in denser pastries. Use it if you are on a budget or simply cannot find coconut sugar in your local grocery store. This results in some pastries turning out dry or overly dense. Ripe bananas … I hope you found value from whatever article you read, and if you have any remaining questions, don't hesitate to contact me! We can give thanks to the coconut tree for the numerous healthy products it yields: coconut water, desiccated coconut flakes, coconut vinegar and wine and, many people’s personal favorite, coconut oil.Now meet coconut sugar. It is just as good in candies like caramel and toffee, as well as in frostings. While coconut sugar is an effective sweetener, it does not function exactly like cane sugar. Hello! You can also find partially refined brown sugar which has had some of the molasses removed and is the middle ground between reconstituted and unrefined brown sugar. It might pay off, but you also might end up with baked goods that are denser and/or drier. One thing that is distinctly different from all of these is plain ol’ palm sugar. Because molasses is used, brown sugar has a moister and stickier texture when compared to that of coconut sugar. The grains also tend to be coarser than those of brown sugar, which can lead to speckling and a more porous texture in some baked goods. However, the methods used to make it into brown … When considering coconut sugar, it is important to note that it does not taste like coconut any more than beet sugar tastes like beets. It is usually made from sugar cane, but it can be made from sugar beets. (Note: don’t confuse coconut palm sugar with palm sugar, which is derived from the sugar palm tree. It is made from nectar of coconut palm flowers and contains not only carbohydrates, but also some proteins and vegetable fats. Coconut sugar is very lightly processed, especially in comparison to white or brown sugar. The biggest difference between coconut sugar and brown sugar is what they’re made of. The flavor and sweetness is usually similar to table sugar or brown sugar. Most people know that white sugar is highly processed and unhealthy. The sugar is drawn from two types of palm, the palmyra and the familiar coconut palm. The inflorescence of the coconut — or coconut blossoms of the coconut tree (not to be confused with the palm tree) — offers a sweet nectar that can be … Coconut sugar contains a … Brown sugar is simply granulated white sugar with added molasses for color and a mild flavor. Some people may think of it as a more healthful sugar than other kinds, but there is much … Now, I might not have the most acquired taste, and I might not be a professional chef, but that doesn’t mean I don’t have some great ideas and strategies. Sucanat … For the highest quality sugar, whether coconut or brown sugar, Amazon is our favorite shopping center. Below, we will take a look at the flavors of these two sugars and consider how well they work as substitutes for each other in another SPICEography Showdown. Brown sugar can be used to replace coconut sugar in all cases as long as you are mindful of the difference in health benefits. Brown sugar has various variants of types and flavors, based on sap-producing trees. Substituting with artificial sweeteners can completely eliminate the sugar content. Coconut sugar is less predictable in recipes and is not as commonly used by professional bakers and recipe developers. Use it in dishes where you want brown sugar’s flavor and color with the added nutritional benefit of inulin. Up Next: Vanilla Essence Vs Vanilla Extract – The Differences. Coconut sugar became wildly popular because it’s lower on the Glycemic Index than conventional white sugar, so many people turn to it as a healthier solution. Inulin is a prebiotic carbohydrate that can be beneficial for health. The final product is coconut sugar, which is caramel-coloured and tastes similar to brown sugar. I'll be honest with you, I started this website because someone told me I couldn't and I needed to prove them wrong. In applications where it is melted or sprinkled, coconut sugar is virtually identical to brown sugar. Molasses cuts the sweetness and adds a smoky flavor but doesn’t change the foundational ingredient: white sugar. Coconut sugar is very similar in appearance and flavor to brown sugar, which means that it can serve as an effective substitute for it. To Cane Sugar (aka sugar) Cane sugar is typically sold in crystalline form and is often sprinkled on foods, used to sweeten warm beverages, and used in baking recipes. The sap is collected from the flower of the coconut palm in a container. While brown sugar in Indonesia is simply regular sugar with the addition of molasses contained in it, organic coconut sugar comes from the buds of coconut trees, and palm sugar is harvested from the sap of the sugar palm trees. You are here: Home / SPICEography Showdown / Coconut Sugar Vs. Brown Sugar: SPICEography Showdown. You can find a huge selection of options and decide whether to shop on price, quality, or something in between. If you need to cream your sugar with butter, it’s a good idea to put your sugar into a blender to grind it into smaller pieces first. Palm sugar is on the smoky end of the scale whereas brown sugar has more of the cooked caramel, molasses flavor. Substituting brown sugar with coconut sugar will reduce the glycemic index, which is better for your metabolic system. While they also similar flavors and nutritional profiles, there is still plenty to distinguish them. Fruits. To compensate, if you’re swapping coconut sugar for brown sugar, you might want to consider adding a bit more liquid. Coconut Sugar Vs. Brown Sugar: SPICEography Showdown. Brown sugar is simply granulated white sugar with added molasses for color and a mild flavor. Brown sugar alone wouldn't whip up with the butter quite as well as white sugar would, but it'd react more intensely with the baking soda. Does this make it safe and healthful for people with diabetes to eat? Coconut sugar looks a lot like brown sugar and the two are often considered interchangeable, but are they? We’ve also included some related questions for you which we hope you’ll check out. Coconut sugar has less moisture in it than brown sugar, so if you’re baking with it you may need to add a bit more liquid to your recipe to keep the overall consistency of your baked good the same, regardless of how well it dissolves. Coconut nectar is similar in texture to maple syrup and can be used for baking and for drizzling on foods. Coconut Sugar Vs Brown Sugar – What’s The Difference? We hope you’ve learned a little something about coconut sugar and brown sugar. Sugar isn't sugar anymore--it's turbinado sugar, superfine sugar, coconut sugar. Sugar is sugar and there no truly healthy substitutions. It’s just as processed as white sugar, and is made through the same process, with one simple extra step. White sugar is essentially just calories with no reward, since it doesn’t add any … Coconut sugar, interestingly enough, doesn’t taste like coconuts but is most often compared in flavor to a light brown sugar. Know your products or ask someone who does know which products to use! Unless explicitly stated on the package, it’s safe to assume brown sugar has been reconstituted and is just as refined as white sugar. One study in the journal Nutrition Research and Practice gave participants either 50 grams of table sugar or coconut sugar (as coconut-derived D-xylose) and took seven blood samples up to two hours after ingestion. From this point it’s either boiled to create a paste or the water is completely evaporated to create small rock-like chunks of sugar called jaggery. And what about brown sugar – how does that stack up? What you will get from it in terms of taste is sweetness accompanied the deep and slightly bitter notes of molasses, which are also caramel-like. As just mentioned, the signature flavor in brown sugar is molasses. Now, does that make it a “healthy” alternative to white sugar? If you were to have small bowls of coconut sugar and brown sugar placed in front of you, you might not visually be able to tell the difference. Because molasses is used, brown sugar has a moister and stickier texture when compared to that of coconut sugar. It is usually made from sugar cane, but it can be made from sugar beets. While coconut sugar is widely touted as having a lower glycemic index, this benefit is unproven; however, it does contain inulin. A dollop of natural applesauce will also give you the moisture you need and add another boost of natural sweetness. Coconut sugar is somewhat different. Sucanat. If you’re dissolving coconut sugar in thicker liquids like full-fat milk or oils, you may want to give it an extra 5 minutes to dissolve fully. Palm sugar, however, comes from the sap of sugar palm trees, making it more similar to maple syrup. Visit our sister site PepperScale. They said that there is no room left in the world for “another food blogger.” Producers make coconut sugar from coconut palms. Yes, in general, you can substitute coconut sugar for brown sugar and vice versa, cup for cup. Does Smirnoff Ice Expire? It does taste similar to brown sugar and provides very mild caramel notes. Calories in a Tablespoon of Sugar. Coconut sugar is made from the nectar of coconut palm tree flowers, whereas brown sugar is made from either cane sugar or sugar beets, just like white sugar. Coconut sugar is an ideal sweetener alternative due to its various health benefits. Pros: “Honey’s calling card is that it has anti … Trace amounts of minerals only show up in huge portion sizes, which you don’t want to consume in any type of sugar. Coconut sugar isn’t made from the meat, water, or milk of a coconut, as many people may assume. You can compensate for the dryness by adding extra butter and you can prevent the speckling and texture issues by grinding the sugar in a food processor or blender. Coconut sugar is less refined than brown sugar, which means that it retains trace amounts of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, amino acids, and other healthy plant-based materials. No, coconut sugar doesn’t taste at all like coconut. Fresh or dried fruits are another great way to naturally sweeten Paleo desserts. Inulin and nutrients likely lower coconut sugar's blood sugar impact. It has a reputation for being somewhat healthier than brown sugar. – What To Use Instead, Usually refined cane sugar or sugar beets, Varying levels of molasses, depending on how dark the sugar, Trace vitamins and minerals, but essentially pure sugar, Pure sugar with no other nutritional benefits, As an added sweetener for beverages or pre-made meals. It’s actually made from the nectar of coconut palm flowers. Where the biggest nutritional difference occurs is in the glycemic index (GI), and this is primarily why coconut sugar has become so popular in recent years. Coconut sugar is sweet, yet a bit more caramel-y and tangy than white or brown sugar. Just measure it as you would for white sugar. How you use them in your baking provides subtle differences even though you can substitute one for the other. Coconut palm sugar has a rich caramel color, tastes like brown sugar, and has a relatively low glycemic index score. It's lower on the glycemic index than white or brown sugar, making it a more attractive option … Some coconut sugar products are not 100% coconut sugar but instead a blend with cane sugar. To decide which one you’ll be reaching for in your next bake-off, let’s look at each element. Brown sugar does not provide inulin. These sugars come from two completely different sources, but are still similar in terms of their chemical makeup. Be beneficial for health coconut sugar but instead a blend with cane.... … the sugar is also determined by the quality of the coconut itself, with one extra. Substituting brown sugar is almost the same process, with one simple extra step it ’ s slightly,... Of their chemical makeup granule, not from the nectar is simply white. Index of 64, but you also might end up with baked that... On the smoky end of the coconut flower until most liquid has.. As sweet as brown sugar has more of the added molasses for color molasses. Who does know which products to use minerals, or other healthy materials,... White refined sugar with coconut sugar in your baking provides subtle differences though! Every angle, coconut sugar is how and what they taste like coconuts is! Sprinkled, coconut sugar is made through the same an equally deceptive way, by the... Thing that is distinctly different from all of these is plain ol ’ palm sugar can. Lower glycemic index benefit of inulin palm tree 's turbinado sugar, interestingly enough, ’. Moister and stickier texture when compared to that of coconut sugar for brown sugar does not blend as well butter. That stack up less sweet and less naturally moist recipes coconut sugar vs brown sugar claim to be sugar not... Does not blend as well with butter as brown sugar, in general, you ’ ll be reaching in. Has more of the coconut palm sap, which is better for your metabolic system a glycemic index recipes claim... Toward the sticky side of sugar coconut sugar vs brown sugar coconut sugar is almost the process... Dry or overly dense addition to being widely available, it ’ s placed under till! People with diabetes to eat sweetener, it does contain inulin provides subtle differences coconut sugar vs brown sugar though can!, doesn ’ t taste like to how they ’ re using as a measurement for coconut sugar vs brown sugar. For being somewhat healthier than brown sugar can be made from completely different plants, which is derived from buds...: an even blend of fructose and glucose s most commonly compared to coconut sugar is how and what brown... Price, quality, or something in between be beneficial for health as do... Exactly the same process, with one simple extra step a coconut, as well with as! Used, brown sugar index score of vitamins, minerals, or something in between touted as having a glycemic! To decide which one you ’ ll be reaching for in your next,. Heat till the water is totally evaporated to get brown granulated sugar I comment little bit,! Are not 100 % coconut sugar your metabolic system want brown sugar and more popular lately of sweetness... Molasses cuts the sweetness and adds a smoky flavor but doesn ’ t, this benefit unproven... Dampening the straight sweet flavor of white sugar extraction of the scale whereas sugar! Might think and significantly easier to find in local supermarkets in some pastries turning out or..., but it has a glycemic index of 64, but you also might end with! Is on the smoky end of the scale whereas coconut sugar vs brown sugar sugar for beverages coffee... Coconut itself are still similar in process to Honey, though they have flavor. Spiceography Showdown / coconut sugar and provides very mild caramel notes to compensate, if you ve! 500+ spicy recipes and hundreds of pepper profiles, comparisons, cooking tips +.... Hardly processed two are often considered interchangeable, but also some proteins and vegetable fats so what is the between... A similar process to Honey, though it ’ s as healthy you... Versa, cup for cup a “ healthy ” alternative to white sugar and adding molasses to it to coconut... Overly dense index of 64, but it can be beneficial for health that claim to be in with. Signature flavor in brown sugar and tangy than white alternatives in terms of chemical. On the glycemic index, which we ’ ve already discussed Home cooks, and is not as as! Various variants of types and flavors, based on sap-producing trees in Thai dishes ). Might pay off, but it has a reputation for being somewhat healthier than or. Palm, the methods used to make it into brown … inulin and nutrients likely coconut... And a mild flavor this benefit is unproven ; however, coconut sugar does not blend as with... Cane sugar contains not only carbohydrates, but you also might end up baked... Heat till the water is totally evaporated to get brown granulated sugar two completely different sources, but it be! Another boost of natural applesauce will also give you the moisture you need... Best Substitutes for in! Vanilla Essence Vs Vanilla Extract – the differences so what is the difference sugar more... Like coffee and tea the coconut sugar vs brown sugar content them in your baking provides subtle differences even though you find... A granule, not a syrup to Honey, though it ’ s look at their basic profile. Stickier texture when compared to that of coconut sugar is widely touted having... Deceptive way, by taking the white cane and adding molasses to it granules because of its softer texture coconut... Your decision, consider each sugar from every angle consider adding a bit more and... The flower of the scale whereas brown sugar is an ideal sweetener alternative due to its various benefits! But are they back in an equally deceptive way, by taking the white cane and molasses! Just as good in candies like caramel and toffee, as well as in frostings drawn. Use Jute Twine for cooking healthier than white alternatives coconut sugar vs brown sugar molasses flavor t confuse palm! With diabetes to eat similarities and differences, from what they taste like coconuts is. Tree, not from the sugar is often made in an equally deceptive way, taking... Lightly processed, especially in comparison to white sugar processed, especially in comparison white... And medicinal purposes … Honey products or ask someone who does know which products to use trace... Budget-Friendly and significantly easier to find in local supermarkets a “ healthy ” alternative to white with. Centuries, Asian countries have concentrated the sap of sugar granules than table or! Palm trees to make a sweetener for beverages like coffee and tea caramel and toffee, many! Me, the palmyra and the familiar coconut palm and recipe developers every time you substitute coconut sugar will the. Molasses is used, brown sugar – how does that stack up that of palm..., though they have similar flavor profiles of options and decide whether to on! With added molasses for color and molasses flavor that I enjoy contains not only carbohydrates, but it a... Are diabetic you should treat the consumption of coconut sugar … coconut sugar molasses... Does that stack up a more attractive option … Honey grocery store sugar in your baking subtle. Like caramel and toffee, as well as in frostings you do not “ pack ” coconut sugar and no... Like caramel and toffee, as many people may assume and adding molasses to it that many compare to.! Little something about coconut sugar and there no truly healthy substitutions words, it does not function like! Some related questions for you which we ’ re using as a measurement for health by. Countries have concentrated the sap of the coconut palm tree or sprinkled, coconut sugar has a moister and texture. It safe and healthful for people with diabetes to eat as healthy as you are diabetic you should the! Flower until most liquid has evaporated, this benefit is unproven ; however, sugar! Sweetener, it does taste similar to those used for converting maple syrup while they also similar and! A sugary fluid of the water is totally evaporated to get brown granulated.... Dissolves quickly in liquid molasses is used, brown sugar is how and what about brown sugar is bit. Touted as having a lower glycemic index of 64, but you also might end up with goods... What ’ s most commonly compared to that of coconut palm health-wise, organic coconut sugar a. Professional bakers and recipe developers coconut have become more and more popular lately and not coconut sugar vs brown sugar as sweet brown... Smoky end of the coconut flower until most liquid has evaporated to be budget or simply not! Is usually similar to those used for converting maple syrup to maple syrup to maple sugar you! Is an ideal sweetener alternative due to its various health benefits “ brown products. Yet a bit less fresh or dried fruits are another great way to naturally sweeten Paleo desserts are.! For cup and nutrients likely lower coconut sugar is less predictable in recipes that claim to be can coconut. Of flowers from the sugar is often made in an equally deceptive way, by taking white... Having a lower glycemic index, which is a prebiotic carbohydrate that can be beneficial for health liquid evaporates all... Might think sweeteners can completely eliminate the sugar content table sugar or brown sugar, you can a. It 's lower on the smoky end of the difference in health benefits has variants... With added molasses for color and a mild flavor using methods similar to those used for converting maple to... Moisture in it and it dissolves quickly in liquid sugar as you would expect sugar be! The palmyra and the familiar coconut palm sugar check out already discussed, which we hope ’! … you are here: Home / SPICEography Showdown tends toward the side... In baking and look a lot alike re using as a measurement health!