Substitutes for Caster Sugar: 10 Best Alternatives + FAQs!

Caster sugar is a finely grounded sugar that melts quickly. It is acceptable for most desserts. It’s a frequent ingredient in cakes, meringues, mousses, and souffles. You can still prepare an excellent dessert for your guests and family even if you don’t have caster sugar on hand.

We’ve compiled a list of sweetener options for you to consider. Powdered sugar, as well as maple syrup, are excellent substitutes for caster sugar. Although you may need to change the cooking method due to the substitutes, your dessert will be a complete success. Continue reading to discover more options for making sweet and delicious sweets at home.

1. Powdered Sugar

Caster sugar differs from powdered sugar. It’s more refined and melts quickly. However, it is one of the most fantastic dessert alternatives, especially cakes and puddings. It’ll work nicely in ice cream and a variety of icings. However, you should not use this sugar in dessert beverages or cocktails. Powdered sugar can give beverages a hazy appearance, compromising their appearance.

2. Maple Syrup

You can use maple syrup instead of caster sugar in sweets like puddings, pies, and croissants. It will mix in perfectly with the other ingredients and give your dessert the sweetness you need. This syrup will also give your dish a golden hue, usually a bonus.

3. Muscovado Sugar

In most meals, muscovado sugar is a beautiful replacement for caster sugar since it adds the appropriate amount of sweetness. This sugar is dark in color and melts quickly in various recipes. You may use it in cakes, ice cream, and pastries, as well as other icings and glazes.

As a result, you may use the same amount of caster sugar. In retailers, though, it will be more difficult. If you manage to get your hands on some, remember that it can successfully substitute caster sugar.

4. Honey

Honey is a common alternative for all types of sugar, and caster sugar is no exception. You may use it to make icings, cakes, pies, and other delicacies. Honey is an excellent addition to any sweet drink you want to create at home, and it’s relatively easy to come by. There are many different varieties of honey to select from, so pick the one you enjoy most. In the end, they’ll all sweeten your dessert or drink in the same way as caster sugar would.

5. Corn syrup

Corn syrup is equally as excellent as maple syrup substituting caster sugar, although it might be more challenging to acquire in supermarkets. If you do buy it, know that you may use it in sweets like puddings, beverages, pies, and all types of pastries in place of caster sugar.

Many store-bought items include corn syrup as one of their constituents. Corn syrup is more concentrated, which is why you should use less than the amount of caster sugar called for in the recipe.

6. Demerara Sugar

When it comes to cakes and other baked goods, you may always substitute demerara sugar for caster sugar. This sugar is dark in color, so it’s a good option if you don’t mind that. It will melt quickly, and you may use it in the same amount as caster sugar. These two forms of sugar have equal amounts of sweetness so that the flavor will be identical.

You may also use demerara sugar as a brown sugar alternative because it is nearly identical in color and sweetness, and no one will notice the difference.

7. Agave syrup

Agave syrup is immensely popular because of its high sweetness and resemblance to honey and maple syrup. This syrup is sweeter than caster sugar, so you may want to use less of it, depending on the amount of sweetness you like. Use it in cakes, puddings, icings, and other beverages in the same way you would honey or maple syrup. When adding this alternative to your cuisine, taste it to see how much you need to add to acquire the flavor you desire.

8. Stevia Sugar

If you’re looking for a healthy alternative to caster sugar or other sugar alternatives, stevia sugar is a terrific choice. Stevia sugar is sweeter than caster sugar, but it has no calories or artificial additives because it is manufactured from stevia leaves.

It also melts as quickly as caster sugar and may be used similarly. As you prepare your meal, taste it to see whether you need to add more or less. It’s an excellent substitute for caster sugar in any dessert.

9. Coconut Sugar

When looking for a caster sugar alternative, coconut sugar might not be the first thing that comes to mind. However, it is truly a fantastic option. Its dark brown hue will change the appearance of your dish, but it is sweet enough to give you a superb flavor.

It is not as sweet as caster sugar, so that you can use it in larger quantities. It has a distinct coconut flavor that you won’t find in other sugars. Coconut sugar melts well and may be used the same way as caster sugar.

10. Rice Malt Syrup

Rice malt syrup is another sugar substitute that melts just as well as caster sugar. It is sugar-free, so this syrup is frequently substituted for honey. If you want to avoid sugar altogether, this may be one of the most outstanding solutions available. In baked sweets like pies and cakes, rice malt syrup works nicely. Use it as needed to get the appropriate sweetness level.

Can You Substitute Regular Sugar for Caster Sugar?

When it comes to using ordinary sugar instead of caster sugar, opinions are divided. In most recipes, ordinary sugar may not perform as well as caster sugar. It may contain crystals that are too large to melt quickly, and if they do, the process will take longer.

You can get the most pleasing results in baked foods if you use it as is, without combining it because the sugar will have more chance to meet. However, you may put your sugar in the blender and puree it for up to three minutes to get a more delicate texture. Some experts believe this is a viable approach, but others still advise combining it for the most excellent benefits.

Is Brown Sugar a Good Substitute for Caster Sugar?

The same rule applies to brown sugar as it does to regular sugar. On the other hand, brown sugar will change the appearance of your dish due to its hue. If this doesn’t bother you, you may use brown sugar in most recipes by mixing it like ordinary sugar. The sweetness level is about the same. As a result, you may rest assured that your cuisine will have the flavor you desire.

Is it possible to make caster sugar at home?

You may try to make it yourself if you can’t locate caster sugar or any of the substitutions. Only granulated sugar is required. Blend or ground it for up to 2 minutes in a blender or coffee grinder. This process should provide you with caster sugar in a matter of minutes, right in the comfort of your own home.

Conclusion

It’s critical to use the correct sweetness in your dessert, not just to ensure that it tastes great but also to ensure that it has the texture you desire. Many chefs prefer caster sugar, but you may still make wonderful sweets with one of the replacements listed in this article.

If you opt to use a replacement, taste your dish as you prepare it to ensure that the sweetness level is correct. As you can see from our list, specific substitutions will bring more sweetness than others, which is a crucial factor to consider. Determine the amount of sweetness you want to use based on your tastes and how sweet you want the finished meal to be.