Substitutions / demerara sugar
What to use instead of demerara sugar
Use turbinado sugar in equal amounts. Nearly identical large crystals and molasses flavor — the closest swap you'll find.
Every option, best first
| Use instead | How much | What changes |
|---|---|---|
| Turbinado sugar | 1:1 | Nearly identical large crystals and molasses flavor — the closest swap you'll find. |
| Light brown sugar | 1:1 | Finer texture means less crunch if used as a topping, but flavor is similar. |
| Raw cane sugar | 1:1 | Slightly less molasses depth, but the coarse crystals hold up well in toppings and crusts. |
How much is a cup of demerara sugar?
Substituting by volume and weighing are different problems, and the second one has an exact answer. Weigh demerara sugar in grams →
A word on how to read these
A substitution is a trade, not an equivalence. The ratio gets the quantity right; the third column is the part worth reading, because it tells you what you are giving up. In a stew, most of these are invisible. In a cake — where flour, liquid, fat and leavening are in a fixed relationship — the same swap can change the crumb.
Why baking notices and stew doesn't →
Where these came from
These substitutions were written by Gather's own kitchen model — the same one the app uses when you tap an ingredient and ask what else would work — then checked and saved as a fixed list in July 2026. Nothing on this page is generated while you read it. They are a good starting point and not a substitute for tasting as you go.