Demerara vs. Turbinado Sugar: What’s the Difference?

• Turbinado sugar contains more molasses than demerara, giving it a warm, smoky flavor. Demerara has a toffee, caramel-like taste.
• Turbinado sugar is an excellent replacement for granulated white sugar in most recipes, while demerara is mainly used as a topping in baked goods.
• Demerara has larger sugar crystals than turbinado, so it doesn’t dissolve easily in batters or doughs. Use brown sugar or maple syrup as a replacement for turbinado.

Differences Between Demerara and Turbinado Sugar

Amount of molasses Demerara and turbinado sugars are less refined than white sugar, giving them a light brown color. Turbinado retains about 3.5% of its natural molasses, while demerara sugar has only 1-2%. Both demerara and turbinado are known as “raw” sugars because they’re only crystallized once from sugarcane. Depending on the brand, turbinado is slightly darker in color than demerara (due to its molasses content).

Flavor Demerara has a caramel, toffee-like flavor, with slight notes of molasses, while turbinado sugar has a strong molasses taste, often described as warm or smoky. Plain white sugar is extremely refined, so it’s 100% sucrose, making it significantly sweeter than demerara and turbinado. Demerara and turbinado are minimally processed, so they’re composed of sucrose and minerals: demerara is 88-93% sucrose, while turbinado is 96-99% sucrose.

Texture Both demerara and turbinado sugar have bigger granules than standard white or brown sugar, but demerara has slightly larger, stickier crystals than turbinado, giving it a distinct crunch. Store both sugars in air-tight containers to maintain their freshness and texture. Make a sugar scrub with demerara sugar if you want extra exfoliation; the granules are excellent at sloughing off dead skin cells.

Origins Demerara sugar originates from the British-owned colony of Demerara (now known as Guyana). There are few details about the origins of turbinado sugar, but most people believe it originated in the Americas between the 17th and 19th centuries. Sugar became a staple in Britain during the late 19th century, when the working class incorporated tea and sugar into their regular diet.

How to Use Demerara and Turbinado

Add demerara sugar as a crunchy topping on baked goods. For a satisfying crunch, top pies, muffins, and bread with demerara sugar. Since the sugar is minimally processed, it maintains its crunch when exposed to heat. Sprinkle demerara sugar on top of crème brulee for a crispy, caramelized finish. When making chocolate muffins, add coarse sea salt and demerara sugar on top for more depth and crunch.

Use turbinado as a replacement for white sugar in most recipes. Turbinado holds slightly more moisture than plain white sugar, enriching the texture of cakes, brownies, and bread. But, avoid using raw sugar in pastries: it holds more moisture than white sugar, which may cause issues with the pastry dough rising. Swap turbinado sugar for plain white sugar when making banana bread; it creates a moister, denser texture. For bourbon or rum cocktails, make a sugar syrup with turbinado sugar to add a smoky molasses taste.

Sweeten a hot beverage with demerara or turbinado sugar. As an alternative to white sugar, stir demerara or turbinado sugar into your tea or coffee. The heat of the drink dissolves the granules, so you don’t have to worry about a grainy texture. Either sugar works, but demerara has a more subtle flavor that may suit more beverages. If you want to reduce sugar in your diet, only add 1 teaspoon (4.9 g) of sugar to your drink. For cold drinks, make a simple syrup with demerara or turbinado to avoid any annoying grains.

Can I substitute demerara for turbinado sugar?

No, demerara is not a good substitute for turbinado in baking. Due to its large granules, demerara sugar doesn’t dissolve easily in doughs or batters, so it's best to use finer sugar in baking recipes. Use light brown sugar, muscovado sugar, honey, or maple syrup to replace turbinado sugar instead. There’s no such thing as a “healthy” added sweetener, so use sugar sparingly and choose the right type based on your preferred flavor and texture.