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When it comes to baking, sugar is one of the most important ingredients we use. But do you really know the difference between all of the types of sugar?

When it comes to baking, sugar is one of the most important ingredients we use. Find out how to use the different types of sugar.

Sugar is an integral part of the baking that we do day to day.

Of course, the sweetness it provides to things like cookies and cakes is obvious. In breads and rolls, however, it feeds the yeast that makes for a beautiful rise.

For most people, the first thing that comes to mind when hearing the word sugar is white, granulated sugar. It’s the type that America uses most often for baking and sweetening our morning cup of coffee.

When it comes to baking, sugar is one of the most important ingredients we use. Find out the difference between the types of sugar.

However, the more often you bake, the more different types of sugar you may come across.

In an effort to expand my own baking horizons, I thought we should discuss the types of sugar that are available for all of our baking needs. Are you ready to talk sugar?

Sugar is one of the most important baking ingredients we use. Find out the difference between the types of sugar, including granulated sugar.

WHAT IS GRANULATED SUGAR?

Granulated sugar is also sometimes known as white sugar, or “regular” sugar.

Granulated sugar has had all of the naturally present molasses refined out of it. It is the sugar that is most commonly used in baking.

Sugar is one of the most important baking ingredients we use. Learn about the types of sugar, including granulated sugar.

The fine crystals in granulated sugar don’t cake together, which makes it perfect for measuring, sprinkling onto food and dissolving into drinks.

Granulated sugar is what I use in most of my recipes, including The Best Chocolate Cake recipe.

IS CONFECTIONERS’ SUGAR THE SAME AS POWDERED SUGAR?

New bakers often get confused when they see the words “powdered sugar” and “confectioners’ sugar” used interchangeably. But this is because confectioners’ sugar and powdered sugar are the same thing!

Powdered or confectioners’ sugar is granulated sugar that has been finely ground and mixed with a small amount of cornstarch to prevent caking.

This is the sugar we commonly use for frostings, glazes, and that snowy covering on doughnuts that no doubt is all over your face and hands with the first bite.

Puppy Chow is a recipe that famously uses confectioners’ sugar for that beautiful white coating.

WHAT IS ICING SUGAR?

Icing sugar is simply another name for powdered sugar or confectioners’ sugar.

While it is a less common name here in the U.S., it makes sense since icing, powdered or confectioners’ sugar is so perfect for making icings, frostings and fillings, such as the filling in my Homemade Oatmeal Cream Pie recipe.

Sugar is one of the most important baking ingredients we use. Find out the difference between the types of sugar, including coarse sugar.

WHAT IS COARSE SUGAR?

As you can tell from its name, coarse sugar has much larger crystals than regular white sugar.

The larger size of the crystals (about the size of pretzel salt) makes the sugar stronger and more resistant to heat. This type of sugar also helps to give baked goods or candy a little texture.

Coarse sugar is used mainly for decorating and comes in a rainbow of colors. Because of this, it is sometimes called decorating sugar.

Sugar is one of the most important baking ingredients we use. Learn about the types of sugar, including coarse sugar.

I like topping my Cherry Hand Pies recipe with coarse sugar for a little texture and added sweetness.

Sugar is one of the most important baking ingredients we use. Find out the difference between the types of sugar, including sanding sugar.

WHAT IS SANDING SUGAR?

Sanding sugar is another large-crystal sugar. It is between white granulated and coarse sugar in size.

Sanding sugar is another decorating sugar and comes in many colors. It also reflects light and gives of a sparkly shine. And, who doesn’t love their baked goods sparkly?

Sanding sugar is a great addition to any DIY Cookie Decorating Station.

Sugar is one of the most important baking ingredients we use. Find out how to use the different types of sugar, including brown sugar.

WHAT IS BROWN SUGAR?

Brown sugar is white sugar that has had cane molasses added to it.

Brown sugar can harden if left open to the air, so it is best stored in an airtight container. If your brown sugar has hardened, you can microwave it for a few seconds, or place a piece of bread in the bag and leave it for a day.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LIGHT AND DARK BROWN SUGAR

When you go to the store, you’ll see two types of brown sugar: light brown sugar and dark brown sugar.

These names – light or dark – refer to the amount of molasses that is present in the sugar.

Light brown sugar is what is used more often in baking, sauces and, glazes. I prefer light brown sugar in my favorite Peanut Butter Blossoms recipe.

Dark brown sugar, because of the rich molasses flavor, is used in richer foods, like gingerbread. Try dark brown sugar in Savory Sweet Life’s Chocolate Chip Cookies.

Sugar is one of the most important baking ingredients we use. Learn the difference between types of sugar, including brown sugar.

HOW TO MAKE BROWN SUGAR

If you’re out of brown sugar, it is easy to make at home in a pinch. All you need to know how to make brown sugar is:

1 pound granulated sugar
3 ounces molasses, by weight

Make sure everything is incorporated thoroughly in a food processor, and you can store it for up to a month!

WHAT IS SUPERFINE SUGAR?

Superfine sugar is also sometimes called ultrafine sugar, bar sugar or caster sugar.

These sugars have the smallest crystal size of white granulated sugar.

Superfine sugar is generally used in making delicate or smooth desserts such as mousse, meringues or puddings. It also is great for sweetening cold beverages because it doesn’t need heat to dissolve.

Sugar is one of the most important baking ingredients we use. Learn the difference between types of sugar, including turbinado sugar.

WHAT IS TURBINADO SUGAR?

Turbinado sugar is raw sugar that has only had the surface molasses washed off. It is light in color, usually has a large crystal, and is slightly lower in calories than white sugar due to the moisture content.

Turbinado sugar is mainly used in sweetening beverages, but can also be used in baking.

WHAT IS MUSCOVADO SUGAR?

Muscovado sugar, also known as Barbados sugar, is a type of British brown sugar.

Muscovado sugar is very dark brown in color and has more molasses than light or dark brown sugar. The sugar crystals are a little larger than regular brown sugar and the texture is stickier.

Muscovado sugar is used in sweets with rich flavors such as gingerbread, coffee cake, and fudge.

Sugar is one of the most important baking ingredients we use. Learn about the types of sugar, including dermerara sugar.

WHAT IS DEMERARA SUGAR?

Demerara sugar is another type of sugar that is very popular in England. In the U.S., the most comparable sugar is turbinado sugar – because they are both “raw”.

Demerara sugar is a large-grained, crunchy sugar that hasn’t had all of the molasses refined out.

Demerara sugar is great in tea, coffee, dissolved into hot cereals or sprinkled onto baked goods.

When it comes to baking, sugar is one of the most important ingredients we use. Learn the difference between types of sugar.

While you might feel like you just took a class on the types of sugar, who couldn’t use a little extra knowledge about such an important ingredient? Now it’s time to make sure you are stocked up and ready to bake!

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133 Comments

  1. Linda Sapp says:

    Which of the sugar substitutes do you use when you bake? I hate soggy midges in a cake and I even like my brownies to be more cake-like than fudge-like. One time I made donuts using canned biscuits and I dipped them in splenda. I did not care for the result. Do you have a recommendation for me, please? I have ruined so many desserts that now I never bake because I’m afraid it will be another failure. Please help me. And thank you so very much.

    1. Jamie says:

      Hi Linda – I don’t often baking with sugar substitutes, so I can’t give you one good recommendation. Hopefully someone else will chime in and be able to help!

    2. Rhonda says:

      @Jamie,
      If you are cooking for someone high sugar you may want to try monk sugar. My father is a diabetic and I use monk sugar instead of sugar substitute. does not bother his sugar levels at all. Hope this helps.

  2. Phoebe Elliott says:

    Love this info about sugar!
    I’m making a red velvet loaf recipe which calls for caster sugar. Can I substitute regular granulated sugar?

    1. Juls says:

      @Phoebe Elliott, yes you can substitute 1:1
      Castor sugar is smaller crystal and heavier than granulated sugar.

  3. Mary says:

    My recipe for Viennese crescents calls for confictionery sugar which I always used. Cant get this sugar can I use powdered sugar instead.

    1. Jamie says:

      Hi Mary-

      I think you might be referring to confectioners’ sugar which is the same thing as powdered sugar.

      -Jamie

  4. Heather says:

    Hi! I’m planning to make an Angel’s Food Cake. It calls for grinding granulated sugar, but luckily I have Berry Sugar, another name for castor sugar. It says it’s perfect for meringues, sponge cakes and whipping cream. I enjoyed reading your break down on all the various types and feel more confident about using this now, especially not having a food processor.

    1. Jamie says:

      So happy this was helpful to you, Heather!

    2. Melva Baker says:

      @Heather, I ran into a recipe that calls for castor sugar. (Recipe was Australian in origin) could you please tell me if it is the same as icing sugar?

    3. Juls says:

      @Melva Baker, Confectionary sugar and Powdered sugar are the SAME THING as icing sugar.INDENTICAL in every way. Castor sugar is totally different than Icing sugar. I don’t think u would be happy with the results if u did.