Food & baking · Sweeteners
Honey and sugar substitution calculator.
Pick the swap and the amount in cups. The calculator also gives the liquid change that goes with it.
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Swapping honey, corn syrup and brown sugar
Utah State University Extension's ingredient substitution chart lists, for 1 cup of granulated sugar: ¾ cup honey (decrease liquid in the recipe by ¼ cup, and for each cup of honey in baked goods add ½ teaspoon baking soda), or 1 cup corn syrup (decrease liquid by ¼ cup), or 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar. Going the other way, 1 cup of honey is 1¼ cups sugar plus ¼ cup liquid, and 1 cup of corn syrup is 1 cup sugar plus ¼ cup liquid. Brown sugar swaps 1:1 with granulated sugar. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension lists ½ cup of packed brown sugar as 2 tablespoons molasses plus ½ cup granulated sugar, which is where the "make brown sugar" row comes from, doubled for a cup.
Worked example. A cookie recipe uses 1 cup of sugar and ½ cup of milk. With honey: ¾ cup honey, ¼ cup milk (down from ½ cup), and ⅜ teaspoon baking soda (½ teaspoon per cup of honey, so ¾ × ½).
The extension chart gives amounts only, with nothing on oven temperature or baking time, so the calculator does not change them; keep an eye on the bake. As Utah State notes for all substitutions, the result may differ in flavour, colour, texture or volume from the original.
Frequently asked questions
How much honey do I use instead of sugar?
Utah State University Extension says ¾ cup of honey for 1 cup of sugar, reducing the recipe liquid by ¼ cup and adding ½ teaspoon baking soda per cup of honey.
How much sugar replaces honey?
For 1 cup of honey, use 1¼ cups of sugar plus ¼ cup of extra liquid, according to the same chart.
Can I use brown sugar instead of white sugar?
Yes, 1 cup of firmly packed brown sugar replaces 1 cup of granulated sugar, per Utah State University Extension, with a slightly moister, more caramel result.
How do I make brown sugar at home?
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension gives 2 tablespoons molasses plus ½ cup granulated sugar for ½ cup of packed brown sugar. Mix until even.
Sources
Retrieved
- Utah State University Extension: Ingredient Substitution, FN 255 (1992)
- Texas A&M AgriLife Extension: Quick Ingredient Substitutions (2020)
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Scope
Substitutes change flavour, colour and texture. The extension chart dates from 1992, so test a small batch before baking for an event.