Caster Sugar Substitutes

Out of caster sugar? These are the swaps that actually work, with conversion ratios for any recipe size and notes on how each one changes the result.

Need to convert caster sugar between cups, grams, or ounces first? Open the caster sugar converter.

What to use instead of caster sugar

  • Sugar

    Ingredient swap

    1 cup caster = 1 cup granulated sugar

    Granulated sugar swaps 1:1 for caster sugar in most recipes, though its larger crystals dissolve more slowly. For meringues or smooth sponges, pulse granulated sugar in a food processor for a few seconds to bring it closer to caster's finer grain.

    See sugar substitutes →

  • Icing Sugar

    Ingredient swap

    Not 1:1; weigh and use only where a powder suits

    Icing sugar is milled far finer and packs much lighter than caster (125 g vs 220 g per cup), so it is not a 1:1 swap. Use it only where a powder works, such as uncooked frostings and dusting, not for creaming into a cake batter.

    See icing sugar substitutes →

Frequently Asked Questions

What can I substitute for caster sugar?
There are 2 workable substitutes for caster sugar, depending on what you have on hand and which property of caster sugar matters most for your recipe. The closest swap is usually 1 cup caster = 1 cup granulated sugar. Each option below lists the conversion ratio for any recipe size, plus notes on how the swap changes the texture, flavour, rise, or browning.
Will substituting caster sugar change how my recipe turns out?
Yes, every swap trades one property for another: fat content, moisture, acidity, or protein. The notes on each substitute describe what changes in texture, flavour, rise, or browning, so you can choose the swap that matters least for your recipe. Open the caster sugar converter
How do I measure caster sugar accurately?
Weighing in grams is more reliable than scooping cups, especially when a substitute has a different density from what the recipe expects. The caster sugar converter on this site converts between cups, grams, ounces, tablespoons, and teaspoons, so you can scale a recipe up or down without losing the ratio. Open the caster sugar converter

Other ingredient and produce substitutes

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