Palm Sugar Substitutes

Out of palm 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 palm sugar between cups, grams, or ounces first? Open the palm sugar converter.

What to use instead of palm sugar

  • Brown Sugar

    Ingredient swap

    1:1 by weight

    Brown sugar is the closest everyday substitute for palm sugar, with similar caramel depth. Use the same weight and expect a slightly sweeter, more uniform flavour without the earthy notes. Dark brown sugar is a better match than light.

    See brown sugar substitutes →

  • Raw Sugar

    Ingredient swap

    1:1 by weight

    Raw sugar matches palm sugar in weight per cup (200 g each) and has a subtle caramel note. The earthy depth of palm sugar is absent, but the swap works well in recipes where strong spices or other flavours dominate.

    See raw sugar substitutes →

  • White sugar + molasses

    DIY mix

    1 tbsp molasses per 200 g white sugar

    Mix molasses into white granulated sugar to approximate palm sugar's dark, earthy flavour. Start with 1 tablespoon of molasses per 200 g (1 cup) of white sugar and stir until evenly coloured.

Frequently Asked Questions

What can I substitute for palm sugar?
There are 3 workable substitutes for palm sugar, depending on what you have on hand and which property of palm sugar matters most for your recipe. The closest swap is usually 1:1 by weight. 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 palm 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 palm sugar converter
How do I measure palm 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 palm 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 palm sugar converter

Other ingredient and produce substitutes

Find what to use instead of: