Out of Honey, one case
How to substitute sugar for honey
3 options, ranked, with the exact amount
Use Granulated sugar + water
1 ¼ cups sugar + ¼ cup water for every cup of honey
Use 1 ¼ cups of granulated sugar plus ¼ cup of water for each cup of honey. The extra sugar matches the sweetness of honey and the water replaces the moisture. Brown sugar works the same way and tastes closer. Keep the oven where the recipe says.
- Verdict —
- You'll taste it
- The tweak —
- Dissolve the sugar in the water, warm if needed, or add the sugar with the dry ingredients and the water with the wet.
- Best for —
- cakes, muffins and quick breads
- Pantry —
- Likely in your cupboard
One casethe full honey card
Every option, one card
Ranked| # | Substitute | Instead of 1 cup honey | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Granulated sugar + watercakes, muffins and quick breads | 1 ¼ cups sugar + ¼ cup waterYou'll taste it | You'll taste it |
| 2 | Brown sugar + waterbarbecue sauce and glazes | 1 ¼ cups packed + ¼ cup waterTweak it | Tweak it |
| 3 | Maple syrupgranola and granola bars | 1 cupTweak it | Tweak it |
| Not a swap | Dry sugar with no added liquid | not a swapNot for this | Not for this |
Granulated sugar + water
plain sweetness; the floral honey flavor is gone
Sugar is less sweet than honey by volume and has no water, so both have to be added back.
- Best for
- cakes, muffins and quick breads, marinades and barbecue sauce, sweetening tea and drinks
- Prep
- Dissolve the sugar in the water, warm if needed, or add the sugar with the dry ingredients and the water with the wet.
- Where it fails
- Granola bars, baklava and glazes that rely on honey to stick and stay chewy.
Brown sugar + water
caramel and molasses in place of floral
The molasses in brown sugar gives some of the depth and moisture of honey.
- Best for
- barbecue sauce and glazes, baked beans, oatmeal cookies and spice cakes
- Prep
- Pack the sugar into the cup, then dissolve it in the water.
- Where it fails
- Pale bakes and light dressings, where the color shows.
Maple syrup
maple, slightly less sweet
A liquid for a liquid, so no water is added. Maple syrup is thinner than honey.
- Best for
- granola and granola bars, dressings and glazes, vegan baking
- Prep
- Cut another liquid in the recipe by 2 to 3 tbsp per cup and lower the oven 25°F.
- Suits
- vegan
- Where it fails
- Recipes where honey is the named flavor.
Dry sugar with no added liquid
A cup of honey brings about ¼ cup of water and a sticky texture.
- Best for
- nothing: add the water
- Where it fails
- Batters turn stiff and dry, and bars that count on honey as glue fall apart.
Tips for substituting honey
4 tips- Smaller measures: ½ cup honey = ½ cup + 2 tbsp sugar + 2 tbsp water; ¼ cup honey = 5 tbsp sugar + 1 tbsp water; 1 tbsp honey = 1 tbsp + ¾ tsp sugar + ¾ tsp water.
- Honey is acidic and helps baking soda work. If the recipe has baking soda and no other acid, add about 1 tsp lemon juice or vinegar with the wet ingredients, or replace the baking soda with 3 times as much baking powder.
- For a sticky substitute, simmer the sugar and water with 1 tsp lemon juice for 3 minutes to make a thick syrup, and cool before using.
- For a baby under 12 months, sugar is the right swap: honey is not safe for infants even when cooked.
Questions
4 questionsHow much sugar equals ¼ cup of honey?
5 tablespoons of sugar plus 1 tablespoon of water.
Can I substitute brown sugar for honey?
Yes. Use 1 ¼ cups packed brown sugar plus ¼ cup water per cup of honey. Its molasses flavor is the closest of the dry sugars.
Can I use sugar instead of honey in bread?
Yes. Use 1 ¼ times as much sugar as honey and add ¾ teaspoon of water for each tablespoon of honey. For a tablespoon or two, an equal amount of sugar is close enough. Yeast does not mind which it gets.
Can I use sugar instead of honey in granola?
Only with a syrup. Dry sugar does not bind. Use maple syrup cup for cup, or cook the sugar and water into a thick syrup first.