What Is Demerara Sugar? Demerara Sugar vs. White Sugar

Demerara sugar is a raw sugar extracted from sugarcane. It is minimally processed, so it has a golden-brown color and large grains that give it a crunchy texture. Demerara sugar originated from the British colony of Demerara, now called Guyana. You can find demerara sugar in grocery stores. You can use it in baked goods such as sugar cookies, as a natural sweetener for beverages, or as a crunchy topper for desserts like crème brûlée.

Substitutes for demerara sugar include any type of brown sugar, particularly light brown sugar, turbinado sugar, or muscovado sugar in equal amounts. (Dark brown sugars will add a stronger molasses flavor.) You can also use granulated sugar, but there will be a flavor and texture difference.

Demerara and white sugar—also known as refined sugar, or granulated sugar—are sugars made from sugarcane (though white sugar can also be made from sugar beets). These two types of sugar also contain the same caloric and carbohydrate content, but there are key differences between them:

• Processing: White sugar is extracted from sugarcane through a process of juicing and boiling the sugarcane juice until it thickens and crystalizes. From that point, the sugar is filtered in a centrifuge to remove impurities in a process called refining. The refining process to make demerara sugar is less than white sugar, so it contains a small amount of natural molasses.
• Color: Demerara sugar is naturally golden brown because of the molasses content in it. Granulated sugar is white, because it has all the molasses filtered out (brown sugar is created by adding molasses back into granulated sugar).
• Sugar crystals: Demerara sugar has a larger crystal size than white sugar, which has more fine granules, though not as fine as caster sugar or powdered sugar.
• Flavor: Demerara sugar has flavors of molasses and toffee, with hints of subtle caramel. White sugar has a more neutral, sweet flavor profile.
• Nutrients: Demerara sugar may contain more nutrients found in sugarcane—such as calcium, potassium, magnesium, and vitamins B3—because of its minimal processing.
• Sucrose: White sugar is made up entirely of sucrose, a compound of fructose and glucose. Demerara sugar contains sucrose, but also vitamins and minerals.

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