What can I substitute for palm sugar?
Running low on palm sugar? Here are the best verified substitutes, including how to adjust your measurements.
About palm sugar
Palm sugar is an unrefined sweetener produced by boiling down the sap collected from various palm trees, most commonly coconut palms or Palmyra palms. It has a rich, complex flavour with caramel, toffee, and slightly smoky notes that distinguish it from refined cane sugar. Widely used in South-East Asian, South Asian, and Pacific cuisines, it is sold in solid blocks, cylinders, or as a soft paste and dissolves readily when heated.
Best substitute
coconut sugar
Coconut sugar is derived from the same palm family and shares palm sugar's caramel-like, low-molasses flavour profile, making it the closest readily available substitute. It is typically sold as granules, so it dissolves slightly faster than a solid block of palm sugar.
Use 1 cup for every 1 cup of palm sugar
bakingcurriessaucesdessertsdressings
Alternative
dark brown sugar
Dark brown sugar contains molasses which provides a deep, caramel richness that approximates palm sugar's complexity reasonably well. It lacks the subtle smoky or floral notes of palm sugar but performs well in cooked applications.
Use 1 cup for every 1 cup of palm sugar
bakingcurriessaucesmarinadesdressingsNot suitable for: delicate desserts requiring authentic flavour
Alternative
jaggery
What is palm sugar called in other countries?
| Country | Name |
|---|---|
| Australia | palm sugar |
| ID | gula jawa |
| TH | nam tan pip |
| United Kingdom | palm sugar |
| United States | palm sugar |