Cooking & Kitchen

Sugar Substitute Calculator

Liquid sweeteners are sweeter and wetter than sugar, so you use less of them and should reduce other liquids a little.

This result tells you how much substitute to use in place of the sugar, and roughly how much other liquid to leave out.

Formula

Substitute (g) = sugar (g) x 0.75 for honey or maple, x 0.66 for agave.

How it works

Honey and maple syrup bring their own flavours, which suit some bakes better than others. They also brown faster, so watch the oven near the end.

Sugar does more than sweeten — it affects texture and moisture. Swaps work best in moist bakes like muffins and banana bread.

Worked example

For example, 200 g of sugar multiplied by 0.75 gives 150 g of honey.

FAQs

Is honey healthier than sugar?
Nutritionally they are very similar. Honey has trace minerals, but it is still mostly sugar and calories.

Why reduce the other liquids?
Liquid sweeteners add water to the batter. Without reducing elsewhere, the bake can turn soggy.

Can I swap in dry cakes like shortbread?
Not well. Shortbread depends on sugar for its crumb, so liquid sweeteners change the texture a lot.

Related calculators

Baking Time Adjustment Calculator

Bread Hydration Calculator

Butter to Oil Conversion Calculator