Looking for an alternative to Palm Sugar? You’re in the right place! Keep reading for my favourite simple Palm Sugar substitutes.
What is Palm Sugar?
Palm Sugar is any sweetener made from any type of palm tree. It’s typically used in Asian cooking although coconut sugar has been gaining popularity among health conscious people wanting alternatives to refined white sugar.
Palm sugar tends to be pressed into small discs rather than being free flowing like other sugars.
The Best Palm Sugar Substitutes
1. Coconut Sugar
Coconut sugar is a type of palm sugar made from you guessed it… coconut trees. It has a brown crumbly texture and delicious caramelly flavour. While it does contain more minerals than white sugar, it’s essentially the same as white sugar from a nutritional perspective.
2. Brown Sugar
I always use regular brown sugar in any recipe calling for palm sugar. The flavour of brown sugar is slightly less intense but it’s such a minimal difference you don’t notice it in a dish with lots of other flavours.
3. White Sugar
The main function of palm sugar is to provide sweetness. So white sugar will work from that perspective. You’ll miss out on the extra caramel flavours but it won’t be a problem.
4. Maple Syrup or Honey
If you prefer not to use refined crystalline sugars, maple syrup or honey will work. In most dishes the extra moisture and slight less sweetness won’t matter if you make a 1:1 substitution.
The Best Sugar-Free Palm Sugar Substitutes
1. Golden Monkfruit
If I want to avoid adding carbs to a dish, a little golden monkfruit will be the closest match to palm sugar. Monkfruit tends to be much sweeter than sugar so start with less than you think you’ll need and add more to taste.
2. Stevia
Granular white stevia is another sugar-free option. It can have an unpleasant aftertaste but generally you won’t notice if there are lots of other strong flavours in your dish. As with monkfruit it tends to be more intense so start with less.
Palm Sugar Flavour Pairings
- Lemon & Palm Sugar
- Fish Sauce & Palm Sugar
- Chilli & Palm Sugar
- Lime & Palm Sugar
- Mint & Palm Sugar
More Ingredient Substitutes
- The Ultimate Guide to Vegetable Substitutes
- Broccoli
- Cauliflower
- Kale
- Collard Greens
- Miso Paste
- Oyster Sauce
- Pesto
- Tahini
Also see see the Simple Ingredients Substitutes Index.
Have fun in the kitchen!
With love,
Jules x