Table of Contents:
How to Substitute Honey for Sugar
| Sugar: | Honey (substitute): |
| 1/4 cup | 3 tbsp |
| 1/3 cup | 4 tbsp |
| 1/2 cup | 1/3 cup |
| 1 cup | 3/4 cup |
| 2 cups | 1.5 cups |
Honey is typically sweeter than sugar, so you’ll use slightly less honey to ensure your food doesn’t come out too sweet.
And keep in mind:
You’ll need to reduce the liquids in your recipe. Honey is made of about 20% water, so you’ll need to account for that extra liquid. This means you’ll subtract 1/4 total from your liquid ingredients for every 1 cup of honey added.
Add 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda for every 1 cup of honey used. Honey is naturally acidic, so adding baking soda helps balance things out. This will also allow your baked goods to rise correctly.
Reduce your baking temperature by 25°. Honey has a higher natural sugar content, so it caramelizes and browns quicker than regular table sugar. To combat this, lower your baking temperature by 25 degrees.
And last but not least:
Remember that some types of honey are sweeter than others.
We recommend raw clover honey if you want a good, medium sweetness. Clover honey pairs well with other foods, bakes nicely, and tastes delicious in coffee or tea.
If you want extra sweet honey, give tupelo honey a try.
Tupelo honey has a fruity-floral flavor that catches most people by surprise. It’s buttery smooth and dissolves nicely on your tongue. It almost resembles Juicy Fruit gum, but much more natural and pure.
Is Substituting Honey for Sugar Healthier?
The short answer:
Honey is healthier than sugar thanks to its antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-fungal benefits.
But as with any sweetener, honey should be eaten in moderation.
The longer answer:
Honey contains certain health benefits that table sugars don’t have.
For example, honey is antibacterial and anti-inflammatory, which is why it’s been used in clinical settings to treat numerous skin conditions.
In fact, one study found honey to have a 97% success rate in treating diabetes-related foot ulcers. Such foot ulcers are severe and can lead to amputation.(1)
Additionally, honey has been demonstrated to be useful in treating herpes, eczema, and psoriasis.(2, 3, 4)
Raw honey is also known for treating sore throats and coughs in people dealing with upper respiratory infections.
One review of several studies found that raw honey was better for treating cough symptoms than diphenhydramine (a cough medicine ingredient). What’s more, raw honey doesn’t come with the adverse side effects that can be present in some over-the-counter cough medications.(5)
There are also many other benefits of raw honey.
With that said, honey is still a sweetener that should be enjoyed in moderation. It can cause blood sugar levels to rise just like table sugar can.
Can I Bake With Honey Instead of Sugar?
Yes, it’s perfectly safe to bake with honey instead of sugar.
But as mentioned:
Honey tends to be sweeter than sugar, so you’ll need to use less honey. You’ll also need to reduce the liquids in your recipe by 1/4, lower the baking temperature by 25°, and add 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda.
You can read more about how to substitute honey for sugar here.
Our recommendation for baking with honey is to do a “trial run” to ensure your recipe turns out the way you want it to. This way, you can taste-test the recipe before serving it to others and tweak it as needed.
Also, remember that there are over 300 types of honey. Honey can vary in sweetness depending upon the flavor.
For example, both tupelo honey and acacia honey are known for their intense sweetness. As such, they’re highly sought after by people who want to use them for baking sweet treats.
In contrast, buckwheat honey is less sweet, with a molasses-like flavor. It’s perfect for someone who enjoys rich, robust honey to spread on warm biscuits.
FAQs on Honey Substitute for Sugar
- How much honey equals a teaspoon of sugar?
- How much honey equals a tablespoon of sugar?
- Does honey raise blood sugar faster than sugar?
- Is honey better than sugar for weight loss?
- Is honey more fattening than sugar?
- Is it OK to put honey in coffee instead of sugar?
- What happens if you bake honey?
- Can you put honey in tea instead of sugar?
- Can you put honey in hot water instead of sugar?
- How can I sweeten without sugar?
- Can I use honey instead of sugar in a cake?
- Can I substitute honey for sugar in bread?
- Can I substitute honey for sugar in cookies?
- Can I substitute honey for brown sugar?
How much honey equals a teaspoon of sugar?
Up to one cup, honey can be substituted for sugar in equal portions. For instance, you can substitute one teaspoon of honey for one teaspoon of sugar.
Honey tends to be sweeter than sugar, but the difference isn’t that noticeable when using small amounts like tablespoons and teaspoons.
—> Go back to the FAQs on honey substitute for sugar
More to Explore:
- Honey Pasteurization: Does it Ruin Raw Honey?
- Honey for Skin Benefits: Directions, Uses, & Risks
- 8 Scientific Benefits of Raw Honey
How much honey equals a tablespoon of sugar?
You can substitute one tablespoon of honey for one tablespoon of sugar.
—> Go back to the FAQs on honey substitute for sugar
More to Explore:
Does honey raise blood sugar faster than sugar?
Honey raises blood sugar levels fast, but not quite as quickly as sugar.
This is because honey has a lower glycemic index (GI) than sugar.
The glycemic index (GI) is a number used to measure how much specific foods increase blood sugar levels. Foods are described as low, medium, or high glycemic foods. They’re ranked on a scale of 0–100.
- Low GI: 55 or less
- Medium GI: 56–69
- High GI: 70 or above
Honey has a GI value of 58, and sugar has a GI score of 60. So sugar raises blood sugar levels slightly faster than honey, but the difference isn’t huge.
Foods that are high in sugar and refined carbs are digested faster and tend to have a high GI. Meanwhile, foods high in protein, fat, or fiber usually have a lower GI.
Foods that have no carbs are not assigned a GI value. This includes meat, fish, nuts, poultry, seeds, herbs, oils, and spices. Other things that affect a good’s GI value include its cooking method, type of sugar, food ripeness, and the amount of processing it has undergone.(6)
Remember that the glycemic index is not the same as the glycemic load (GL).
—> Go back to the FAQs on honey substitute for sugar
More to Explore:
Is honey better than sugar for weight loss?
Both honey and sugar aren’t ideal for people trying to lose weight. You would need to consume them in moderation.
This is because they’re high in calories and can contribute to weight gain if you overeat them. They also both raise blood sugar levels.
With that said, honey does offer health benefits that table sugar doesn’t have. For instance, honey is a good source of antioxidants and has antimicrobial properties. Antioxidants help protect your cells from damage, and antimicrobial properties can help fight off infection.
As such, raw honey has been used in clinical settings to help treat wounds and burns. It’s even been used to treat upper respiratory infections like coughing and sore throat symptoms.
So honey is better regarding health benefits, but it should still be eaten in moderation because it’s a sweetener.
—> Go back to the FAQs on honey substitute for sugar
More to Explore:
Is honey more fattening than sugar?
Honey does contain slightly more calories than white table sugar.
One tablespoon of honey contains 63.8 calories, while one tablespoon of sugar contains 46.5 calories.
Additionally, sugar and honey are both sources of carbs. More specifically, sugar and honey contain sugar in the form of simple carbohydrates. However, they’re different in their overall composition.
Sugar comes from sugar beets or sugarcane. It’s made up of monosaccharides; 50% fructose and 50% glucose. These bond together to make the disaccharide sucrose, aka sugar.
Honey comes from the nectar of flowers gathered by honeybees. It’s made up of about 38% fructose, 31% glucose, 17% water, and 7% maltose, in addition to small amounts of other simple carbs, pollen, and nutrients.
—> Go back to the FAQs on honey substitute for sugar
More to Explore:
Is it OK to put honey in coffee instead of sugar?
Yes, many people enjoy using honey in coffee instead of sugar. Honey dissolves nicely once stirred into a hot beverage.
You can also pick from many different honey flavors to add to your coffee. For instance, orange blossom honey offers a citrus flavor that can give your coffee a little kick. Other types of honey, like clover honey, have a mild sweetness that won’t overpower your coffee.
I enjoy adding one to two tablespoons of honey per cup of coffee. You can play around with the amount and flavors of honey to find something you like.
—> Go back to the FAQs on honey substitute for sugar
More to Explore:
What happens if you bake honey?
It’s perfectly fine to bake honey by using it as a substitute for sugar.
There are a few claims online saying that baking honey causes it to become toxic. However, none of these claims have been proven true.
Honey can be used as a replacement for sugar in various recipes, including sweets, bread baking, and meat glazes.
When baking with honey, remember that it is sweeter than sugar. As such, you’ll need to use less honey than sugar to achieve the desired level of sweetness.
You’ll also want to lower the oven temperature by 25°F when baking with honey to prevent over-browning. Finally, add about 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda for each cup of honey used to help the finished product rise.
—> Go back to the FAQs on honey substitute for sugar
More to Explore:
- The Top 3 Best Manuka Honey Brands
- Orange Blossom Honey: Uses, Benefits, & Risks
- Sourwood Honey: Uses, Benefits, & Risks
Can you put honey in tea instead of sugar?
Yes, you can put honey in tea instead of sugar. Honey dissolves well into hot tea once stirred.
In fact, many people prefer using honey in tea because it’s a natural sweetener with health benefits. Honey can help soothe a sore throat and calm a cough. This makes honey mixed with tea a great bedtime drink for people suffering from upper respiratory symptoms.
It’s important to note that honey should not be given to children under the age of one because of the risk of botulism.
To sweeten your tea with honey, add one to two tablespoons of honey per cup of tea. You can also add honey to taste after your tea has been brewed. You may prefer more or less honey, depending upon your preferences.
—> Go back to the FAQs on honey substitute for sugar
More to Explore:
Can you put honey in hot water instead of sugar?
Yes, you can put honey in hot water instead of sugar. Honey dissolves well into hot water once stirred. It’ll give the water a lot of flavor and pairs nicely with lemon or ginger slices.
—> Go back to the FAQs on honey substitute for sugar
More to Explore:
- The Brutally Honest Truth About Sour Honey
- Buckwheat Honey: Uses, Benefits, & Risks
- Can You Eat Honeycombs?
How can I sweeten without sugar?
There are many ways to sweeten without sugar, including using honey, agave nectar, or stevia. You can also use fruit juices or purees, as they’ll add sweetness and natural flavors to your dish.
Additionally, you can try using spices like cinnamon or nutmeg to add sweetness without using sugar. Finally, using unsweetened chocolate can also help reduce the amount of sugar needed in a recipe.
—> Go back to the FAQs on honey substitute for sugar
More to Explore:
- Cinnamon Honey: Are There Any Health Benefits?
- What’s the Melting Point of Beeswax?
- Is Honey Acidic or Alkaline?
Can I use honey instead of sugar in a cake?
Yes, you can use honey instead of sugar in a cake. Honey is a great natural sweetener for baking.
When using honey in place of sugar, you’ll need to use less honey because it tends to be naturally sweeter than sugar.
—> Go back to the FAQs on honey substitute for sugar
More to Explore:
- Beeswax on Hair: Benefits, Risks, & How to Use It
- Beeswax vs. Soy Wax: Which is Better for Candle Making?
- How to Make Fermented Honey
Can I substitute honey for sugar in bread?
Yes, you can substitute honey for sugar in bread. Use a one-to-one ratio of honey for sugar in most yeast breads, pancakes, waffles, and muffins. Add 1/4 teaspoon baking soda for every 1 cup of honey to ensure your baked goods rise properly.
—> Go back to the FAQs on honey substitute for sugar
More to Explore:
- Honey for the Face: Can You Apply it to the Skin?
- Does Honey Need to Be Refrigerated?
- How is Honey Useful?
Can I substitute honey for sugar in cookies?
Yes, honey makes a delicious sugar substitute for cookie recipes. That said, we recommend doing a “trial run” recipe to ensure it turns out the way you want it to. You may need to adjust the measurements of honey in the recipe. Typically, you’ll use less honey than sugar since honey is sweeter.
—> Go back to the FAQs on honey substitute for sugar
More to Explore:
Can I substitute honey for brown sugar?
Yes, honey is a suitable replacement for brown sugar.
In general, we recommend substituting one cup of brown sugar with ⅔ cup of honey. Don’t forget about consistency. When replacing a dry sweetener with a liquid, you’ll need to cut back on other liquid ingredients so it doesn’t mess up your recipe.
