How Much Carrot to Substitute for Sugar
Works for baking, slow cook, and steaming. Carrot brings a noticeably different flavor than Sugar.
How much carrot equals one cup of sugar?
Use 1 1/2 cups grated carrot plus reduce other liquids by 1/4 cup per cup sugar.
Health notes
Compared with Sugar, Carrot has: less calories (341 vs 399 per 100g in Sugar), more fat (1.5g vs 0g per 100g in Sugar), more protein (8.1g vs 0g per 100g in Sugar), and less carbs (79.6g vs 99.8g per 100g in Sugar).
Using carrot as a sugar substitute in baking
1 1/2 cups carrot per cup sugar; cut liquids 1/4 cup.
Other cooking methods
- Slow Cook
1 1/2 cups carrot per cup sugar in braises.
- Steaming
1 1/2 cups carrot per cup sugar in pudding cakes.
- Raw Cold
1 1/2 cups carrot per cup sugar in raw slaws.
- Drinks
1 1/2 cups carrot per cup sugar in smoothies.
Methods to avoid (3)
- Sauteing
Not recommended: carrot won't caramelize like sugar.
- Frying
Not recommended: wet shreds spatter in hot oil.
- Grilling
Not recommended: shreds burn before sugars would melt.
FAQ
- How much carrot equals one cup of sugar?
Use 1 1/2 cups grated carrot plus reduce other liquids by 1/4 cup per cup sugar.
- Can I substitute carrot for Sugar in baking?
Yes. 1 1/2 cups carrot per cup sugar; cut liquids 1/4 cup. Not recommended: carrot won't caramelize like sugar.
- How much carrot to use as a sugar substitute?
Add cinnamon or nutmeg to round out carrot sweetness.
- How does the flavor change when substituting Carrot for Sugar?
Carrot brings a noticeably different flavor than sugar.
- How does texture change when substituting Carrot for Sugar?
Moister, denser crumb with visible carrot shreds.
- What else should I know about substituting Carrot for Sugar?
For muffins, quick breads, and cakes. Expect moist, dense crumb with earthy sweetness and orange flecks. Skip caramel, candy, and recipes needing clean dissolving sweetness. Finely grate carrot for even distribution. Add spices to boost perceived sweetness.
- What still works when substituting Carrot for Sugar?
Carrot still works as a sweetener, moisture retainer, and texture modifier.
- What won't work when substituting Carrot for Sugar?
Carrot won't work as a browning agent and crystalline structure builder.
- How well does Carrot match Sugar?
Carrot is stretch on structure, stretch on heat, and stretch on flavor.
- How does nutrition compare per 100g when substituting Carrot for Sugar?
Carrot is slightly lower in calories. Carrot has fat and protein, while sugar has none.
- How do the flavor notes shift when substituting Carrot for Sugar?
The flavor shifts toward less sweet, more bitter, and more umami notes.