Best Caster Sugar Substitutes in Vegan Chelsea Buns
This recipe calls for 50 g caster sugar. If you're out of caster sugar or need to adapt the recipe, here are 4 tested substitutes - each with a quantity guide and notes on how it changes the dish.
About This Substitution
Role in this recipe: Sweetness, structure, texture in baking
When you want a less refined or differently flavoured sweetener.
4 Substitutes for Caster Sugar in Vegan Chelsea Buns
1. Coconut sugar
Ratio: 1:1
Less refined, slightly caramel-flavoured. Works in most baking - produces slightly denser results.
2. Granulated sugar
Ratio: 1:1
Larger crystals - pulse in a food processor for 5 seconds to get closer to caster sugar. Works identically when dissolved.
3. Maple syrup
Ratio: 3/4 the amount; reduce other liquid by 3 tbsp per cup maple
Liquid sweetener - requires adjusting liquid ratios. Adds flavour and moisture.
4. Date sugar
Ratio: 1:1
Made from dried dates - won't dissolve fully, so best in dense bakes like brownies, not meringues.
View the Full Recipe
See the complete Vegan Chelsea Buns recipe for British kitchens with gram measurements and °C temperatures.
Other Recipes Using Caster Sugar
Want to understand why substitutions work?
Our Cook Like A Pro video course teaches the underlying techniques - so you can confidently adapt any vegan recipe to what's in your fridge.
Explore the course Back to recipe