Sugars

Soft light brown sugar is a pure cane sugar with buttery caramel notes. Perfect for sauces, moist sponges and cookies. 

The light brown colour of this sugar comes from it's small percentage content of molasses. In comparison, dark brown sugar contains almost double the molasses of light brown sugar. I.e. the darker the colour of the sugar, the more molasses it contains. 

If a recipe doesn't specify 'light' or 'dark' brown sugar, it normally means use light brown sugar. 

White granulated sugar, is a slightly coarser grain of sugar sometimes known as refined sugar or table sugar, and a staple for the cupboard. 

It's great for making toffee, as its less likely to crystalize than caster sugar, and in baking when you want a slightly coarser texture, such as in shortbread

The fine crystals already in granulated sugar also don't cake together, making it perfect for sprinkling into food and dissolving into drinks 

Muscovado sugar (also known as Barbados sugar, khandsari or khanda) is an unrefined sugar. It still contains molasses, giving it a dark brown colour.

Muscovado sugar adds a dark caramel flavour to baked goods, marinades, glazes or it can even be melted into your coffee. 

White caster sugar is a finely ground sugar commonly used in baking. 

While caster sugar and granulated are fairly similar, the main difference is the grain size, with caster sugar being the finer grain. Its small granules mix and dissolve more easily with other ingredients, making it perfect for use in biscuits, cakes, pastries and meringues. 

Golden caster sugar, also known as raw caster sugar, is an unrefined fine-grain sugar with a light golden colour, similar in texture to white caster sugar. It's not to be mistake for light brown sugar, which gives a more fudgey texture. 

It dissolved quickly and performs in the same way as white caster sugar, but is different to white caster sugar in that it still contains small amounts of molasses. The molasses give it the light golden colour, along with a slightly more caramel flavour.

Want to try something new?

Make these delicious Vegan panettone from Baking Mad to impress! The golden caster sugar adds a depth of caramel-y deliciousness. 

Coconut palm sugar is a natural brown granulated sugar becoming increasingly popular, made from coconut palm sap (from the coconut palm tree, this sugar is not the same as palm sugar). 

It retains some of the nutrients of the coconut palm, including small amounts of iron, zinc, calcium and potassium, along with antioxidants. Therefore is considered of higher nutritional value than regular refined sugar. But still use sparingly as even though its not as processed, it is still similar to regular sugar. 

Icing sugar is a finely ground sugar produced by milling granulated sugar into a powdered state. A staple in your baking cupboard. 

Perfect for making all icing, such as glace icing, lemon drizzle, buttercream... the list goes on. 

Also can be used as the ideal edible glue for those gingerbread houses or edible decorations.