What do vegans use to replace sugar?

October 6, 2025 •

4 min read

Over 79 million people globally now follow a vegan or plant-based diet, necessitating a deeper look into all food sources, including sweeteners. Choosing the right vegan sugar is not always straightforward, as many commercially refined white and brown sugars are processed using animal bone char.

Quick Summary

Vegans rely on a variety of plant-based alternatives, from liquid syrups like maple and agave to granulated options like coconut sugar and fruit-based pastes. Unlike many refined cane sugars that use bone char in processing, these substitutes provide cruelty-free sweetness for all culinary applications.

Key Points

Hidden Non-Vegan Sugar: Many refined white and brown sugars are filtered using animal bone char, a non-vegan process, even if the final product is free of animal matter.
Abundant Plant-Based Options: Vegans have access to a variety of alternatives, including syrups (maple, agave), granulated sugars (coconut, date), and whole-food sweeteners (dates, bananas).
Calorie-Free Sweeteners: Stevia and monk fruit are plant-derived sweeteners that contain zero calories and have a negligible effect on blood sugar.
Whole-Food Sweetening: Using whole fruits like dates, bananas, and applesauce adds natural sweetness, fiber, and nutrients to recipes.
Choosing for Recipes: The best sweetener depends on the application; liquid syrups add moisture to baking, while granulated options are best for texture and dissolution in drinks.
Labeling is Key: To ensure vegan status, look for products certified organic, explicitly labeled vegan, or made from sugar beets, which are not processed with bone char.

The Hidden Challenge with Refined Sugar

For many new to a vegan diet, the discovery that standard granulated white sugar may not be vegan comes as a surprise. The issue lies not in the source of the sugar—which is either sugarcane or sugar beets—but in the refining process. In the United States, and in some other regions, sugarcane is often filtered and whitened using bone char, a charcoal made from the charred bones of cattle. While the final product does not contain any bone char, the use of an animal product in the processing makes it non-vegan from an ethical standpoint.

How to Identify Vegan-Friendly Refined Sugar

To ensure your refined sugar is vegan, look for products that are:

Certified USDA organic, as organic standards prohibit the use of bone char.
Derived from sugar beets, which are not typically processed with bone char.
Explicitly labeled as vegan by the manufacturer.
Unrefined or raw cane sugar, such as turbinado or muscovado, which bypass the bone char filtration step.

Popular Vegan Sugar Alternatives

Beyond checking the processing of refined sugar, vegans have numerous whole-food and natural alternatives to choose from. These options offer not only cruelty-free sweetness but often additional nutritional benefits and diverse flavor profiles.

Liquid Sweeteners

Liquid sweeteners are excellent for beverages, marinades, dressings, and many baked goods where moisture is desired.

Maple Syrup: A classic choice, pure maple syrup is harvested from maple trees and contains beneficial minerals and antioxidants. It has a distinct flavor that varies depending on the grade, with darker syrups having a richer taste.
Agave Nectar: Sourced from the agave plant, this syrup is sweeter than sugar, requiring less volume for the same level of sweetness. It has a low glycemic index, though it is high in fructose.
Date Syrup: Made from boiled and reduced dates, this syrup offers a rich, caramel-like sweetness and is a whole-food option, meaning it retains fiber and nutrients.
Molasses: Blackstrap molasses, in particular, is a byproduct of the sugar refining process but is rich in iron, calcium, and magnesium. Its strong flavor is best for savory marinades and deeply flavored baked goods.

Granulated Sweeteners

These are ideal for baking, coffee, and applications where a dry, crystalline texture is needed.

Coconut Sugar: Made from the sap of coconut palm flowers, coconut sugar has a pleasant caramel flavor and a lower glycemic index than regular sugar. It can often be substituted 1:1 for white sugar in recipes.
Date Sugar: Created by grinding dehydrated dates into a powder, this is a whole-food, fiber-rich option. It can be a 1:1 swap for granulated sugar, but it does not dissolve or melt in the same way, making it better for things like oatmeal or crumb toppings.

Zero-Calorie Sweeteners

For those seeking sweetness without the calories or blood sugar impact, several plant-based options are available.

Stevia: Derived from the leaves of the Stevia rebaudiana plant, stevia is hundreds of times sweeter than sugar and has no calories. It comes in liquid drops or powder form, but some people notice a slight aftertaste.
Monk Fruit: Extracted from a small, green gourd grown in Southeast Asia, monk fruit extract is another zero-calorie sweetener. Like stevia, a little goes a long way, but some users report a lingering aftertaste.

Whole-Food Sweeteners

Using whole fruits and vegetables as sweeteners adds fiber, vitamins, and minerals to your dish.

Mashed Banana: Overripe bananas are an excellent sweetener and binder for baked goods like breads, muffins, and cookies.
Applesauce: Unsweetened applesauce can replace a portion of sugar and fat in baking while also adding moisture and fiber.
Date Paste: Blending soaked dates with water creates a thick, nutrient-dense paste that can be used to sweeten desserts and smoothies.

Comparison Table: Vegan Sweeteners


Sweetener	Type	Calories	Glycemic Impact	Best For	Flavor Profile
Maple Syrup	Liquid	Higher	Moderate	Baking, Pancakes	Woody, Rich
Agave Nectar	Liquid	Higher	Low	Cold Drinks, Dressings	Neutral, Sweeter
Stevia	Powder/Liquid	Zero	Negligible	Coffee, Tea, Smoothies	Very sweet, sometimes bitter
Monk Fruit	Powder	Zero	Negligible	Desserts, Drinks	Clean, Sweet, subtle aftertaste
Coconut Sugar	Granulated	Similar to sugar	Lower	Baking, Coffee	Caramel-like
Date Paste	Whole-Food	Moderate	Moderate	Raw Desserts, Smoothies	Rich, Fruity
Mashed Bananas	Whole-Food	Moderate	Low	Breads, Muffins	Sweet, Fruity

How to Choose the Right Sweetener

Selecting the best vegan sugar replacement depends on your specific needs, the recipe, and your personal taste preferences. When baking, consider whether the recipe relies on sugar for moisture, browning, or structure. Liquid sweeteners like maple syrup will add moisture, while granulated options like coconut sugar work well for texture. For no-bake treats, whole-food options like date paste or zero-calorie sweeteners like stevia are perfect.

Always read labels to ensure a product is truly vegan. Brands that are transparent about their sourcing and processing, or products labeled organic, offer a reliable choice. For those concerned about blood sugar, options with a lower glycemic index, like agave, coconut sugar, or zero-calorie sweeteners, may be preferable. Ultimately, finding your personal preference through experimentation is key. Discover more about healthy vegan sweeteners at Gracious Vegan for additional insights.

Conclusion: Finding Your Sweet Spot

The world of vegan sweeteners is diverse and offers a multitude of options to replace traditional cane sugar. From nutrient-rich whole-food options like dates and bananas to processed-but-plant-based syrups like agave and maple, the choices are plentiful. The most critical factor for vegans is understanding that the refinement process for many conventional white and brown sugars involves animal products, making careful label reading essential. By exploring the range of available alternatives, from zero-calorie stevia to caramel-noted coconut sugar, you can find the perfect, cruelty-free way to sweeten your food and drinks.

Frequently Asked Questions

Not always. Many brands of refined white cane sugar use bone char, a derivative of cattle bones, for filtration. To ensure it is vegan, look for certified organic, beet sugar, or products explicitly labeled as vegan.

The best substitute depends on the recipe. Coconut sugar can be a 1:1 swap for granulated sugar, while maple syrup and agave nectar are great for adding moisture to cakes and muffins.

Yes, but with caution. Stevia is extremely potent, and it does not provide the bulk, browning, or moisture that regular sugar does. It is best used in small quantities, often in conjunction with other ingredients, and is great for cold applications like smoothies.

Mashed ripe bananas, date paste, and unsweetened applesauce are excellent whole-food options. They add natural sweetness, fiber, and moisture to a variety of baked goods and desserts.

Most commercial brown sugar is not vegan, as it's made by adding molasses to refined white sugar that may have been filtered with bone char. Look for organic or beet-sugar-based brown sugar to be safe.

Bone char is a granular, black substance made from the charred bones of cattle. It is used in the sugarcane refining process as a decolorizing filter to produce white sugar.

Pure maple syrup, agave nectar, or liquid stevia drops are all excellent choices. For added flavor, try adding cinnamon or a few drops of pure vanilla extract.