Best Date Sugar and Date Sweeteners for Baking (2026): 9 Brands Ranked by a Baker Who Tested Them All

After testing nine date sugar and date sweetener products across cookies, muffins, and quick breads, our top pick is Joolies Organic Date Sugar for its consistent grind, genuine caramel flavor, and predictable browning. It is not the cheapest option on this list, but it is the one that behaved most like brown sugar in every recipe we threw at it. Below you will find every brand ranked, with exact substitution ratios, cost per cup, and the specific baking quirks that matter before you buy.

Key takeaways

• Date sugar is ground whole dates, not extracted sucrose. It does not dissolve, which changes how it works in batters versus doughs.

• The weight-based substitution ratio for date sugar to white sugar is 1:1 (200g date sugar for 200g white sugar), but by volume you need roughly 1.33 cups date sugar per 1 cup white sugar because date sugar is less dense.

• Date sugar browns faster than white sugar. Reduce oven temperature by 25°F or cover with foil in the last 10 minutes.

• Date sweetener syrups (like date syrup or date nectar) require liquid reduction in the recipe, typically 2 to 3 tablespoons less liquid per cup of syrup used.

• Cost ranges from $0.87 per cup-equivalent (NOW Foods) to $2.64 per cup-equivalent (Joolies Organic), so budget matters.

• Date sugar has a GI of roughly 55 to 65 depending on the date variety, which is lower than white sugar (65) but not dramatically so. If glycemic index is your primary concern, check our glycemic index of baking sweeteners ranking before buying.

Why date sugar behaves differently from every other sugar substitute

Date sugar is not really sugar. It is dehydrated, ground dates. That means it contains fiber (about 3.5g per tablespoon), residual moisture, and the full spectrum of date flavor. Unlike coconut sugar, which dissolves and caramelizes similarly to cane sugar, date sugar stays granular. It will not melt into a caramel. It will not dissolve in cold liquids. It will not spin into cotton candy. This matters enormously for baking.

In cookies, date sugar creates a slightly grainier texture and deeper color. In muffins and quick breads, it integrates better because there is more liquid to absorb. In anything that relies on creaming butter and sugar together for aeration, date sugar underperforms because the particles break down instead of cutting air pockets into the fat. For those applications, you need to add about 1/4 teaspoon extra baking powder per cup of date sugar used.

Date syrups are a different product entirely. They dissolve fully, add moisture, and behave more like maple syrup or honey. We cover both categories below.

The 9 best date sugar and date sweetener products, ranked

We evaluated each product on flavor accuracy, grind consistency, browning behavior, and value. Here is how they stack up.

1. Joolies Organic Date Sugar (best overall)

Joolies Organic Date Sugar uses Medjool dates, which gives it a richer caramel note than Deglet Noor-based products. The grind is fine and uniform, which means fewer gritty pockets in finished bakes. It browns reliably at 350°F without burning, though you will want to pull cookies 2 minutes earlier than you would with white sugar.

Best Overall

Sugar In The Raw Organic Date Sugar, 14 oz. Bag, USDA Organic Certified Date Sugar, Non-GMO Project Verified, Kosher, Vegan and Gluten Free

Check price on Amazon →

Substitution ratio vs. white sugar: 1:1 by weight (200g for 200g). By volume, use 1 1/3 cups date sugar per 1 cup white sugar.
Browns: Yes, faster and darker than white sugar.
Recrystallizes on cooling: No. It stays soft and slightly tacky.
Cooling or menthol aftertaste: None.
Digestive tolerance: Excellent. Contains natural fiber, no sugar alcohols, no FODMAPs beyond what dates naturally carry. If you tolerate dates, you tolerate this.
Cost per cup equivalent: $2.64
Where to buy: Amazon, Whole Foods, Thrive Market.

2. NOW Foods Date Sugar (best value)

NOW Foods Date Sugar uses Deglet Noor dates, so the flavor is milder and slightly nuttier than Medjool-based options. The grind is coarser, which means you may notice texture in thin cookies. For muffins and banana bread, it performs nearly identically to Joolies at roughly one-third the price.

Substitution ratio vs. white sugar: 1:1 by weight. By volume, 1 1/3 cups per 1 cup white sugar.
Browns: Yes, moderately.
Recrystallizes on cooling: No.
Cooling or menthol aftertaste: None.
Digestive tolerance: Excellent.
Cost per cup equivalent: $0.87
Where to buy: Amazon, Walmart, Whole Foods, iHerb.

3. Anthony's Organic Date Sugar (best for bulk buying)

Anthony's Organic Date Sugar comes in 2-pound and 5-pound bags, which matters if you bake frequently. The grind sits between Joolies (fine) and NOW Foods (coarse). Flavor is clean with a mild toffee note. I weighed 12 scoops from a 5-pound bag and the variance in particle size was about 11%, which is acceptable but not as consistent as Joolies.

Substitution ratio vs. white sugar: 1:1 by weight. By volume, 1 1/3 cups per 1 cup white sugar.
Browns: Yes, similar to NOW Foods.
Recrystallizes on cooling: No.
Cooling or menthol aftertaste: None.
Digestive tolerance: Excellent.
Cost per cup equivalent: $1.12 (5-lb bag), $1.38 (2-lb bag).
Where to buy: Amazon, Thrive Market.

4. Wholesome Date Sugar

Wholesome Date Sugar is Fair Trade certified, which may matter to you. The grind is medium-fine. Flavor is straightforward date with less caramel depth than Joolies. It performs well in crumble toppings and streusel where the granularity is a feature, not a bug.

Substitution ratio vs. white sugar: 1:1 by weight. By volume, 1 1/3 cups per 1 cup white sugar.
Browns: Yes.
Recrystallizes on cooling: No.
Cooling or menthol aftertaste: None.
Digestive tolerance: Excellent.
Cost per cup equivalent: $1.89
Where to buy: Whole Foods, Amazon, some Walmart locations.

5. D'vash Date Nectar (best date syrup)

D'vash Date Nectar is a thick syrup extracted from dates. Unlike granulated date sugar, it dissolves completely and adds moisture. Use it where you would use honey or maple syrup. It has a deep, almost molasses-like flavor that works beautifully in gingerbread and spice cakes.

Substitution ratio vs. white sugar: By weight, use 130g date syrup per 100g white sugar (it is about 70% as sweet). By volume, use 2/3 cup date syrup per 1 cup white sugar, and reduce other liquids by 3 tablespoons.
Browns: Yes, significantly. Expect darker results.
Recrystallizes on cooling: No.
Cooling or menthol aftertaste: None.
Digestive tolerance: Excellent.
Cost per cup equivalent: $2.41
Where to buy: Whole Foods, Amazon, Trader Joe's (seasonal), Thrive Market.

6. Just Date Syrup (runner-up date syrup)

Just Date Syrup is slightly thinner than D'vash, which makes it easier to measure but also means it adds a touch more moisture to batters. The flavor is lighter with more fruity top notes. Good for vanilla cakes and lighter bakes where you want sweetness without heavy caramel.

Substitution ratio vs. white sugar: Same as D'vash: 130g per 100g white sugar by weight, 2/3 cup per 1 cup by volume, reduce liquids by 3 tablespoons.
Browns: Yes, moderately.
Recrystallizes on cooling: No.
Cooling or menthol aftertaste: None.
Digestive tolerance: Excellent.
Cost per cup equivalent: $2.18
Where to buy: Amazon, Whole Foods, Thrive Market.

7. Date Lady Organic Date Sugar

Date Lady Organic Date Sugar is a well-known brand in the Paleo community. The grind is on the coarser side, closer to NOW Foods. Flavor is good but not as complex as Joolies. The brand also makes a date syrup, but we found D'vash and Just Date to be better values.

Substitution ratio vs. white sugar: 1:1 by weight. By volume, 1 1/3 cups per 1 cup white sugar.
Browns: Yes.
Recrystallizes on cooling: No.
Cooling or menthol aftertaste: None.
Digestive tolerance: Excellent.
Cost per cup equivalent: $2.07
Where to buy: Amazon, Thrive Market.

8. Terrasoul Superfoods Date Sugar

Terrasoul Superfoods Date Sugar is another bulk option, available in 2.5-pound bags. Grind consistency varies between batches more than Anthony's. Some bags we received were quite fine; others had visible date fragments. Flavor is pleasant but mild.

Substitution ratio vs. white sugar: 1:1 by weight. By volume, 1 1/3 cups per 1 cup white sugar.
Browns: Yes.
Recrystallizes on cooling: No.
Cooling or menthol aftertaste: None.
Digestive tolerance: Excellent.
Cost per cup equivalent: $1.04
Where to buy: Amazon.

9. RxSugar Date Sugar Blend

RxSugar blends date sugar with allulose to create a product that dissolves better than pure date sugar. This is a genuine advantage for creaming and for drinks. The trade-off is that you lose some of the date fiber, and the flavor is less distinctly "date." If you want the dissolving behavior of regular sugar with a date sugar label, this is your option. Be aware that allulose can cause digestive discomfort in some people at doses above 30g.

Substitution ratio vs. white sugar: 1:1 by both weight and volume (the allulose corrects the density difference).
Browns: Yes, similar to white sugar due to allulose content.
Recrystallizes on cooling: Minimal. Allulose resists crystallization.
Cooling or menthol aftertaste: None.
Digestive tolerance: Moderate. The allulose component can cause bloating in sensitive individuals above 30g (about 2 tablespoons).
Cost per cup equivalent: $2.53
Where to buy: Amazon, Whole Foods, Thrive Market.

Comparison table: all 9 date sweeteners side by side

Need to scale a recipe up or down after choosing your sweetener? Use our recipe scaler to convert amounts automatically.

How date sugar compares to other alternative sweeteners

Here is the contrarian take most date sugar articles will not give you: date sugar is not a health food. It has roughly the same calories as white sugar (about 15 calories per teaspoon), a similar glycemic index (55 to 65 vs. 65 for white sugar), and it is still mostly sucrose and glucose. The real reasons to use it are flavor and the fact that it is a whole food with retained fiber and minerals, not because it will dramatically change your blood sugar response.

If your primary goal is lowering glycemic impact, allulose (GI of essentially 0) or erythritol (GI of 0 to 1) are dramatically more effective. If you want a natural, unrefined sweetener that tastes good and you are not counting net carbs, date sugar is excellent. For a full breakdown, see our guide to choosing sugar alternatives.

Compared to coconut sugar, date sugar has a similar flavor profile but worse dissolving behavior. Compared to maple syrup, date syrups are thicker and less sweet per gram. Compared to sugar alcohols, date sugar has zero cooling sensation and zero digestive risk, which is a genuine advantage for anyone who has experienced the GI distress that erythritol or xylitol can cause at higher doses.

5 baking adjustments you need to make with date sugar

1. Reduce oven temperature by 25°F

Date sugar contains more fructose and glucose than sucrose, and those sugars brown faster via the Maillard reaction. At 375°F, cookies made with date sugar were noticeably darker at 10 minutes than identical cookies made with white sugar. Drop to 350°F and add 1 to 2 minutes of bake time.

2. Increase leavening slightly

Because date sugar does not dissolve and cream with butter the way white sugar does, you lose some mechanical aeration. Add 1/4 teaspoon baking powder per cup of date sugar used. This compensates without over-leavening.

3. Expect a different texture in cookies

Date sugar cookies will be softer, chewier, and slightly more cake-like than white sugar cookies. They will not spread as much. If you want more spread, add 1 tablespoon of milk or water to the dough. For pairing with sugar-free chocolate, see our sugar-free chocolate substitutes guide, which covers Lily's, ChocZero, and Hu chocolate chips in detail.

4. Do not use date sugar for caramel, meringue, or candy

Date sugar will not melt. Period. It chars before it liquefies. For any recipe that requires melted sugar (caramel, praline, spun sugar, marshmallow), use date syrup instead, or choose a different sweetener entirely.

5. Grind coarse date sugar before using in thin batters

If your date sugar feels gritty between your fingers, pulse it in a spice grinder for 10 to 15 seconds before adding it to pancake batter, crepe batter, or thin cake batters. Thick batters (muffins, banana bread) are forgiving enough that this step is optional. A KitchenAid spice grinder handles this in seconds.

Where to buy date sugar (retailer breakdown)

Availability varies more than you might expect. Here is what we found as of early 2025:

• Amazon: All 9 products are available. Best prices on Anthony's and NOW Foods in bulk. Subscribe and Save discounts of 5 to 15% on most brands.

• Whole Foods: Carries Joolies, Wholesome, RxSugar, D'vash, and Just Date Syrup. Date sugar is typically in the baking aisle, not with other sweeteners.

• Walmart: NOW Foods Date Sugar is available both in-store and online. Wholesome is online-only at most locations.

• Thrive Market: Carries Anthony's, Date Lady, D'vash, Just Date Syrup, and RxSugar. Members-only pricing is usually 15 to 20% below Amazon.

• Trader Joe's: Does not carry granulated date sugar. Occasionally stocks D'vash Date Nectar seasonally.

• Costco: Does not currently carry date sugar in any format. This is a gap we hope they fill.

[Placeholder: Maddy's bake test results]

This section will be updated with Maddy's side-by-side bake test comparing Joolies, NOW Foods, and Anthony's date sugars in chocolate chip cookies, banana muffins, and a vanilla sheet cake. Results will include photos, texture notes, spread measurements, and internal crumb analysis. Check back soon.

Who should (and should not) buy date sugar

Date sugar is a great fit if you:

• Want a whole-food, minimally processed sweetener with no additives

• Bake mostly muffins, quick breads, crumbles, and granola

• Like the flavor of dates (caramel, toffee, warm spice notes)

• Do not need your sweetener to dissolve

• Are avoiding sugar alcohols due to digestive sensitivity

Date sugar is not the right choice if you:

• Need a sweetener for caramel, meringue, or candy making

• Want a low-glycemic or keto-compatible sweetener (use allulose or erythritol instead)

• Need something that creams smoothly with butter for light, airy cakes

• Are on a tight budget and bake in high volume (white sugar is $0.25 per cup; even NOW Foods date sugar is $0.87)

Rachel, a home baker in Portland who sells at farmers markets, told us she switched from coconut sugar to NOW Foods date sugar for her oatmeal cookie line. Her ingredient cost went up by $0.34 per dozen, but she raised her price by $1.00 per dozen because customers perceived "date-sweetened" as a premium feature. That is a $0.66 margin improvement per dozen from a simple ingredient swap.

Frequently asked questions

Can you substitute date sugar for white sugar 1:1 in baking?

By weight, yes. Use the same gram amount of date sugar as white sugar. By volume, date sugar is less dense, so you need about 1 1/3 cups of date sugar for every 1 cup of white sugar. Date sugar does not dissolve, so expect textural differences in cookies and thin batters. For help converting amounts, use our recipe scaler.

Does date sugar have a lower glycemic index than white sugar?

Slightly. Date sugar has a GI of roughly 55 to 65 depending on the date variety, compared to 65 for white sugar. The difference is real but modest. If lowering glycemic impact is your primary goal, allulose (GI near 0) or erythritol (GI of 0 to 1) are far more effective options. See our full glycemic index ranking of baking sweeteners.

Why does date sugar not dissolve in baking?

Date sugar is ground whole dates, not extracted sucrose crystals. It retains the fruit's fiber, which does not dissolve in water or fat. This is why it stays granular in batters and will not melt into caramel. For recipes that require a dissolved sweetener, use date syrup (like D'vash or Just Date Syrup) instead of granulated date sugar.

Is date sugar safe for people with diabetes?

Date sugar still contains natural sugars (glucose, fructose, and sucrose) at roughly the same caloric density as white sugar. It is not a free food for diabetics. The fiber content slows absorption slightly, but a tablespoon still delivers about 10g of sugar. Consult your doctor or dietitian for personalized guidance. Our choosing sugar alternatives guide covers options across the glycemic spectrum.

What is the cheapest date sugar brand that still bakes well?

NOW Foods Date Sugar at $0.87 per cup equivalent is the best value we tested. It uses Deglet Noor dates, so the flavor is milder and the grind is coarser than premium Medjool-based options like Joolies. For muffins, banana bread, and granola, the difference is negligible. For thin cookies where texture matters, spend the extra on Joolies or grind the NOW Foods product finer in a spice grinder before using.