A 1 lb bag of demerara sugar holds about 2.1 cups. The arithmetic is simple: 1 lb is 454 g, and one cup of demerara sugar weighs 220 g, so 454 divided by 220 is 2.1 cups. Demerara sugar is the heaviest sugar per cup in the ingredient table — 220 g, compared with 198 g for granulated sugar and 180 g for turbinado sugar. The large, hard crystals pack together densely, with very little air between them, and the molasses coating adds weight. It is sold in 1 lb bags because most cooks use it as a finishing sugar and a coffee sugar, in smaller amounts than granulated sugar.
Two point one cups is about four batches of crumble topping at half a cup each, or eight cups of coffee at a quarter cup each, or four batches of flapjacks at half a cup each. Demerara sugar is used where its crunch and its deep caramel flavour matter: sprinkled on a crumble, stirred into coffee, scattered over a flapjack, or used in a barbecue rub. Knowing the bag holds 2.1 cups lets you plan: if a recipe uses half a cup for a topping, a bag covers four batches, and you will know when it is time to buy another bag. Demerara sugar keeps indefinitely, so a 1 lb bag is a good buy even if you use it slowly.
Bag of demerara sugar conversion table
The table below shows how many cups you get from fractions of a 1 lb bag, and how many cups of demerara sugar weigh how many grams. All figures use 220 g per cup.
| Amount | Cups (approx.) | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| 1/4 bag | 0.53 cups (about 1/2 cup) | 114 g |
| 1/2 bag | 1.05 cups | 227 g |
| 3/4 bag | 1.58 cups (about 1 5/8 cups) | 340 g |
| Full bag | 2.10 cups (about 2 1/8 cups) | 454 g |
| Cups | Grams (approx.) |
|---|---|
| 1 cup | 220 g |
| 2 cups | 440 g |
| 3 cups | 660 g |
| 4 cups | 880 g |
| 5 cups | 1,100 g |
| 10 cups | 2,200 g |
Demerara sugar is the heaviest sugar per cup in the ingredient table (220 g vs 198 g for granulated sugar). The large, hard crystals pack densely, with very little air between them.
Worked examples
A crumble topping with real crunch
An apple crumble for six people uses 1/2 cup of demerara sugar in the topping, mixed with flour, oats and butter, then scattered over the apples and baked until golden. One 1 lb bag holds 2.1 cups, so it covers four crumbles. The large demerara crystals do not dissolve fully in the oven, which gives the topping a pronounced crunch and a deep caramel flavour that granulated sugar cannot match. Rub the butter into the flour and oats, stir in the demerara sugar, and scatter the topping thickly over the fruit — a thin topping will not crisp properly.
Flapjacks for a lunchbox
A tray of flapjacks uses 1/2 cup of demerara sugar, melted with butter and golden syrup, then mixed with oats and baked until golden. One 1 lb bag holds 2.1 cups, so it covers four trays — 64 flapjacks. The demerara sugar gives the flapjacks a toffee flavour and a slightly crunchy edge, which is the signature of a good flapjack. Melt the sugar, butter and syrup together gently, stir in the oats, press the mixture firmly into a lined tin, and bake at 180°C for 20 minutes. Cut the flapjacks while they are still warm, or they will crumble.
Coffee for a crowd
A brunch for ten people goes through about 1/4 cup of demerara sugar in coffee, at a teaspoon or two per cup. One 1 lb bag holds 2.1 cups, so it covers eight brunches. Demerara sugar dissolves more slowly than granulated sugar, because the crystals are larger, so stir the coffee well and let it sit for a moment. The deep caramel flavour is a pleasant change from plain sugar, and the golden crystals look good in a sugar bowl on the table. Some coffee drinkers prefer demerara to white sugar precisely because of the flavour — it adds a note of toffee to the coffee.
How the figure is worked out
The figure above is worked out by simple division, not by guessing. The package weight is a standard 1 lb (454 g) bag of demerara sugar. Divide that weight by the grams in one cup and you get the number of cups in the package. Because cup weights for dry ingredients depend on how the cup is filled, the result is approximate, and the honest way to use it is as a planning figure: it tells you how many batches a bag will cover, not the exact cup count to the last spoonful. The cup weight used here is 220 g per cup, spooned and levelled, sourced from King Arthur Baking.
Practical guidance
Demerara sugar is a finishing sugar, and the large crystals are the point. They do not dissolve easily, which is a disadvantage in a batter or a dough, where undissolved sugar makes a gritty texture, but an advantage on top of a crumble or a flapjack, where the crystals stay intact and give a crunch. Do not use demerara sugar in a cake batter or a cookie dough unless the recipe calls for it: the large crystals will not cream properly with butter, and the bake will be uneven. Use it where it shines — on top of things, in coffee, in a crumble topping, in a flapjack, in a barbecue rub.
Measure demerara sugar by weight when it matters. A cup weighs 220 g, but the exact weight depends on how you fill the cup — the large crystals leave air gaps, so a loosely filled cup weighs less than a firmly filled one. Weighing removes the variable: half a cup is 110 g, every time. Store demerara sugar in an airtight container in a cool, dry place, and it will keep indefinitely — sugar does not go off. It absorbs moisture and clumps, like all sugars, so keep the bag sealed. If it has clumped, break the lumps up with a fork. Demerara sugar is similar to turbinado sugar, but the crystals are larger and the sugar is heavier per cup — 220 g compared with 180 g — so the two are not interchangeable by volume in a recipe that depends on the sugar amount.
Frequently asked questions
Is demerara sugar the same as turbinado sugar?
No, though they are similar. Both are raw sugars with large crystals, but demerara crystals are larger and the sugar is heavier per cup — 220 g compared with 180 g for turbinado. They swap in a topping or in coffee, but not measure for measure by weight in a recipe that depends on the sugar amount.
Can I use demerara sugar instead of granulated sugar?
In coffee and as a topping, yes. In a batter or a dough, no — the large crystals do not dissolve easily and will not cream properly with butter, which gives a gritty texture and an uneven bake. Use demerara sugar where its crunch and caramel flavour matter, and granulated sugar where the sugar needs to dissolve.
How many cups are in a 2 lb bag of demerara sugar?
About 4.1 cups. A 2 lb bag is 907 g, and at 220 g per cup that divides out to 4.12 cups. That is about eight crumble toppings at half a cup each, or sixteen batches of muffins at a quarter cup each.
Is demerara sugar healthier than white sugar?
Not meaningfully. Demerara sugar is less refined than white sugar and retains a little molasses, which gives it a trace of minerals — but the amounts are so small that they make no nutritional difference. It is still sugar, and it should be used in the same amounts as any other sugar.
How long does demerara sugar keep?
Indefinitely, in an airtight container in a cool, dry place. Sugar does not go off, but it absorbs moisture and clumps. If it has clumped, break the lumps up with a fork. Keep the bag sealed and dry, and a bag of demerara sugar will last for years.