Caster Sugar Substitute
In India, we use fine sugar known as "bura chini (or bura sugar)". Recently, I read a recipe for scones which required caster sugar. While, I am not quite sure it they are same but both have quick dissolving properties and are superfine. I am curious if one can be substituted for another.
Best Answer
Caster sugar is just ordinary table sugar that has been ground to a finer texture. It is still grainy like sand rather than completely powdered.
Bura, on the other hand, is caramelized and dehydrated. It is typically made by dissolving table sugar in water, then boiling off the water. This results in a texture like that of caster sugar, but a deeper flavor.
Generally sugar in a recipe provides more than sweetness. The texture of the end result is affected by the sugar. Since bura has less water than regular caster sugar, it will probably result in a drier scone.
Also, part of the taste of any baked good comes from the caramelization of sugar that occurs during the baking. Since bura is already caramelized, it will be more prone to burn.
Finally, bura is intended for desserts like laddus, where sugar makes up a much higher proportion of the ingredients and the overall flavor is supposed to be sweet. Why use it for something like a scone? Sweetness is an important contributor but not the main goal for scones, and there is no point using something as complex as bura when its flavor profile will be overwhelmed by the other ingredients.
For these reasons, I think you are better off just grinding ordinary table sugar rather than using bura. If you don't want to go through the bother of grinding, I think you'll have better luck using the sugar as is instead of using bura; though that isn't a great choice either.
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What can be used instead of caster sugar?
In most recipes you can substitute granulated sugar for caster sugar and vice versa. However, one cup of granulated sugar does not equal one cup of caster sugar. TIP: Caster sugar can be made at home by processing granulated sugar in a food processor for a few seconds.Can I use normal sugar instead of caster sugar for baking?
Can I substitute granulated sugar for caster sugar? Your cakes will still hold up if you use granulated sugar as both the flavour and water content are the same. Caster sugar, however, is much finer and dissolves much easier than granulated sugar which is coarser in texture.Can I make my own caster sugar?
You can make your own caster sugar by grinding granulated sugar slightly in a food processor or blender (or a very clean coffee grinder). However you do need to be careful when doing this as it can be easy to end up with a sugar powder instead of finer granules.Can I replace caster sugar with fine sugar?
Yes. While caster sugar and granulated sugar are not exactly the same, they can be swapped 1:1 in baking recipes. Caster sugar is slightly finer and dissolves more easily, but in my experience, this doesn't affect most baking recipes if swapped with granulated sugar.Finest Caster Sugar Substitutes That You Have Been Looking For
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Answer 2
Well, in India its a bit hard to find castor sugar. I usually make a powder of granulated sugar that is commonly available in the supermarket. I think it makes a great substitute, and I have used it many times for baking. And if required you may even pass through a fine sieve, in rare cases though. Hope this helps!
Answer 3
The most direct answer is "Yes, you can use bura in place of castor." with the caveat...
... that you may need to adjust to quantity to get the desired taste
or
... you may need to process the sugar through a food processor or spice grinder if the consistency isn't what you want.
In any case the result should be close enough to tweak it until it comes out just how you want and still be able to enjoy the 'mistakes'.
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