Vegan Sweeteners

Sweeteners are an issue for “ethical vegans” but not for vegans who are in it only for health reasons.

If a vegan recipe calls for unspecified sugar it means ORGANIC granulated cane sugar such as Wholesome Sweeteners Fair Trade Certified Organic Sugar. The problem with non-organic refined sugar is that it is filtered using cow bone char, a by-product of meat processing. Non-organic brown sugar is just white sugar with molasses added. Organic brown sugar is available to buy, but is easily home-made from organic white sugar and molasses. Confectioners’ sugar is also easy to make.

A vegan recipe may call for agave nectar, maple syrup, brown rice syrup or molasses, but not honey. Vegans eschew honey because of cruelty to bees or simply because it's an insect product.

"Using Sugar, Brown Sugar, Honey, & Maple Syrup Interchangeably" and “The Awesome Agave” are excellent references on substituting one sweetener for another in recipes.