Sugar, turbinado

Turbinado sugar is a partially refined cane sugar with large, light amber crystals and a mild molasses note, produced by spinning raw cane juice in a centrifuge and drying it without the further refining that produces white sugar. Its coarse, crunchy crystals make it popular as a finishing sugar sprinkled over muffin tops, scones and cookies before baking for a bit of crunch and sparkle, and it dissolves more slowly than fine white sugar, so it's less commonly used inside batters, though it works fine stirred into coffee or tea. It's sometimes labeled as raw sugar or sold under brand names that market it as a less processed alternative to refined white sugar.

A teaspoon is 5 grams, and per 100 grams turbinado sugar carries 99.2 grams of sugar and 399 calories, essentially the same energy density as any granulated sugar. It stands out for having only 3 mg of sodium per 100 grams, among the lowest of any sweetener in this comparison. Store it in a sealed container at room temperature; because the crystals are larger and drier than white sugar, it tends to resist clumping better than brown sugar over time, and it can be substituted directly for white sugar in most recipes with only a slightly coarser texture in the final product.