Can I Use Demerara Sugar For The Christmas Chutney?

Our answer

Nigella's Christmas Chutney (from NIGELLA CHRISTMAS) is made with a combination of apples, dates and cranberries and cooked with sugar, white wine vinegar and spices. It is good at any time of year with cold meats and cheese.

The recipe calls for caster (superfine) sugar as this dissolves easily. Demerera (turbinado) sugar is a less refined form of sugar than caster sugar, with a slight caramelly note. Whilst this may change the flavour of the chutney slightly, we do not think that it will be detrimental. But demerara sugar has much larger crystals than most sugars and for the chutney you do need to be careful to make sure that the sugar has dissolved properly before you start to boil the mixture, otherwise you may end up with a slightly grainy texture. So cook on a low heat, stirring regularly, until the sugar has completely dissolved, then raise the heat and bring the chutney to a boil.