Why the weight depends on the ingredient
Flour and cocoa are light and full of air, while sugar, honey and maple syrup are dense. A cup of honey weighs almost three times as much as a cup of flour. That's why European recipes and many bakers give amounts in grams: weighing is more accurate than measuring by volume.
Ingredient weight chart
| Ingredient | 1 cup (250 mL) | 1 US cup | 1 tbsp | 1 tsp |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All-purpose flour | 127 g | 120 g | 7.6 g | 2.5 g |
| Whole wheat flour | 119 g | 113 g | 7.2 g | 2.4 g |
| Granulated sugar | 209 g | 198 g | 13 g | 4.2 g |
| Brown sugar (packed) | 225 g | 213 g | 14 g | 4.5 g |
| Icing sugar | 119 g | 113 g | 7.2 g | 2.4 g |
| Butter | 240 g | 227 g | 14 g | 4.8 g |
| Vegetable oil | 230 g | 218 g | 14 g | 4.6 g |
| Milk | 258 g | 244 g | 15 g | 5.2 g |
| Water | 250 g | 237 g | 15 g | 5 g |
| Honey | 355 g | 336 g | 21 g | 7.1 g |
| Maple syrup | 330 g | 312 g | 20 g | 6.6 g |
| Rolled oats | 94 g | 89 g | 5.6 g | 1.9 g |
| White rice (uncooked) | 209 g | 198 g | 13 g | 4.2 g |
| Cocoa powder | 89 g | 84 g | 5.3 g | 1.8 g |
| Chocolate chips | 180 g | 170 g | 11 g | 3.6 g |
| Almond flour | 101 g | 96 g | 6.1 g | 2 g |
| Cornstarch | 118 g | 112 g | 7.1 g | 2.4 g |
| Table salt | 304 g | 288 g | 18 g | 6.1 g |
| Baking powder | 203 g | 192 g | 12 g | 4.1 g |
| Baking soda | 304 g | 288 g | 18 g | 6.1 g |
Dry ingredients: averages from the King Arthur Baking ingredient weight chart, converted for the 250 mL Canadian cup. Liquids: density. Spoons use Canadian measures (15 mL and 5 mL).
Measuring tips
- Flour: stir it, spoon it into the cup, then level it with a knife. Scooping the cup into the bag packs the flour and can add up to 20%. See a cup of flour in grams.
- Brown sugar: recipes measure it packed unless they say otherwise. See a cup of sugar in grams.
- Butter: a 454 g block holds about 2 cups. See a cup of butter in grams.
- Honey and syrup: lightly oil the cup so they slide out without leaving any behind.