Sugar-coated food is covered with a sweet substance made of sugar.
Some sugar-coated cereals are 50% sugar.
...sugar-coated popcorn.
2. adjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
If you describe something such as a story as sugar-coated, you disapprove of it because it appears to be pleasant or attractive but in fact describes something very unpleasant. [disapproval]
...a sugar-coated view of a boy's introduction to sex.