What Are The Best Sugar Substitutes For Baking
Nowadays people like to use more all natural sugars, some of my favorites being maple syrup, stevia, agave and honey. Since creating this chart Ive discovered 2 other sugar substitute brands I really like, Lakanto Sweetener and Swerve. Lakanto brand offers both liquid and powdered sugar replacements while Swerve is a great alternative dry sweetener.
Can I Turn Granulated Sugar Into Caster
Perhaps you have some granulated sugar but no caster sugar, and you are just about to get baking. You can turn granulated sugar into caster sugar with ease. You simply add the granulated sugar to your blender on the pulse setting and give it a good pulse-blend a few times in short and sharp bursts until you find that the texture is super fine and fluffy, a bit like sand.
Doing this will yield a near equal amount of caster sugar per granulated sugar you put into your blender. You should get a half cup of caster sugar per half cup of granulated sugar you put in, plus one extra tablespoon as well. So you will get vaguely more than you started off with, and it is super easy to do. So if you have granulated sugar at home but no caster sugar, you need not worry.
How To Substitute Sugar In A Recipe
Have you ever had a recipe that calls for sugar? And you want to use a keto or paleo sweetener? Check out this easy conversion chart for quick substitutions.
Join the Facebook Keto Recipe and Support Group
This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.See Disclaimer.
You May Like: How Can I Test My Blood Sugar At Home
Questions For Your Doctor
- Is one sugar substitute better for my health than another?
- Is it better to use real sugar in moderation than to use a sugar substitute?
- Is sugar-free eating better for my overall health?
- Can sugar substitutes make me fat?
- Im pregnant. Are sugar substitutes safe for me?
- I have diabetes. Which sugar substitutes should I avoid?
Tips To Substituting Sugar In Your Baking
WordsLisa Milbrand
Looking for alternate ways to add sweetness to your desserts? These substitutions are virtually as good as the real thing.
It can be tricky to mess with a baking recipetoo much flour or not enough baking soda, and your favorite chocolate chip cookies become crumbly or fall flat. So its a little daunting to even consider swapping out that most basic baking building blocksugarfor something else sweet. But actually, its OK to give your sugar canister a rest from time to time. Substituting in another sweetener is easier than you might think, and you can do it without compromising texture or flavor in the cookies, cakes and desserts you love to make.
Whether youve run out of sugar or youre looking to mix things up, these smart baking substitutions will help ensure your baking stays delicious.
Read Also: Is Halo Ice Cream Sugar Free
Your Best Bet: Make Your Own Confectioners Sugar
Confectioners sugar is simply white granulated sugar that has been finely ground and combined with a small amount of corn starch. You can do the grinding yourself. While your substitute will probably not be as consistently fine as the confectioners sugar bought at the store, it should be similar enough to do the job.
To grind your own confectioners sugar, you will need a blender or coffee grinder and a very fine sieve. Place white granulated sugar into the blender or coffee grinder and pulse for about a minute. Sieve the sugar until you have enough to complete your recipe. The sieving is necessary because there will still be both large and small crystals in the sugar. You want to get only the very finest of the crystals.
Mix in 1 teaspoon of corn starch for every cup of confectioners sugar you make. This will make it an even closer approximation of store-bought confectioners sugar.
Foodis Brown Sugar Better For You 5 Common Sugar Myths Debunked
Take note that for baking, you typically cant just substitute a sugar alternative one-to-one with no other changes. Youll need to adjust ratios of other ingredients to get the desired result youre looking for. Sugar alternatives will also impart a different flavor, so youll want to keep in mind whats most appropriate for what youre making.
Recommended Reading: What Is Sugar Waxing Hair Removal
How To Make Powdered Sugar
If youre a seasoned baker, you probably have powdered sugar in stock at home. If you dont, or youve run out with no time to run to the store, there is a way to make your own powdered sugar. All you need is regular granulated sugar, cornstarch and some sort of grinding mechanism, like a blender, food processor or even a coffee grinder.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
Simply grind the granulated sugar until it becomes a fine powder, sift out any larger particles with a fine mesh strainer or sifter if possible and thoroughly combine with ground cornstarch. Be sure not to grind the sugar for longer than a minute at a time, as it tends to generate heat. Then use the same amount of this mixture as the recipe calls for powdered sugar.
Cons Of Brown Sugar Substitutes
Changing recipe ratios. If a recipe is written with a brown sugar substitute in mind, you donât have to make adjustments. But if youâre trying to bake something that calls for brown sugar, you may have to adjust the ingredients to get the right consistency.
Overeating. Itâs still possible to over-indulge in foods that donât include sugar. Check nutrition labels when you consider brown sugar substitutes. Not all of them make foods healthier, and you should still eat them in moderation.
Recommended Reading: What Supplement Curbs Sugar Cravings
Make It Sweet With Hershey
If you or someone in your family is sugar-free, it can feel limiting when youre trying to follow dessert recipes. But with these sugar substitutes, you can bake cakes, cupcakes and more for everyone to enjoy! Use any of these convenient hacks in your next baking project. And to get baking, check out our complete collection of dessert recipes.
Natural Sugar Substitutes That Are Great For Baking
Theres a reason most of us have a sweet tooth: Sugar is delicious, and it makes the food we eat truly enjoyable. And it does more than just sweeten our favorite desserts. It adds moisture and texture to baked goods it helps make a tender crumb for cake it helps cookies spread and caramelizes to make them brown and it extends the shelf life of food by acting as a preservative.
But sugar is full of empty calories that, when indulged in too much, can lead to diabetes and obesity. There are a variety of natural sugar substitutes that you can use instead of white or brown sugar. While they are still calorically dense, they do have additional nutrients that can make them a slightly better choice. Just remember: You still want to enjoy them in moderation.
Don’t Miss: What Kind Of Toys Do Sugar Gliders Like
How To Substitute Liquid Sweeteners For Sugar
When all your dry sugar options are used up, you can reach for liquid sweeteners instead. Because they are more expensive and require more recipe adjustments, liquid sweeteners should be the last resort in sugar substitutions.
For maple syrup, honey, agave, and brown rice syrup use 1 cup minus 2 tablespoons for each cup of sugar called for. Youll also need to add 1/4 teaspoon baking soda for each cup and reduce liquid in your recipe by 3 tablespoons. Liquid sweeteners will also alter the browning of baked treats, so lower the oven temperature by 25°F.
Best Jam Sugar Substitutes
- Save
Jam is a popular type of food that people add to their daily food routine, being a breakfast staple for most people.
However, most commercial jams are packed with unnecessary sugar, which makes the food unhealthy for people on a diet.
Jams from organic markets and brands are better, but they can be hard to find in local convenience stores.
Because of this, many people like making homemade food. Making jams at home is a friendly option. Once you have mastered the right technique, it is easy to make a homemade jam without filling it to the brim with sugar.
And one of the most important elements of homemade jam that gives it proper sweetness and a thick consistency is jam sugar. If you have made jam at home, you would know how important jam sugar is.
Jam sugar contains pectin and citric acid that helps in preservation. The combination of acidity, sugar, and pectin allows jams and jellies to gel and set properly.
However, if you have no jam sugar available, theres no need to worry. You can still make a delicious fruit jam by going with our list of jam sugar substitutes.
Why Is Jam Sugar Necessary?
- Save
A loose, flimsy jam would be a total disaster, so jam sugar gives the much-needed firm texture. Pectin is essential for setting the jam firmly in place. It dissolves in the fruit juice and gels the mixture when the jam cools down.
To solve this problem, jam sugar is added to make a firmer jam. Whether you require jam sugar or not depends on the type of fruit you need.
You May Like: How Can I Check My Blood Sugar At Home
Why Should You Use Sugar Substitutes
Wondering why it might be wise to avoid added sugar and use substitutes instead? Excess sugar consumption is not just bad for your teeth, its also associated with high rates of diseases like diabetes. Pure sugar is high in carbohydrates, which can cause unwanted spikes in blood glucose levels.
Sugar is also high in calories without having much nutritional value, so substitutes are useful for those seeking to lose weight.
White Sugar Plus Molasses
A combination of white sugar and molasses is your best bet for a brown sugar substitute, as thats exactly what brown sugar is made of .
To make your own light brown sugar, mix 1 cup of granulated white sugar with 1 tablespoon of molasses. If you need dark brown sugar, increase the molasses to 2 tablespoons .
And just like that you have brown sugar.
Summary To make your own brown sugar, mix 1 tablespoon of molasses with 1 cup of granulated white sugar.
Also Check: How Much Sugar Will Kick You Out Of Ketosis
Raw Sugars Like Turbinado And Demerara
Raw cane sugars are white sugar’s coarser cousins. They’re less processed than brown sugar, but still contain some of their natural molasses. Because of their larger crystals, raw sugars can soak up more liquid in a recipe, resulting in drier or grittier baked goods. You can avoid this with a clever workaround: Blitz raw sugar in a food processor or spice grinder until it resembles granulated sugar.
Substitution ratio: 1:1 by weight or 1 cup of ground raw sugar for every 1 cup of granulated sugar.
Best for: Recipes with higher proportions of liquid, such as pecan pie and loose cake batters.
Why Is Salt Bad For You
Your salt intake can affect your blood pressure. When you eat a lot of salt, it causes your body to retain water, which also raises your blood pressure. With salt being added to many prepared entrees and packaged meals, it can be difficult for people to reduce the amount of sodium in their diets. Its important to limit your amount of salt intake, in order to prevent heart and kidney damage.
By using some of these substitutions in your cooking, baking, and homemade cocktail mixers, youll be able to make them healthier without sacrificing taste. Refer to this list of sugar and salt substitutes to create a healthier menu that allows patrons to maintain a healthy diet.
Also Check: How To Get Low Blood Sugar Back To Normal
Vegan Chocolate Banana Muffins
Naturally sweetened with bananas and dates, these muffins are the perfect afternoon treat.
Ingredients:
- 3 tbsp chia seeds, soaked
- 2 bananas, mashed
- ¼ cup coconut oil, melted
- 1 pinch sea salt
- 1 tbsp maple syrup
- 2 oz dark chocolate, roughly chopped
- 1 tsp chia seeds
Directions:
Step #1: Preheat the oven to 160°C or 320°F. Grease a muffin tin with olive oil or coconut oil spray.
Step #2: In a blender, add all of the ingredients, except the chocolate and 1 tsp chia seeds. Blend until youve reached a smooth consistency.
Step #3: Spoon the mixture into the muffin tray, pressing pieces of chocolate into the middle of the muffins and also on top. Sprinkle with extra chia seeds and cinnamon. Bake for 35-40 minutes or until the muffins are golden and cooked through.
Step #4: Serve warm with a dollop of ricotta or almond butter. Enjoy!
How Can I Reduce My Sugar Intake
Watch my video on how I quit sugar, and youll see that you, too, can reduce your sugar intake. Some of the ways I discuss in the video and in my post are listed below. Honestly, it is not an impossible feat Im proof and you can succeed, too!
- Go through your pantry and remove items with hidden sugars, like ketchup and barbecue sauce
- Dont fall for artificial sweeteners they are bad for you and make foods taste super sweet, leading to sugar dependency
- Read the labels on what you buy leave items with organic cane syrup, high fructose corn syrup, and dextrose on the shelf
- Identify the culprits that lead to your sugar dependency like sodas, chocolate, and sweeteners in coffee
- Start slow and do your best every day
Recommended Reading: How To Drop Sugar Levels
A Decent Second Choice: Powdered Sugar
The difference between white sugar and powdered sugar is that powdered sugar is ground more finely. The fine grind allows it to dissolve more quickly in frostings and icings, which means that it can provide a smoother texture. Powdered sugar contains a small amount of cornstarch to keep it from caking.
Powdered sugar is a good white sugar substitute because it consists mostly of white sugar it has the same flavor and the same color. It is not an ideal substitute in drinks because of the cornstarch, which may give them an undesirable flavor. If you use powdered sugar as a white sugar substitute in a sauce, the cornstarch may also cause it to thicken faster than it would with white sugar.
White Sugar And Molasses
A combination of refined sugar and molasses is by far the best brown sugar substitute since theyre the two components that make up the ingredient. Molasses is responsible for brown sugars deeper flavor and color, as well as its higher moisture content . Its also what distinguishes light brown sugar, which contains 3% to 4% molasses, from dark brown sugar, which contains 6% to 10% molasses. Light and dark brown sugar can be used interchangeably in a pinch, but if youre making homemade brown sugar, its easy to adjust based on what the recipe calls for. Combine 1 cup of granulated white sugar with 1 Tbsp. of molasses for a light brown sugar substitute, or 2 Tbsp. for a dark brown sugar substitute.
Don’t Miss: What Should You Eat To Lower Blood Sugar
Can You Use Regular Sugar Instead Of Powdered Sugar
We are pleased to report that you can make your own powdered sugar using regular granulated sugar. We described just how to do this earlier on in our article, but it bears repeating here.In addition to needing the regular sugar, you will also need either cornstarch or arrowroot powder. And you will also need either a blender, a food processor, or a coffee grinder.For every cup of regular granulated sugar you use, you will need 1 tablespoon of cornstarch or arrowroot powder. Heres how to make it:
You can then use this DIY homemade powdered sugar in a 1:1 ratio. We recommend making it in bulk so that you can store some away for future use.
Can I Substitute Powdered Sugar For Caster Sugar
Caster sugar is very fine, so you may think that substituting it with powdered sugar would work well. But this is not always the case. The best substitute for caster sugar is simply to make your own from granulated sugar.
However, if you are really considering using powdered sugar then be aware that powdered sugar would give your baked goods a thin texture and it has the potential to even ruin your recipe, which you definitely do not want.
On the flip side standard granulated sugar that hasnt been transformed into caster sugar could have the opposite effect, turning your recipe into a grainy substance. It is best to try and always have caster sugar on hand, or to learn how to make it yourself.
Don’t Miss: Where To Buy Sugar Free Wine
Best Granulated Sugar Substitutes
Sugar is a staple ingredient in our kitchen. Whether we use it as a sweetener or as part of our cooking methods, sugar is here to help out.
Furthermore, sugar comes in many variations based on peoples diets. Granulated sugar is one of those you can use for baking, cooking, or as a sweetener.
This type of sugar is also known as table sugar or white sugar. So, it is usually found in our cabinets. When you add it to various baking goods, you get a nice shift and moisturized results. Actually, the sweet crust will make it irresistible not to try what you have baked.
But what if you are in the middle of baking and there is no granulated sugar in your kitchen left? Is there a way to replace it?
And lastly, take a look at our quick recipe on how to turn granulated sugar into powdered sugar.