Snowflake's Guide Of Sugar Alternatives
Everyone loves the sweetness that sugar brings to baking, however if you are diabetic or are looking to eat healthier, there is no need to cut the sweetness out of your bakes. Snowflake gives you a comprehensive list of healthy sugar alternatives for you to try.
Xylitol: This sugar substitute has become very popular. Made from Birch Trees it has a low GI and is therefore suitable for people with diabetes. It is also lower in calories, m...aking it perfect for dieters.
Everyone loves the sweetness that sugar brings to baking, however if you are diabetic or are looking to eat healthier, there is no need to cut the sweetness out of your bakes. Snowflake gives you a comprehensive list of healthy sugar alternatives for you to try.
Xylitol: This sugar substitute has become very popular. Made from Birch Trees it has a low GI and is therefore suitable for people with diabetes. It is also lower in calories, m...aking it perfect for dieters.
Stevia: This is a herb native to South American and 300 times sweeter than sugar, so use sparingly! This wonder herb has no calories and has no impact on your glycemic index, making it suitable for diabetics.
Honey: As the saying goes, as sweet as honey, is for good reason! Honey is actually sweeter than sugar so you would use less of it in your bakes. Honey is a perfect substitute for sugar in bakes that are more dense and full-flavoured.
Maple Syrup: You may have a bottle of this golden treat in your cupboards already. Maple syrup can be used in place of sugar in most cakes but because it’s liquid you’ll need to reduce other liquids by about a quarter. This natural syrup has a distinctive taste so the richer you want your cake to be the greater the benefits of using maple syrup!
Coconut Sugar: Made with the palm fruit of the coconut tree, this exotic sweetner adds a coconutty sweetness to your bakes, perfect for use in summer puddings or bakes using fruit.
Fresh Fruit: Naturally sweet ingredients like fresh, frozen or dried fruits including apricots, banana, dates, raisins and figs work well in bakes and cakes. Using these also adds moisture and density as well as fibre and other valuable nutrients including vitamin C and minerals like potassium and iron.
So there is no need to deny yourself a sweet treat if you are diabetic or baking for someone with diabetes. Please note that this is just a guide, and you may have to experiment with these ingredients to get the same level of sweetness or consistency you are used to.
Honey: As the saying goes, as sweet as honey, is for good reason! Honey is actually sweeter than sugar so you would use less of it in your bakes. Honey is a perfect substitute for sugar in bakes that are more dense and full-flavoured.
Maple Syrup: You may have a bottle of this golden treat in your cupboards already. Maple syrup can be used in place of sugar in most cakes but because it’s liquid you’ll need to reduce other liquids by about a quarter. This natural syrup has a distinctive taste so the richer you want your cake to be the greater the benefits of using maple syrup!
Coconut Sugar: Made with the palm fruit of the coconut tree, this exotic sweetner adds a coconutty sweetness to your bakes, perfect for use in summer puddings or bakes using fruit.
Fresh Fruit: Naturally sweet ingredients like fresh, frozen or dried fruits including apricots, banana, dates, raisins and figs work well in bakes and cakes. Using these also adds moisture and density as well as fibre and other valuable nutrients including vitamin C and minerals like potassium and iron.
So there is no need to deny yourself a sweet treat if you are diabetic or baking for someone with diabetes. Please note that this is just a guide, and you may have to experiment with these ingredients to get the same level of sweetness or consistency you are used to.
