Sugar Substitutes and Sugar-Free Baking

August is SUGAR month on Completely Delicious! See my previous posts— Sugar, Part 1: Why Sugar is Important in Baking and Sugar, Part 2: The Different Types of Sugar (+ How to Make Brown Sugar).

We’ve already talked about how sugar plays a very important role in baking, and shouldn’t be seen just as a sweetener. That being said, many people want or need to reduce their sugar intake while still enjoying delicious baked goods. Which they absolutely should! So today we’re going to talk about sugar substitutes and sugar-free baking.

Refined Sugar Alternatives

Oftentimes what people are really looking for when they want a sugar substitute is an alternative to refined table sugar. So how do sweeteners like honey and maple syrup hold up in baked goods? These days you can find recipes calling for any kind of sweetener you like, and that’s always an easy place to start. You can also adapt recipes that use granulated sugar, but that may take some trial and error to figure it out.

Honey, agave nectar, and maple syrup are all great options if you’re looking for an alternative to granulated sugar in your baking. They are all sweeter than sugar, so you won’t need to use as much. Also since they are liquids, the other liquids in the recipe will need to be adjusted. It’s best to reduce the oven temperature by 25 degrees F to prevent over-browning. And finally, honey in particular has a very distinct flavor that should be taken into consideration before making a substitution, as you don’t want it overpowering the other flavors.

If you’re looking to substitute raw or turbinado sugar for granulated sugar, feel free to do so 1:1. But note that turbinado sugar contains more moisture, so you may need to make other adjustments. It also has a subtle molasses flavor.

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Sugar-Free Sweeteners

Stevia is derived naturally from an herb 40 times sweeter than sugar and is currently very popular. Baking recipes using it can be found all over the web. It can have a licorice-like aftertaste, but brands like Truvia have done a good job eliminating it.

Sucralose (Splenda)Aspartame (Equal, Nutrasweet), and Saccharin (Sweet ‘n’ Low) are artificial sweeteners that have sparked ongoing debates about how hazardous they are to your health, though all are deemed safe by the FDA. Most experts recommending limiting consumption, just as you would with sugar. Baking with these substitutes is possible, though tricker. As with Stevia, since they are all non-sugars, it’s best to stick with recipes that have been developed specifically for them, at least in the beginning.

Additional Resources and Helpful Links

Here are some posts from other bloggers that you may find helpful if you’re looking to make sugar substitutions in your baking:

Greatist provides a creative list of 32 Sugar Substitutes for Any and Every Situation.

Gluten-Free Goddess has great info on the different types of sugar and sugar alternatives in her post, Sugar Blues.

Kalyn’s Kitchen, which focuses on healthy recipes, has a whole category of low sugar desserts and baked goods.

Marla of Family Fresh Cooking explains why she uses Stevia in her sugar-free lifestyle.

Note: I know this is not a comprehensive list of granulated sugar substitutes and sugar-free sweeteners. I am not an expert, just a gal with a desire to learn and share. If you have something to add, please leave a comment!