Seeing a new baking recipe for the first time can be shocking. And no, it’s not about how difficult or long the recipe looks. Rather, it’s that one ingredient everyone may have told you to watch out for: sugar.
It’s not uncommon for baking recipes to call for multiple cups of sugar, especially for sweet treats like cake, cookies, and tarts. But witnessing the actual amount that will end up in your tummy can be quite a sobering experience, so to speak. So what if you are watching your sugar intake? We all know how excessive sugar intake can be harmful to the body, especially for those with diabetes. Or perhaps, one day, you may find yourself in a situation where you’ve already started baking – but you ran out of sugar.
Short of just placing an order at an online bakery in Singapore, we could all use some alternatives for sugar sometime in our baking journey. Here are some you can try out for your next sugar-free bake!
1. Honey
Honey is a common kitchen ingredient that most people already have at home. Nutritionally, honey is still a type of sugar – however, it is absorbed less quickly into the bloodstream, giving you none of that sugar spike you get with conventional sugar. As a bonus, honey contains other healthy compounds like antioxidants. This makes it a super convenient alternative to cane sugar.
When baking with honey, you may need to reduce the moisture content as honey comes in a liquid form. Use about ¾ honey in place of each cup of sugar. Honey in bakes can impart different flavours depending on the honey you use and typically causes bakes to brown faster.
2. Stevia
Stevia is a sweetener produced from the leaves of the stevia rebaudiana plant. While it has been used for a long time in South American cuisine, it has only recently become more popular as a sugar substitute, especially for beverages.
A heat-safe sweetener, stevia is suitable for baking, too. The zero-calorie sugar alternative can be purchased as a powder or liquid. You should refer to the packaging of your purchased stevia to find out the right amount to substitute for sugar.
3. Monk fruit (Luo han guo)
You may know this as luo han guo, a common ingredient you can find in Traditional Chinese Medicine stores and used in herbal drinks and desserts like the cheng tng. The sweetness of monk fruit comes from a type of antioxidant it contains called mogrosides, which can be extracted to form a sugar-free sweetener. As a result, monk fruit sweeteners contain zero calories and will not raise blood sugar levels.
Most monk fruit sweeteners can be used in a 1:1 ratio to replace sugar. When in doubt, refer to the recommendations by the manufacturer.
4. Xylitol or erythritol
Xylitol and erythritol are artificial sweeteners that do not contain any sugar or carbohydrates, making them great for the sugar-conscious. However, these artificial sweeteners will affect bakes that require caramelisation of sugar to occur, as these do not caramelise to give that nice, brown toffee flavour profile.
Suppose you want to use xylitol or erythritol in a recipe where caramelisation is essential – we recommend using a mix of sugar and artificial sugar, reducing the amount of sugar by half to two-thirds.
5. Fresh fruit
For fruit-based bakes, it’s a no-brainer! Fresh fruit or fruit concentrates are brilliant sugar alternatives, as they’re naturally sweet. Make sure to pick concentrates that are labelled ‘no sugar added’. While fruits contain natural sugars, they have a low to medium glycemic index, meaning they don’t cause a sudden rise in blood sugar levels.
Fresh fruit can have the advantage of adding fibre to your bake, causing you to feel fuller quicker and longer. If using fruit juice or concentrate, remember to reduce the amount of liquid going into your batter.
Conclusion
The key thing to note when using sugar alternatives is understanding the role of sugar in baking. Sometimes, sugar is not just a sweetener but also an important component for adding structure and moisture to your baked goodies.
And if all else fails with your baking attempt, know that you’ll always have us to fall back on! If you are avoiding sugar but can’t help the occasional sweet treat, you can look for our desserts marked ‘reduced sugar’ and keep yourself from eating more than the recommended serving size.
Find less sugar cakes and desserts at Polar Puffs & Cakes with ease when you order online pastry delivery in Singapore. Browse our website today to discover more tantalising options!
