Sugar craving don’t have to have to have the best of you! I learned that through a low-sugar orange scone recipe I came up with and baked and enjoyed at home, that led me to be able to calm and control my daily sweet tooth as a secondary bonus. And that led me to keep coming up with low-sugar recipes that substituted store-bought sugary baked goods.
What are good substitute ingredients for sugar cravings?
Fruits, honey, and monk fruit sugar are natural sugar examples that you can substitute in baking ingredients, depending on the dessert texture you’re looking for. You can lean into low-sugar berries, or pair with a tart pucker-up taste like lemon, grapefruit, or cranberry.
Also using no-added sugar Greek yogurt as “the cream” on top or in a blueberry cheesecake is a good way to create texture and pleasing tastes. Yogurt has natural lactose sugar.
Sometimes drizzling a little raw honey or adding some unsweetened toasted coconut on top for a sweet bite is all that’s needed. Also, zhughing with orange zest adds impact and flavor. Oranges and citrus fruits are good for blood sugar levels as citrus fruits have a lower glycemic index (good for anti-inflammatory), as a general indicator for how a food will impact your blood sugar level.
What sugar substitute is best for baking?
Monk fruit sugar, dried fruits (dates, coconut, currants, raisins, apricots), spices (cinnamon and cardamom), unsweetened cocoa (or 100% cacao), applesauce, and citrus zest are good additions or substitutes for cookies and cakes. You can also used healthy dried food powders for natural food colors, such as freeze dried strawberries and blue spirulina powder.
Honey and berries are good for most desserts like pastries and cheesecakes.
Fruit, honey, spices, and maple syrup are good substitutes for breads and muffins.
What can I eat that’s sweet, but low sugar?
A sweet food or dessert that is high in vitamins, and has anti-inflammatory benefits to the body such as antioxidants and polyphenols. Unsweetened applesauce with cinnamon spice. Or natural fruits, like avocado can be paired with cacao to make a chocolate mousse. Or berries with yogurt that has natural and no-added sugars. Or a low-sugar cinnamon milkshake.
Which dessert has the least amount of sugar?
Desserts with berries like a berry yogurt smoothie or spices like in a cinnamon roll or donuts. a Pan Co’Santi banana walnut bread cake, or even a homemade applesauce fruit roll up. And even an unsweetened cocoa chocolate cake with a raspberry pairing! Look for “unsweetened’ and “zero added sugars” in minimally processed foods with packaged labels. Foods with PLU sticker labels, such as Whole Foods, do not have a list of ingredients.
When I worked in catering party planning roles, tastings were common where tasty food pairings made the plates where party hosts would decide which flavors and dishes they liked. And in the same way, you can pair and choose delicious unsweetened or no-sugar added food ingredients and flavors to make homemade delicious desserts, such as with an apple and cinnamon, whole strawberries and lemon, or orange and unsweetened cocoa pairing.
What desserts satisfy my sweet tooth?
You can easily make a low-sugar cookie, cake, pastry, or desserts with low-sugar dessert recipes. And turn your childhood favorite desserts into healthier versions (without tablespoons or more of sugar).
You can also snack on whole fruits and dried fruits like dates and apricots for after dinner snacks that can often do the trick. Sometimes our minds trick us into believing we want more until we present something that will easily satisfy us in front of us to snack on like a banana or apple with natural peanut butter. Changing your mind with eat-from-the-rainbow 🌈 anti-inflammatory diet healthy foods has digestive and longer-term healthy benefits.
You also train your taste buds to desire less sweet or addictive sugar one sweet healthier treat at a time.
And then for special occasions or weekly, you can make a shareable dessert treat such as a healthier apple cider vinegar Bundt cake.
What is a healthy sweet breakfast starter?
How about healthy smoothies!? You can make a natural nut butter unsweetened cocoa smoothie. Or whole fruit smoothies, adding fruits like apples, oranges, and bananas. Also include tropical fruits like passionfruit for a taste twist and more value-added nutrient benefits.
You can also make an oatmeal starter like a breakfast oatmeal cookie or granola bar that uses dark chocolate (70% or higher cacao that’s anti-inflammatory). Or start with a breakfast parfait with multiple layers of yogurt, berries, shredded coconut, nuts, flax seeds, and raw honey. Or a cottage cheese cheesecake with healthy proteins and fats.
It’s always smart to cushion the gut with non-sugar foods (such as proteins) and other healthy ingredients, so as to not spike blood sugar in the morning when you break the fast.