A sugar-free brown sugar recipe is not something you really ever think about until you are working on going low carb. And the holidays hit. And then it ranks right up there as a ‘need’ next to toilet paper and oxygen.
“Wait…they MAKE that already,” you might say. “There is a very tasty product called Just Like Brown Sugar that is sugar free!” I get excited…I rush over to Amazon to view said product. And I realize that there is no way that I am going to pay upwards of $20 for a little one pound pouch of the stuff. No. Way.
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And then this brilliant Trim Healthy Mama named Margaret comes up with a totally simple recipe, and said I could share it all with you. And suddenly the world all makes sense again. My kitchen can smell like spice cookies and we can all go caroling together in the snow. Except for not that last part because it never snows down here in the South. But we can TOTALLY do the spice cookies now. And that nearly makes up for the no snow thing. (almost)
Today on Trim Healthy Tuesday, we’re going to make our OWN sugar free brown sugar!
A huge, HUGE thank you to Margaret for making winter baking and goodies possible for this mostly sugar-free Trim Healthy Mama. ♥
It really couldn’t be simpler. Just add a bit of blackstrap molasses to your sugar-substitute of choice. You can use erythritol or xylitol as the base. You may also try it with Just Like Sugar, but I’ve not experimented with that one yet.
Here’s the OFFICIAL THM Sweetener Conversion Chart, if you need it.
*An Important Update*: I’ve gotten some concerned comments about the fact that blackstrap molasses IS in fact sugar, so this recipe is NOT in fact sugar free.You caught me with your scientific facts.
Yes, there’s a teensy-tinesy amount of sugar in the blackstrap molasses. If you eat the entire cup of low carb brown sugar *bless your heart* you’ll get 3 carbs from the sugar, and 12 1/2 calories.
Most of us will get far less than that per serving size when this is used in a recipe.* These are numbers I can live with. And to show my repentance, I’ve changed the name to low carb brown sugar on the photos.
It feels so good to get that all out in the open now. Carry on.
I also added a couple of drops of Frontier Butterscotch natural flavoring just to give a little more oomph to it. Then you stir and crunch it around with a fork until it looks like this and smells like heaven.
[bctt tweet=”You won’t even believe how perfect this brown sugar is! #lowcarb”] It has the right smell, the right texture, and the right taste.Margaret is my food hero. Here’s a pinnable, and your printable Sugar Free Brown Sugar Recipe
to pin!
Sweet Brown Recipe
This delicious sugar free brown sugar recipe sub is affordable, so-super-simple, and best of all, it tastes and smells amazing! Yes, it's got a teensy tinesy amount of sugar in the blackstrap molasses. If you eat the entire cup of granules *bless your heart* you'll get 3 carbs and 12½ calories from the sugar. Most of us will get far less than that per serving size.
Author: Gwen
Recipe type: Ingredients
Ingredients
- 1 cup sugar free sweetener of your choice, like erythritol or xylitol
- ¾ teaspoon molasses, blackstrap is preferred*
- 2-4 drops extract of your choice: butterscotch, maple, or rum
Instructions
- Measure your sugar sub into a small jar
- Add molasses and flavorings, and blend with a fork until evenly distributed.
- Use in your favorite recipes as a 1:1 substitute for the base sweetener you used.
Notes
*blackstrap molasses contains more nutrients and minerals than other types.
Xylitol does contain calories, and is toxic to dogs. It's also slightly sweeter than erythritol and can be used 1:1 with table sugar in recipes.
You may try adding in a ¼-1/2 t. of stevia extract for a 'Truvia' brown sugar blend. This will adjust the sweetness up a bit if using erythritol.
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FAQs
BOCHASWEET™ BROWN SUGAR is our zero calorie, zero glycemic brown sugar substitute which is perfect for a diabetic or keto lifestyle. This all-natural brown sugar replacement bakes, cooks, tastes, dissolves, and measures cup-for-cup just like brown sugar.
What is a good brown sugar substitute for diabetics? ›
BOCHASWEET™ BROWN SUGAR is our zero calorie, zero glycemic brown sugar substitute which is perfect for a diabetic or keto lifestyle. This all-natural brown sugar replacement bakes, cooks, tastes, dissolves, and measures cup-for-cup just like brown sugar.
What is a healthy substitute for brown sugar in cookies? ›
Applesauce has long been used to help make baked goods healthier, either as a substitute for oil or for sugar. You can use it as a one-to-one substitute (1 cup applesauce for every cup of brown sugar). However, you will need to reduce the other liquids in the recipe by 2 tablespoons to account for the extra liquid.
How to make brown sugar without molasses or maple syrup? ›
Add a tablespoon of buckwheat honey to a cup of white granulated sugar. This honey is darker than orange blossom or wildflower honey and has a strong flavor much like molasses that will come through in the resulting sugar.
What is the safest sweetener for diabetics type 2? ›
You can use most sugar substitutes if you have diabetes, including:
- Saccharin (Sweet'N Low)
- Aspartame (NutraSweet)
- Acesulfame potassium (Sunett)
- Neotame (Newtame)
- Advantame.
- Sucralose (Splenda)
- Stevia (Pure Via, Truvia)
Date Sugar
If you're avoiding refined sugars, date sugar may be a perfect brown sugar replacement. It's created from dehydrated dates and has a similarly sweet, more caramel-like flavor to brown sugar. Try ⅔ cup of date sugar for every cup of brown sugar for a healthy brown sugar substitute.
What is a quick substitute for brown sugar? ›
A combination of white sugar and molasses is your best bet for a brown sugar substitute, as that's exactly what brown sugar is made of (1). To make your own light brown sugar, mix 1 cup, or 200 grams (g), of granulated white sugar with 1 tablespoon (tbsp.), or 15 milliliters (mL), of molasses.
How do you mimic brown sugar? ›
Mix 1 cup of granulated sugar with 1 tablespoon of molasses to mimic a cup of light brown sugar. Mix 1 cup of granulated sugar with 2 tablespoons of molasses to mimic a cup of dark brown sugar. If you don't have molasses on hand, you can combine white sugar with another liquid sweetener, like maple syrup or honey.
Is there a sugar-free substitute for brown sugar? ›
The best brown sugar alternative for baking is Whole Earth Allulose Blend because it offers the optimal combination of sweeteners: allulose + erythritol with monk fruit + stevia.
What happens if you don't add brown sugar to cookies? ›
What does brown sugar do for a cookie? For those of you who don't know let me tell you brown sugar is basically your regular white sugar with molasses added to it which makes it naturally moist and this moistness is what gives the cookies a chewy texture. So brown sugar does change the texture of your cookies.
Unlike traditional brown sugar, which is high in carbohydrates, keto brown sugar substitutes like erythritol, stevia, and monk fruit contain minimal to zero net carbs.
Can I make brown sugar without molasses? ›
If you don't have molasses on hand, you can substitute an equal amount of pure maple syrup, agave nectar, date syrup, or a dark honey (like buckwheat) in the homemade brown sugar recipe above. Note, however, that none of these substitutes will achieve the same depth of flavor as molasses.
Can you substitute maple syrup for brown sugar in a recipe? ›
For most recipes, maple syrup can easily be used to replace an equal amount of granulated white or brown sugar. To substitute for a cup of sugar, replace it with 1 cup of maple syrup and reduce the quantity of other liquids in the recipe by ¼ cup (60 ml) total. *This method works for most recipes.
Can I substitute pancake syrup for brown sugar? ›
Ratio: For every cup of maple syrup, substitute 1 cup of packed brown sugar. Keep in mind that brown sugar is denser than maple syrup, so it's essential to pack it firmly when measuring. Adjust Liquids: Since maple syrup is a liquid sweetener, you'll need to adjust the liquids in your recipe accordingly.
What is the healthiest sweetener for diabetics? ›
What is the safest sweetener for those with diabetes? The safest sweetener to use is a natural sweetener like pure stevia extract without fillers or monk fruit. However, it's best to use these in moderation.
What is the safest sweetener for diabetics? ›
Stevia. Stevia, derived from the leaves of the Stevia rebaudiana plant, is a sugar substitute that has gained popularity for its ability to provide zero-calorie sweetness. As per our expertise, it's safe for diabetics simply because it doesn't affect blood glucose or insulin levels.
Is honey or brown sugar better for diabetics? ›
Generally, there's no advantage to substituting honey for sugar in a diabetes eating plan. Both honey and sugar will affect your blood sugar level.
Is there a healthier sugar than brown sugar? ›
From a nutrition perspective, there's no advantage to using white sugar over brown sugar or vice versa, the Sugar Association says: "Nutritionally speaking, all natural sugars have relatively comparable nutritional value with approximately 15 calories per teaspoon (4.2 g)."
A sugar-free brown sugar recipe is not something you really ever think about until you are working on going low carb. And the holidays hit. And then it ranks right up there as a ‘need’ next to toilet paper and oxygen.
[bctt tweet=”You won’t even believe how perfect this brown sugar is! #lowcarb”] It has the right smell, the right texture, and the right taste.Margaret is my food hero. Here’s a pinnable, and your printable Sugar Free Brown Sugar Recipe
