Is Honey a healthier alternative to sugar?
Is honey a healthier substitute for sugar? While honey does contain higher fructose levels, it’s relatively low on the glycemic index, making it one of the best sugar substitutes of the bunch. One study found that replacing sugar with honey could actually lower blood sugar levels and prevent weight gain or aid in weight loss.
Is it better to replace sugar with honey?
The reason why replacing sugar with honey is good because honey serves more health benefits for us. The rich content of antioxidants and other substances is able to prevent and treat from numerous health problems. You may also read benefits of honey to a pregnant women
What is the ratio for substituting honey for sugar?
Uses of Maple Syrup
- Maple syrup cake
- Sticky maple roots
- Maple-baked granola
- Parsnip
- Plum crumble
- Duck salad
- Chicken wings
- Roast chicken
- Doughnuts
- Dipping sauce
How do you convert sugar to honey?
Honey is listed as 35 ppppg. So if a recipe calls for sugar and you want to use honey instead, multiply the weight of sugar by 1.29 (45/35) and you will get the weight of honey that you need. In your case since the recipe calls for 6 cups of sugar, you will have to weight 6 cups of sugar and go from there. You cant do the calculation by volume ...
Honey to Brown Sugar Conversion
Since honey is a liquid and brown sugar is not, using brown sugar as a honey replacement also requires adding more liquid to the ingredients. Substitute each cup of honey for 1 1/4 cups brown sugar plus 1/4 cup water or other liquid called for in the recipe.
Baking Temperature Modifications
If your recipe is for a cake, cookies or other baked goods, you'll also have to modify the baking temperature to ensure your creation completes in approximately the same time it would have with honey in it. Oddly enough, honey has more sugar content in it than an equal amount of a granulated, dry form of sugar.
Use Maple Syrup or Molasses
Maple syrup and molasses are also excellent substitutions for honey, especially if you're a fan of their flavors. In either case, brown sugar is still part of the substitution. Replace each cup of honey in a recipe with 3/4 cup maple syrup or molasses plus 1/2 cup brown sugar.
How honey is made
Honey is a natural, sweet liquid produced by bees from the nectar of flowers which plays a vital role sustaining and nourishing bee colonies. Each bee will make, on average, about half a teaspoon of honey in its lifetime.
How it's used
Referred to in ancient writings, honey has long been used for both nutrition and medicinal healing. For centuries, honey was used to pay homage to the gods and help embalm the dead, as well as for medical and cosmetic purposes.
Nutritional highlights
Honey is made up of fructose (40%), glucose (30%), water and minerals such as iron, calcium, potassium and magnesium. Due to the high level of fructose, honey is sweeter than table sugar. Honey is a high carbohydrate food and has a GI value of 55 (moderate range).
What is manuka honey?
Manuka honey is produced from the nectar in the flowers of the manuka tree. It is high in a chemical called methylglyoxal, which has been claimed by researchers to be the source of honey's antibacterial properties. Manuka honey comes with a high price tag so be sure you know exactly what you are buying.
Health claims
The health benefits of honey depend on its processing as well as the quality of the flowers the bees collect pollen from. Raw honey is honey that has not been heated, pasteurised, clarified or filtered in any way, and this form typically retains more of the health promoting nutrients that can be lost to the standard processing methods.
Is it better than sugar?
Honey has a lower GI value than sugar, meaning that it does not raise blood sugar levels as quickly. Honey is sweeter than sugar, so you may need less of it, but it does have slightly more calories per teaspoon so it's wise to keep a close eye on your portion sizes.
Instructions
Dump the granulated sugar and water into a pot, and heat over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the sugar dissolves into the water.
Sugar-Free Honey Substitute
If you’re trying to watch your sugar intake, you can use a sugar replacement in place of the granulated sugar. Just be sure to use one that replaces the sugar measure for measure, so the recipe turns out the same.
Other Honey Substitutes to Try
If you’re running low on granulated sugar, you can also use an equal amount of corn syrup in place of the honey. Light corn syrup would be the best flavor match, but dark corn syrup will work, too.
Looking for a Sub Because You Think Your Honey's Gone Bad?
If your honey looks cloudy or thicker than it should, it has not gone bad, it is just a sign that the sugars have crystallized. To return your honey to its original state, just remove the lid, place the jar in a pot of water, and heat it over low heat until the sugar dissolves back into the honey.
The Difference Between Baking With Honey And Sugar
The last thing you want is to bite into the perfect cookie…only to have it be WAY to sweet to enjoy. Honey also has more flavor than sugar, which is great….but it can overwhelm all the other flavors in your baked good. So, you need to use less of it when you substitute honey for sugar.
Honey to sugar conversion chart
To make life easier, print out this article and keep these honey substitute conversions handy.
Ready to make something sugar-free & ultra yummy with honey?
My friends, Alix & Hugo at A Hedgehog in the Kitchen created this incredible sugar-free popsicle featuring honey! Perfect for summertime! Click here to get the recipe!
More Real Food Resources
Want to be a homesteading rockstar? Check out my tutorial on how to make your own apple cider vinegar.
Health Benefits of This Honey Substitute
As compared to white sugar, brown sugar has a few minerals such as calcium, iron, magnesium, and potassium.
15 Best Substitutes for Honey
Apart from brown sugar, there are several other ingredients, usually easily found in one’s pantry, which can work as substitutes for honey in recipes or as general alternatives for honey.
1. Maple Syrup
So the question is, can you use maple syrup as a substitute for honey?
2. Coconut Nectar
Coconut Nectar is a natural sweetener derived from the flowers of the coconut tree.
3. Apple Sauce
Yes, applesauce is one of the most astonishing alternatives for honey. However, it cannot be used as a substitute for honey in recipes where cooking and baking are not involved.
4. Molasses
Molasses is the byproduct of the process of refining sugar. It is a sticky syrup that is generally used as a sweetener.
5. Yacon Root Syrup
Yacon root syrup is a sticky, honey-like, natural sweetener. Extracted from the roots of a yacon plant, it can work amazingly well as a honey substitute.
Molasses
One of the best substitutes for honey is molasses. The best types of molasses to go for are light and dark molasses.
Agave nectar
Agave nectar is a great vegan alternative to honey, and can also be used as a sugar replacement for those wanting to cut out sugar from their diets.
Corn syrup
Corn syrup is known for its high sugar content, and it is used in many of our most favorite processed treats. You can use both the light and dark versions in place of honey.
Brown sugar and water
A simple mixture of brown sugar and water is a great replacement for honey if you have nothing else in your home. Make it so that there is more sugar than water to get the same texture and consistency as honey.
Barley Malt Syrup
Barley malt syrup is most often used as a substitute for molasses. They have a very similar flavor, but barley malt syrup is less intense and does not have the same bitter aftertaste that some molasses can give.
Coconut syrup or nectar
Coconut syrup is made from the raw nectar of the coconut flower. It is a natural syrup that is very sweet. You can use it as a natural and vegan alternative for honey in all of your recipes.
Maple syrup
Everyone’s favorite pancake and waffle topping just had to feature on our list of honey alternatives! Maple syrup is a vegan alternative to honey and can be used to great effect in many honey containing recipes.
How much sugar do you use as a honey substitute?
1 cup of sugar may be replaced with 34 cup of honey. If your recipe asks for less sugar, use the honey calculator below to help you figure it out. If your recipe doesn’t call for baking soda, substitute 1 cup of sugar with 14 tsp baking soda.
Is it possible to use brown sugar instead of honey?
Because honey is a liquid and brown sugar is not, using brown sugar for honey necessitates adding additional liquid to the recipe. 1 1/4 cup brown sugar + 1/4 cup water or other liquid asked for in the recipe may be substituted for each cup of honey.
Is honey better for you than sugar?
Honey is digested and absorbed more slowly by the body than refined sugar since it is lower in fructose and includes other trace elements. This implies more sustained energy and a lower blood sugar surge, which is better for your body and digestive system.
Is it true that baking with honey is healthier than baking with sugar?
Is it a better alternative to sugar? Honey has a lower GI than sugar, which means it takes longer to increase blood sugar levels. Honey is sweeter than sugar, so you may need less of it, but it does contain a few extra calories per teaspoon, so keep your portion amounts in check.
Is it possible to lose weight by substituting honey for sugar?
Simply replace your sugar consumption with honey throughout the day to get the benefits of the honey diet. In addition, every night before bed, drink three spoonfuls of honey mixed with hot water.
Is honey safe for diabetics to consume?
In general, there are no benefits to replacing honey for sugar in a diabetic diet. Your blood sugar level will be affected by both honey and sugar. Honey, on the other hand, contains slightly more carbohydrates and calories per teaspoon than granulated sugar, so whatever calories and carbs you save will be little.
Is honey perishable?
Honey has no expiration date. It’s even known as the only meal that doesn’t go bad. Over time, though, it will crystallize (becoming thick and murky). If this occurs, just remove the jar’s cover, put it in a pan of water, and reheat it over low heat until the honey reaches its original consistency.