5 Easy Ways to Reduce Sugar in Your Baking

As a mom, you want to do your best to reduce the sugar your family consumes. But let’s face it, baking can be a real challenge when cutting back on sugar. Here are five low-sugar alternatives that will help you reduce the amount of sugar in your baking without sacrificing taste or quality.

5 Alternatives For Sugar When You Bake

1. Fruit Purees

Use fruit purees in place of some or all of the sugar called for in a recipe. Apple sauce, mashed bananas, and squash purees are all great, sweet, low-sugar options. This tip works best with quick breads, muffins, and cookies. Just be sure to reduce the liquid called for in the recipe by an equal amount to compensate for the added moisture from the puree.

2. Coffee

Cut back on the sugar by 25% by adding a teaspoon or two of instant coffee powder or unsweetened cocoa powder. The low-sugar alternative also helps boost the flavor of a dish. This tip is especially effective with chocolate cakes and brownies. 

3. Honey or Molasses

Replace half of the white sugar called for with an equal amount of honey or molasses. This will add depth of flavor and moistness to cakes and cookies. Just be sure to reduce the liquid called for in the recipe if you use honey or molasses, as they are both more hygroscopic (moisture-attracting) than white sugar.

4. Lotta Products

Lotta Products offers low-sugar baking mixes that make it easy to choose better for your family. The baking mixes use a unique house-blended, plant-based sugar replacer that delivers a healthier take on the sweets you love. Enjoy premium low-sugar baking mixes, including cookies, cakes, and cornbreads, with 75-85% less sugar!

5. Unsweetened Applesauce

When making frostings, glazes, and fillings, use unsweetened applesauce in place of some or all of the confectioners’ (powdered) sugar called for. You’ll need to experiment a bit to get the consistency just right, but this is a great way to reduce both the sweetness and overall calorie content of your desserts.

Using these low-sugar alternatives, you can easily reduce the amount of sugar in your baking without compromising taste or quality. So go ahead and indulge your sweet tooth—in moderation, of course—knowing that you’re doing your part to keep your family healthy and happy.