Over the past couple of years we have switched from using refined sugar to nourishing natural sweeteners in recipes requiring sugar, for pancake toppings and for other usual sugar uses.
It can be so confusing with the huge array of sweeteners available, so here are 5 nourishing natural sweeteners which you can use for different purposes to bring sweetness to your cooking:
1. Raw Honey – we use raw honey most often, you only need the smallest amount for a BIG sweetness hit. As opposed to processed/heated honey, raw honey has it’s nutrients, including vitamins, enzymes and anti-oxidants, intact. There are so many benefits to including raw honey in your diet – from being anti-viral and anti-bacterial to promoting digestive health and more – raw honey is just plain good for you! Honey was used to sweeten these Raspberry Jelly Treats which my kids absolutely adore. (click here for the recipe)
2. Organic Maple Syrup – ideally B grade, is heavenly on top of pancakes. Pure maple syrup is even thought to be a superfood, having various nutritional benefits. Click here to read more about the benefits of Maple Syrup. I topped this banana bread french toast with maple syrup for a sweet treat. (click here for the recipe)
3 Rapadura/Sucanat – Rapadura Sugar is a wonderfully nutritious and unprocessed substitute to refined sugar. In fact I find I usually only need to use a third to half the amount for a perfectly sweet baked treat. For my son’s recent 3rd birthday, I used rapadura to sweeten his birthday cake. (you can click here for the recipe)
4. Coconut Sugar – Rich, coco-nutty and super sweet, coconut sugar is perfect in cookies and other baked treats. For example these Cashew and Coconut Cookies are sweetened with coconut sugar.
5. Fruit – this could be chopped Organic Dried Fruit
I’d love to hear from you – What’s your favorite natural sweetener?
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