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
Combining white sugar with molasses may be a better brown sugar substitute, but if you don't have molasses, other liquid sweeteners like honey, maple syrup, or agave nectar will work as well. You should mix a tablespoon or two of the liquid sweetener into a scant 1 cup of white sugar to replace a cup of brown sugar.
What is the best 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 non sugar substitute for brown sugar? ›
Honey, maple syrup, or agave nectar
With a few simple recipe modifications, honey, maple syrup, or agave nectar are all suitable replacements for brown sugar.
What is sugar-free brown sugar made of? ›
Keto-friendly brown sugar alternatives contain erythritol or allulose combined with monk fruit, stevia, or sweet fibers (oligosaccharides or inulin). They also have a pinch of glycerine, molasses, or malt extract to help give the overall resemblance to regular brown sugars, providing moisture and allowing them to pack.
What if I don't have enough brown sugar for cookies? ›
Combine 1 cup granulated white sugar with 1 Tbsp. molasses for a light brown sugar substitute, or 2 Tbsp. molasses for a dark brown sugar substitute. Homemade brown sugar can be made in a total of 5 minutes and used as a 1:1 substitute for the store-bought stuff in any application.
Can I substitute maple syrup for brown sugar? ›
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.
What is the number one sweetener for diabetics? ›
Which is better for those with diabetes, stevia or Splenda? Stevia is the healthier alternative, with antidiabetic properties and the potential ability to stabilize blood glucose levels.
Which sugar is worst for diabetics? ›
Another study found that while all added sugars can increase your risk of type 2 diabetes and obesity, high fructose corn syrup may be the most harmful ( 24 ).
Is honey ok for diabetics? ›
Generally speaking, yes, it's OK to eat honey if you have diabetes. But you should consume it in moderation. Although honey has a lower glycemic index (GI) than table sugar, it still contains sugar. And any type of sugar will raise your blood glucose levels.
What is a healthy substitute for brown sugar in recipes? ›
Honey, Agave Nectar or Maple Syrup
You can substitute ⅔ cup of these liquids for a cup of brown sugar, but you will want to slightly reduce your other liquid contents like water or oils to make up for the additional liquid content.
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.
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.
Can I use monk fruit sweetener instead of brown sugar? ›
1:1 BROWN SUGAR REPLACEMENT: Lakanto Monkfruit Sweetener matches the sweetness of brown sugar, helping you fill your kitchen with a healthy cup-for-cup alternative to ordinary baking ingredients.
What is the best sugar substitute when baking? ›
- Natural Sweeteners. Our top picks from GOOD GOOD, sweet leaf stevia drops and Sweet Like Sugar Granulated alternate sugars, blend the authentic sweetness of stevia and erythritol in every baking pan. ...
- Mashed Bananas. ...
- Applesauce. ...
- Coconut Sugar. ...
- Honey. ...
- Maple Syrup. ...
- Agave Nectar. ...
- Molasses.
For people with diabetes, the use of brown sugar has no healthier effects than white sugar. Users should note that any added sugars should be limited as part of a healthy, well-rounded diet. Excess sugar intake is strongly linked to the risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and fatty liver disease.
What if a recipe calls for dark brown sugar but I only have light brown sugar? ›
Pro tip: If a recipe calls for dark brown sugar and only have light brown sugar on hand, add a tablespoon of molasses for every cup of lightly packed light brown sugar!
How do you add brown sugar to a recipe? ›
In most baking recipes, you can substitute brown sugar for white sugar in a one-to-one ratio. So, if your recipe calls for one cup of white sugar, swap one cup of brown sugar. The sweetness level will be the same, but the brown sugar may change the texture of your baked goods.
What if recipe calls for light brown sugar and I only have dark brown sugar? ›
And yet, some recipes demand light and others dark. The good news is that light and dark brown sugar are interchangeable: You're not going to ruin your cookies, your crumble, or your banana bread by swapping one for the other.
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
