Skip the Sugar: Here Are 7 Ways to Sweeten Your Desserts With Clean, Natural Foods

Sugar sure does make food taste sweet and delicious, but it’s not exactly good for us. In general, we Americans are eating far too much of this stuff. Consider that a June analysis by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) shows that anyone eating an average serving of children’s cereal every day would consume more than 10 pounds of sugar a year, just from the cereal alone!

Cereal is not the only food product that’s packed with sugar. Sugar is hiding in places where you may least expect it, inundating packaged food products that aren’t even desserts or inherently sweet foods. When you do spend precious time making homemade goodies, you should opt for the healthiest sweetener possible. Skip the sugar; here are seven ways to sweeten your desserts with clean, natural foods.

1. Stevia

This healthy sweetener is better than sugar, but you have to make sure you’re buying a powdered product that is 100 percent pure stevia extract, not stevia powder. If you see “stevia powder” on the product, that means the product is a blend and not a pure extract. Most stevia products at the store contain one or more additives in order to bulk up the product and create a more free-flowing powder.

2. Blackstrap Molasses

This stuff is a surprisingly good source of calcium. Just two tablespoons of blackstrap molasses can provide 400 mg of calcium! Plus, this molasses is a good source of manganese, copper, iron, potassium and magnesium. Try it in this Hazelnut Cacao Torte.

3. Date Sugar

Date sugar is made by chopping up dried dates. You can make your own date paste for use in baked goods by blending soaked dates in a high-speed blender with just enough water to form a thick paste. Use date paste for these Orange-Triple Chocolate Chip Cookies.

4. Coconut Nectar

Coconut nectar is derived from the liquid sap of the coconut blossoms and is a low glycemic sweetener. Try it in Vegan Cherry Pie with Hemp Seeds and Walnut, Raw Vegan Chocolate Pudding Tart with Coconut Cream and Goji Berries, and Vegan Cherry Pie with Hemp Seeds and Walnut.

5. Brown Rice Syrup

Brown rice syrup is also low on the glycemic index scale, and it is made by culturing enzymes and concentrating cooked brown rice. Try it in these Peanut Butter Fit Bars. Remember to look for organic, eco-farmed brands, since there is an arsenic risk with the manufacturing of brown rice syrup.

6. Lo Han Guo

Lo Han Guo is a round, green fruit that is pureed or dried into a powder for use in products. It’s a low GI, calorie-free sweetener that is also known as monk’s fruit.

7. Barley Malt Syrup

Barley malt syrup is an unrefined sweetener that is created by malting sprouted barley grains. It has a molasses-like taste and dark, caramel-brown color, making it ideal for beer and bread recipes. Use it in these Pretzel Roll Bagels.

Image source: Raw Vegan Chocolate Pudding Tart with Coconut Cream and Goji Berries