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
With a few simple recipe modifications, honey, maple syrup, or agave nectar are all suitable replacements for brown sugar. Because these substitutions are liquid, you'll want to take into account how the extra moisture may affect the outcome of your recipe, especially when it comes to baking.
What is the best brown sugar substitute for diabetics? ›
The best brown sugar alternative for baking is Whole Earth Allulose Blend because it offers the optimal combination of sweeteners: allulose + erythritol with monk fruit + stevia.
What is a good substitute for brown sugar in cookies? ›
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 healthiest brown sugar substitute? ›
Date Sugar
If you're avoiding refined sugars, date sugar may be a perfect brown sugar replacement. It's created from dehydrated dates and has a similarly sweet, more caramel-like flavor to brown sugar. Try ⅔ cup of date sugar for every cup of brown sugar for a healthy brown sugar substitute.
Can I use monk fruit sweetener instead of brown sugar? ›
TASTES JUST LIKE BROWN SUGAR: Contains zero net carbs and zero calories. Perfect for any recipe that calls for 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.
Is there a diabetic friendly brown sugar? ›
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 is the healthiest sweetener for a diabetic? ›
The good news is that there are sugar alternatives you can choose from, including:
- stevia or stevia products such as Truvia.
- tagatose.
- monk fruit extract.
- coconut palm sugar.
- date sugar.
- sugar alcohols, such as erythritol or xylitol.
5 Sugar Substitute Ideas for People With Diabetes
- Stevia. While you can buy stevia sweetener packets, it also grows as a plant — and some websites make harvesting and drying your own look easy. ...
- Coconut Palm Sugar. ...
- Erythritol. ...
- Advantame. ...
- Yacon Syrup.
Using only white, granulated sugar in cookies will affect the texture and flavor of the cookie. Without brown sugar, the cookies will be crispier and less moist and chewy. In addition, without brown sugar, your cookies will lose the deep, almost caramel-like flavor that comes with the molasses in brown sugar.
What is keto brown sugar? ›
Unlike traditional brown sugar, which is high in carbohydrates, keto brown sugar substitutes like erythritol, stevia, and monk fruit contain minimal to zero net carbs.
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 you use stevia instead of brown sugar? ›
There are a variety of natural sugar substitutes — like stevia, monk fruit and coconut sugar — that you can use instead of white or brown sugar.
What is a sugar free sweetener for baking? ›
Sucralose (a.k.a. Splenda): Heat stable for baking; you can also replace half the sugar with Splenda or buy a blend of the two. Splenda also makes a brown sugar blend with 50% brown sugar, 50% sucralose. Aspartame (a.k.a. Equal or NutraSweet): Not recommended for baking; use this for sweetening beverages instead.
What is the best way to substitute brown sugar? ›
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.
What is the keto replacement for brown sugar? ›
Unlike traditional brown sugar, which is high in carbohydrates, keto brown sugar substitutes like erythritol, stevia, and monk fruit contain minimal to zero net carbs.
Can a diabetic have brown sugar? ›
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.
Can I replace brown sugar with stevia? ›
There are a variety of natural sugar substitutes — like stevia, monk fruit and coconut sugar — that you can use instead of white or brown sugar.
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
