healthier alternative for refined white sugar

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bellyxray
bellyxray Posts: 6
in Recipes
Anyone have thoughts? I've been wanting to make some banana bread, but balk at the thought of a cup of white sugar!!!!

Coconut sugar? Is that any better in terms of calories? I know it's healthier.

Erythritol? Has anyone used this? To me this seems the best, but it's expensive.
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  • thepetiterunner
    thepetiterunner Posts: 1,238 Member
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    Coconut sugar has the same amount of calories (15 per tsp), but it's lower on the glycemic index, so it's not supposed to spike your blood sugar as much. It has a lovely caramel flavor as well. I really enjoy it.
  • Mangopickle
    Mangopickle Posts: 1,509 Member
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    http://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com/coconut-sugar-a-healthy-and-sustainable-sweetener/

    Here is a good article that unifies most of what I have heard from my own research. I mix mine half and half with cane sugar to good effect in my dishes
  • Sunbrooke
    Sunbrooke Posts: 632 Member
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    Date paste. I think it would have a nice flavor in banana bread too.
  • Mini_horse_lover
    Mini_horse_lover Posts: 178 Member
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    Stevia :-)
  • PinkCupcakes84
    PinkCupcakes84 Posts: 235 Member
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    Following
  • Sagitta13
    Sagitta13 Posts: 19 Member
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    I'm interested about this too, I don't know much about the alternatives...
  • sarahford09
    sarahford09 Posts: 14 Member
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    I use xylitol
  • Swiftlet66
    Swiftlet66 Posts: 729 Member
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    What are you planning to use the sugar for? I use dried fruits in my baking and mainly coconut sugar for the lower GI in my cooking, however, I go easy on the coconut sugar too. I get most of my "sugars" from fresh fruits.
  • bellyxray
    bellyxray Posts: 6
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    As stated in OP, Banana Bread, so already putting in mashed banana.

    I also put in greek yogurt in place of sour cream

    I may try coconut sugar this time because that is what I have on hand.
  • Derpes
    Derpes Posts: 2,033 Member
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    Splenda
  • txmorris3
    txmorris3 Posts: 2 Member
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    palm sugar or date syrup
  • amez1974
    amez1974 Posts: 213 Member
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    http://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2011/05/02/recipe-whole-wheat-banana-bread/

    This is what we make now and it is delicious-doesn't even taste like it's "less sugar" uses just 1/4 cup of honey
  • MamaFunky
    MamaFunky Posts: 735 Member
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    We made some banana muffins the other day and I just left the sugar out all together. We didn't miss it at all. The recipe was sweetened up enough from the bananas and vanilla greek yogurt. I also put a tablespoon of dark chocolate chips in there to help as well.

    Sometimes the recipe will require just good ole white sugar, but depending on the recipe you may not need it at all....or at maybe cut the about in half or even fourths.

    ETA: I have also used honey to sweeten up recipes that call for sugar.
  • Holly_Roman_Empire
    Holly_Roman_Empire Posts: 4,440 Member
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    Define "healthier."

    A lot of zero-calorie sweeteners don't work well with baking.
  • So_Much_Fab
    So_Much_Fab Posts: 1,146 Member
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    I use this 99% of the time. I like it because it's not refined and it has a bit of a molasses flavor to it.

    Domino-Demerara-Washed-Raw-Cane-Sugar-24oz-Pouch.jpg
  • silver_arrow3
    silver_arrow3 Posts: 1,373 Member
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    Healthier?

    I JUST had banana bread for breakfast that I made with sugar...

    Am I gonna die? :frown:
  • DeltaZero
    DeltaZero Posts: 1,197 Member
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    Organic white sugar.
  • bevmcarthur
    bevmcarthur Posts: 341 Member
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    Go on Pinterest they have GREAT recipes for backing with less sugar
  • bellyxray
    bellyxray Posts: 6
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    healthier....as in....not so many calories as the white sugar is going to have. That's why I said, I know coconut sugar has just as many calories. So was looking for also something else.

    I don't like the aftertastes that Splenda and sugar substitutes like that leave, so I'm not using those. I don't even like Stevia.

    I could just go with no sugar, and vanilla greek yogurt, see how that goes.
  • Flab2Fab27
    Flab2Fab27 Posts: 461 Member
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    Cauliflower?

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