Are sweet sugary foods your weakness? If so, you're not alone! Many people crave sugar-filled foods daily. And even if you don't crave it, avoiding sugar altogether can be a tough task. When it comes to processed foods, nearly all of them contain sugar. From sodas to fruit snacks, sugar is hiding in practically everything we eat. So what happens when you want to cut down on your sugar intake? Is it possible? Fortunately, there are several different natural sugar substitutes that you can use to reduce the amount of processed sugar in your diet. To help you ditch processed sugar for good, we gathered up our team of Bob's Red Mill experts to put together this list of natural sugar substitutes.

Raw Honey

Raw honey is an excellent replacement for table sugar. Depending on where it's sourced, honey can produce a range of flavors ranging from mild to intense. If you're not a fan of honey, the chances are that you just haven't tried the right kind. We recommend trying out multiple varieties of honey as well as purchasing a few local jars of honey before deciding which is your favorite. Raw honey is loaded with nutritional benefits and packed with a wide array of enzymes, minerals and vitamins, including vitamin B6, B12, iron and manganese. It also has a high amount of antioxidants which work to keep you healthy and could potentially ward off infection. When purchasing honey, it's essential to review the label and the pasteurization process. Buying local honey also has its health benefits! Because bees in your local community harvest pollen from flowers nearby, consuming local honey can help build up your immunity to natural allergens in your area.

Honey Recipe: Honey Blackberry Pie

A Guide to Natural Sweeteners: Everything You Need to Know | Bob's Red Mill Blog

Who can turn down a good pie? Not us! At Bob's Red Mill, we love pie. What we don't like is the artificial ingredients and flavors often found in store-bought desserts. For a healthier alternative to commercially baked goods, make this Honey Blackberry Pie. In this dessert, honey and blackberries are combined to add a naturally sweet flavor to a delicious pie recipe. Free of processed sugars, it's the perfect addition to any dessert table.

Dates

The next time you're craving a sweet treat, instead of reaching for sugar, sweeten your recipe with dates instead. Dates and date paste are just as sweet as sugar, yet much better for you! A natural treat, dates are loaded with essential nutrients like fiber, potassium and vitamin A. Need another reason to add dates to your shopping cart? Snacking on dates alone is a great way to curb your candy cravings. If you feel your sweet tooth aching, try reaching for a handful of dates instead of candy. Keeping a bowl full of dates on hand is an easy way to kick processed treats to the curb and instead, fuel your body with naturally sweet foods.

Date Recipe: Vegan Date Bread

It doesn't get much better than a warm loaf of freshly baked bread. This wholesome, naturally sweetened Vegan Date Bread is the perfect treat to make if you're working on ditching processed sugars. Free of butter, oil, dairy, refined, sugar and gluten, it is a deliciously sweet and soft bread that makes for the perfect summertime treat!

Maple Syrup

Made from boiled down maple tree sap, maple syrup contains extensive amounts of manganese and zinc. Though it may not be as great for you as other non-syrup alternatives, 100% pure maple syrup is a great choice when searching for a high fructose corn syrup alternative. Maple syrup offers a wide array of health benefits, plus it has a lower calorie intake and more moderate sugar content than honey! When purchasing maple syrup, you must read the labels to verify authenticity. Many maple-flavored pancake syrups on shelves today are simply high fructose corn syrup with maple flavoring.

Maple Syrup Recipe: Naturally Sweetened Berry Vanilla Granola Bars

Homemade granola bars are the perfect grab-and-go treat. While some store-bought granola bars contain high amounts of sugar, these Naturally Sweetened Berry Vanilla Granola Bars are refined sugar free, gluten free and made with coconut oil. Simple to make, these bars can be enjoyed as a quick breakfast or mid-day snack. Plus, they're 100% customizable! When making these bars, we urge you to get creative and add in your favorite ingredients. Peanuts, pumpkin seeds and dried fruit are just a few foods that taste great in these bars! Don't want to make your own granola? You don't have to! To make homemade granola bars even easier to make, start with delicious granola like our Maple Sea Salt Homestyle Granola. Made with whole grain oats, real maple syrup, coconut and wholesome seeds, this granola can be enjoyed as a snack or worked into your favorite recipes.

Coconut Sugar

Looking for a substitute for table sugar in your coffee? Coconut sugar is the perfect healthy alternative! Made from the sap of the coconut palm tree buds, coconut sugar is a less processed alternative to the sugars found on shelves today. Plus, it comes with some pretty incredible health benefits. Because coconut sugar is not as refined or chemically altered as other sugars, it contains trace amounts of vitamins and minerals without any added artificial ingredients or synthetic substances. With a look and taste similar to brown sugar, coconut sugar can be replaced in most baked goods at a 1:1 ratio.

Coconut Sugar Recipe:Cassava Waffles and Pancakes

If you regularly enjoy pancakes for breakfast and are seeking a more healthy option, these Cassava Waffles and Pancakes are the treat for you! Made with cassava flour and sweetened with coconut sugar, they're a delectable gluten free meal that both kids and adults will enjoy!

Blackstrap Molasses

Molasses, specifically blackstrap molasses, has an amazingly high nutritional value. With nearly 70% more potassium than a banana, it can be used as a healthier alternative to table sugar while still preserving the same sweet flavor that you love. The thick consistency of blackstrap molasses also makes it an effective sweetener in baked goods. Add it to your morning coffee, a mid-day smoothie, or your favorite cookie recipe. Blackstrap molasses is a versatile sweetener that can be used to sweeten up all of your favorite treats.

Blackstrap Molasses Recipe:Moist Molasses Bran Muffins

These tasty Moist Molasses Bran Muffins are made with wheat bran and whole wheat flour for a wholesome flavor packed with nutrients. In this recipe, molasses is combined with delicious apple sauce to create a sweet treat that you can enjoy any time of the day!

Stevia

No, natural sweetener list would be complete without mentioning Stevia. A plant-based sweetener, Stevia has quickly risen to the top of the preferred sweeteners list and gained recognition in the health and nutrition world at incredible rates. Used in granolas, energy bars, baked goods and even sports drinks, this low calorie and low carb sweetener is an excellent alternative to table sugar. Plus, because it's sweeter than sugar you don't have to use as much to achieve the same effect. Since gaining popularity, multiple forms of Stevia have been produced, meaning that you can add it to nearly any recipe to yield a fantastic result. Add liquid Stevia to your smoothie bowl, powdered Stevia to your sweet crepes or granulated Stevia to a delicious brownie recipe. Stevia is also a great sweetener choice if you are trying to cut calories as it has fewer calories than sugar and can be used in the same way.

Stevia Recipe: Lemon Poppy Seed Protein Muffins

If you're new to using Stevia in your recipes, we suggest starting out with an easy-to-make dessert like these Lemon Poppy Seed Protein Muffins. Made with Organic Coconut Flour and sweetened with stevia extract and applesauce, they're a flavorful snack loaded with health benefits.

Searching for additional ways to reduce your sugar intake? Follow these next few tips:

Drink calorie-free, unsweetened beverages like fruit infused water and tea.
Swap candy and processed desserts for whole fruits
Snack on veggies and naturally sweetened, homemade snack dips
Choose unsweetened products whenever possible

We hope this list of natural sweeteners has helped you discover healthier ways to enjoy your favorite foods and beverages. It's important to note that everything should be enjoyed in moderation as part of a well-balanced diet, including sweeteners. Though natural, when used in excess many of the sweeteners on this list can contribute calories and impact blood sugar. Before changing your diet drastically, we recommend first speaking to a health professional to determine your specific health needs. Have a favorite natural sweetener that we didn't list? We'd love to know what it is. Share your favorite natural sweeteners with us in the comments below! Here's to wishing you a sweet and healthy day!

article | Brunch

How-to Cozy Brunch

recipe | Gluten Free

No-Bake Cherry Pomegranate Cheesecake

A Guide to Natural Sweeteners: Everything You Need to Know

A Guide to Natural Sweeteners: Everything You Need to Know

A Guide to Natural Sweeteners: Everything You Need to Know

Raw Honey

Honey Recipe: Honey Blackberry Pie

Dates

Date Recipe: Vegan Date Bread

Maple Syrup

Maple Syrup Recipe: Naturally Sweetened Berry Vanilla Granola Bars

Coconut Sugar

Coconut Sugar Recipe:Cassava Waffles and Pancakes

Blackstrap Molasses

Blackstrap Molasses Recipe:Moist Molasses Bran Muffins

Stevia

Stevia Recipe: Lemon Poppy Seed Protein Muffins

Searching for additional ways to reduce your sugar intake? Follow these next few tips:

Comments

Our Company

Customer Support