How to Find Sugar Substitutes for Recipes

We use sugar to sweeten coffee, chocolate and most desserts. It's what causes texture, taste and color in these foods. This can make it difficult to find a sugar substitute for your favorite recipe. Common sugar substitutes include maple sugar, maple syrup, honey, Splenda, Sweet'N Low and stevia.

Instructions

1. Search for recipes at websites like Recipe Zaar.

2. Use recipes from manufacturers of sugar substitutes. You can often find these recipes printed on the packaging. You can also buy cookbooks like "The Splenda World of Sweetness Cookbook" by the makers of Splenda. Some manufacturers also have websites that provide recipes and newsletters.

3. Visit a nutritionist or diabetic counselor. A nutritionist can go over how to use common sugar substitutes in the recipes that you already have. Diabetic counselors also offer good advice on how to substitute sugar.

4. Go to your local health food store. Most health food stores carry a variety of natural sweeteners and sugar substitutes. Look at the packaging for substitution directions, and ask employees for advice. Some companies list website information on their packaging.

5. Make recipes using a one-to-one substitute. Splenda and Sugar Twin are two sugar substitutes that can be used in an equal ratio to the sugar called for in the recipe. One cup of sugar is equal to one cup of Splenda or one cup of Sugar Twin.

6. Experiment using sugar substitutes like honey, syrups and natural sugars like fruit juice. You can create your own recipes by following standard guidelines for substitution. A list of typical substitution ratios is available online from All Recipes.

Resources

• Find recipes that use sugar substitutes at this Recipe Zaar.
• Buy Splenda's cookbook at Amazon.
• View a sugar substitution chart at All Recipes.