5 Simple Swaps for Sugar

Here at Emmy’s, we’re always looking for ways to add more plant-based & whole ingredients into our products and daily lives. Reducing the amount of cane sugar and other highly processed sweeteners in your diet can be a challenge. Fortunately, there are a number of less refined alternatives that make one-to-one swaps for cane sugar effortless, delicious, and more nutritious. Read along for our suggestions on 5 simple swaps for sugar and find out which we use in our coconut cookies!

1. Blackstrap Molasses

Blackstrap molasses is a viscous, dark syrup made from the process of refining sugar cane. While refining is usually indicative of stripping important nutrients from a product, in this case, nutrients like iron, calcium, and potassium remain. First, sugar cane is crushed and boiled, which makes cane syrup. When the syrup is boiled a second time, molasses is created, and the third boil creates blackstrap molasses. Try using blackstrap molasses to sweeten oatmeal or use it in place of regular molasses in molasses cookies.

2. Coconut Sugar

Coconut sugar is made from the sap of the coconut tree. The sap is extracted from the blossoms, which when dried, forms coconut sugar granules. It contains trace amounts of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, but likely not enough to show measurable benefits. Nevertheless, we’ll take all of the coconut-derived ingredients we can get! Experience coconut sugar for yourself in any of our Organic Chocolate Covered Coconut Cookie Bites!

3. Maple Syrup

Maple Syrup is made from the sap of maple trees. The sap is tapped from the trees and then boiled until the water is evaporated and thick, sweet syrup remains. It contains antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals such as zinc and manganese. Pour some maple syrup on our Coconut Banana Pancakes or use it in place of table sugar in this Blackberry Chocolate Cheesecake.

4. Agave Syrup

Agave syrup is derived from the agave plant, a succulent native to Mexico. It’s made by extracting the sap from the plant’s core, then heating and filtering it until the syrup forms. While it has more fructose than table sugar, it has a lower glycemic index and has trace amounts of vitamins and minerals. Experience the sweetness of agave syrup in any of our Classic Coconut Cookies!

5. Dates

Dates are small, sweet fruits that grow on the date palm tree. Dates are a great option for sweetening food because they barely require any processing and therefore, retain all of their fiber and nutrients. They are typically sold dried, and due to their sticky nature, dates work well when baking crusts and bars. Try using dates in baked goods with these Salted Almond Date Bars. 

 

Don’t forget to share your recipes using our cookies and natural sweeteners by tagging us on Instagram @emmysorganics!