Sugar Free Cake

There is hope! Cutting out sugar may not necessarily mean that you have to cut out cakes completely or give up your hobby of baking. There are healthy alternatives that can be used; it just means that you have to be a little more discerning and probably experiment a bit to get the best texture.

There can be several reasons for wanting to try excluding sugar from your diet:

    *  Diabetes

    *  Low carbohydrate dieters

    *  Allergy or intolerance to sugar

    *  Concerned about your teeth or oral healthcare

    *  Hyperglycaemia

    *  Wanting to try eating low G.I. foods

What does Low G.I. mean?

G.I. means Glycemic Index. It’s a system to measure how much your blood sugar rises after eating a carbohydrate (e.g. cake). A low G.I. food only produces a small rise and fluctuation in your blood sugar. Some people believe eating low G.I. can:

    *  Help control diabetes and insulin.

    *  Keep your energy levels balanced and make you feel full longer between meals

    *  Help with losing and controlling weight.

What can I put in my cake instead of sugar?

    *  Stevia drops - this is the best! Made from the Stevia plant. Almost no calories and even reputed to help stabilise our blood sugar. But you need to know how to use it? See our related article.

    *  Apple concentrate (check on the label that it is sugar-free)

    *  Agave Syrup

    *  Fruit e.g. mashed banana, sliced or stewed apple

    *  Dried Fruit (but make sure it’s sugar-free)

    *  Date Puree and also Prune Puree (can buy date or prune puree ready-made in jars if you don’t want to make your own. If you can’t find it in your supermarket then look in your health food shop, but do check the label to make sure there is no added sugar or sweeteners)

    *  Carrot, parsnip or pumpkin can be added as a further natural sweetener.

    *  Adding cinnamon is a further help

So happy sugar-free baking and send us any questions or tips you’d like to share.