8 natural sugar substitutes

Are you in need of some serious sugar rehab? Looking for a healthy sugar substitute maybe? Here, we provide a handy overview of some common natural sugar substitutes. But beware, not all of them are as good for you as you might assume.

1. Agave nectar

Produced by the agave plant, it’s flavourful and works as a sweetener in a wide range of culinary situations.

Pros

A low glycaemic index score suggests it might not spike blood sugar as much as regular sugar.¹

Cons

Agave has 85% fructose content (that’s more than regular sugar) and is high in calories.²

2. Coconut sugar (or palm sugar)

Extracted from the sap of the coconut palm, this natural sweetener is unrefined and works in place of a number of standard sugars.

Pros

Contains a small amount of fibre, as well as some nutrients (iron, zinc, calcium, and potassium).and antioxidants³

Cons 

Coconut sugar contains comparable calories per serving as regular refined sugar.

3. Honey

The golden liquid is sweeter than sugar and rich in antioxidants. It works well in sauces, marinades, smoothies, salad dressings and baking.

Pros

Thanks to phenolic acids and flavonoids, honey has some impressive antioxidant value.⁴

Cons

Due to its fructose content, consume in moderation.

4. Date sugar/paste

Sweeteners derived from dates work well in smoothies, baked goods, sauces, marinades and salad dressings.⁵

Pros

With a decent dose of fibre, minerals, and vitamins, date paste and date sugar can add more nutritional value to your diet than standard sugar.^6,7

Cons

The downfall of dates is they can be difficult to use. For example, date sugar doesn’t dissolve well.⁸

5. Maple syrup

This sugary liquid comes from the sap of maple trees and makes a great topping for pancakes and waffles.

Pros

Maple syrup is high in antioxidants and rich in minerals, including calcium, potassium, iron, zinc, and manganese.⁹

Cons

Although it’s slightly better for you than regular sugar, it will still raise your blood sugar levels. Consume in moderation.

6. Molasses

Molasses is a thick brown liquid. It's made from boiling down sugar cane or sugar beet juice.

Pros

It contains some vitamins and minerals, several antioxidants and is a source of iron, potassium, and calcium.¹⁰

Cons

Consuming large amounts of molasses can cause loose stools or diarrhoea.¹¹

7. Stevia

Stevia sugar substitute is a powdery plant-derived sweetener. It can be up to 350 times sweeter than sugar (so you only need to use a little.)

Pros

Stevia contains zero calories and studies suggest it could have a positive influence on our health.

Cons

There’s a lot still to understand about the health benefits associated with stevia.

8. Monk fruit extracts

Extracted from the monk fruit (a small round fruit from Southeast Asia), most of its sweetness comes from antioxidants called mogrosides.¹²

Pros

It gets a thumbs up for its antioxidant qualities.¹³ It also contains zero calories and is 100-250 times sweeter than regular sugar (so you need less of it.)¹⁴

Cons

It's commonly mixed with other sweeteners. Always read the label.

Are you looking for a healthy sugar substitute?

	The sugar substitute
Caster sugar substitute / Golden caster sugar substitute	With a few simple recipe modifications maple syrup, stevia and honey can be used as a natural sugar substitute for baking.15
Brown sugar substitute	Coconut sugar looks like brown sugar and tastes very similar too. You can replace brown sugar with coconut sugar in a 1:1 ratio.16
Muscovado sugar substitute	Molasses can be used instead of muscovado, but beware, it has a strong distinctive taste.17
Demerara sugar substitute	Coconut sugar or maple syrup can work as a demerara sugar substitute.18
Icing sugar substitute	Stevia could be used as a powdered sugar substitute.19
Granulated sugar substitute	Coconut sugar can be used as a 1:1 replacement. If your recipe doesn’t require dissolving or melting sugar, date sugar could also be used. With some modifications, honey, maple syrup and molasses could also be used as a granulated sugar substitute.20

Summary: Natural sugar substitutes – what’s best?

It’s hard to say what’s the best sugar substitute because it’s not really that clear cut. Although many of the natural, less processed alternatives have more nutritional value than regular sugar, many of them still contain fructose and glucose (and so bring some of the downfalls of standard sugar.) Which is best (or worse) for you will largely depend on your motives for reducing sugar. And always consult a doctor or dietitian if you’re not sure of your best option. Shop Sugar Alternatives

Last updated: 6 October 2020