Healthy holiday baking recipes using sugar alternatives
Let’s be honest, the holidays are a time for indulging. Christmas cocktails, gingerbread cookies, eggnog, turkey, and stuffing… How can you resist? I’m all about moderation, so instead of passing up my favourite holiday treats, I love making healthy substitutes to bring to parties and celebrations -- especially sweets!
Healthy alternatives to refined sugar, like honey, maple syrup or coconut sugar, have a lower glycemic index, meaning it doesn’t cause as extreme spikes to your blood sugar levels as regular sugar would. Plus, honey and maple syrup contain several nutrients, like anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer and anti-bacterial properties. Honey’s vitamin C, B6, B5, niacin, folate and amino acid content helps to convert carbohydrates into glucose. Maple Syrup has a high riboflavin content, which is essential in energy production. It also contains thiamin, niacin, vitamins B5, B2 and B7, folic acid, biotin and vitamin A. They each contain several minerals, like phosphorous, selenium, calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, zinc, copper, and manganese. Coconut sugar is another great alternative, since it contains inulin to slow absorption, as well as iron, zinc, calcium, and short chain fatty acids.
Here are some holiday-inspired baking recipes using honey, maple syrup and coconut sugar as sweetener:
Baked pears with honey and almonds
Using seasonal, antioxidant and fibre-rich pears as the base of this healthy dessert by Feasting Not Fasting, the crunchy baked almonds and cranberries add a delicious crunch while the honey gives it that natural sweet punch. The perfect dessert to make if you’re short on time and have a big family to feed!
Healthy no-bake gingerbread cookie dough bites
These vegan, paleo and gluten-free energy balls by The Loopy Whisk are quick, easy, and a healthy substitute for the season’s classic gingerbread cookies. Using blood sugar stabilizing cinnamon, metabolism-boosting ginger, antioxidant-rich cloves and immune-boosting nutmeg, these maple syrup sweetened bites are the perfect healthy snack to keep you satisfied between holiday meals or when you’re craving a sweet treat.
Baked apple cider donuts
Using the season’s apple cider as inspiration for this sweet and filling treat sweetened with coconut sugar, Eating Bird Food’s baked apple cider donuts are the perfect dessert to whip up ahead of time and store in the fridge. If you’re dairy-free, feel free to use a non-dairy version of the Greek yogurt.
