Keto-Friendly Brown Sugar Alternatives For Your Sweet Tooth

Brown sugar is a key ingredient in many baked goods, but it's not keto-friendly. However, there are several keto-friendly brown sugar substitutes available that can be used in a 1:1 ratio. These substitutes are typically made with a blend of erythritol, allulose, or stevia and have a fluffy, soft texture similar to regular brown sugar. They can be purchased from brands like Swerve, Lakanto, Truvia, and Wholesome Yum Besti, or made at home by mixing granulated sweetener with a small amount of molasses and flavour extracts like caramel, maple, or butterscotch.

Brown sugar replacements for baking

Brown sugar is a key ingredient in many baked goods, but what if you're following a keto diet? Luckily, there are several brown sugar substitutes that can be used in keto baking. Here are some options to consider:

Erythritol-Based Sweeteners

Erythritol is a popular sugar alternative for keto dieters as it has zero calories and carbs. However, it is only 70% as sweet as sugar, so it is often blended with other sweeteners like stevia or monk fruit extract. Some popular erythritol-based brown sugar substitutes include:

• Swerve Brown
• Lakanto Golden
• Pyure Organic Brown Sweetener
• Sukrin Gold
• Truvia Brown Sugar Blend

Allulose

Allulose is another sugar alternative that can be used to make a keto-friendly brown sugar substitute. It is a volumetric replacement for sugar, so you can use it in a 1:1 ratio. However, some people find that it crystallizes or becomes grainy in baked goods.

Stevia

Stevia is a highly concentrated sweetener that can be used in small amounts to add sweetness to keto baked goods. However, some people find that it has a bitter taste.

Monk Fruit Sweetener

Monk fruit sweetener is a natural sugar substitute that is often blended with other sweeteners like allulose or erythritol. It has zero calories and carbs and is said to taste very similar to sugar. Some popular brands include Wholesome Yum Besti and Golden Monk Fruit Sweetener.

Coconut Sugar

Coconut sugar is a natural sweetener that has a similar taste and texture to brown sugar. However, it is still high in carbs, so it should be used sparingly if you are on a keto diet.

Homemade Brown Sugar Substitute

If you want to make your own brown sugar substitute, you can simply mix granulated erythritol with a small amount of blackstrap molasses and caramel extract. This will give you a brown sugar-like colour and flavour, but with a tiny fraction of the carbs.

DIY brown sugar replacements

Brown sugar is made by combining white sugar with molasses. Therefore, the best substitute for brown sugar is a combination of white sugar and molasses.

White Sugar and Molasses

Combine 1 cup of white sugar with 1 tablespoon of molasses for light brown sugar. For dark brown sugar, use 2 tablespoons of molasses. Mix the two with a fork or a mixer until they are evenly combined.

White Sugar and Maple Syrup

If you don't have molasses, you can use maple syrup as a substitute. Combine 1 cup of white sugar with 1 tablespoon of maple syrup to make a brown sugar substitute.

Coconut Sugar

Coconut sugar can be used as a 1:1 substitute for brown sugar. However, it doesn't hold as much moisture, so your baked goods may turn out drier or denser than intended. To improve the moisture content, add a little extra fat, such as butter or oil, to your recipe, or melt the coconut sugar on a stovetop before adding it.

Honey, Maple Syrup, or Agave Nectar

Honey, maple syrup, or agave nectar can be used as brown sugar substitutes with a few recipe modifications. Replace each cup of brown sugar with 2/3 cup of liquid sweetener. For every 2/3 cup of liquid sweetener used, reduce other liquid sources by approximately 1/4 cup. You may also need to reduce the cooking time, as these substitutes may caramelize more quickly than brown sugar.

Raw Sugars

Raw sugars such as turbinado or demerara can be used as brown sugar substitutes in equal proportions. However, they are drier and more coarse than brown sugar, which may affect the texture of your baked goods. To improve the texture, you can manually grind the sugar crystals into a finer texture or partially dissolve them in a small amount of warm liquid (such as melted butter, oil, or water) before adding them to your batter.

Muscovado Sugar

Muscovado sugar is a minimally refined sugar that contains molasses, making it a great substitute for brown sugar. It has a stronger flavour and is stickier than brown sugar, so you may need to sift it to remove clumps before mixing it into your recipe.

Commercial Brown Sugar Substitutes

There are also commercial brown sugar substitutes available on the market, such as Sukrin Gold, Swerve Brown, and Lakanto Golden. These products provide a similar colour, flavour, and texture to brown sugar and are great options for those who don't want to make their own substitutes.

Store-bought brown sugar replacements

There are several store-bought brown sugar replacements available for those on a keto diet. Here are some options:

Swerve Brown Sugar Substitute

Swerve is a popular brand that offers a brown sugar substitute made with erythritol, a sugar alcohol that is commonly used in keto baking. It has zero calories and zero net carbs, making it a great option for those watching their carb intake. It can be used as a 1:1 replacement for brown sugar in recipes and has a similar texture.

Lakanto Golden Monk Fruit Sweetener

This product is a blend of monk fruit extract and erythritol, providing a natural brown sugar alternative with zero calories and zero net carbs. It is keto-friendly, vegan, and gluten-free. Lakanto's product has a mild, pleasant taste without the bitter aftertaste that some artificial sweeteners can have.

Sukrin Gold

Considered by some to be the best low-carb brown sugar alternative on the market, Sukrin Gold is a natural brown sugar substitute with zero calories. It is suitable for keto, low-carb, and diabetic diets. While it may be out of reach for some budget-wise, it is a good option for those looking for a close match to brown sugar.

Truvia Brown Sugar Blend

Truvia offers a brown sugar blend made with stevia leaf extract and erythritol. It has zero calories and is suitable for baking. This product has a similar texture to brown sugar and can be used as a 1:1 replacement in recipes.

Splenda Magic Baker Brown

This is a plant-based baking blend made with stevia, erythritol, and allulose. It has zero sugar, zero calories, and is keto-friendly. It can be used as a 1:1 replacement for brown sugar in recipes.

Pyure Organic Brown Sweetener

Pyure's brown sugar substitute is made with stevia and erythritol. It has zero calories, zero carbs, and zero sugar, making it suitable for keto and other low-carb diets. It can be used as a 1:1 replacement for brown sugar in recipes and has a similar texture.

These store-bought brown sugar replacements can be easily incorporated into keto baking recipes and are convenient options for those who don't want to make their own brown sugar substitutes at home.

Brown sugar replacements with maple syrup

Maple syrup can be used as a brown sugar replacement in a variety of dishes, including desserts and baked goods. It can also be used as an ingredient in glazes, rubs, or barbecue sauces. When substituting maple syrup for brown sugar, the ratio is 1:1. However, since maple syrup is a liquid sweetener, you will need to adjust the liquids in your recipe accordingly. Reduce the amount of other liquids such as water or milk by approximately 3 to 4 tablespoons per cup of maple syrup replaced.

When substituting brown sugar for maple syrup, the ratio is 1 cup of brown sugar to 3/4 cup of maple syrup. Since maple syrup adds moisture to recipes, you may need to reduce the amount of other wet ingredients or slightly increase the quantity of dry ingredients to maintain the proper consistency.

It is important to note that maple syrup has a subtle sweetness and a hint of maple flavor, while brown sugar has a more intense sweetness and a distinct caramel-like taste. Therefore, when substituting one for the other, consider adding a dash of vanilla extract or a pinch of cinnamon to enhance the flavor profile of your dish.

Ingredients:

• Erythritol (granulated)
• Maple extract
• Stevia glycerite (optional but keeps the recipe soft and increases sweetness)

Directions:

• Mix 1 cup of erythritol with 3/4 teaspoon of maple extract.
• Optionally, add 3/4 teaspoon of stevia glycerite to increase sweetness and softness.
• Mix the ingredients together thoroughly with a fork or a small rubber spatula.
• Use the brown sugar substitute in recipes as you would regular brown sugar.

This recipe makes 32 teaspoons of brown sugar substitute, with zero carbs per serving. Erythritol is not absorbed by the body and passes through the digestive tract chemically unchanged, so it is safe for diabetics.

Brown sugar replacements with molasses

Brown sugar is made by adding molasses to white granulated sugar. For light brown sugar, add 1 tablespoon of molasses to 1 cup of white sugar. For dark brown sugar, add 2 tablespoons of molasses to 1 cup of white sugar. Mix the two together thoroughly using a hand mixer or a fork.

If you are on a keto diet, you can make a brown sugar substitute by mixing 1/2 tablespoon of sugar-free maple syrup with erythritol in an airtight container. If the mixture is too thick, add more syrup. If it is too liquid, add more erythritol.

There are also store-bought brown sugar substitutes that are keto-friendly, such as Sukrin Gold Brown Sugar Alternative and Truvia Brown Sugar Blend.

Frequently asked questions