- Substitute sugar and jaggery with dates syrup or dates paste.
- Use nuts as your base. Grind them to the consistency that you need.
- Mix them both.
- Add any flavors of your choice.
- Add water as per need.
- Serve the sugar-free sweet mix as a ball or kheer or payasam in a cup.
- Enjoy your sugar-free sweets at home.
Sugar alternatives
The best sugar alternative is dates.
Sweet dry fruits that are not sour can be used as a sugar substitute. They are:
- Dates
- Fig
- Apple
- Banana
- Sappota
- Pear
Plant-based alternative sweeteners
- Stevia
- Erythritol
Stevia is a natural sweetener derived from the leaves of the stevia plant (Stevia rebaudiana). It has been used for centuries in Japan, China, India, Mexico, South America, and Africa. It is used as a sweetener in many foods and beverages. It is also known as rebiana or rebiana extract. It contains no calories or carbohydrates, so it does not affect blood sugar levels. 4 milligram per kilogram of body mass is permissible limits. However, questions regarding the safety of Stevia remain unanswered.
Erythritol is made from glucose and fructose which are then converted into erythrose using enzymes. The final product is erythritols which are used in food and beverage industry. Erythritol is an artificial sweetener that is 200 times sweeter than sugar. It has been used in food manufacturing since the 1970s. Erythritol better for you than sugar because it does not raise blood glucose levels or increase insulin secretion. It also contains no calories, so it helps people lose weight. The recommended amount of erythritol for weight loss is about 20 grams per day. This amount should be divided into two servings.
Recommended Flavors as Additives to Sugar-free Sweets
- Desiccated coconut
- Raisins
- Caramel
- Carrot
- Unsweetened cocoa powder
- Cardamom powder
- Nutmeg powder in small quantities
- Dry coconut
- Chocolate without sugar
- Almond
- Apple
- Cashew
- Nut butter such as cashew butter
- Peanuts
- Vanilla
- Lemon
- cinnamon powder
- almond flour
- almond milk
- sesame seeds
- poppy seeds
- fresh dates
Additives to Avoid
- coconut milk
- artificial sweeteners
- protein powder
- jaggery powder
- cream cheese
- heavy cream
- heavy whipping cream
- homemade cream cheese frosting
- coconut oil
- cookie dough
- cashew-honey dough ball
- keto-friendly sugar alternative
Frequently Asked Questions
Why dates are the best sugar alternative?
Dates contain fructose, a type of natural sugar found in fruit. Fructose is sweeter than glucose, so using dates instead of refined sugars will help you avoid getting too much added sugar.
Is Stevia harmful for the body?
Stevia in moderation is beneficial and if it exceeds 4 mg per kg of body mass it can be harmful for the body.
What are the health benefits of Stevia?
- Reduce appetite
- Aid in weight control
- Increase insulin response
- Delay blood glucose increase after eating
- Reduce inflammation
- Reduce LDL oxidation
What are Stevia drawbacks and dangers?
If eating more than 4 mg per kg of body mass, there are risks of eating Stevia.
- Risk of higher caloric intake after eating stevia
- DNA mutations
- Nerve cell toxicity
- Hormone disruption
- Interference with gut bacteria communication and balance
Is Erythritol Better than Stevia?
Stevia is better than Erythritol since it is a zero calorie plant-based product.
Further Reading on Sugar-free Sweets