Sugar-free baked goods can be made with artificial sweeteners or without any sweeteners at all. Natural sweeteners like fruit and syrups still contain sugar. “No sugar added” and “sugar-free” are not the same. Artificial sweeteners are a good alternative for diabetics and those on a low-carb diet. Natural sweeteners like fruit and syrups still contain sugar.
Some common types of sugar-free baked goods are cakes, cookies, and brownies that have been sweetened with an artificial sweetener. Natural sweeteners and sugar substitutes — such as applesauce and syrups — are often used to replace or reduce sugar in typically sweet foods, but they don’t make a product sugar-free. Truly sugar-free baked goods are neither sweet nor artificially sweetened and, therefore, do not affect the body’s blood sugar levels the way traditional sweets do.
Sugar-free cakes are a great alternative for cake lovers who follow a sugar-free diet. Many recipes use a small amount of artificial sweetener combined with the added flavor of cinnamon or vanilla. Unsweetened cocoa combined with artificial sugar can make a sugar-free, sugar-free brownie recipe. Many breads are also naturally sugar-free baked goods that can be made entirely without sugar, whether real or artificial.
Fruit pies and applesauce bread are often considered sugar-free baked goods, but their inclusion of fruit adds natural sugar. Once an ingredient like berries, applesauce, or raisins is added to a recipe, it’s technically not sugar-free. Following a growing incidence of diabetes and obesity around the world, particularly in the United States, completely sugar-free baked goods have become increasingly popular. With the use of artificial sweeteners, virtually any type of baked goods can be made without sugar, or at least with less sugar.
For diabetics and people looking to transition to a low-carb diet, baked goods made with artificial sweeteners may be the best alternative to real sugar. Items labeled “no sugar added” are not the same as “sugar free” and this can lead to confusion. The difference is simple: “No Sugar Added” means the product can be naturally sweet while “Sugar Free” means the product contains no sugar. Many gluten-free and low-calorie products are also sugar-free.
Some people can’t consume sugar — or need to carefully monitor how little they can consume — even if it comes from a natural source like fresh-picked fruit. Along with fruit and fruit purees, maple syrup, honey and agave nectar are natural sugar substitutes, but some people still need to avoid them for health reasons. Blood sugar content correlates with a glycemic index, and even natural sweetener alternatives are capable of producing a not-so-sweet rise in blood sugar levels.
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