Low Calorie Brown Sugar Substitute

Sugar substitutes have been on the market for a number of years.   We don't use artificial sugar substitutes or products that have artificial sugar substitutes as an ingredient.  All of the artificial sugar substitutes can have a negative impact on health.  What many don't realize is artificial sugar substitutes can impede weight loss.  Although these sugars do not have any calories, the body still responds to them and studies have shown that the artificial sweeteners can trigger cravings that ultimately make you eat more than you normally would have.  If you want to lose a bit of weight, avoid the artificial sweeteners! 

We switched from white granulated sugar to organic and raw sugars a few years ago.  I have substitute either with maple syrup, honey, agave, molasses or fruit (eg. medjool dates, banana, applesauce).  Last year I began experimenting with stevia, an herb.  I plan on growing stevia in the garden this year.  I don't use a lot of stevia but knowing I can use it in place of sugar to reduce the calories is nice.

Truvia Baking Blend is a blend of stevia, erythritol (natural sugar alcohol) and sugar that has 75% fewer calories from sugar.  It resembles granulated white sugar and like white sugar it adds sweetness and bulk but no real flavour.  There is no brown sugar substitute version.  The work-around if you need to substitute brown sugar with a lower calorie version and want to use stevia is to mix fancy molasses with Truvia Baking Blend.  By the way, this will also work using granulated white sugar if you find you are out of brown sugar for a recipe.
 

You will need Truvia Baking Blend, fancy molasses, a measuring cup, a measuring spoon and air tight storage container.  Measure 1 cup of Truvia Baking Blend into a small bowl with lid.  Pour 1 tsp of fancy molasses over the Truvia.  If you want to make a smaller or larger batch, use the ratio of 1 tsp fancy molasses to 1 c of Truvia.   Using a fork, mix the molasses into the Truvia until well blended.  It will resemble golden brown sugar in texture and flavour.  If you want a deeper brown colour and flavour, add an extra half teaspoon per cup fancy molasses.  This will also increase the caloric value slightly, about 12 calories per cup higher, but still less than the caloric value of regular brown sugar.

Store the homemade low calorie brown sugar substitute in an air tight container.  Substitute the amount of brown sugar called for in the recipe with half the amount of the low calorie brown sugar substitute.  For example, if the recipe calls for 3/4 c of brown sugar, substitute with 1/4 c + 2 tbsp of the low calorie brown sugar substitute.

Regular grown sugar has 829 calories and 214 g carbohydrates per cup or 52 calories and 13 g carbohydrates per tablespoon.  The low calorie brown sugar substitute has 403 calories and 101 g carbohydrates or 25 calories and 6 g carbohydrates per tablespoon.  The low calorie brown sugar substitute will reduce the calories from brown sugar by a little over half.  This sugar substitute can be use in place of brown sugar for many applications.  Be aware that although the low calorie brown sugar substitute is lower calorie, it does still contain sugar.