How to Reduce Sugar in Baking Recipes

Last Updated: April 8, 2021

Sugar, sugar, sugar. We all consume far more of it than we ever need. And yet the thought of giving up the baked goodies is too painful by half. Instead, look for creative ways to reduce sugar when baking, and soon you'll learn to lessen that sweet tooth while still enjoying the advantages of a fulfilling baked item.

Steps

1
Reduce it bit by bit. Start by cutting back to three-quarters the amount the recipe suggests. Then halve it. Many French chefs halve the amount of sugar recommended in a baked goods recipe with nobody the wiser as to the flavour impact. With a gradual reduction, you'll find yourself getting used to the new way that the baked items taste.
2
Substitute the sugar. Another great way to reduce sugar intake is to substitute it with something as tasty. Some choices include:
- Stevia
- Spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, mixed spice, etc.)
- Fruit puree (but beware, this is still fructose, and see "Tips")
- Syrups, such as maple, rice or agave (agave syrup is very high in fructose and may not be a suitable substitute)
- Honey
- Artificial sweeteners (you'll need to know if they can be baked though)
- Fresh fruit, berries, or sweet vegetables.
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3
Increase the flour. Use this to make up the missed volume of sugar. For most recipes this will work but you do need to experiment.
4
Be careful of reducing sugar in recipes using yeast. Yeast requires the sugar to activate. If you can discern how much sugar the yeast needs and set that aside and only fiddle with the rest of the sugar, that's ideal. If not, experiment with daring, and you'll discover by trial and error what does and does not work.
5
Reconsider any sugar based toppings for baked goods. Icing sugar, granular sugar, fine sugar, etc., are all still sugar and adding them to your freshly baked goods can increase the sugar overload. Find topping substitutes that are healthy, such as fresh fruit, spices like cinnamon, or sugar-free grated chocolate. Or why not just leave it bare?

Community Q&A

Question

If I reduce the sugar to half the quantity will it affect the texture and taste of the cake?

Community Answer

Yes.
Question

I put too much sugar in my jam, so it is very sweet. What can I add to make it less sugary?

Community Answer

The only way you can reduce the sugar in jam is by making (or buying) more jam with no sugar and mixing it together with the sweet jam.
Question

How can I reduce the sugar?

Community Answer

You can reduce the amount that you use in the recipe by cutting back on what the recipe calls for.