Looking for a natural sugar replacement to use in baking? Seeking a low-glycemic sweetener that will not spike blood sugar levels? Agave sweetener is the answer to your quest.
Agave nectar or syrup is commercially produced from several different species of agave cactus, the same cactus used to make tequila, In the production process, juice is expressed from the core of the agave plant.
Agave nectar consists primarily of fructose and glucose. Due to its high fructose content and the fact that the glycemic index only measures glucose levels, agave nectar is notable in that its glycemic load index is lower than many other natural sugar substitutes on the market.
Wondering how to substitute agave sweetener in a recipe that calls for sugar? The rule of thumb equates 1-1/2 cup of this natural sugar substitutes to roughly 1 cup of sugar. Since agave is a thick liquid, it’s necessary to decrease the amount of liquid from another source in the recipe. Agave can be used in any baked items, including cakes, cookies or muffins.
You can increase the sweetness and decrease the quantity of agave nectar used in baking by adding a few drops of liquid stevia sugar substitute, which is #1 of the natural sweeteners.
Keep in mind also that agave nectar is also a delicious low-glycemic syrup alternative to maple sugar on pancakes and waffles.
Agave nectar is readily available in most health food stores. Even the national grocery chain Trader Joe’s markets its own brand of delicious agave nectar.
Click here to view the entire list of the top 7 natural sweeteners.
Comments