Sweet Swap:  How to Substitute Honey for Sugar

Sweet Swap: How to Substitute Honey for Sugar

Did you know, you can swap honey for sugar?  Is that why you’re here? Great!  Keep reading for tips and a handy conversion chart to make this swap super simple and super sweet.

Why Should I Substitute Honey For Sugar?

Let's start off with WHY you would substitute sugar for honey.  Substituting raw honey for sugar in recipes has a myriad of benefits.  The most benefits will be realized from using raw, unprocessed honey as this type of honey is chock full of nutritional enzymes, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals.  Sugar, on the other hand contains little to no additional nutritional value, and with a higher GI, will raise blood sugar levels more quickly than honey. Furthermore, since honey has a much sweeter taste than sugar, you don’t need or use as much when adding it to drinks, food or desserts!  So, while honey naturally has more calories than sugar, since you use much less, you actually consume fewer calories than you would with sugar, overall. 

How Much Honey To Substitute for Sugar

Now! Before you just start substituting honey for sugar 1:1, its important to know a few things:

  1. Honey has a different composition than sugar, so your recipes liquid to solid ration will need to be adjusted.  Honey contains and retains more water than sugar, so you will need to decrease the amount of liquid in your recipe to make sure it forms correctly.  In addition, honey is heavier than most liquids, like water and milk, that you may normally bake with.  This must also be accounted for with adjusting measurements.
  2. Honey is more acidic than sugar. Having too much acid in a recipe when baking could keep your dish from rising.  As such, you will need to add baking soda as an alkaline base.
  3. (again) Due to its high fructose content, honey is much sweeter than sugar, so substituting 1 cup of honey for 1 cup of sugar will likely render your dish too sweet

I know, this may seem daunting or a bit confusing, but hey, maybe that’s why you’re here!  So, I've put together a handy chart to make the honey to sugar substitution much easier. It may even be helpful to print this out and place on or by your refrigerator.

sugar to honey conversion

 

In addition, since honey is sticky, its recommended to also use butter or a vegetable oil on utensils and measuring cups to help the honey slide out and off.  Let's make clean up as easy as possible!

How To Substitute Honey For Sugar When Baking

Raw honey comes in many different varieties, based on the plant the bees pollenate from, generally, it is recommended to use a neutral honey like Wildflower, when baking so as not to throw off the taste.  If you’re making something like a spiced rum cake, or snickerdoodle cookies, feel free to throw in a stronger tasting honey, or even SIIKA's  spice infused Renee Anastasia honey for a delectable twist and treat.

infused honey with cinnamon

 

How To Substitute Honey For Sugar When Cooking

Honey is absolutely amazing when used in glazes, sauces and marinades.  Try SIIKA's Freddie chili infused honey for a sweet yet spicy kick to honey glazed salmon, chicken, or pan seared vegetables.  You can even add a bit of honey to a homemade salad dressing, like this super simple Honey Balsalmic recipe:

Ingredients 

  • 1/4 cup light olive oil
  • 2 TBS balsamic vinegar
  • 1 1/2 – 2 tbsp honey
  • 1/2 tsp kosher salt
  • 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper

Directions

Combine all ingredients in a small, glass bowl. Using a which or fork, mix well. ENJOY!

This can be stored at room temperature in a small glass container with lid.  When ready to use again just shake!

How easy is that??  For a twist, use SIIKA's Rosemary & Chocolate Mint infused Mama honey in this recipe, over berries, spinach, and feta. Delish!

 

summer salad dressing with honey Siika

 

Adding honey gives the perfect hint of goodness and sweetness to your favorite recipes, without the negative drawbacks of sugar.  Try it for yourself and let me know how it turns out!

Siika Herb and Honey Infused honey

 

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