There’s no denying that sugar makes sweet treats taste great. Unfortunately, consuming too much processed sugar can lead to a host of health problems, including weight gain and tooth decay. One great way to cut down your sugar intake is to substitute it with delicious honey. Here’s a quick guide to the benefits of swapping honey for sugar, including some tips for doing it right.

Benefits of Using Honey as a Sugar Substitute

Honey and Sucrose (table sugar) are both carbohydrates that consist of two types of sugar: glucose and fructose. Sucrose is made up of 50% fructose and 50% glucose and has no nutritional value. Honey, on the other hand, contains 40% fructose and 30% glucose—the remaining 30% is made up of bee pollen, water, and trace amounts of beneficial nutrients, such as B vitamins, magnesium, calcium, and potassium. 

Raw honey has many beneficial enzymes that can help with blood sugar regulation and is also rich in antioxidants like flavonoids and phenolic acids, which may reduce the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and some types of cancer. In addition,  honey is naturally sweeter than table sugar, so less can be used to achieve the same level of sweetness.

Helpful Substitution Tips

Because honey is sweeter than processed sugar, you’ll need to reduce the amount you use by about 25 to 30 percent if the recipe calls for more than 1 cup of sugar. If the recipe only requires 1 cup or less, just substitute at a 1:1 ratio. Also, honey is made up of 18% to 24% water, so you’ll have to reduce the amount of liquid called for in a recipe by about one-fifth.

Because of the high water content in honey, it’s an excellent ingredient for baked goods because it helps keep them moist and fresh. When substituting honey for sugar while baking, lower your oven temperature by 25 degrees Fahrenheit. You may also want to add a pinch of baking soda to prevent over-browning.

If you’re looking for high-quality honey to use as a substitute for sugar, get in touch with Register Family Farm in Freeport, FL. Family-operated and veteran-owned, this 1,200-colony bee farm makes a wide variety of all-natural, ethically produced products, including rare Tupelo honey, handmade beeswax candles, soaps, lip balms, and lotions. Visit their website or call (850) 392-7404 to learn more.