Best Vegan Sugars/Substitutes
So. I like to bake. A lot. And I try my very best to make everything as vegan as possible (for health reasons, but also because I like to experiment).
I use a lot of Sugar in the Raw, which I've heard is vegan. But what other strictly-vegan sugars have you had the best results with specifically for baking?
AND what about brown sugar?
. . . and confectioners' sugar?
Any suggestions are greatly appreciated! If it helps, the kinds of things I like to bake are on my blog (METHOD).
Thank you, and happy Friday! :)
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11 Comments:
I use stevia, agave nectar, maple syrup, and brown rice syrup as sweeteners on a daily basis, but you can get sugars that are processed in a way that uses no animal byproducts, so is vegan (I've heard), but I don't know where. Whole Foods, maybe?
And, happy Friday to you, too!
Brownie at 8:42AM on 09/26/08
I've heard the most about agave nectar/syrup. You can buy it at Fairway, I'm sure some other markets (Whole Foods maybe), and they sell it at Babycakes in the LES.
Yay Friday!
Laurel E at 9:30AM on 09/26/08
Thanks for the suggestions. I've heard of the agave nectar, but haven't ever seen it. I'll have to hunt around this weekend. :)
makemethod at 10:00AM on 09/26/08
Agave nectar. It's pretty inexpensive to buy it in bulk on Amazon.com. My local Stop and Shop actually sells it, so does Trader Joe's. You can definitely find it in any health food store.
Best of luck,
Deb Schiff
Altered Plates
Here and There
hereandthe at 10:06AM on 09/26/08
Brown sugar and confectioners sugar are not necessarily vegan. Nothing that contains white sugar is necessarily vegan unless you can be 100% sure that it's made from sugar beet.
The best subsitute for white sugar is raw sugar, but for health reasons you might want to go towards better options like sucanat, sugarcane syrup, maple syrup. You might also want to look into sugar alcohols like xylitol, which is used in sugar free gum and has a very low glycemic index. Just don't use too much of it or it will give you the poops.
SqueezeBottle at 10:25AM on 09/26/08
Ok color me dumb but isn't sugar vegan- what animal byproduct is in sugar?????? I thought it was from a sugar cane?
love2cook at 10:29AM on 09/26/08
@love2cook - Sugar is white because it is filtered through bone char, a by-product of the beef industry.
WFs sells sugar that is labeled "vegan." Otherwise, look for organic brown, white and powdered sugars.
Here is an article that names vegan brands:
http://www.vegfamily.com/articles/sugar.htm
KarynMC at 11:06AM on 09/26/08
Thanks for the article, KarynMC!
makemethod at 12:59PM on 09/26/08
Rapunzel's organic whole can sugar is DELISH...better than white, better than brown...I use it in my baking and it adds such a good flavor...
I also use agave nectar, which is fantabulous
KateRuby at 8:35PM on 09/26/08
Double thanks, KarynMC--I'm glad to know that Pillsbury doesn't use bone char with its brown sugar. I'm not that strict, but if there is a cruelty-free option, I always prefer to take it.
HeartofGlass at 7:25PM on 09/27/08
Wow I feel so bad I had NO idea I needed to be careful with sugar! I often buy the raw organic but when i am doing a lot of baking i usually grab the cheap white stuff. :( Thanks karyn
love2cook at 1:33PM on 09/28/08