By Marie-Lyne Pelletier
Many of us would like to replace the white sugar in our diet with a more natural product like honey. Indeed, honey is a great alternative to refined sugar, in addition to providing health benefits. But before starting a recipe, it is important to consider a few points to obtain a good result and a delectable dish!
Adjust the amount of liquid
Unlike sugar, which is solid in nature, honey is rather liquid because it contains some water (about 20%). It is therefore important to reduce the liquid ingredients in our recipe to obtain a good result. It is suggested to reduce the total amount of liquid by 3 tablespoons (45 ml) per cup of sugar in the original recipe to obtain an optimal result. Moreover, the fructose contained in honey is a sugar that attracts water (hygroscopic). Honey will therefore help retain the moisture in your cakes, breads and muffins to extend their shelf life.
Sweetening power
Honey is composed of natural sugars such as fructose (40%), glucose (30%), water and minerals such as iron, calcium, potassium and magnesium, unlike white sugar which contains about 99% sucrose, an industrially processed product. It is mainly glucose and fructose that give honey a sweetening power greater than that of refined sugar. We must therefore reduce the quantity of honey by 25% to obtain the same sweet taste. Thus, for a cup of sugar, we can put ¾ cup of honey. In addition, the natural sugars in honey have the advantage of a low glycemic index, of being less caloric and of being better assimilated by the body than white sugar. Another good reason to adopt it!
Lowering the cooking temperature
Due to the glucose and fructose in honey, it will tend to brown more quickly when baking. It is therefore important to reduce the baking temperature to avoid changing the color of your bread, cake or muffin. It is suggested to lower the oven temperature by 25 o F from the original recipe, and continue baking for a few minutes for a better result.
Varied honeys for a diversity of flavors
Depending on the type of flowers that the bees have foraged, the flavor profile of the honey will vary greatly. For example, a clover honey is very sweet, pale and golden in color, while a buckwheat honey is much more spicy with aromas of molasses, coffee and caramel, as well as a darker, almost black color. You must therefore choose a honey that you like to taste and whose flavor will blend with the aromas of the recipe to be prepared. If you prefer a honey taste that remains subtle and discreet, it will be better to use a summer honey, light in color that will not risk overpowering other milder ingredients. Conversely, for a more full-bodied dish with spicy spices or for a dish where you want the honey to be the star, it is relevant to use a buckwheat, autumn or cornflower honey to obtain a unique and stand-out taste.
Honey is therefore an excellent solution to replace sugar in our diet. Whether in your favorite beverages, desserts, pastries, sauces and marinades, it will bring a nice sweet and natural touch. And opt to buy your honey directly from a Quebec beekeeper such as Miel & Co. to encourage the local economy, get advice from your producer and ensure a superior quality product. Enjoy!
