Refined sugar alternatives: Why honey is a better choice for sweet treats

Refined sugar alternatives: Why honey is a better choice for sweet treats

As the colder months settle in, many people start searching for simple ways to cut back on refined sugar without losing the comfort of their favourite sweet treat. Swapping refined sugar for natural honey is becoming an increasingly popular option for those looking for healthier sweeteners, low processed food swaps, and more balanced winter eating habits. For households exploring easy ways to reduce sugar intake, support winter wellness, and making family-friendly desserts, locally produced honey is a pantry staple worth rediscovering. 

Mānuka Honey is especially good for supporting your immunity in winter recipes, while also satisfying your sweet tooth! Pure Mānuka Honey is rich in antioxidants, antiviral, and antibacterial to add an extra layer of protection against illness and fight off germs in your system. 

If you’re especially looking for sweeter honey to add to cozy hot drinks, lighter honey like Pohutukawa or Kānuka Honey hit the spot. 

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If you are trying to cut back on refined sugar without sacrificing flavour, these easy honey recipes offer plenty of inspiration. 

Simple ways to replace sugar with honey:

  • Tea, coffee, or hot chocolates
  • Porridge
  • Smoothies 
  • Sweet cooking sauces and marinades 
  • Honey-dipped fruit as a dessert

 

Healthier Hot Chocolate

Instead of a hot chocolate sachet, slowly warm up milk on the stove and stir in baking cocoa powder with honey to sweeten. Let it gently simmer, not boil, until combined and enjoy!


Honey Cookies

Honey cookies are sweet and easy homemade dessert. We all know cookies fly off the table when family is around! Check out this recipe from Purely Wholesome for the method - note the brown sugar has been swapped out for more honey in our version. 

  • 2½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup honey (increase honey and remove brown sugar from original recipe)
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract


Honey Cider Chutney 

Although not a dessert, a nice winter chutney often needs a lot of refined sugar added when cooking. Did you know you can use honey instead? Here’s an example using an Abel and Cole recipe that uses honey instead of refined sugar. 

  • 400g apples, finely diced
  • 300g pears
  • 300g onions, finely diced
  • 175g honey
  • 150g prunes
  • 2 tsp mixed spice
  • Pinch of salt
  • Thumb of fresh ginger, peeled and diced


How to substitute honey for sugar in baking:

  • Reduce measurement for honey: Replace 1 cup of sugar with about ¾ cup honey.
  • Reduce liquids: Cut other liquids in the recipe by 2–3 tablespoons.
  • Lower the oven temperature: Reduce heat by about 10-15°C as honey browns faster than sugar.
  • Add a pinch of baking soda to balance acidity in the honey.

 

Shop New Zealand Mānuka Honey now

 

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