Reducing sugar

Thirdinline I found a recipe for Ginger Biscuits using Xylitol and no wheat. It says 60ml of Xylitol but I may use less.

www.food24.com/Recipes-and-Menus/Baking/sugar-free-ginger-biscuits-20180921-4

Coconut in ginger biscuits might be nice but it's not sweet and my dgs doesn't like it!

Queen, an Australian company, do various versions of their Maple Syrup, including strawberrt and a blackcurrant sugar-free ones.

I use a bit of that in custard on the few occasions I make it, but as I am usually adding a blended banana to custard anyway it doesn't need any sweetener.

Here's and (almost) sugar free Ginger Cake with added cocoa!
You could leave it out. I think they've forgotten that crystallised ginger is actually saturated in sugar but as this is a diabetic recipes website, it must be all right.
Diabetics are allowed a little sugar.

www.diabetesdaily.com/blog/healthy-recipes-sugar-free-chocolate-and-ginger-cake-127276/

I always reduce the amount of sugar by a half. Makes no difference to the finished product except that it tastes better!

annepl Fasting days vary in difficulty for me depending how busy I am. I think most 5:2 devotees would agree that distraction is key to success! I get out and about, keep busy, read and watch a bit of TV. I don't eat until the evening on fast days because I find that food makes me hungry for more! I manage with plenty of tea, coffee and fruit teas then have my main meal at about 7.30pm. Others manage it differently but that works for me. (A little milk in tea and coffee won't derail things but I count it in my calorie allowance.) The fast diet website thefastdiet.co.uk has information and a forum. If you decide to try it, just remember that with anything you want to change, you have to really, really want it. If you are determined, you will succeed. Good luck!

PS (Since it's off topic) I tried putting all that (and more) in a PM but it wouldn't send.

Thank you Bradfordlass72. I could substitute ground almonds for the flour in the ginger biscuit recipe. I suppose the crystallised ginger is ok in the chocolate cake because there’s only 1 tsp of it in the whole cake.

DS3’s girlfriend is vegan &, like your DGS doesn’t like coconut. I find it such a versatile ingredient in many recipes and to me it tastes sweet. Thank you for reminding me about using ripe bananas to sweeten. I have a blueberry oat pancake recipe with ripe bananas as the main ingredient, they are delicious.

Using a recipe the other day for rice pudding, I reduced the sugar from 45 to 30 grams. Tasted perfect.

Lizzypopbottle thank you so much for all the information and for trying to pm. Much appreciated.?

I make rice pud with no sugar , long slow cooking brings out the natural sweetness in the milk

There was some research a while ago, but can’t find it, showing body absorbs sorbitol in diet drinks etc just like sugar ? Sorry that’s maybe not helpful. But it is interesting. Guess at least fewer calories...

These days I always weigh out the sugar correctly in recipes to see what sort of amount they are recommending. Usually I'm amazed how much there is and half it, at least. I did just make a sponge with half the amount of sugar so it does work. I learnt to bake like DM with 'handfuls' or 'sprinkles' than following quantities so it's never bothered me to reduce amounts. Also we can't have sweeteners as it makes OH's IBS flare up. I suppose now we are used to less sugar we crave it less. OH did make rice pudding once with canned coconut milk and no sugar and it was delicious. If anything really isn't sweet enough I usually serve it with cream, if suitable, to mask it. Fresh fruit, though, is my downfall, I can't resist it.

Fresh fruit, though, is my downfall, I can't resist it.

Is there any reason why you should?

I made apricot and plum jams this summer, following a French recipe. I used 2kg fruit to 800 gms of sugar. It doesn't set as well but that doesn't matter because each time I'm only making a few jars.

I have a marmalade recipe that calls for same weight of sugar as fruit, rather than the usual twice as much sugar. Works well, tastes nice and tangy and keeps fine.

Aggie surprising just how sweet milk is isn't it.

Gonegirl Especially the Zero-Lactose version.

I must remember to ask someone to read the label and see if the dairy adds it.

Bradford lass if you are diabetic the sugar in fruit is as bad for you as any sugar . I would never eat more than 6 grapes at a time . People think because it is fruit it must be good for you but they are wrong you must choose which fruit you eat. By the way my sugar must be 20 years out of date as I do not use any . I never bake as DH would be left to eat it and he is not keen so no sugar or even sugar substitutes . The only person I kept sugar for as he liked it in his tea has been told he is prediabetic so I can throw it out now.