There are several reasons why opting for a vegan diet is good for you. Apart from the health benefits that you can garner from it, you are also helping the environment by going for a plant-based diet. Nonetheless, even vegans crave something sweet too but honey may not be a viable option. This article lists down some of the best vegan alternatives to honey.
Date Syrup
One of the best vegan alternatives to honey is date syrup. This is considered a viable honey alternative for vegans who love to have a hint of sweetness in their food. It is a natural sweetener that is rich in fibre, as well as other vitamins and minerals. This means that you are adding more nutritional value to your recipes and dishes by using date syrup. It is best used for smoothies or added in sauces and marinades.
Barley Malt Syrup
Barley malt syrup is generated by malting barley grains. It is a highly concentrated natural sweetener that has an assertive flavour. It is almost as thick as molasses in consistency but it is not overpowering. Barley malt syrup is also less sweet than honey, which means that you may add the amount that you need for a recipe that calls for honey if you are using barley malt syrup in its place. This sweetener is best used for yeasted pieces of bread, as well as for baking muffins and quick breads.
Brown Rice Syrup
Brown rice syrup is another vegan alternative to honey. Some use it as is, while others opt to add it to their dishes and recipes to add a taste of sweetness to it. It requires no preparation, such that you can use it directly for cooking. However, when used for baking goods, it can make your bread too crispy. Hence, more often than not, it is used in combination with other sweeteners, particularly for baking. Nonetheless, its taste is half as sweet as sugar and it also has a long shelf life.
Maple Syrup
You can also consider maple syrup as a vegan alternative to honey. It is a natural sweetener that is high in antioxidants, as well as other minerals such as zinc, calcium, and iron to name a few. Perhaps the only drawback that you need to take note of when using maple syrup is that it is high in calories, which means that excessive use of it can lead to weight gain. For this reason, you need to ensure that you consume maple syrup in moderation.
Blackstrap Molasses
Finally, you can also go for the use of blackstrap molasses instead of honey. This is another vegan sweetener that is made from sugar cane juice. It is rich in iron and calcium, which means that it is also a healthier alternative than most processed sweeteners.
The sweeteners listed above are only some of the best vegan alternatives to honey. All these are plant extracts that can add a hint of sweetness to your vegan recipes and dishes. Apart from being a healthier alternative, these sweeteners are even more cost-effective than honey.
