7 tips and tricks for healthy and low sugar dessert baking with Invoq oven

Replacing refined sugar with natural sweeteners like honey, maple syrup, or agave nectar is a great way to reduce sugar in your recipes. These alternatives not only provide sweetness but also add unique flavours and nutrients. 

InvoqChef tip: Use 180 ml (3/4 cup) of honey or maple syrup for every 200 ml (1 cup) of sugar your recipe calls for. Remember to reduce the liquid in your recipe by 60 ml (1/4 cup) to maintain the correct consistency. 

Fruits like bananas, apples, and dates are naturally sweet and can also be used to replace sugar in your baking. They add moisture and a boost of nutrients. 

InvoqChef tip: Substitute 200 ml (1 cup) of sugar with 200 ml (1 cup) of fruit puree. Note that using fruit purees can add extra liquid, so you may need to adjust the other wet ingredients in your recipe accordingly. Bananas are not as sweet and sugary as you might think, but still a good alternative and great for consistencies.  

While artificial sweeteners such as sucralose, stevia, saccharin and erythritol can reduce calories and sugar content, they don’t caramelize like sugar. This can affect the texture and colour of your baked goods. 

InvoqChef tip: If you’re using artificial sweeteners, combine them with a small amount of natural sweetener to achieve a better texture and appearance. 

Switching from white flour to whole grain flours like whole wheat or oat flour can make your baked goods healthier. Whole grain flours have more fiber, which can help stabilize blood sugar levels. 

InvoqChef tip: Whole grain flours can make your dough denser. To counteract this, we recommend using a blend of 20% whole grain and 80% white flour. 

Baking with whole grain flours can be challenging, especially when it comes to proving dough. Whole grains can make the dough denser and harder to rise. 

InvoqChef tip: Allow your dough more time to prove and consider adding a bit more yeast or using a pre-ferment to improve the rise. 

Ingredients like Greek yogurt, unsweetened applesauce, and mashed avocado can replace higher-calorie options like butter and oil, reducing the overall calorie content of your baked goods. 

InvoqChef tip: Replace half of the butter in your recipe with Greek yogurt to cut down on fat while keeping your baked goods moist. 

Using spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla can enhance the sweetness of your baked goods without adding sugar. These spices can trick your taste buds into perceiving a sweeter taste. 

InvoqChef tip: Add an extra teaspoon of vanilla extract or a pinch of cinnamon to your recipes to boost flavour naturally.