Baking with Stevia

If your New Year’s resolution was to cut more sugar from your diet for whatever reason then stevia should be on your pantry shelf.

It has no side effects, does not have an effect on your blood sugar, has 0 calories, and is fairly inexpensive.  The problem is that most people have either never heard of it or have no clue how to use it.

I have a solution for that.

First, I recommend that you get the pure steviocide, a white powder.  NOW Brand is the best that I have found and it is available nearly everywhere.  If you can’t find it locally check Amazon.

Essentially the equivalent chart looks like this:

• 1/16 tsp stevia to 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/4  tsp stevia to 3/4 cup sugar
• pinch stevia to 1 tsp sugar
• 1 tsp stevia to 2 cups sugar

Now, because of the sweetness of stevia you will need to experiment and adjust.  You may also want to use part stevia and part sugar.  That way you cut the sugar but don’t get the aftertaste that can happen with pure stevia.  Also different brands of stevia powder will yield different results so keep in mind that you will need to experiment a bit.

Here is a recipe to try to get you started.

Stevia Banana Bread

• 2 eggs
• 2/3 c. melted, unsalted butter
• 1 c mashed, very ripe bananas
• 1/3 c milk
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 2 1/2 c  flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp stevia  powder (I use NOW brand)
• 1 c chopped macadamia nuts

1. Preheat oven to 350
2. Cream the butter and banana
3. Beat in the eggs, milk, and vanilla
4. Combine the remaining ingredients and stir in
5. Spoon into a greased 9×5 loaf pan
6. Bake for 1 hour

image by:Ethel Aardvark, under wikimedia creative commons