Sixteen Low and No Sugar Recipes from Southern Plate!
Please leave a comment below and let us know if you’ve tried any of these – or just how your day is going! I just love hearing from y’all!
Today I thought I’d bring you another compilation post of low or no sugar recipes that are on Southern Plate. I put one of these up last year but I’ve had so many more recipes to add to it that I just did a complete update and ended up with 16 of my favorite recipes for those of us who, for whatever reason, need less sugar in our diets. Be sure to read the notes by each recipe here before going to the post to make sure you know how I modify the recipe as sometimes it may not be as prominent in the post itself. Of course there is natural sugar in milk and of course there is natural sugar in fruit, no sense in splitting hairs. I just wanted to show you what I do to make desserts and treats more friendly for myself.
See, sugar and I are not friends. Sugar doesn’t like me very much and I can only have it in ve
ry small quantities at a time. Now do y’all think for one minute that I am about to go without all of the sweet things I post on Southern Plate? Yeah, you know me better than that! I have “workarounds” for several of our classic Southern dishes and you’d never know the difference!
So lets start things off by letting you know what I do differently to the following dishes in order to make them feast friendly for those of us who are watching our sugar and calories. I’m afraid I can’t give you nutritional values. I can’t tell you how many calories per serving or how many grams of sugar, fat, or protein each dish offers. It would be nice if I had that ability but I don’t own any fancy shmancy software to allow me to do that (and I detest math enough not to even attempt to calculate it on my own) so I’m afraid you’re on your own there.
A note about Splenda: In most of these recipes, all I do differently is substitute Splenda for sugar. I don’t use name brand Splenda. I buy a generic version of it in the big yellow bag (At Wal Mart it is called “Altern” but Kroger has generic as well, as I’m sure many other large retailers do). A bag sells for about six dollars and lasts me a pretty good while.
My best advice when substituting Splenda for sugar is to use a hair less Splenda than the sugar it calls for. For example: If a recipe calls for one cup of sugar, measure out a cup of Splenda (don’t pack it!) and remove a tablespoon.
The common mistake most people make when substituting Splenda for sugar is to add a little more than what the recipe calls for. This yields an artificially sweetened taste. So use a little less and you’ll be just fine 🙂 . Unfortunately, you can’t substitute Splenda for sugar in baking and have the end result turn out the same. You’ll notice, then, that none of my Splenda recipes include baked goods.
Now, how about some Southern Classics without the guilt?
This one qualifies at “lower sugar”. Rather than a traditional cream filling, I make mine out of light whipped topping and sugar free pudding.
You can also use skim milk.
The only “real” sugar in these is the bit of glaze on the top.
Might not be a no sugar recipe but its definitely a lot lower than something from a doughnut shop!
The first time my mother had this she said it was so good she almost spit it out, knowing it had to be loaded with sugar.
Guess what? It’s sugar free!
Easy Peasy, classic hot chocolate, just use Splenda instead of sugar.
We make this with Splenda and sugar free fruit cocktail.
There is a good bit of natural sugars in the fruit but its a much better alternative than if you had a full sugar version.
Yes, the cake has sugar. But the pudding icing on top leaves you much better off than if you would have used traditional icing.
This is also one of my FAVORITE cakes from my childhood. I like to keep it in the fridge and eat it cold. YUMM!
Almost No Sugar Ice Cream Grahamwiches
I like to keep these in the freezer in the summertime.
They are a great treat for the kids and I eat the plain ones or the ones with nuts so I can join in on treat time!
Buttermilk Congealed Salad (and a multitude of tangents)
We use sugar free whipped topping and sugar free gelatin in this one. You can make it any flavor you want by changing the gelatin!
Chocolate Gravy Made With Splenda
WHAT? You’ve been doing without CHOCOLATE GRAVY? Get on in that kitchen and mix up this recipe, substituting Splenda for the sugar.
Its how I make mine and my kids have never known!
In fact, this chocolate gravy pictured was made with Splenda!
Ahhh, the dish that started Southern Plate! I make my banana pudding with all Splenda instead of sugar.
I use regular Nilla Wafers because they don’t have much sugar in them anyway, but you can buy sugar free wafers if you like!
Yup…I even substituted Splenda for the sugar in this rice pudding, too…Mama Reed would be proud!
Now for this gorgeous little thing, we use sugar free jello and light or fat free whipped topping, fat free angel food cake, and fresh strawberries to create a light and delicious dessert!
These hit the spot when you want something quick and sweet.
Warm apple pie in a crispy tortilla shell, I use Splenda in place of sugar throughout this recipe and omit the caramel sauce at the end.
My husband can never tell if I’ve made them with Splenda or sugar!
Craving a tropical drink? Something icy and cool, I often make these for breakfast, using Splenda in place of the sugar.
Sweet Tea: Elixir Of The South
Y’all know I can’t even remember the last time I drank sweet tea with sugar!
It’s been almost ten years! I substitute Splenda for the sugar.
If you’re a bread pudding lover like me, you’ll love this recipe which uses leftover hamburger or hot dog buns!
Splenda for the sugar, and you can eat it guilt free!
I often make this recipe and use Splenda in place of the sugar.
You can omit the marshmallows and still have a wonderfully delicious dessert or side dish!
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Thank you all so much for hanging in there with me as I hit the home stretch on the book! If you have any immediate questions about Southern Plate recipes, please leave them in the comments here or on the Southern Plate Family Facebook page. Our Southern Plate family is as helpful as they can be! If you’re new to Southern Plate, WELCOME!!! Sit a spell, stay a while, and get to know all the wonderful folks here on my virtual front porch (you are welcome to reply to comments and chat with other readers!). I’m a little out of pocket as I finish up my book for Harper Collins but I’ll be around to fill your tea glasses directly!
Gratefully,
Christy 🙂
Life is too short to wake up with regrets.
Love the people who treat you right and forget about the ones
who don’t.
Submitted by Donna in SC. Submit your quote here!
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Dead fleas wouldn’t fall off’n him. Bless his heart.
(said about a particularly lazy person)
~Old Southern Sayings
The Baby Boston Cremes are to DIE FOR! They are so quick n easy to make and oh so good! My husband and I both thank you for this recipe. Have you ever tried them with banana pudding??? yummmmmmm
Donna, filled with the banana pudding sounds good!
I tried the fruit salad with Splenda and took it to my in-law’s last year for Christmas. I really liked it which is a good thing because I wound up taking most of it home! I’ve discovered that the most popular dessert items at their get-togethers are portable and involve chocolate, whipped topping, and nothing low cal! That’s why at another family gathering I took your chocolate sundae cake in cupcake form. They were totally devoured!
And I’ll put in another plug for lemon chess pie made with Splenda. Yummy! My husband’s favorite dessert now! I can make it without looking at the recipe!
Hey Christy, thanks so much for the recipes! I’ve been looking for low and no sugar recipes as my doctor recently told me that my blood sugar was an area of concern. I’ve lost 16 pounds in 21 days and am just thrilled!
Congrats on your recent weight loss too girl!
These all sound so yummy! I have a hard time with “fake” sugars, because they give me the shakes, but I’ve never really tried splenda. I should..Lord knows I could use a little help in the weight department. Olivia decided to tell me that my belly was as big as Santa’s a few weeks ago. If that’s not enough to get me back to taking better care of myself, I don’t know what is!
Yummy Yummy! I am so glad you made this post, thanks for sharing. I am always looking for sugar substituted recipes as my in-laws are trying to watch their sugar intake and when we have them over I like to accommodate their needs too. I can’t wait to try the Baby Boston Creme Pies my family loves those and now there’s not as much guilt! 🙂
BTW I so enjoyed meeting you and your family at the Athens State event. What a pleasure and inspiration you are Christy! I can hardly wait for your book to come out, I’ve got a list of people to send copies to. They are all excited about it too, cause I’ve really been talking it up to them. Remind me, how soon can we get the book?
I started rambling on and nearly forgot to add my Old Southern Sayings. This is what folks around here say about those that don’t use common sense very well: “That don’t even make good walking down the road sense”
Keep those recipes coming Christy! My family and I really appreciate them and you!
Blessings,
Christine
I don’t know why people don’t understand how adaptable southern cooking is! Some people automatically get turned off by the higher fat and sugar content of recipes but just some adjustments like adding sugar substitutes for sugar and/or using similar lower fat products and most recipes can be adapted to suit individual tastes and needs. Of course the results are not perfectly identical to the higher sugar and higher fat originals, but the recipes are still wonderfully tasty and decidedly southern!
Nice post my southern sister!! 🙂
Those all look scrumpdillyicious! It is a good time of year to be thinking low sugar as I am still struggling with pounds which I put on with my holiday indulgences. Love any kind of tips and recipes as weight is a constant battle for me so anyone who has some good ones-please share.
Thank you so much, Elaine! I recently lost a good bit of weight and did up a notecard of what I did because folks were asking. I’ll try to send it to you soon as the dust settles!
Gratefully,
Christy
I am thinking much of your weight loss is from sheer activity. You always sound busier than a one armed paper hanger to me!
Christy, sent the info on weight loss to me too!
please send a copy to me too!!!!! thanks! You are looking great.
Please put me on the email list for that too, Miss Christy! 🙂
hey christy!… good for you in the battle of the buldge!… i am still struggling myself and with the warmer months coming (we’re still not there yet, can you believe it?) i wouldn’t mind to get my hands on your notecard if you don’t mind… i love all the help i can get!… thanks a bunch… oh and love the recipes, we’ve tried quite a few and the kids are always willing to munch down on them, thanks!… 🙂
I would love your notecard on your weightloss. I have tried for 45yrs (ever since I had my thyroid out) to lose weight. Happy New Year to you and yours <3
Elaine, low carb has really worked for me. I’ve lost belly fat mostly which is what I needed to do. I don’t eat rice, corn, white flour, potatoes, bread and hardly any sugar.
Typical breakfast is eggs and sausage or bacon. Snack might be a piece of fruit, low fat string cheese, sugar free yogurt.
Lunch is protein and vegetable and same for dinner. Last night I had a steak and brussel sprouts and low carb ice cream for dessert. Nearly every day I eat Jello Cook and Serve sugar free chocolate pudding made with skim milk. That gives me the chocolate fix. 🙂 Good luck to you!