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
I just wanted to let you know that I LOVE your site! I am excited to look at your recipes every day on my lunch break. My family and I are slowly making our way through your collection.=)
Thanks for the recipes!! They look absolutely great and I’m anxious to try a few! Hope life gets back to “normal” for you soon! We’re thinking about you . . . even throwing in some extra prayers for you!
You are right about that terrible artificial flavour. That is why I have never been a fan of sugar replacements because I couldn’t stand that fake aftertaste. But it makes sense when you say to reduce the amount because I have been known to add extra. hehe
For me, I found Sweet ‘n’ Low to be the one product that had the least fake taste to it.
A terrific, healthy sweetener substitute – Agave nectar. It’s like honey, without an aftertaste, and safe for diabetics. It doesn’t spike blood sugar, so low on the glycemic index.
It works particularly well for sauces, mixed fruit, and yes, you can bake with it. I usually just cut back on the sugar and add some agave in place of it so you still get some of the crunch and crust that sugar brings to baked goods. It’s a great sweetener to hot chocolate made with soy milk and dark cocoa.
Agave nectar is made from a plant, so there are trace elements and antioxidants.
Also, unlike honey, it dissolves in cold liquids, so you can use it to sweeten iced tea or homemade lemonade.
At first you could only find this in health food stores for about $6 a bottle. But now it is showing up in grocery stores for $4 a bottle. I often buy it online by the case. Recently I found a 16 oz jug in my local discount grocers for $4.00.
Can you tell me were to look for the Agave Necture in the store? Is it by the sugar or Honey section?
Thanks for the suggestion
hi christy i love your strawberry lemonade in the summer soo good , how did you lose your weight sweetie ? you look amazing ,would love to know, if you can sometime email me cillababy@live.com good luck honey on the book cant wait too buy it . hugs Cilla
Just wanted to let you know I made the Baby Boston Creme Pies and they are fantastic. I will be making these often for sure. Thanks for all you do for all of us, you are greatly loved and appreciated my my family and myself.
Christy, Glassware for (1)Buttermilk Congealed Salad and (2)StrawberryAde above are like those my Mama used. I have one of my Mama’s sherbet dishes, but none of the Ade glasses. I love it when I spy an older piece from years ago. And I recognize many of your dinnerware.