Karen StoylesLet me tell you a secret. You can make almost any recipe healthier by replacing white sugar with maple syrup. Yes, it’s true! Are you asking yourself why, or how? I’ll tell you. Maple syrup is a natural form of sugar. It is minimally processed and therefore contains more nutrients than white sugar.
In fact, there has been a brand new compound discovered in Quebec — maple syrup named Quebecol. Quebecol is an anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory, both shown to fight disease such as cancer and diabetes. Maple syrup also contains minerals such as zinc and manganese, both beneficial for a healthy immune system.
The darker the colour of the syrup the more nutrients it contains. I would recommend organic maple syrup to reduce exposure to pesticides and other toxins. Of course, maple syrup is still a sugar, and we can’t forget that. It does provide some health benefits, but should also be consumed in moderation. Excess sugar has many health risks including obesity, diabetes and heart disease.
Another great thing about maple syrup is that it is so sweet and tastes so good, you don’t need much. If you would like to start substituting white sugar with maple syrup in your recipes, use half as much syrup as the recipe calls for sugar. Chances are you will like it. Don’t believe me? Try one of these recipes and see for yourself!
PrintApple Raisin Pecan Muffins
Let me tell you a secret. You can make almost any recipe healthier by replacing white sugar with maple syrup. Yes, it’s true! Are you asking yourself why, or how? I’ll tell you. Maple syrup is a natural form of sugar. It is minimally processed and therefore contains more nutrients than white sugar.
- Prep Time: 15
- Cook Time: 15
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 12 1x
Ingredients
1 3/4 cup whole wheat flour
1/4 cup wheat bran
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
2 medium or 3 small apples, finely chopped
3/4 cup pecans, chopped
1/2 cup raisins
1/4 cup pure maple syrup
2/3 cup milk
1/3 cup unsweetened apple juice
1/4 cup butter (softened)
1 egg
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
- Grease 12 small or 6 big muffin pan with butter.
- Combine flour, wheat bran, baking powder, cinnamon, apples, pecans and raisins in a medium size bowl.
- Beat maple syrup, milk, juice, butter and egg in a small bowl until blended well.
- Add to flour mixture and stir until just combined.
- Spoon batter into muffin pan and bake for 15 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted comes out clean.
- Eat them while they’re still warm, with a little bit of butter (optional). Enjoy!
Notes
