With rising rates of obesity and diabetes, many people are looking to cut back on sugar in their diets. For baked goods like muffins that are traditionally loaded with sugar, this can present a challenge. Thankfully, there are some great options for sugar free muffin mixes on the market these days.
What is Sugar Free Muffin Mix?
Sugar free muffin mix is a premixed powder that contains all the dry ingredients needed to make muffins, minus the sugar. Most traditional muffin mixes contain large amounts of added sugars like white sugar, brown sugar, honey, etc. Sugar free mixes swap out the sugar for low calorie sweeteners like stevia, erythritol, sucralose, aspartame, etc.
Many sugar free mixes also reduce the carbohydrates by using nut flours and fiber supplements. This makes them a good option for low carb and keto diets in addition to being lower in sugar. The mix is combined with wet ingredients like oil, eggs, and milk or water to make the muffin batter.
Benefits of Sugar Free Muffin Mix
There are several benefits that make sugar free muffin mixes an appealing choice compared to traditional, high sugar mixes:
- Fewer calories – Sugar substitutes save a significant number of calories compared to sugar
- Less sugar – Good for diabetes control and reducing cavities/tooth decay
- Lower glycemic impact – Won’t spike blood sugar as dramatically
- Can be lower in carbs – Allows them to fit into low carb and keto eating plans
- Convenient – All dry ingredients pre-mixed and portioned out
For people monitoring sugar and carb intake or managing diabetes, sugar free mixes provide a simple way to enjoy muffins and other baked treats without all the excess sugar.
Popular Sugar Free Muffin Mix Brands
There are a number of great brand options for premade sugar free muffin mixes. Here are some of the most popular:
Birch Benders
Birch Benders offers mixes for chocolate chip, banana nut, and blueberry muffins. They use stevia and monk fruit to sweeten. The mixes are also keto-friendly, made with almond and coconut flours.
Kodiak Cakes
In addition to their well-known protein pancake mixes, Kodiak Cakes makes sugar free muffin mixes in flavors like chocolate chip, pumpkin spice, and lemon blueberry. They use monk fruit and stevia as sweeteners.
Pyure Organic
Pyure’s stevia-sweetened mixes come in banana nut, chocolate chip, blueberry, and apple cinnamon flavors. The mixes are low glycemic and non-GMO.
Birch Benders Paleo
The paleo line from Birch Benders has sugar free mixes for chocolate chip, lemon poppyseed, and pumpkin spice muffins. They use compliant ingredients like almond flour and monk fruit.
Trim Healthy Mama
Trim Healthy Mama’s muffin mixes are sweetened with erythritol and are considered an “S” (fueling) recipe according to their diet plan. Flavors include blueberry, lemon, and chocolate.
Tips for Baking Sugar Free Muffin Mix
Sugar free muffin mixes bake up a little differently than traditional mixes. Here are some tips for getting great results:
- Follow package instructions carefully, especially for any extra ingredients or sweeteners
- Spray the muffin pan well or use paper liners to prevent sticking
- Let the baked muffins cool completely before removing from pan
- Check for doneness a few minutes early. Sugar free muffins brown faster
- Add a few extra minutes of baking time if needed for the center to finish
- Experiment with different sugar free sweeteners to achieve desired taste and texture
It may take some trial and error to get the exact results you want. Starting with recipes from a mix makes it easy to get a feel for how sugar substitutes work in muffin batter and allows you to customize from there.
Can You Make Your Own Sugar Free Mix?
Absolutely! It’s easy to put together your own DIY sugar free muffin mix with just a few simple ingredients:
Dry Ingredients
- 1 3/4 cups almond flour
- 1/4 cup coconut flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 tbsp sugar substitute like erythritol or stevia
- Optional: cinnamon, nutmeg, cocoa powder, vanilla powder, etc
Wet Ingredients
- 2 eggs
- 1/4 cup oil, melted butter, or applesauce
- 1/4 cup milk of choice
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Mix the dry ingredients together and store in an airtight container. When ready to bake, combine the wet and dry ingredients until just incorporated. Portion into a muffin pan and bake at 375F for 15-18 minutes.
Get creative with flavors by adding different extracts, spices, or sugar free chocolate chips. The possibilities are endless!
Where to Buy Sugar Free Muffin Mix
Here are some places you can find sugar free muffin mixes, both in-store and online:
- Amazon
- Netrition
- Thrive Market
- Grocery stores like Kroger, Safeway, Publix, etc.
- Natural food stores like Whole Foods, Sprouts, Earth Fare
- Drug stores like CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid
- Big box stores like Target, Walmart
- Specialty stores like Cost Plus World Market
Look in the baking aisle or health food section. Brand availability may vary by location. Of course, you can always make your own mix from individual ingredients purchased at any grocery store.
Sugar Free Muffin Recipes Without Mix
Using a premade mix makes whipping up sugar free muffins super easy. But you can also find many recipes to make them from scratch if you prefer:
Low Carb Sugar Free Blueberry Muffins
Uses almond flour, butter, and stevia for a delicious low carb blueberry muffin.
Keto Sugar Free Chocolate Chip Muffins
Coconut flour and erythritol give these chocolatey muffins a low carb kick.
Gluten Free Sugar Free Banana Muffins
Ripe bananas and cinnamon make these gluten free muffins sweet and flavorful.
Vegan Sugar Free Pumpkin Muffins
Pumpkin spice shines in these dairy free muffins made with almond milk and applesauce.
Sugar Free Zucchini Muffins
Shredded zucchini and warm spices make these muffins perfectly moist.
There are tons of creative recipe ideas out there for sugar free muffins without needing a premade mix.
Conclusion
In conclusion, there are definitely good store-bought options for sugar free muffin mixes from brands like Kodiak Cakes, Birch Benders, Trim Healthy Mama, and more. They provide an easy shortcut to sugar free baking by having the dry ingredients pre-mixed and portioned out.
Sugar free muffin mixes swap the sugar for low calorie sweeteners like stevia, erythritol, and monk fruit. They allow you to enjoy delicious muffins while lowering the sugar and carbohydrate content. Many mixes use nut flours to further reduce carbs. With the right ingredients and some trial and error, you can also easily make your own sugar free muffin mix from scratch.
So if you’re looking to cut back on sugar and refine your baking skills, grab a sugar free muffin mix or whip up a DIY blend. Muffins can still be on the menu when reducing added sugars!
