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You can use agave nectar as an alternative to maple syrup or
honey. Baking with agave nectar is no different than when using
traditional ingredients, but there are some rules you must observe in
order to achieve good results.
Agave nectar is derived from a plant of the same name. This plant
is also used in the production of tequila, although Agave nectar
itself does not have alcohol content because it is produced
differently.
Because of its lower sugar content, many people are now shifting
into using Agave nectar instead of refined sugar. This is a viable
option for people suffering from diabetes. The way it works is that
what little sugar is contained in the nectar flows slowly into the
body’s blood stream, making the sugar level more manageable.
Agave nectar can be used in a wide array of dishes, but one
prominent use is in baking. Baking with agave nectar is real fun and
challenging. Because its sweetness is a bit different from traditional
sugar, you will need to make some adjustments in your recipe.
One rule that you should keep in mind is to not make agave nectar
an alternative for standard sugar. Refined sugar should still be the
number sweetener in the recipe, with agave nectar only used to add a
different touch in your baked goodies.
Follow closely the recipe’s instructions down to the exact
measurements of the ingredients. The rule of the thumb is to match the
amount of agave nectar with the sugar required. Then use the butter in
the recipe to mix both sugar and nectar.
Because you have added extra sugar content, you will need to add
one fourth cup of cornstarch or flour in order to balance things
out. This is also needed in order to make sure that the texture is
maintained despite adding a wet component to your ingredients.
Proceed with the normal instructions. Put a little more oil in the
pans because agave nectar tends to be more sticky than sugar. You can
follow closely the rest of the direction as there really is no set of
rules when it comes to agave nectar.
The only thing that you need to observe is to make sure that the
nectar is the same amount as the sugar in the original recipe. Just a
tip, you may use butter instead of traditional oil to add a savory
flavor to your baked goods.
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