Clean Choice Awards 2013: Sweeteners
At Clean Eating, all of our recipes use only natural, unrefined sweeteners, such as these wholesome picks.
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Vermont Pure Maple Syrup
The staff at Clean Eating first fell in love with this maple syrup while testing out reader recipes for our first-ever baking contest. With over a century of experience under their belts and about one million gallons produced in Vermont in 2012 alone, it’s no surprise that this syrup is pure perfection. $50, vermontmaple.org
Bee Raw Maine Wild Raspberry Honey
We love this honey for its smooth and subtle sweetness and its unique play on traditional varieties. Create your own truly clean yogurt by stirring in just a touch of this floral-flavored sweetener. $12, beeraw.com
NOW Real Food Date Sugar
Possibly the best sugar alternative to emerge in 2012, date sugar – just dried and ground dates – is lower in calories and higher in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants than refined sugar. Plus, it packs in 8 grams of fiber per 1/2-cup serving. $7, nowfoods.com
Wholesome Sweeteners Fair Trade Certified Organic Sucanat
A comparable yet clean substitute for brown sugar, Sucanat undergoes less processing and retains more molasses than its refined counterpart. $5 per 1-lb bag, wholesomesweeteners.com
SweetLeaf Stevia Sweetener
Chemical-, carb- and calorie-free, this ultra-sweet sugar substitute originating from a South American herb is 100% natural and contains absolutely no additives. Need we say more? $9 per 70-count box, sweetleaf.com