Reducing sugar in muffins

[Bumperlicious]

Can I reduce the sugar in muffin recipes? What will happen if I do? Could I leave it out completely and sweeten with fruit juice or something? I would like to make some muffins for a regular snack for DD (well, and me) but would like to make some that are a little more virtuous.

You can make savoury muffins, so I can;t see leaving out some or even all the sugar would be a problem.

That's what I thought , would they taste crap though?

Wouldn't have thought it would be a prob espesh as muffins are sposed to be savoury. I cut half the sugar and put in lots of coconut for fairy cakes - and they taste lovely!

Mmm, coconut, sounds yummy.

oh I've got healthy muffin recipe somewhere, hold on

Muffins
8oz wholemeal s-r flour
pinch cinnamon
pinch nutmeg
2oz chopped pecans (I have leave these out, or put in ground almonds, it's fine)
2 oz desiccated coconut
6 oz grated carrots
6 oz grated apple
3 oz chopped dates
2 beaten eggs
4 fl oz sunflower oil
1 tsp vanilla extract
Mix all dry ingredients in one bowl and all wet in another, then combine and mix thoroughly. Spoon into muffin cases and put on a baking tray. Bake for 20 mins at 180 / GM 4.

bit of a faff but rather nice and children enjoy helping to make them

I've completely left out the sugar before now -I never intended to...just the stress of cooking with a small child who is into everything

They tastest odd (which is when I realised what we'd done) but were perfectly edible. They were banana and choc chip IIRC.

I think that fat is the big calorie issue with muffins more than sugar - so they are never going to be a really healthy option.

As such I would keep the sugar and just serve them as a treat now and again.

there is a great muffin recipe without sugar in Jane Clarke's book Yummy baby.They have raspberries and bananas in and are really nice and a good breakfast muffin .