Baking with honey, especially when using locally produced, raw honey is a great way to get a little extra nutrition into your baking goods.
And if you keep bees on your homestead, you'll be looking for extra ways to use that wonderful, golden nectar, so here are a few facts about honey:
Honey is better for you than sugar because it makes your blood sugar rise at a much lower rate than sugar. The slower your blood sugar rises, the longer it will take to drop down again. No sugar roller coasters! But this is only true for raw honey, so always look for a local brand of raw honey.
The honey you buy in the store is usually processed, which means it has
been heated to the point where the nutrients are gone and you have
nothing left but sugar and no nutrients.
But do keep honey away from children under two. Babies under twelve months and diabetics need to steer clear from honey. Raw honey has bacteria in it that could be fatal to an infant.
The darker the honey, the stronger the flavor is likely to be, so keep that in mind when you are purchasing honey.
When substituting honey for sugar in any recipe, use equal amounts up to
If your recipe calls for more than one cup, then substitute less honey -
approximately two thirds to three fourths of a cup for every cup of
Also, if you are using more than one cup of honey in a recipe, then you
will need to reduce the amount of liquid by one fourth of a cup for
every cup of honey you use.
When baking breads or cakes with honey, you will need to lower your oven temperature 25 degree Fahrenheit and watch it carefully. Honey burns easily.
If you plan on using a recipe that doesn't already call for baking soda, you will need to add one fourth of a teaspoon of it for every cup of honey you use. It will help your baked goods rise when baking with honey.
To keep honey from sticking to your measuring cups and spoons, always measure and add your oil first, and
then use the same measuring instrument for your honey. That way, the honey won't stick to the utensil.
Honey is heavy. A cup of honey weighs twelve ounces, while a cup of water weighs only eight ounces. You need to keep this in mind when buying and using honey for your recipes.
It doesn't take much space to keep bees, and not only will you get the sweet reward of your own locally produced, raw honey, but your bees will also pollinate your garden. You can also sell your extra honey for an extra income.