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What Are the Different Types of Sugar-Free Cakes?

Lori Kilchermann
Lori Kilchermann

There are many types of sugar-free cakes, from single-flavored, one-layer cakes to a multi-layered and multi-flavored cakes. Some sugar-free cakes rely on various ingredients to add an element of sweetness without adding sugar, such as the unsweetened applesauce used in making applesauce raisin spice cake. Granulated and liquid sugar substitutes enable many types of cakes, such as banana pudding cake, fruit cake and pound cake to be made in sugar-free options.

Some sugar-free cakes gain their flavor from fruits and nuts. Sugar-free spice cake features seedless raisins and chopped nuts. Sugar-free mandarin orange cake receives its flavor from two cans of mandarin oranges added to a butter cake mix, with chopped pecans added to the mix. Sugar-free apple cake features a combination of chopped pecans, chopped apples and raisins.

Dates, which are often used to sweeten sugar-free cakes.
Dates, which are often used to sweeten sugar-free cakes.

Although sugar-free cakes such as white and yellow can be made using a sugar substitute, they will not brown in the oven quite the same as when sugar is used. Known for their decadence, desserts such as German chocolate and red velvet can be made as sugar-free cakes. Granulated sugar substitute is used to create sugar-free red velvet cake and its frosting. Sugar-free German chocolate gains its flavor from almond milk, agave nectar and unsweetened baking chocolate. Its icing features a combination of almond milk, coconut flakes and agave nectar, which is spread on the cake and topped off with chopped pecans.

Applesauce can be used as a substitute for sugar in cakes.
Applesauce can be used as a substitute for sugar in cakes.

While applesauce is often used in regular cake recipes, sugar-free applesauce is a way to add sweetness to sugar-free cakes. Dietetic fruit cake's ingredients include peanut butter, sugar-free applesauce and oatmeal. It also gains flavor from a banana, white raisins and chopped nuts. Sugar-free spice cake features seedless raisins. Applesauce raisin spice cake features unsweetened applesauce, fruit cocktail and cinnamon.

Walnuts can be a tasty ingredient in some sugar-free cakes.
Walnuts can be a tasty ingredient in some sugar-free cakes.

Similar to applesauce, mashed bananas can be used to sweeten sugar-free cakes. A sugar-free date coffee cake features chopped dates, mashed bananas and vanilla. Sugar-free banana cake features mashed bananas, chopped walnuts and butter. Vanilla carob cake can be made sugar-free with mashed banana, flaked coconut and carob powder, and banana walnut cake features mashed bananas, cinnamon and chopped walnuts.

Mashed bananas are often used to sweeten baked goods.
Mashed bananas are often used to sweeten baked goods.

Carrots lend themselves to use in sugar-free cakes. Sugar-free carrot pineapple cake features thawed frozen unsweetened pineapple juice concentrate, shredded carrots and chopped toasted pecans. It is topped with a cream cheese frosting containing crushed pineapple and sugar substitute. Sugar-free carrot cake combines grated carrots with coconut and crushed pineapple.

Discussion Comments

subway11

@Oasis11 - I know what you are saying. A lot of times manufacturers will add additional ingredients to food when they take out the sugar or the fat. For example, many fat free foods have a lot of salt and added sugar, while many sugar free foods have added fat.

It just makes the food taste better and makes it more likely that people would continue to buy the products.

oasis11

@GreenWeaver -That does sound easy. I will have to try it. I wanted to add that I find that the sugar free chocolate cakes and cupcakes that I have seen tend to have added fat to them.

I see the amount of calories and I wonder if it is worth eating a sugar-free chocolate cake instead of having a piece of the regular cake. I am lucky that I have a choice, but my friend doesn’t. She has to have the sugar free cakes, but luckily she does not have a weight problem.

GreenWeaver

I just wanted to say that I use a cup of applesauce in conjunction with a sugar free cake mix and it is delicious. I have had guests that could not tell the difference. I am not diabetic, but I try to limit the amount of sugar that I eat and I was surprised to find so many different types of sugar free cake recipes out there that taste great.

I also use the Pillsbury sugar free cake mix and combine a can of pumpkin and make delicious cupcakes. I usually use the sugar free chocolate cake mix because it offers a richer taste. You can the sugar free yellow cake mix too, but I like the chocolate better. All you have to do is combine the two ingredients and bake it. You don't have to add anything else.

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    • Dates, which are often used to sweeten sugar-free cakes.
      By: Africa Studio
      Dates, which are often used to sweeten sugar-free cakes.
    • Applesauce can be used as a substitute for sugar in cakes.
      By: rimglow
      Applesauce can be used as a substitute for sugar in cakes.
    • Walnuts can be a tasty ingredient in some sugar-free cakes.
      By: mates
      Walnuts can be a tasty ingredient in some sugar-free cakes.
    • Mashed bananas are often used to sweeten baked goods.
      By: Tim UR
      Mashed bananas are often used to sweeten baked goods.