Recently, we posted a picture of Molasses Flourless Cake with Cinnamon Buttercream to our facebook page (not following us there? Well you should! We're always updating with tips, tricks, and pics!). Now, depending on how adventurous an eater you are, that might sound amazing, or it might sound weird. But molasses in baked goods is a delicious, nutritious departure from the ordinary.
Molasses (also known as treacle, in England) is a by-product of refining sugar with an intriguing name that comes from the Portuguese word for honey. Blackstrap molasses (the darker the better!) makes a terrific sugar substitute as it is rich in minerals like calcium, iron and magnesium. It's also lower in sugar than regular cane sugar, so you can add sweetness to baked goods without the blood sugar spike or high calorie intake.
To add more mouthwatering molasses to your life, simply substitute 1 1/3 cups molasses for every 1 cup of sugar that the recipe calls for, then add an extra 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda. If you want the health benefits of molasses, but don't want its powerful flavor to overwhelm your recipe, you can simply add a tablespoon or two. Miraculous!