Sugar-Free Honey Substitute: Best Zero-Calorie Alternatives

Honey substitute

Stevia

Use 1 tbsp honey for every ¼ tsp stevia

Best for beverages

Taste and texture differ

The best sugar-free honey substitutes are stevia (for no calories), monk fruit sweetener (for natural sweetness), or erythritol (for baking). These zero-calorie alternatives provide sweetness without the sugar content of honey. You'll need to adjust amounts and add moisture to your recipes.

Compare all 8 honey substitutes

Discover the best sugar-free honey substitutes including stevia, monk fruit, and erythritol. Find the perfect zero-calorie alternative for every recipe.

Other honey substitutes

Ranked, with the exact amount to use

2Monk Fruit Sweetener
Taste and texture differ
Use 1 tbsp honey for every ¼ tsp monk fruit
Monk fruit sweetener is much sweeter than honey and has no calories or sugar.
What changes
It's perfect for sugar-free recipes, but you'll need to adjust the amount significantly and add moisture.
Best for
beverages, baking, cooking, diabetic-friendly recipes
Very sweet, no calories, zero sugar
3Erythritol
Taste and texture differ
Use the same amount (but add extra moisture)
Erythritol has similar sweetness to honey but with a cooling effect and zero calories.
What changes
It's great for sugar-free baking, but you'll need to add extra moisture to your recipes.
Best for
baking, cooking, diabetic-friendly recipes
Similar sweetness, cooling effect, zero calories
4Allulose
Different texture
Use the same amount (but add extra moisture)
Allulose has similar sweetness to honey with no aftertaste and zero calories.
What changes
It's great for sugar-free baking, but you'll need to add extra moisture to your recipes.
Best for
baking, cooking, diabetic-friendly recipes
Similar sweetness, no aftertaste, zero calories
5Xylitol
Taste and texture differ
Use the same amount (but add extra moisture)
Xylitol has similar sweetness to honey but with a cooling effect and low calories.
What changes
It's great for sugar-free baking, but you'll need to add extra moisture to your recipes.
Best for
baking, cooking, diabetic-friendly recipes
Similar sweetness, cooling effect, low calories
6Swerve
Different texture
Use the same amount (but add extra moisture)
Swerve is a blend of erythritol and oligosaccharides that provides similar sweetness to honey with zero calories.
What changes
It's great for sugar-free baking, but you'll need to add extra moisture.
Best for
baking, cooking, diabetic-friendly recipes
Similar sweetness, no aftertaste, zero calories
7Lakanto
Different texture
Use the same amount (but add extra moisture)
Lakanto is a blend of monk fruit and erythritol that provides similar sweetness to honey with zero calories.
What changes
It's great for sugar-free baking, but you'll need to add extra moisture.
Best for
baking, cooking, diabetic-friendly recipes
Similar sweetness, no aftertaste, zero calories
8Truvia
Taste and texture differ
Use 1 tbsp honey for every ¼ tsp Truvia
Truvia is a blend of stevia and erythritol that provides sweetness without calories or sugar.
What changes
It's perfect for sugar-free recipes, but you'll need to adjust the amount significantly.
Best for
beverages, baking, cooking, diabetic-friendly recipes
Very sweet, no calories, zero sugar
9Pyure
Taste and texture differ
Use 1 tbsp honey for every ¼ tsp Pyure
Pyure is a blend of stevia and erythritol that provides sweetness without calories or sugar.
What changes
It's perfect for sugar-free recipes, but you'll need to adjust the amount significantly.
Best for
beverages, baking, cooking, diabetic-friendly recipes
Very sweet, no calories, zero sugar
10ChocZero
Different texture
Use the same amount (but add extra moisture)
ChocZero is a blend of monk fruit and other natural sweeteners that provides similar sweetness to honey with zero calories.
What changes
It's great for sugar-free baking, but you'll need to add extra moisture.
Best for
baking, cooking, diabetic-friendly recipes
Similar sweetness, no aftertaste, zero calories

How it behaves in this recipe

Sugar-free honey substitutes are essential for those with diabetes, following a low-sugar diet, or wanting to reduce their sugar intake. The key is finding sweeteners that provide sweetness without the sugar content of honey. Most sugar-free sweeteners are much sweeter than honey, so you'll need to adjust amounts significantly and add moisture to your recipes since honey provides both sweetness and moisture.

Cooking tips

For baking: Use erythritol or allulose and add extra moisture
In beverages: Use stevia or monk fruit for sweetness
For cooking: Use erythritol or allulose for similar sweetness
In marinades: Use erythritol or allulose with extra liquid
For glazes: Use erythritol or allulose with extra liquid
In smoothies: Use stevia or monk fruit for sweetness
For energy bars: Use erythritol or allulose with extra moisture
In sauces: Use erythritol or allulose with extra liquid
For low-calorie recipes: Use stevia or monk fruit
In sugar-free baking: Always add extra moisture when using sugar substitutes

Notes on honey

Mix different sugar-free sweeteners for custom flavor profiles
Use different types of sugar-free sweeteners based on your taste preferences
Try different ratios to find the perfect sweetness level
Make your own sugar-free sweetener blends
Experiment with different combinations for unique flavors

Frequently asked questions

What's the best sugar-free substitute for honey?

The best sugar-free substitutes for honey are stevia (for no calories), monk fruit sweetener (for natural sweetness), or erythritol (for baking). These zero-calorie alternatives provide sweetness without the sugar content of honey.

Can I use stevia as a honey substitute?

Yes, stevia can be used as a sugar-free honey substitute, but it's much sweeter than honey and has no calories or sugar. You'll need to adjust the amount significantly and add moisture to your recipe.

What's the best sugar-free substitute for honey in baking?

For sugar-free baking, erythritol or allulose work best as they provide similar sweetness to honey. You'll need to add extra moisture to your recipes since these sweeteners don't provide the same moisture as honey.

Can I use monk fruit as a honey substitute?

Yes, monk fruit sweetener is an excellent sugar-free substitute for honey. It's much sweeter than honey and has no calories or sugar. You'll need to adjust the amount significantly and add moisture to your recipe.

What's the best sugar-free substitute for honey in beverages?

For sugar-free beverages, stevia or monk fruit work best as they dissolve easily and provide sweetness without calories or sugar. You'll need to adjust the amount significantly.

Can I use erythritol as a honey substitute?

Yes, erythritol is a good sugar-free substitute for honey. It has similar sweetness but with a cooling effect and zero calories. You'll need to add extra moisture to your recipes since erythritol doesn't provide the same moisture as honey.

What's the best sugar-free substitute for honey in cooking?

For sugar-free cooking, erythritol or allulose work well for similar sweetness. You'll need to add extra liquid to your recipes since these sweeteners don't provide the same moisture as honey.

Can I use allulose as a honey substitute?

Yes, allulose is a great sugar-free substitute for honey. It has similar sweetness with no aftertaste and zero calories. You'll need to add extra moisture to your recipes since allulose doesn't provide the same moisture as honey.

What's the best sugar-free substitute for honey in smoothies?

For sugar-free smoothies, stevia or monk fruit work best as they provide sweetness without calories or sugar. You'll need to adjust the amount significantly.

Can I use xylitol as a honey substitute?

Yes, xylitol is a good sugar-free substitute for honey. It has similar sweetness but with a cooling effect and low calories. You'll need to add extra moisture to your recipes since xylitol doesn't provide the same moisture as honey.

Sugar-Free Honey Substitute: Best Zero-Calorie Alternatives

Other honey substitutes

2Monk Fruit Sweetener

3Erythritol

4Allulose

5Xylitol

6Swerve

7Lakanto

8Truvia

9Pyure

10ChocZero