Sugar free cheesecake is cheesecake, which is sweetened with artificial sugar instead of regular sugar. Sugar free cheesecakes are meant for the diabetic or are allergic to sugar (which is a rare occurrence though), or generally those who want to refrain from consuming sugar to meet a health objective, such as weight loss.
Diabetic cheesecakes are generally free of white, brown, raw, muscovado, demerara sugar or other such sugars. Even sucrose, dextrose, glucose, maltose and the refined fruit sugar i.e. fructose is absent in these cakes. Furthermore, these cakes do not contain golden syrup, maple syrup, honey, caramel, wheat syrup, treacle, molasses and rice syrup.
Often, these cakes are indulged in by the weight loss dieters to avoid the otherwise high calories which come with cheesecakes sweetened with refined sugar. High sugar levels in the blood of an individual may even make them prone to atherosclerosis, candida, certain cancers, gallstones and gout amongst others. Thus, sugar-free cheesecakes are often consumed by people with sugar restrictions, instead of the regular sweetened versions, for their general wellbeing.
Commonly Used Ingredients and Preparation Overview of Diabetic Cheesecake
There are several ways in which a sugar free cheesecake can be made using a variety of flavors and toppings such as lemon, strawberry, chocolate, pineapple etc. However, the two things which are common to every sugar-free cheesecake recipe are cream cheese and a sugar substitute. Here are some popular versions of sugar free cheese cakes -
Gluten-Free Sugar-Free Cheesecake – In a preheated oven, the crust batter made of almond meal, shredded coconut and melted butter is baked until golden brown. Next, another mixture is made with cream cheese, artificial sugar, eggs, coconut fat and vanilla, poured over on the cooled crust, baked and refrigerated to set.
No Bake Sugar Free Cheese Cake – Ideal for diabetics, this cake with no added sugar is made by baking a mixture of graham cracker crumbs, cinnamon and butter; it is cooled and then, slathered with a creamy mixture of cream cheese, vanilla and sugar-free lemon gelatin. This cake is further decorated with graham cracker crumbs and refrigerated overnight.
Diabetic Lemon Cheesecake – A mixture of flour, sugar, cream cheese, egg, yogurt and lemon juice is prepared and poured into a baking pan pressed with a mixture of cracker crumbs and margarine. This is baked, refrigerated and served with a garnish of fresh berries.
Splenda Cheesecake – A mixture of eggs, salt, splenda (or any other sugar substitute), lemon juice and cream cheese is baked and slathered with a topping made by whisking together sour cream, no calorie granulated sweetener and vanilla extract.
No Bake Diabetic Pineapple Cheesecake – By this sugar free cheesecake recipe, a baking pan is pressed with a mixture of cracker crumbs and margarine, and then, a mixture of crushed pineapple, artificial liquid sweetener, Nutriwhip, vanilla and lemon juice is poured over it. The cake is then refrigerated to set.
Health Effects of the Sugar Substitutes Used
Xylitol, a natural sugar substitute with low GI, is thought to be ideal for people with high blood sugar and thus, can be used in sugar free cheesecakes. Being low in calories, it is also ideal for weight loss dieters. Agave nectar which is equivalent to maple or golden syrup with a low Glycemic Index (which makes the food release the glucose in the blood slower ) again, but more sweetness than sugar, makes for an ideal ingredient in cheesecake for diabetes. Other than that, sugar-free cheesecakes can be made even healthier with the use of apricots, dates, bananas, figs and raisins, which also add sweetness to the food.
Trivia
Heat stable sugars such as Stevia, Acesulfame Potassium and Sucralose are commonly used as sugar free baking alternatives. Aspartame and Saccharine being heat-sensitive are avoided.