Why do you need sugar to make muffins?

Muffins can be made without sugar. Sugar serves several functions in baking muffins:

1) Sweetness: Sugar adds sweetness to the muffins. If you do not want to add sugar, you can use other sweeteners such as honey, maple syrup, or artificial sweeteners.

2) Moisture: Sugar helps to keep muffins moist. When sugar dissolves in water, it creates a syrup that helps to retain moisture in the muffins. If you do not add sugar, you can use other moistening ingredients such as applesauce, mashed bananas, or yogurt.

3) Browning: Sugar helps to brown the muffins. When sugar heats up, it caramelizes and turns brown. This gives muffins their characteristic golden brown color. If you do not add sugar, you can use other browning agents such as molasses or chocolate chips.

4) Crust: Sugar helps to create a crust on the muffins. When sugar heats up, it melts and forms a thin layer on the surface of the muffins. This gives muffins their characteristic crispy crust. If you do not add sugar, you can use other ingredients to create a crust, such as egg wash or coarse sugar.

So, while sugar is not essential for making muffins, it does play an important role in their sweetness, moisture, browning, and crust. If you do not want to use sugar, you can use other ingredients to achieve similar results.