PSA

Agave nectar is NOT healthier than sugar. If you don't have any special metabolic issues with sugars in general, they are the same, except that agave nectar production threatens the desert and the livelihoods of the people who traditionally use agave for other things (sugar is also environmentally problematic and generally involves super-exploitation of workers at various places along the production trail, but the two sweeteners are differently problematic).

If you are diabetic, pre-diabetic, or watching carbohydrates because of other metabolic issues like hyperlipidemia, agave nectar is worse.

So all those recipes out there proclaiming they are a "new, healthier" version because they have agave nectar instead of sugar? Lying liars.

edit: this is provoked by me trying to find a carrot cake recipe with garbanzo flour in it because (1) I'm running out of whole wheat flour and (2)I like garbanzo flour and I want to discover everything possible to eat with it. I know, a cake is still a cake, so it is not magically relieved of problems, but it's a cake with some of my favorite things in it and I am making it for an Occasion where other people will be there so I won't be tempted to Eat it All in one evening.