If you just can't resist rich desserts, know that you are not alone. Everyone craves a sweet treat every now and then but whether you are looking to lose a few pounds, keep a fantastic figure, or can't eat sugar for medical reasons, searching for a delicious sugar-free dessert can seem impossible (or expensive).
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Don't despair! If you like your desserts fresh and enjoy being in your kitchen, you can whip up your own tantalizing sugar-free desserts at home.
Baking with Artificial Sweeteners
You might wonder why manufacturers recommend combining artificial sweeteners with sugar when baking. Sugar is not used in recipes simply for sweetness. Sugar is used to keep baked goods moist. Sugar also makes cookies easier to spread and acts as a natural preservative. This means that you may have to experiment to find the right balance of sugar and artificial sweetener instead of completely eliminating sugar when you bake or cook.
Sugar-Free Whipped Cream
Whipped cream can make the simplest dessert sinful. Think baked fruits, cake frostings or fillings and ice cream. You can even frost sugar-free cookies from the store with a small dollop of whipped cream if you like.
What you'll need:
- 1 pint whipping cream
- 6 tablespoons granulated sucralose sugar substitute
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
Whip the cream in a chilled bowl until the cream thickens. Slowly add the substitute sugar and vanilla and beat until the cream forms stiff peaks.
If you would like a sweeter whipped cream, add more sugar substitute. You can also reduce the amount of artificial sugar if you prefer a less sweet version. In other words, adjust just as if you were using "regular" sugar.
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For a yummy twist, try different extracts such as almond or mint in your whipped cream. You can also add a tablespoon or two of unsweetened chocolate powder if you love chocolate. Just add the chocolate powder when you add in the "sugar." If your diet allows a little cheating, get rid of the vanilla and add a tablespoon of bourbon or dark rum.
Sugar-Free Grilled Fruit
Sugar-free doesn't mean boring. Grilled fruits can be the perfect ending to a barbeque or any summer meal. This recipe is adapted from a "Healthy Recipe" from the Mayo Clinic Foundation.
What you'll need:- 2 large mangos
- 2 large peaches
- 1 small fresh pineapple
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar substitute
- 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
- Non-fat cooking spray, preferably butter flavored
- Mint sprigs for garnish
Pit or core the fruit. Cut the mango and peaches in half and the pineapple into wedges.
Place the fruit in a bowl and coat with cooking spray. Toss the fruit and use the cooking spray again to ensure that the fruit is well coated. Add the brown sugar and toss until the brown sugar is distributed as evenly as possible.
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Next, put the balsamic vinegar in a small sauce pan and cook over a low heat, stirring occasionally. When the liquid has reduced in half, remove the sauce pan from the heat and get ready to barbeque.
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Coat a cooking rack with the cooking spray. Place the fruit on the rack and grill about 4 to 6 inches from the heat for about 3 to 5 minutes or until the sugar from the fruit caramelizes.
Place the fruit on individual serving dishes, add some of the balsamic vinegar, place fresh mint leaves to garnish on the plates and serve.
Makes 4 to 6 servings.
If you aren't grilling or barbequing, you can make this recipe in your broiler. Place the fruit 4 to 6 inches below the broiler in your oven and proceed the same way as if you were using a grill.
Sugar-Free Chocolate Cake Recipe
(Recipe adapted from SweetDietDelights.com){relatedarticles}
Who can live without chocolate? This sugar-free chocolate cake recipe will help you get your chocolate fix.
What you'll need for the cake:
- 1 3/4 cup flour
- 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
- 2 1/4 cup granulated sucralose sugar substitute
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 cup milk, room temperature
- 2 eggs, room temperature
- 1 cup boiling water
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil or canola oil
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Grease one 9 inch by 13 inch or two 9 inch round cake pans.
Put all of the dry ingredients into one large mixing bowl and combine with a large spoon or spatula. In a separate bowl, combine all of the wet ingredients except the boiling water. Combine these wet and dry ingredients and beat at medium speed for about 2 minutes. Add the boiling water slowly while mixing to prevent clumping. Mix until blended thoroughly. Finally, stir in the cocoa.Bake your sugar-free cake for 30 to 35 minutes or until a toothpick or knife that you insert into the center of the cake comes out "clean."
What you'll need for the frosting:
- Chocolate sugar-free whipped cream (you can make your own with the recipe above!){relatedarticles}
- 1 oz shaved unsweetened bakers chocolate
- Fresh sliced strawberries
When the cake is completely cool, frost with chocolate whipped cream and garnish with fresh strawberries and shaved chocolate.
Sugar-free desserts have come a long way since those flavorless pieces of cardboard you may remember. Artificial sugars, especially those derived from sugar, can give you the sweetness you crave without the calories and health risks of regular sugar. Using natural sweeteners like honey or agave nectar can also give your sugar-free desserts the sweet kick you crave.