The Everything Naturally Sugar-Free Cookbook: Includes Apple Cinnamon Waffles, Chicken Lettuce Wraps, Tomato and Goat Cheese Pastries, Peanut Butter Truffles, ... Eclairs...and Hundreds More! (Everything®) (22 page)

PER SERVING
Calories: 96
|
Fat: 7g
|
Protein: 0g
|
Sodium: 31mg
|
Fiber: 1g
|
Carbohydrates: 8.5g
|
Sugar: 7g

Hazelnut Chocolate Fudge Truffles

Rich and decadent, these truffles are not for the chocolate faint of heart! Keep these truffles in the refrigerator for best results.

INGREDIENTS
|
SERVES 8

Chocolate Hazelnut Spread
(see recipe in Chapter 6)

6 ounces sugar-free chocolate

  1. Line a large plate with parchment paper.
  2. Pour the Chocolate Hazelnut Spread into candy molds. When the molds are filled, place in the freezer to chill for at least 1 hour.
  3. Remove truffles from the molds. Dip or pour melted chocolate over the tops and place on prepared plate. The frozen candies will harden the chocolate, allowing you to enjoy them immediately.

PER SERVING
Calories: 101
|
Fat: 6g
|
Protein: 0g
|
Sodium: 2mg
|
Fiber: 1g
|
Carbohydrates: 13g
|
Sugar: 11g

White Chocolate Chips

No-bake chips are easy to make and easy to bake with! For a really special treat, try using vanilla beans instead of vanilla extract. For best results, store them in the refrigerator so they are ready at a moment’s notice.

INGREDIENTS
|
MAKES
2

3
CUP

1 cup unsweetened shredded coconut

1 cup cacao butter chunks, melted

1
1

2
teaspoons vanilla extract

2 tablespoons protein powder

2 teaspoons liquid stevia

  1. In a food processor, process the coconut for about 6–7 minutes, scraping the inside bowl periodically. The coconut needs to be blended until smooth to form coconut butter.
  2. Once coconut butter is smooth, add the cacao butter. Add vanilla, protein powder, and stevia and mix well.
  3. Pour the mixture into a small flat dish, about 5" wide, or into candy molds. Place in the freezer for 30 minutes. Remove from the freezer and cut into little squares or remove from molds.

PER SERVING
(1 tablespoon) Calories: 229
|
Fat: 24.5g
|
Protein: 1g
|
Sodium: 2mg
|
Fiber: 0g
|
Carbohydrates: 1.5g
|
Sugar: 0g

Chip or Chunk?

If desired, use candy chip molds to create authentic baking chips. This recipe can also be poured into candy bar molds for white chocolate on the go!

Salted Honey Caramels

Caramelized honey becomes absolutely dreamy in these lush salted caramel squares. Use a good quality coarse sea salt to really bring out the sweet caramel flavors.

INGREDIENTS
|
SERVES 4

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

3 tablespoons butter, divided

1 cup honey

3

4
cup heavy cream

1 tablespoon coarse sea salt

  1. Measure out vanilla extract and butter and set near the stove. Grease an 8" × 8" baking dish with 1 tablespoon of the butter.
  2. Combine honey and cream in a saucepan over medium-high heat and bring to a boil. Stir occasionally while mixture cooks until it reaches soft ball stage, about 250°F on a candy thermometer. Remove pan from the heat and immediately stir in vanilla and remaining butter. Stir until butter is completely melted and incorporated.
  3. Pour into prepared dish. Sprinkle with salt. Place in the freezer to harden for 30 minutes.
  4. Cut into squares or scoop out balls with a spoon. Keep leftovers in the fridge or freezer and keep cold when serving. Caramels will melt and become sticky in high humidity and hot temperatures.

PER SERVING
Calories: 495
|
Fat: 25g
|
Protein: 1g
|
Sodium: 1,790mg
|
Fiber: 0g
|
Carbohydrates: 71g
|
Sugar: 70g

Peanut Butter Granola Cups

Enjoy the taste of peanut butter candies with a healthy granola twist. These cups are perfect for care packages and gifts when stored in individual storage cups.

INGREDIENTS
|
SERVES 5

3
1

2
ounces melted sugar-free chocolate

1 cup pitted chopped dates

1

4
cup salted natural peanut butter

1

4
cup honey

1 cup chopped roasted almonds

1

4
cup shredded unsweetened coconut

1

4
cup dry-roasted peanuts

1 cup oats

1

2
teaspoon vanilla extract

  1. Line a mini muffin tin with paper liners.
  2. Spoon 1 teaspoon melted chocolate into each of the mini muffin cups (or small candy cup molds). Lift and roll the muffin tin to coat the cups or use a mini spatula for additional help. Refrigerate chocolate cups for 30 minutes.
  3. Process dates in a food processor until smooth. Add peanut butter, honey, almonds, coconut, peanuts, oats, and vanilla. Pulse to combine.
  4. Scoop out about 2 teaspoons of nut mixture to fill each chocolate cup. Gently press the mixture into the cup. Place pan in the freezer for at least 30 minutes.
  5. Remove the peanut butter cups from the pan and serve.

PER SERVING
Calories: 508
|
Fat: 24g
|
Protein: 11g
|
Sodium: 65mg
|
Fiber: 9g
|
Carbohydrates: 71g
|
Sugar: 50g

Easy Hazelnut Chocolate Balls

These simple no-bake balls are an easy sweet treat to make when a chocolate craving strikes!

INGREDIENTS
|
SERVES 6

1

2
cup hazelnuts

1

2
cup pitted chopped dates

2 tablespoons maple syrup

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1

8
teaspoon sea salt

1

3
cup cocoa powder

1

4
cup sugar-free chocolate, melted

  1. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. Put the hazelnuts and dates in a food processor and pulse until a rough crumbly mixture forms. Add maple syrup, vanilla, salt, and cocoa powder and pulse until smooth and well combined. Roll mixture into 1" balls and place on prepared baking sheet.
  3. Top with melted chocolate, and refrigerate for 15 minutes to harden chocolate.

PER SERVING
Calories: 166
|
Fat: 9g
|
Protein: 3g
|
Sodium: 52mg
|
Fiber: 4g
|
Carbohydrates: 24.5g
|
Sugar: 18g

Orange Spice Truffles

Need a healthy and delicious snack but want to leave the guilt factor at the door? Try these decadent-tasting little truffles for a burst of festive fruity flavor.

INGREDIENTS
|
SERVES 2

1

3
cup chopped walnuts

1

4
cup pitted chopped dates, lightly packed

1 tablespoon honey

1

2
teaspoon pumpkin spice

1

2
teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1

8
teaspoon sea salt

2 teaspoons orange zest

  1. In a food processor, blend walnuts until crumbly. Add dates, honey, pumpkin spice, cinnamon, vanilla extract, sea salt, and orange zest.
  2. Pulse until everything is incorporated. Roll into 1" balls and serve.

PER SERVING
Calories: 232
|
Fat: 13g
|
Protein: 4g
|
Sodium: 149mg
|
Fiber: 3g
|
Carbohydrates: 29g
|
Sugar: 24g

Molasses Cookie Dough Bites

Enjoy these soft, safe-to-eat cookie dough bites! Intensely spiced and sweetened only with dates and molasses, these are the perfect wintertime treat.

INGREDIENTS
|
SERVES 5

1

2
cup oats

1

2
cup pitted chopped Medjool dates

1

4
cup chopped pecans

1 tablespoon molasses

1

2
teaspoon vanilla extract

1

2
teaspoon cinnamon

1

8
teaspoon nutmeg

1

16
teaspoon cloves

1

8
teaspoon sea salt

  1. In a food processor, add the oats and pulse until it becomes a fine flour. Add the dates and pecans and pulse until crumbly. Add the molasses, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt and mix well.
  2. Roll into 1" balls. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

PER SERVING
Calories: 133
|
Fat: 5g
|
Protein: 2g
|
Sodium: 61mg
|
Fiber: 3g
|
Carbohydrates: 23g
|
Sugar: 14g

Slow As Molasses

Molasses adds a wonderful richness to these truffles. Make sure to add the molasses with the spices so this thick sweetener does not become stuck in the walls of the processor.

Peanut Butter Cups

It’s easier (and healthier) to make these peanut butter cups at home than to drive to the store to get the sugar-loaded version! These four simple ingredients yield mouthwatering results.

INGREDIENTS
|
SERVES 10

1

2
cup natural creamy peanut butter

1

3
cup honey

1

4
teaspoon sea salt

1
1

4
cups sugar-free chocolate, melted

  1. Line a mini muffin pan with liners and very lightly spray with cooking spray.
  2. In a small bowl, combine the peanut butter, honey, and salt. Mix well.
  3. Spoon about
    3

    4
    teaspoon of chocolate into the bottom of each muffin liner. Spread the chocolate to coat the sides and bottom of the liner. Place about 2 teaspoons of the peanut butter mixture on top of the chocolate.
  4. Fill the remaining cups with chocolate to cover all the peanut butter. Freeze for 30 minutes and serve.

PER SERVING
Calories: 211
|
Fat: 13g
|
Protein: 4g
|
Sodium: 121mg
|
Fiber: 2g
|
Carbohydrates: 25g
|
Sugar: 22g

Sunflower Butter Cups

These chocolate candies are perfect for people with peanut allergies—and for those without! Sunflower butter is a tasty peanut butter substitute and creates candies that are nothing short of amazing.

INGREDIENTS
|
SERVES 12

1

3
cup sunflower seed butter

2 tablespoons honey

1

4
teaspoon sea salt

1

2
teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup chopped sugar-free chocolate, melted

  1. Line a mini muffin pan with muffin liners and spray liners with cooking spray.
  2. In a small bowl, combine the sunflower seed butter with the honey. Add the salt and vanilla to the mixture.
  3. Generously coat the bottom of each liner with chocolate. Place a small 1 teaspoon-size ball of nut mixture into each cup. Top with remaining melted chocolate. Place in the fridge to set for 10 minutes.

PER SERVING
Calories: 150
|
Fat: 8g
|
Protein: 3g
|
Sodium: 82.5mg
|
Fiber: 2g
|
Carbohydrates: 17g
|
Sugar: 13g

No Sunflower?

Almond butter or cashew butter could also be used as a replacement for peanut butter in any of your favorite recipes. There are great nutritional benefits to consuming a wide variety of nuts, so experimenting with different nut butters is an easy way to reap a variety of health benefits.

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