Although I received a sample of SweetLeaf® Stevia Sweetener for review. These opinions are expressly my own.
REVIEW
When Sweet Leaf® Stevia Peppermint Mocha Stevia drops arrived on my doorstep, I thought about making a Peppermint Mocha Smoothie. (Yep, it’s still hot and sunny in So Cal even though Halloween is practically around the corner). But I wanted to be a little more creative. While I pondered over a Peppermint Mocha baked treat, I enjoyed some drops in my morning coffee (and I assure you the added flavor made it special).
I’m delighted to share with you my newest Fall treats, but first I want to share why this product is so useful.
Here’s what I love about this product:
- It’s sugar-free (NO artificial/chemical NO sugar-alcohols)
- It’s easy to dispense and control with a dropper (so while the drops may vary – so little comes out at a time, so it’s easier enough to control.
- It doesn’t have a strange aftertaste
- While it certainly can take the place of sugar, depending on the recipe, it can also enhance a recipe in a similar way that Vanilla extract does (not only adding flavor, but just the right touch of sweetness without overpowering – because you can easily control it “to taste”). You can halve (use half) the sugar in a recipe and add a little of this to make your treat just right — in terms of both taste AND sugar-control.
The first thing I made was my 5-ingredient Homemade Granola using raw oats, Peppermint Mocha SweetLeaf® Stevia Sweetener (instead of my go-to Vanilla extract and an unflavored packet of stevia), pistachios, applesauce and nut butter. Well I have to admit – being sugar-free (no added sugars), it was certainly sweet enough, but the peppermint mocha flavor didn’t come through possibly due to too much competition from the other flavors including the nut butter and oats ratio. Next time I’ll use a little more. But it certainly was crunchy and the Stevia did add enough sweetness.
Pistachio Peppermint Mocha Granola
So I decided to try it out with a version of a Grain-Free cake made with Coconut Flour. This time the Mocha and Peppermint flavors came through. And it was absolutely delish.
Peppermint Mocha Cake – moist, gluten-free and delish!
Here’s a close up so you can see the pleasing texture:
Yummy!
My husband, a great cook and my “pastry chef extraordinary”, absolutely loved it. This one’s staying in my files. : )
Here’s the recipe:
- 2 cups carrots, shredded
- 1/2 cup Maple Syrup, pure
- 1/4 cup + 2 Tbsp Coconut Flour
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/8 tsp (a pinch) sea salt
- 3 large eggs
- 12 dried plums
- 2 dropper-fuls Stevia Peppermint Mocha flavoring
- 1/2 cup Smart Balance Light, softened (but not melted)
- 1/4 cup walnuts
- 1/4 cup mini chocolate chips
Mix maple syrup and shredded carrots. Place in Tupperware and refrigerate for an hour. Preheat oven to 325º F. In a food processor, combine carrot/maple mixture, dried plums and Stevia Peppermint Mocha until well blended, but not completely smooth (texture is good). Pour into a bowl and mix in eggs. In a separate bowl, combine dry ingredients (coconut flour, baking soda, sea salt). Pour dry ingredients into carrot/maple/plum mixture and blend well. Mix in walnuts and chocolate chips. Bake for 35 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool. Optional: Dust with powdered sugar. Cut into 11 equal slices.
Have a slice and a sweet rest of the week.
Filed under: diet, healthy lifestyles, Nutri-Savvy, nutrition, Product Review, Recipes