Spoonful of Sugar Free

Registered Dietitian

Snacks

#3 Friends by Recipe: Apple bars

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Hello! Hello! What is your favorite fall fruit? Is it, by any chance, apples?

If it is, then you are in luck! Teenage Health Freak gave me this recipe for Apple Bars.

Good gracious, these are so good! Look no further for a good granola bar recipe to eat on the go, she has given you the perfect snack!

This is what hers look like:

Apple Bars

  • 2 apples shredded (you may leave the skin on or off. I usually just take some off…or these would be like EXTREME fiber bars..ha ha)..and the skin can get a little chewy
  • 1 carrot, peeled and shredded
  • 1 tsp. vanilla
  • 3 TBS coconut oil
  • 2 TBS apple sauce
  • 1 cup oats
  • 1/3 c. walnuts chopped
  • 1/2 c. unbleached all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 c. whole wheat flour
  • 1 TBS ground flax
  • 1 tsp. baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 1 tsp. cinnamon
  1. Mix all the wet ingredients including the apples in one bowl!! Then the dry in another….
  2. Combine all ingredients.
  3. Press in a greased pan  (I just rub some more coconut oil on my pan) to make bars..or you can form into cookie balls!! I tried a few like cookie sized and they were yummy!! A little more crunchy!!
  4. Bake at 375 for 20 minutes.

My Apple Bars:

These were really good! I loved them as a breakfast treat, or an on-the-go snack! I actually substituted brown rice flour for the whole wheat flour to make it gluten-free, and it turned out really well.

Thought-provoking, mind-prodding question of the day:

What is your favorite fall fruit? Is it apples?   I really love apples! Especially when they are dipped in some nut butter 🙂 Or made into an apple pie!

 

#2 Friends by Recipes: Cindy’s “Donut Holes”

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Hey all! My brother and sister are huge fans of donut holes-the powdery ones that is. I, on the other hand, was never a big fan. They were too sweet, too powdery, too messy….Yuck!

However, when Cindy from A Sparkle a Day told me about a ‘almost’ raw donut hole recipe-I had to try it!

I am so glad I did, Cindy! They are Fabulous!

Here is a picture of Cindy’s Beautiful donut holes:

Would you like to make these adorable gems? Follow her recipe below:

Cindy’s Old Fashioned Donut Holes (almost raw)

  • 1/4 c raw pecans
  • 1/4 c raw walnuts
  • 1 tsp cinnamon (be generous)
  • 3 dates
  • 1 tsp coconut oil
  • 1 tsp coconut flour
  • 1 tbs coconut flakes
  • 1 tsp orange zest

Blend in food processor (I actually used a magic bullet!) and blend till well chopped.  Roll into balls and then roll in flaked coconut.  Freeze. (Sorry, Cindy. They were too good, and I was in a hurry, so I just threw them in a baggie instead of freezing them)

This is what mine looked like:

Instead of going out and buying an orange, I simply picked a fresh tangelo from my tree (It is finally tangelo season-half tangerine, half orange in case you were wondering) I also didn’t have any pecans, so I used almonds and walnuts instead (I bet pecans would taste better, though!) And…I omitted the coconut flour (Sorry! I didn’t have any!)

*Chomp!* Num! Num!

Cindy! These were great! I brought them to my tennis practice, and ate a couple in between my tennis lesson and weight session. Perfect energy ball! They reminded me of spiced oranges…and this spread...

Stay tuned for a new recipe by a different friend tomorrow!

Thought-provoking, mind-prodding question of the day:

Do you guys like donuts? I remember taking a standardized test in third grade, and my teacher brought us Krispy Kreme glazed donuts for “brain power.” Ugh! They gave me a headache even back then-too sweet!

Faux Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Larabars

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My family has been really enjoying the new Peanut Butter Chocolate chip Larabars lately. 

They like them so much so that we go through a costco sized pack of them every few days! Their favorite is the peanut Butter Chocolate Chip. But at the rate my little brother and sister snack on these little bars, the money can really add up (even when we buy them at costco’s discounts). Usually they are around $1.50-$2.00 each, just in case you wanted to know 😉

Solution: make my own Peanut Butter Chocolate Larabars! Simple enough, since there are only four ingredients: Dates, Peanuts, Chocolate Chips (unsweetened chocolate, sugar, cocoa butter and vanilla), and Salt. Also, when I made my own I can eliminate the unnecessary sugar from the chocolate chips.

By the way, I love that the Larabars try their best to have fair-trade certified ingredients, and high-quality bars with minimal ingredients. What they do is great, and the bars are a perfect snack when you are on the road.

But, back to my Larabars!

I knew I could make my own larabars, after all, Katie makes her Fudge Babies, and Angela has made a plethora of different larabars, too!

If they can do it, I can do it!

Soooo….I did do it! And I am so glad I did!

Chocolate-Peanut Truffles

~This is a recipe I made on my Bake Night. The truffles are vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, and of course, sugar free! Try to restrain yourself from eating too many, though, because if you are like me, you can get a sugar high from the dates!

Ingredients

Makes about 2 dozen truffles

How-To Picture Tutorial:

 

Ingredients

 

Using a food processor (I have also had success with a magic bullet), chop the dates first into a date-paste. Then add nuts and chop. Finally, add cocoa powder and mix. If the dough is too powdery, add a small dash of water. If it is too sweet, add more peanuts. If it is not sweet enough, add more dates. The recipe is extremely versatile. Note: It is best when the peanuts are chunky, so don’t over-chop the peanuts!

 

Finally, roll into balls and enjoy!

I served these to some of my tennis friends, and they were a hit!

Thought-provoking, mind-prodding question of the day:

Have you ever tried a larabar? I’ve tried them, but I can’t really eat them. I think the date:nut proportion favors the dates too much. They are too sweet for me! I also can’t bring myself to buy a bar for $2 when I know I can make my own for less than 50 cents. (My brother and sister can, though!)

 

Attack of the (Sugar Free) Monsters

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Hey all, remember when I told you all about my Bake Night a few days ago?

Well, remember the Chocolate Chunk Monster cookies I told you about?

No? Well, here’s the recipe anyway. These cookies are extremely delicious, and naturally sweet!

Teenage Health Freak had suggested that I try this recipe before. Well, I finally did (and added a few changes, of course). Boy am I glad I finally tried them 🙂

 

Well...Not the prettiest cookies, but definitely one of the tastiest!

 

Chocolate Chunk Monster Cookies

~This recipe can be gluten-free if using gluten-free oats. It is also vegan, dairy-free, and of course, sugar-free! Makes about 30-35 cookies

Ingredients

  • 3 very ripe bananas
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 Tablespoons coconut oil (or olive oil works, too)
  • 2 cups rolled oats
  • 3/4 cup finely chopped almonds
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened, shredded coconut
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 4-5 ounces 100% dark chocolate bar (Found in the baking section in the grocery store. I suggest Baker’s chocolate or Ghiradelli unsweetened)

Preheat oven to 350*. Mash the bananas, and mix in the other wet ingredients. Then add the dry ingredients and mix until well-incorporated. Next, chop the chocolate bar into small chunks and mix into batter. Drop Tablespoons-full of dough onto a cookie-sheet about 1/2 inch apart. Bake for 15 minutes, or until the bottoms of the cookies are golden brown.

Thought-provoking, mind-prodding question of the day:

Have you tried unsweetened chocolate yet????

Bake Night!

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One boring Wednesday evening I had the itch-the itching desire to bake! I baked for 3 hours straight and had a blast!

On the menu:

I even wore a dorky fruit hat to bake in:

My mom bought the hat for me at IKEA.I have to say that I do love it! My family teases me, and my brother steals it sometimes…All for good fun! Plus, it is very comfy.

My creations of the night:

I gave them to my mom’s bible study group, and brought the leftovers to my tennis practice. They were a hit!

Want the recipes?

Click HERE for the Carrot-Apple Bran Muffins.

For the mini-cheesecakes I used the recipe found HERE. But instead of freezing it in a glass container, I put them into mini-muffins liners and froze them in the muffin tin. I made some strawberry cheesecake (mix with frozen strawberries and topped with a raspberry), blueberry cheesecake (mix with frozen blueberries and top with blueberries), and Key Lime Pie cheesecake (mix with lemon and lime juice and top with lime wedge).

The Peanut-Chocolate Fudge Balls and the Chocolate Chunk Monster cookie recipes will be coming soon! So stay tuned!

Thought-provoking, mind-prodding question of the day:

Do you ever have the urge to bake? I do a lot. I think it is very calming, and stress-relieving!

Healthy Puppy Chow!

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Yes, you heard right. That lovable childhood treat can be healthy!

I used to love puppy chow-the way the peanut butter and chocolate flavor bursted in your mouth as your fingers got sticky from the powdery-white sugar. Yum.

"Real" Puppy Chow

Unfortunately, “real” puppy chow is made with chocolate chips, peanut butter, butter, and powdered sugar. This racks up to be 16 grams of sugar per serving (according to Chex.com Recipes). But who ever sticks to that measly 1/2-cup serving anyway? It’s too good to not have seconds (or thirds….or fourths)!

Enter…My Puppy Chow:

Under-a-Minute Healthy Puppy Chow

~This puppy chow takes less than a minute to make, and is the perfect snack for those days when you are in a rush. The recipe is vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, and of course, sugar-free!

Ingredients

Serves 1

  • 1 cup rice chex (or other cereal of choice)
  • 1-2 Tablespoons peanut butter
  • 1-2 Tablespoons cocoa powder
  • optional add-ins: peanuts, cacao nibs, dried fruit, be creative!

Mix the peanut butter and cocoa powder together in a bowl. Add a little bit of water if it gets to sticky. Then, add the chex cereal and add-ins (if using), and stir together until well-incorporated.

Enjoy while watching a movie! Like Julie & Julia (one of my favorites!)

Thought-provoking, mind-prodding question of the day:

What is your favorite movie?

Also, what is your favorite movie snack? I always bring my own popcorn to the movies, because i am a Huge fan of my popcorn! (not to brag or anything) I make mine on the stove-top 🙂