October is National Dessert Month and Eat Better, Eat Healthier Month® Try Healthier, No-Sugar Desserts With Stevia Without Sacrificing Flavor

While the idea of eating healthier and, at the same time, enjoying desserts seems impossible, a cookbook author asserts that this is possible if stevia is used instead of sugar and artificial sweeteners in dessert recipes.

Valley Forge, PA (PRWEB) October 17, 2006 -- It may seem oxymoronic to celebrate National Dessert Month with Eat Better, Eat Healthier Month, but cookbook author Lisa Jobs explains that when the desserts use stevia as the natural alternative to sugar and artificial sweeteners, they actually can be healthier and still taste delicious. (If unfamiliar with stevia, see below*)

"Sensational Stevia Desserts" author and former stevia business owner Lisa Jobs says that an increasing number of people are turning to stevia to reduce their sugar and artificial sweetener intake for health or personal reasons. These include diabetics, dieters, hypoglycemics, candida sufferers and health conscious consumers. Also, with the epidemic rise in diabetes and obesity in the USA, desserts made with stevia can be a welcome and often necessary change to consumers’ diets instead of traditional high sugar, high carbohydrate and high calorie desserts that many need to avoid.

With no calories, carbohydrates or fat and no effect on glucose levels, stevia can be used in a variety of desserts without sacrificing flavor, Jobs asserts. Sample recipes from the book include Sinfully Cinnamon Cream Cheese Pie, Pumpkin Custard and Chocolate-Peanut-Butter Fudge. “Enjoying your favorite desserts is still possible while watching your sugar and carbs, that’s where all-natural stevia and 'Sensational Stevia Desserts' can help,” states Jobs.

Here’s a sample recipe for Wonderful White Chocolate Chip-Cherry Cookies from her book:

Wonderful White Chocolate Chip-Cherry Cookies

Serving Size: 2 cookies • Total Servings: 13 (26 cookies)

2 large eggs

¾ tsp. stevia extract (see book for brand variances)

½ tsp. vanilla extract

¾ cup (1 ½ sticks) unsalted butter, softened

2 cups unbleached flour

¾ tsp. baking powder

½ tsp. sea salt

½ cup unsweetened dried cherries

½ cup white chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350° F. Place parchment paper on two cookie sheets. Beat eggs, stevia and vanilla extract with electric mixer. Add butter and blend well. (The mixture will not “cream” as it does in traditional sugar recipes, rather the butter will be separate from the eggs. However, it will incorporate when dry ingredients are added.)

Sift flour, baking powder and salt, then add half to egg mixture. Mix well. Add the balance of the dry ingredients and mix thoroughly. Dough will be thick. Process dried cherries in food processor until in large bits. Fold chips and cherries into dough mixture.

Shape into 1 ¼ " balls and press down with hand until about 2" flat onto baking sheets. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until bottom of cookie becomes slightly browned. Cool on wire racks.

Sugar Comparison

Nutrition Facts/Serving- 2 cookies

This Stevia Recipe                

Calories 172         

Carbohydrates 17g

Total Sugars 6g         

Fiber less than 1g         

Fat 10g     

Cholesterol 46mg         

Sodium 90mg         

Protein 3g     

Traditional “Sugar” Recipe

Calories 284- over 60% more

Carbohydrates 39g- More than double

Total Sugars 27g- 4.5 times more

Fiber less than 1g

Fat 12g- 20% more

Cholesterol 39mg

Sodium 124mg

Protein 3g

Copyright © 2005 Sensational Stevia Desserts and Lisa Jobs

So this month, celebrate with healthier desserts with no guilt or sacrifice in flavor by using stevia as the alternative to sugar and artificial sweeteners and the recipes found in Sensational Stevia Desserts by Lisa Jobs.

*Stevia, derived from an herb that is up to 400 times sweeter than sugar, has been used as an all-natural alternative to sugar and artificial sweeteners in many parts of the world for decades, especially Japan, Brazil and China. It has no calories, no carbohydrates and no fat. In addition, stevia does not cause tooth decay and, because it does not raise blood glucose levels, diabetics can use it. It is available in health food stores, natural grocers and online. For more information, visit www.steviadessert.com.

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