SUSTA Natural Sweetener (Vegan, Gluten-Free, Nut-Free, Soy-Free)
For those of you who don't know me, I will let you in on a little secret…I am a health nut. When you have had as many digestive issues as I have had…you get to the point where you only want to eat or drink things with a purpose. You always question what will happen if you eat or drink the wrong thing. I have always been into probiotics to ease my stomach in digestion. So, when the makers of Susta asked me if I would be interested in trying out their product, I jumped on the idea. [Susta contains probiotics + prebiotics and reportedly aids digestion]
I don't eat very much sugar, but I do like a little sweetener in my coffee and, of course, when I bake. I have tried artificial sweeteners in the past and really have not been happy with the flavor and aftertaste. I was pleasantly surprised when I put this little packet in my morning cup of coffee! It smelled sweet, like fruit, and had no strange aftertaste. It really is tasty! So, a sweetener, with only 5 calories and is made from real natural ingrediants? Sounds great to me! I looked online to find out what the costs were for this product. Susta is comparable in price to other sweeteners and can easily be ordered from their company site.
I don't usually do "sweet" oatmeal, so this was the real test for me. I loved it. It added a nice sweetness without taking over the flavor.
I also gave it a whirl and baked with it. I tried out some mini muffins using my cobbler recipe as a base. I have never done that before, but thought why not give it a try. These cupcakes are fat free and low glycemic. I am not very familiar with baking with sweeteners like this, so the end result was a little sweeter than I would have liked, but again, I don't really do super sweet stuff. This would be nice to serve to someone who can't have sugar along with some fresh fruit and tea. It is always nice to have recipes on hand for your guests that are looking for a low/no sugar treat. We have quite a few in our extended family that can't have sugar so I will definitely be making these the next time they come over.
Susta Cupcake
- 31 packets Susta (I would cut this back to 20)
- ½ cup white wheat flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- pinch salt
- ½ cup almond milk
- ¼ cup applesauce
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray or line a cupcake pan.
In a bowl, mix together the susta, flour, baking powder and salt. Next add the milk and applesauce to the dry mixture. Mix just until combined. Divide the mixture evenly in 4 cupcake cups. Bake for 25 minutes or until a toothpick in the center comes out clean. Serve warm with a fruit compote or allow them cool and ice with your favorite low sugar frosting.
Yields 4 cupcakes
[Note: Sarena had been sent the packets for review, but Susta can also be bought by the pound for ease in baking.]
This is a third party review by Sarena Shasteen of The Non-Dairy Queen. For more information on this products, and to purchase, see the NXT Nutritionals website (makers of Susta).
