Sweetening desserts with stevia seems like a good idea…
After all, what’s not to love about a sweetener that has no calories, no glycemic impact, and no risk of making dessert stick to your hips?
Until you take that good idea and put to practical use…
Then, you realize that stevia-sweetened desserts are just that — a good idea. In practice, not quite so easy or tasty as you’d imagined, right?
Why Is It So Difficult To Use Just Stevia?
There are a couple of things to consider when it comes to using only stevia for sweetening desserts.
First, there’s the issue of bulk.
When recipe calls for a cup of sugar, and it only takes 1/4 of a teaspoon of stevia to attain the same level of sweetness, how do you make up for that entire missing cup of mass in the recipe?
Well… you don’t.
Second, the aftertaste can be off-putting.
The most common complaint with any form (liquid extract or powdered) of stevia? The aftertaste!
It’s bitter to many people. And even if it’s not bitter in your lemonade or iced tea, it’s often bitter when paired with chocolate or after baking.
Finally, use recipes written with stevia before branching out to create your own.
As with any new kitchen adventure, it’s helpful to begin with a road map rather than setting out on your own, not knowing where you might end up.
If you’re brand-new to stevia-sweetened desserts (or if you just haven’t found a winner yet), it’s helpful to begin with already-written recipes instead of just trying to convert your favorite chocolate cake to stevia-only. (Because that’s a recipe for “I’m never sweetening anything with stevia again!”.)
Whether you’re attempting a Trim Healthy Mama lifestyle with Real Food only, trying to stabilize your blood sugar, or simply hoping to eat less sugar, this post is for YOU.
17 successful, stevia-sweetened desserts that actually taste GOOD so you can experience just how tasty this challenging sweetener can truly be — when used correctly.
Blackberry Cheesecake Ice Cream {with a dairy-free option, too!}
With enzymes and probiotics and only stevia and the natural sweetness of blackberries, this tangy-sweet cheesecake ice cream is a luscious and healthy dessert (or breakfast!) option! Via TraditionalCookingSchool.com.
Blueberry Muffins {GAPS, SCD, Paleo}
Dessert doesn’t have to look like cake and frosting, brownies, or cookies… Something as simple as a blueberry muffin can suffice, especially when you get out of the habit of having extremely sweet things! Via EatBeautiful.net.
Stevia-Sweetened Watermelon-Mint Sorbet (THM:E)
Juicy watermelon and refreshing mint come together in a light and lovely sorbet that’s sure to satisfy a craving for something sweet and cold!
Via TodayInDietzville.com.
Crock Pot Cheesecake In Jars
Perfectly portioned cheesecakes in jars are so easy to make! You can grab one and go whenever the need strikes! Via TraditionalCookingSchool.com.
DIY Chobani Flip: Sugar-Free Yogurt with Almonds & Dark Chocolate
Yes! Yogurt absolutely CAN be dessert when it’s lightly sweetened with stevia and topped with dark chocolate and crunchy almonds!
Via TodayInDietzville.com.
Magically Healthy Real Food Unicorn Frap {Sugar-Free & Low-Carb!}
No need to visit the coffee shop for expensive, overly sweetened fraps. Make this colorful Unicorn Frap for yourself and know you made an excellent choice for your body! Via TodayInDietzville.com.
Sugar-Free Ginger Spice Cookies Recipe [Paleo, Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free]
Mmmmm, ginger and spice and all things nice!
Via PaleoFlourishMagazine.com.
Vanilla Creme Pudding Parfaits
Nothing more beautiful and simple than a berry pudding parfait. And no need to feel guilty about the sweetness either! Via HealthfulPursuit.com.
Paleo Chocolate Coffee Coconut Truffle Desserts
Decadent? Check. Rich? Check? Full of sugar? No way!
Via PaleoFlourishMagazine.com.
Easy Chocolate Keto Paleo Gelatin Pudding (gluten free, dairy free, sugar free)
It’s nearly impossible to heal your gut if you’re still eating sugar. Gelatin in this stevia-sweetened dessert can help — without the sugar!
Via GrassFedGirl.com.
Sugar-Free Copycat Ferrero Rocher
Do you love those gold-wrapped truffles, too? Now, you can make your own version with ZERO sugar! Via SugarFreeMom.com.
Lemon Essential Oil Yogurt
If it’s lemon pudding you crave, this lemon-y treat is exactly what you need!
Via TraditionalCookingSchool.com.
Strawberry Lime Pudding (egg-free & dairy-free)
An allergy-friendly pudding that’s sweetened with only stevia is perfect for Trim Healthy Mamas! Via TraditionalCookingSchool.com.
Blackberry, Ginger, & Peach Sprouted Brown Rice Pudding w/ Probiotic Ginger Drizzle
Nourishing sprouted brown rice becomes oh-so creamy in your Instant Pot! The sweetness comes from stevia, blackberries, and peaches, with an amazing probiotic ginger drizzle to add a tasty tang!
Via TraditionalCookingSchool.com.
Raw Avocado-Lime Tart (no eggs, grains, gluten, dairy, or sugar!)
The healthy fat in avocados plus enzymes in soaked seeds makes this sugar-free dessert a real winner! We dare you to find a more allergy-friendly dessert! Via WildernessFamilyNaturals.com.
Coconut Chocolate Bars
Did somebody say “Mounds Bar”?! How about this version… without the high fructose corn syrup? Via TheNourishedCaveWoman.com.
Grain-Free Mixed Berry Cobbler
Why yes, yes you can enjoy a berry-licious summer dessert without all the sugar! Berries and stevia make a great pair!
Via TraditionalCookingSchool.com.
Do you prefer stevia-sweetened desserts? Are you avoiding sugar to follow Trim Healthy Mama, heal your gut, or stabilize your blood sugar? Share your stevia experiences below!
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I started switching to stevia around four years ago in my coffee and tea, yogurt, minimal baking, balance for the highly spiced/capsaicined curries I love, and now as a durable, non-fermentable sweetener in certain homemade kefirs and lacto-fermented veggies.
To avoid the bitter aftertaste, I first began with a cane sugar-stevia blend, about 50/50. Over a couple of months I got it up to 100% stevia, and taste no bitterness at all. I’ve also successfully grown it in a pot as a returning perennial in my zone 9 region in Sonoma County, California. Now, I find most prepared foods disgustingly over sweetened.
Isn’t it almost magical how we can intentionally retrain our tastebuds!
I baked with stevia for the first time yesterday, cranberry walnut muffins, the orange juice in these muffins didn`t like my diabetes, spiked it way up. Trying to find b/s friendly recipes. This was written as a loaf recipe, did however turn out tasty as muffins. I couldn`t detect a bitter aftertaste.
Difficult to find recipes that don’t mess with blood sugar. White flour will for sure. Working on trying
Stevia and combination sweeteners.
I keep hoping to find desserts that won’t raise blood sugar for the 100 million diabetics and pre-diabetics in the U.S, but it is very difficult. Sweet and starchy ingredients such as dates, pineapple, bananas, sweet potatoes, maple syrup and yes, erythritol (including Swerve) raise our blood glucose. Stevia does not. “Stevia Sweetened Desserts” may be suitable for Paleo, Keto and low carb diets, but not for diabetics or pre-diabetics when dates, erythritol etc. are also added. Using Stevia alone as a sweetener is a challenge because it hasn’t the bulk of those other sweeteners, and using too much can impart a bitter taste. There’s a market for 100 million consumers.
I read your comment about everything raising your blood glucose levels except stevia. I’m not diabetic, so I dont do testing, but wonder if you are baking with regular wheat flour, or using other commonly used ingredients, such as regular 1%, or 2% cows milk, not whole milk, or low fat dairy of any kind. Same with all other things you might be eating, or baking with, like oats, or corn meal.
Erythtitol has very little effect, to none on most peoples sugar levels. Most of the time it’s what else its being used with that is causing the rise..not the erythritol itself.
This is a nice dessert Coconut Chocolate Bars!really looks delicious! I want to Indulge! thanks for sharing this!
could you give us regular old recipes for desserts using stevia instead of these fancy chef ones, like the desserts below.
1. brownies
2. chocolate ice cream
3. cakes, pies, candy made with chocolate
Hi Mike, this episode of #AskWardee talks about how to substitute stevia in recipes. I hope it helps. https://traditionalcookingschool.com/q-a/how-to-sweeten-desserts-using-only-stevia-aw106/ ~ Vicki, TCS Customer Success Team
Thank you so much for these recipes. I intend to try the muffins.
I have been low-carb for two years,. Recently, I began to have diarrhea with erythritol. And now with allulose. No sugar alcohols for me! 🙁
I’ve been fine with only Whole Earth stevia/Monkfruit sweetener in the packets. I’m really happy that you have some stevia recipes I can be to have for breakfast.
Love these dessert and super excited to try these , thanks for sharing these.
Coconut-Nut Crust for Cheesecake The link for this no longer works. Thank you for these great sweets.
Hi, Cathleen,
The link worked on my end, now let’s get you working. Does this link work better for you:
https://traditionalcookingschool.com/food-preparation/weekly-kitchen-tips/kyf-104-5-surprising-ways-to-use-your-crockpot/
~Peggy, TCS Customer Success Team
Love these Stevia-Sweetened Desserts, seems amazing . Thanks for sharing this with us. Will love to try this one.