Natvia Takes Sugar-Free Baking To The Next Level + 3 Fabulous Vegan Recipes

As you may have read in our inaugural Green Queen Scoop, the United States government has updated their dietary recommendations. The big news? For the first time ever, they have put an upper cap on the amount of added sugar that should be consumed daily. We’ve been on the low sugar bandwagon for some time, given that excessive consumption is linked to ample negative health effects.

Enter Natvia, a natural sweetener made from a combination of certified organic stevia and erythriol. For those who are not familiar with it, stevia is a sweetener made from the stevia plant that has traditionally been used for centuries as a sweetener in Central and South America. In the modern health world, stevia is most famous for being calorie free. Natvia, which is certified non-GMO as well as kosher and halal, combines stevia with erythriol, a sugar alcohol similar to xylitol and sorbitol but without the side effects. What does that mean to you? In short,  Natvia has 0.4 calories a serving and a Glycemic Index (GI) of zero, without sacrificing taste or hurting your tummy. In fact, Natvia approved for use by diabetics by the Angel of Diabetic and Diabetes Mutual Aid Society.

Natvia can be enjoyed as you would any sweetener as it is perfect for baking and cooking. Unlike many sugar alternatives, Natvia offers a simple one-to-one substitution ratio for all recipes. In addition, the makers of Natvia worked tirelessly to ensure that it paired well with coffee: they conducted over 600 trials until they got it right! Natvia is also formulated to avoid that bitter aftertaste so common with many other other non-sugar sweeteners. Natvia is already the most popular natural sweetener in health-obsessed Australia and New Zealand, and it is is quickly becoming the go-to option in Hong Kong with F&B outlets such as Holly Brown and the Cafe Deco Group using it for their alternative sweetener needs.

Natvia conviently comes in a wide variety of formats including a baking pack (powdered), icing mix (finely ground for frosting), stick box (individually packed and perfect for coffee and tea), and compressed tablets for those on the go. You can find the whole Natvia range at grocery stores around Hong Kong including CitySuper, Great Food Hall and many more. You can also stay on the sofa and order it online via Health Aims and LifeProject.HK.

Looking for inspiration? Natvia’s Sweeter Life Club is a fantastic resource for recipes with oodles of nourishing and easy-to-follow ideas including vegan and gluten-free options. Not to mention that the photos are truly gorgeous! Here are three awesome recipes that show you how to use Natvia to make healthy and totally sugar-free recipes.

Matcha Cherry Chia Parfait

Makes 1-2 parfaits; prep. time: 20 mins

Despite its impressive presentation, this dairy, gluten and sugar chia pudding is a cinch and a perfect breakfast or healthy snack. The chia seeds pack an omega-3 punch which is complemented by the antioxidants from the matcha green tea powder.

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp/20g/0.7 oz chia seeds
• 1 cup/250ml/8.4 oz almond or coconut milk
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tbsp/14g/0.5 oz Natvia
• 1 tsp matcha powder
• 1 handful baby spinach

Directions

1. Blend all the ingredients except the chia seeds in a high-speed blender.
2. Pour into a jar and stir through the chia seeds. Leave in the fridge overnight.
3. To serve, layer with cherries, other fruit, muesli, and coconut yoghurt.

Reprinted with permission from The Sweeter Life Club.

Pear & Cardamom Pancakes

Makes 1-2 servings; prep. time: 15 mins

Made with both buckwheat and oat flours, these wholegrain are vegan pancakes are the ideal start a healthy day. Make sure to use coconut oil to cook them as it is able to withstand high heat without releasing toxins.

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup/30g/1 oz buckwheat flour
• 1/4 cup/25g/0.8 oz oat flour
• 1/2 pear, grated
• 1/4 tsp ground ginger
• 1/8 tsp cardamom
• 1 tbsp/14g/0.5 oz Natvia
• 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/4 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp apple cider vinegar
• 1/2 cup/125ml/4.2 oz almond milk

Directions

1. Blend all the ingredients in a high-speed blender. The batter should be really thick as this helps the pancakes stay fluffy and moist.
2. Cook over medium low heat in a (safe) non-stick frypan using coconut oil.
3. Top with more fresh pear, raspberries and rice malt syrup if needed.

Reprinted with permission from The Sweeter Life Club.

Walnut Date Bites

Makes 25-28 bites; prep.time: 20 mins

These vegan, and raw if desired, date balls are so quick and simple that there is no excuse not to always have them on hand for a nutritious pick-me-up. With only dates and Natvia to sweethen them, these are a low-GI sweet treat you can feel good about.

Ingredients

• 2 cups/220g/7.7 oz pitted Medjool dates soaked in boiling water for 10 minutes until soft and then drained
• 1 cup/120g/4 oz walnuts
• 1 cup/90g/3 oz desiccated coconut
• 1 tsp vanilla extract or raw vanilla powder
• 1 tsp Natvia

For Rolling:

• 2 tbsp/14g/0.5 oz desiccated coconut
• 2 tbsp/14g/0.5 oz drinking cacao

Directions

1. In a high-speed food processor or blender, process dates until they are broken up.
2. Add the walnuts, and process again until just broken up. You want to keep some texture.
3. Add the remaining ingredients (coconut, vanilla and Natvia) and process on high until well combined and mixture begins to stick together.
4. Take a heaping teaspoon full of the mixture and roll into small, bite-sized balls. Place on a lined baking tray.
5. Roll half the balls in the desiccated coconut and the other half in the drinking cocoa.
6. Set in the refrigerator for 20 minutes or until firm and then serve.

Reprinted with permission from The Sweeter Life Club.

Photo Credits: Natvia and The Sweeter Life Club.

This is a Green Queen partner post.