Make a 'Date' With An Easy to Use Healthier Sugar Alternative

This is the kind of innovative product I get excited about. And, it did not disappoint 😊

LIVA Date Sugar is an organic, whole food alternative to white or brown sugar. It's made entirely from raw, organic dehydrated dates. 

I love that it's so easy to use!  LIVA Date Sugar is a superfine powder, so it blends seamlessly with other ingredients. I did a bunch of baking with it, but you can also use it in salad dressings, marinades, sauces, smoothies.....the possibilities are endless.

LIVA recommends mixing their date sugar with your wet ingredients. They also say you may need 1/4 - 1/2C extra liquid when baking, but I did not need to add any extra in my cookies.

I have been using dates in my baking and smoothies, for many years. They're a great source of fibre and trace minerals, they have the highest antioxidant content of any dried fruit, and they're anti inflammatory. Fantastic!  

For this year's batches of Christmas cookies, I chose LIVA Date Sugar for another reason. Dates are low on the Glycemic Index. Foods lower on the glycemic index may help control blood sugar spiking too high after eating.  My father in law is diabetic. Worse, he's what we call a non-compliant diabetic (doesn't care for himself in the ways a diabetic should). He LOVES his sweets and surrounds himself with multiple varieties of store bought, sugar laden treats. I used a number of healthier ingredients in these cookies. The addition of LIVA Date Sugar has given them a lovely sweetness I know he'll like.  And, I can rest easy that (at least when he's at my table) he's eating a bit healthier. (Note: the following recipe is 'healthier' and can be adapted to further reduce sugar content)

Confetti Cookies

Preheat oven to 375F

Whisk together 2 3/4C Organic Spelt Flour, 1 tsp baking soda, 1 tsp fine sea salt, and 1/2 tsp baking powder.  

In stand mixer (or large bowl), cream 1C butter for a minute.  Add  3/4C LIVA Date Sugar, 3/4C Erythritol or Monkfruit Sweetener, and cream for an additional 2-3 minutes. Beat in 2 tsp Vanilla extract, 1 large egg, and 1/8C non-dairy milk of choice, until mixture is light and fluffy. 

Gradually beat in dry ingredients until batter is smooth. 

Fold in 1/2 C multi colored sprinkles (or colours themed to the season).  (Note: These cookies are flavourful on their own, so feel free to reduce the sprinkles to 1/4 C or eliminate all together)

Bake about 10 minutes, until the cookies just start to turn golden on the edges. 

Cool cookies on a rack. When cooled completely, melt 1C white chocolate chips.  Using a small spoon, drizzle the melted white chocolate over the cookies.

Enjoy!