Health Food Focus: Coconut Sugar!
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My once loved white sugar substitute agave has been receiving quite a bit of negative press recently (mostly because of its 90% fructose level). Confused and left doubting agaves’ previously praised heath benefits, I embarked on a mission to find a healthier and less controversial sweetener alternative. The search led me to the discovery of my ‘sweet’ little new friend, coconut sugar!
What it is:
Coconut sugar is drawn from the sap of the coconut palm tree buds. It is similar in taste and color to brown sugar, with a slight caramel flavor.
Health Benefits:
Coconut sugar contains less than 9 percent fructose. It has a considerably lower glycemic index (35) than agave (42), honey (55), and cane sugar (68), thus helping to stabilize glucose levels. Coconut sugar can also do a lot more than just add sweetness to your morning coffee! It’s loaded with minerals, such as potassium, magnesium, zinc, iron, and B vitamins.
Ways to Incorporate into Your Diet:
Coconut sugar can be used as a substitute for white sugar in baking or dessert recipes or anything else you’d use sugar for!
Where to Find it & Cost:
Coconut sugar can be found at most health food shops. I use the Loving Earth brand, which costs around $7.50 for 300g.
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Recipe Idea:
These cookies are to die for! They are quick, easy to make and require minimal cleaning (just what I like!). They are perfect for a picnic or to accompany a cup of tea. Just try not to eat all the mixture before the cookies make it to the oven 😛
Coconut Date Cookies
Makes 6-8 cookies
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Ingredients:
♥ 1 cup pitted dates (soaked for approx 5 mins to soften then drain)
♥ 1/3 cup rolled oats
♥ 1/2 cup shredded coconut
♥ 1 tsp baking powder
♥ 1 TBS vanilla
♥ 1-3 TBS coconut sugar (depending on how sweet you want them)
♥ 1 TBS coconut oil
♥ 1/4 cup coconut milk or choice of milk (use nut milk for vegan cookies!)
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Directions:
♥ Preheat oven to 170*C (fan forced).
♥ Put all ingredients in a food processor and blend well until there are no large date pieces.
♥ Portion mixture into equal sized balls, place on greased cookie sheet, and flatten with the back of a spoon/spatula.
♥ Bake for 12-15 minutes on 170 degrees.
♥ Remove from oven and cool on cookie rack.
♥ Store cookies in the refrigerator.
YUM! Do you like the sound of these healthy cookies?! Let us know 🙂
Article by Kavisha, self confessed ‘health foodie’ who believes a little dessert is good for the soul. She is currently studying for her Master of Wellness at RMIT University and blogs at Style My Coconut.
Be well,
xoxo
I too have been on the lookout for an agave substitute & have been meaning to try coconut sugar! It sounds completely delicious! And the recipe… yum, must make soon. Love this post 🙂 x
Yay Hannah thanks for your comment! I can’t wait to try it either on Kavisha’s reccomendation :)! Xx
I’ve also heard that agave is not that fantastic and just too highly processed – and I’ve been dying to try coconut sugar (it sounds too delicious and amazing not to!).
And err, do I like the sound of these healthy cookies? YES, yes I do. Feel free to send a box anytime 🙂
xx
I want them too! YUM! 🙂 X