3 Healthy Recipes with Nutty Yogi’s Coconut Sugar

For those with a sweet tooth, anything minor can trigger a sweet craving. It could be a smell, a picture or even a song that reminds you of sweet times spent with a special someone!

However, if you do indulge those cravings every time they hit, they’re bound to pack on the pounds, giving you all kinds of lifestyle diseases in the bargain. But there is a way to have your cake and eat it too – if the cake is made of coconut sugar! I discovered a whole lot of goodies from Nutty Sugar early this year and Nutty Yogi’s Coconut Sugar is one product that I really loved.

What is coconut sugar?

Coconut sugar, also called coconut palm sugar, is a natural sugar made from coconut palms. Coconut palm sap is collected from a cut in the tree and then heated till dry. What is left are brown granules, similar to brown sugar. Coconut sugar tastes quite similar to regular sugar as well, and does not have a distinct coconut flavor, contrary to what many people expect.

Even though the flavor is similar to that of refined sugar, the nutritional profile is nothing like it. Plain white sugar is called empty calories for a reason – it is devoid of any nutritional value whatsoever.

On the other hand, coconut sugar has many health benefits:

• It contains important minerals like iron, zinc and calcium and about 400 times the potassium in refined sugar
• Coconut sugar is rich in phytonutrients and antioxidants like polyphenols, flavonoids and anthocyanidin
• It contains a fiber called inulin, which may slow glucose absorption unlike refined sugar which causes sudden spikes in blood sugar
• Coconut sugar has a GI (Glycemic Index) of 35, whereas refined sugar has a GI of 65

Even with these benefits, it’s important to ensure you get your coconut sugar from a trusted source, so that you can avoid getting plain sugar that has been colored artificially. One such brand is Nutty Yogi’s coconut sugar, 100% natural and free from additives.

Recipes with Nutty Yogi’s Coconut Sugar

Cooking with coconut sugar is easy enough and can be incorporated in cooked and baked dishes seamlessly.  Here are some simple and healthy recipes made with Nutty Yogi’s Coconut Sugar, that’ll have you saying goodbye to the refined version!

Peanut Butter and Oatmeal Cookies

Ingredients:

• 1 and ½ cups Nutty Yogi’s Peanut Butter
• 2 and ½ cups Nutty Yogi’s Oats
• 2 and ½ cups Nutty Yogi’s Coconut Sugar
• 1/3 cup coconut oil
• 4 eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 teaspoons baking soda

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees Celsius. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. In a large bowl, put in the peanut butter, coconut sugar and coconut oil and mix with an electric whisk.
3. Add eggs, vanilla and baking soda and whisk again.
4. Add oats and mix till well combined.
5. Use a metal spoon to scoop out some cookie dough and drop it on the lined baking sheet. Leave enough space between each cookie so it can spread out.
6. Bake for 10 minutes or till they start browning at the edges. Take them out and let them cool completely before transferring to a clean and dry container.

Healthy Nut Bars

Ingredients:

• 2 and ½ cups assorted nuts (almonds, walnuts, cashew nuts, pistachios)
• ½ cup assorted seeds (flax seeds, pumpkin seeds)
• ½ cup Nutty Yogi’s Coconut, Vanilla and Cinnamon Sugar
• 2 and ½ tablespoons of Nutty Yogi’s honey
• ½ tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon powdered cinnamon

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees Celsius. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and keep aside.
2. Mix together the nuts and seeds in a large bowl.
3. Put the remaining ingredients into a large saucepan and turn on a gentle heat till the coconut sugar is completely melted. Nutty Yogi has quite a few variants of honey and I am sure that they will taste as good as plain honey.
4. Turn off the heats and add the nuts. Mix quickly till the nuts are completely coated.
5. Pour the nut mixture on the prepared baking sheet and flatten it.
6. Bake for 20 minutes. Take it out and let it cool for an hour.
7. Lift the parchment sheet out of the baking pan. Use a sharp knife to slice into bars.

Coconut Apple Smoothie

Ingredients:

• 1 apple, peeled and chopped
• ½ cup yogurt
• 2 teaspoons Nutty Yogi’s Coconut Sugar
• ¼ cup shredded coconut
• 1 frozen banana, chopped
• 1 teaspoon powdered cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions:

1. On a low heat, cook the apple pieces with the coconut sugar and cinnamon powder till the coconut sugar is completely melted and the apple pieces are soft.
2. Once the apple pieces are cool, add it along with the remaining ingredients to a blender jar and blend till smooth.
3. Chill before serving. Sprinkle some cinnamon powder on top.

While coconut sugar has its benefits, it’s important to remember that it is still a kind of sugar, and naturally high in fructose. Moderate consumption of Nutty Yogi’s Coconut Sugar is the best idea, so you can satisfy your sweet tooth while also getting some nutrients in the process.