No-sugar cookies and pizza dough

June 16, 2020



I really miss baking. Since I have gone no-sugar, I really haven't had the option. 

All I have been able to find, as I've researched online, have been recipes with sugar alternatives, such as Swerve or stevia, or "healthier" sugars, such as coconut sugar. 

I have tried making some of my favorite recipes without sugar. Pumpkin bread was a major fail. But gluten-free waffles, made according to the recipe but without the sugar, were a success. 

But now I've actually found a recipe for cookies with no sugar! I have revised it at least five times and this is version I like best.

No-Flour, No-Sugar Cookies

3 cups old-fashioned oats
3 bananas, very ripe, smooshed up (technical term!)
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 c no-sugar peanut butter
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 cup milk (can use almond milk)
chopped walnuts and dates, as desired

Mix all together and drop by spoonfuls onto a parchment paper-lined cookie sheet. Bake at 350 F for 15 to 20 minutes. Makes about 2 1/2 dozen.


These are very moist, so I'm not sure how long they will last sitting out. My husband likes them so we can eat them in three or four days. I will have a few for breakfast with coffee.

These are very versatile. The original recipe did not include eggs or salt. I've made them without milk. I've used applesauce or almond butter instead of peanut butter. You could use raisins or pecans.

The sweetness comes from the bananas. The riper they are, the sweeter the cookie. Of course, this cookie is not sugar free, with the bananas and dates, but it is at least natural sugar.

*****

I was buying the cauliflower pizza crusts until I saw they have 1 gram of sugar in them. They are also pricey. So I found a yummy recipe that has no sugar in it.

Cauliflower Pizza Crust

1 lb bag of frozen riced cauliflower, thawed with extra moisture pressed out (I let it sit in a colander in the sink to thaw and drain and then press down on the cauliflower to get all the extra water out)
1/2 c shredded mozarella
1/4 c grated parmesan
1/2 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp garlic powder
2 eggs, lightly beaten

Mix together and pile onto a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Form into a circle or square. Bake for 20 minutes at 400 F. Remove from oven, add toppings and bake for 10 more minutes.

With all the cheese in the crust, you don't need as much cheese for topping. The first time I made this I 
thought it was a little rich with all the cheese. But so good!

I used a bag of riced cauliflower and broccoli for this pizza. This is before it is baked.

After baking, before adding toppings.

Now I've come to where I think I'm going to allow one compromise in my no-sugar lifestyle. And that is in bread making. I have made gluten-free, sugar-free bread and it's okay. Not great, to be honest. So, occasionally, I think I will allow myself to make yeast bread with honey.

{Am I being way too strict about all this sugar stuff? Yes, definitely. But I DO NOT want to re-gain the weight I've lost. Ever.}

We still have lots and lots of spelt berries stored in our basement from when I used to make bread on a regular basis for my family. But I sold my grain grinder years ago, and they have just sat there. Then I read that you can use a NutriBullet to grind grain. So I brought up some of those spelt berries and made a spelt crust pizza (2 tsp of honey in recipe).


Before baking, with roasted red peppers, artichokes, tomatoes, and fresh basil from my deck garden.


The crust ended up kind of heavy. I think I tried to grind too much grain at one time and the flour wasn't perhaps as fine as it should have been. Also I think I should have kneaded it for much longer than the recipe called for. (I also sold my bread maker so I kneaded it using my handheld mixer with the dough hooks.)

Hope you enjoyed these recipes. Next time, I want to share with you how I've super-simplified the "what are we having for dinner" question.

xo Deborah

13 comments

  1. It's hard to bake any treats without sugar. But your cookies do look inviting and delicious. I admit that we tried cauliflower crust quiche recently and I did not like it....at all. So I'll probably give the cauliflower pizza crust a miss, but yours looks good.

    Wishing you a lovely day, Deborah!
    Brenda xox

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  2. I love bananas so I'm intrigued by your no sugar cookies...

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  3. Dearest Deborah,
    Excellent post with great ideas for living healthier!
    Love your use of the n-dash in your title.
    Haha, Pieter is at me about me using them all over the manuscript but as a kind of an academic manual I want certain things to stand out and get the attention of the reader, also for searching inside the text...
    Doing the proofs now, adding sticky notes to the Pdfs and sending it back to the graphic designer. What a mega task but I'm feeling happy for having done the 12 chapters by Sunday, 6:00 PM.
    Don't have time for making our sugar free chocolates, with mixed nuts and dried apricots; we ate our last one this morning.
    Hugs,
    Mariette

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  4. No cauliflower pizza crust for me, but the cookies sound good and healthful.

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  5. The cookies look delicious, I will certainly be having a go at making them.

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  6. Oh, wow! All of these sound wonderful to me. I am going to try to make these cookies. Have you ever heard of the Trim Healthy Mama plan? To be honest, it is far too complicated for me to understand it. I tried reading the book, and it was just way too much information. But, I do buy their Gentle Sweet and use it occasionally. I wonder if it would work in these cookies and also I bought some peanut butter powder - I wonder if it would add to the flavor. I just may do some experimenting! LOL! I am SO proud of you for your resolve not only to get the weight off, but to keep it off. You inspire me to try harder to get this weight off! Sending love and hugs your way today and many blessings!

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  7. Thanks for all of these no sugar recipes. I will have to try out the cauliflower crust and make some pizza.
    Thanks for the blog visit and I hope you try out the cauliflower wings.

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  8. Eating sugar-free is difficult. Your cookies sound like a good compromise. I have made cauliflower crust pizzas for myself over the years, but I've decided they just don't cut it anymore. Nothing compares to wheat flour, so I allow myself an indulgence once in awhile. Much more satisfying.
    I admire your determination and stick-to-it-iveness.

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  9. Good for you in keeping up with your plan and your weight loss, Deborah!

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  10. I must look back to see how you actually went sugar-free! How amazing and how wonderful! Needless to say, I would love to do so. -sigh- Never been able to, as I am addicted to sugar. -repeat sigh-

    So wonderful, that you have done it!

    I also have to live Gluten Free. Not tested. Just know, from how it improved my quality of life.

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  11. These cookies are absolutely delicious, and mine turned out to have a cake-y texture that reminded my husband of banana bread. I too must not have refined sugar, and am gluten sensitive, so this checked many boxes for me, including having a healthy snack that's not prepackaged and pumped full of preservatives. Thank you so much for this recipe!

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  12. A no-sugar diet is difficult but you seem to have come up with some good recipes. Good for you! My hubby would in no way go for this although I do try to limit sugar as much as possible. He simply will not even try going without sugar in his coffee although I have always drank mine black as well as my tea. The cookies especially look great! Thank you for your visit and your encouragement, Deborah. Happy Summer! Hugs!

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