These keto citrus cookies-my sister Maureen’s creation-are a treat, as is the following information on Swerve confectioner’s sugar, which is used in the frosting.  Here I compare it to Lakanto Monkfruit sweetener.

Lakanto Monkfruit Tastes Better Than Swerve

Personally I prefer the taste of Lakanto Monkfruit sweetner, with erythritol and monkfruit, to Swerve, a blend of erythritol and prebiotic oligosacchariedes; I notice that Swerve leaves an aftertaste, when consumed with coffee, a flavor-enhancer.

Comparing Monkfruit to Swerve

Both are natural sweeteners, containing nothing artificial including no preservatives; they are non-GMO, gluten-free, non-glycemic, and diabetic friendly.  They taste and measure like sugar.

These two sweeteners are part erythritol.  Lakanto Monkfruit has monkfruit added, which is derived from the fruit called monkfruit (for details see Healthy Date/Apricot Bars).  On the other hand, Swerve states its ingredients come from select fruits and starchy root vegetables.  In this case, they add oligosaccharides to the erythritol.

How Oligosaccharides In Swerve Are Derived 

These oligosaccharides are derived from adding enzymes to starchy root vegetables, thus breaking down the starch and producing this carbohydrate, whose molecules are made up of a relatively small number of monosaccharide units.  1

Common oligosaccharides include the simple, single sugars-monosaccharides-glucose, fructose, and galactose.  1,4 glycosidic bonds bind these together to create disaccharides, such as sucrose, lactose, and maltose.  All sugars-known as oligaosaccharides-are formed when two or more monosaccharides are joined together by O-glycosidic bonds.  2

Another term for sugar is saccharide, while the word oligosaccharide, though a broad term, is most commonly used to refer to a carbohydrate polymer whose molecules are composed of a relatively small number of these monosaccharide units-typically between 3-9 units.  3

Makeup of Swerve Quetionable

Swerve does not reveal what type of simple sugar, or monosaccharide, is used to make up its carbohydrate polymers, which are specifically referred to as oligosacchrides here.  They also state that they have introduced a small amount of natural citrus flavor, though we don’t know exactly what is meant by “natural flavor”, or more specifically how it is derived in this case.  4

Its oligosaccharides are prebiotic fibers, or types of dietary fiber that feed the friendly bacteria in your gut, which cannot be broken down by the human digestive tract; thus, they are considered calorie-free, passing intact through our digestive systems into our colons, where they support the growth of healthy bacteria.  Being calories that our bodies cannot assimilate, these oligosaccharides are considered to be calorie-free, not raising blood sugar or insulin levels; they, however, may cause digestive upsets, leading to gas, bloating, and diarrhea, which is especially true when used in high amounts.  5

Swerve Has A Broader Basis Of Culinary Use

In its favor, Swerve boasts that it browns and caramelizes just like sugar.  I, however, am not as sold on its flavor as much as that of Lakanto Monkfruit, but large amounts of this latter may cause dryness in baked goods.  Nevertheless, I love Monkfruit-over Swerve-added to my hot oats and chia seed parfaits, as well as in baking, when used moderately, with the addition of konjac root powder, or a similar product.

Swerve, however, makes confectioners sugar, a must for frostings, as found in the recipe below.  Note: it is easy to make your own confectioners sugar, by grinding Monkfruit in a blender-be sure to cover the machine with a towel, while blending.  Granulated Monkfruit, Swerve, and ground Monkfruit confectioners sugar, all measure exactly the same.

These Alternative Sugars Ideal For Keto Diet

My health condition recently called for a decrease in the amount of carbohydrates I was taking in.  Thus, I became interested in Dr. Colbert’s keto diet.  This greatly reduces carbs, while calling for a concentration of high-quality fats, to achieve keto-zone for effective weight loss (see https://drcolbert.com/).

My personal need, however, is to be sure I eat enough calories in a day, so as not to lose weight, while not consuming high amounts of carbs for those needed calories.  Henceforth, I follow the keto diet loosely, not needing to maintain keto-zone that his patients require for losing weight effectively.  I have only skimmed the surface of all Colbert’s teachings, receiving his recommendations for 70% of your daily caloric intake, to be derived from healthy fats (see Healthy Date/Apricot Bars).

I have learned to love my homemade ghee-see recipe at Vichy Carrots-in my hot cereal, and I lavish grass-fed Kerry butter on keto bisquits made with almond flour-my next entry.  Likewise, I fill a tablespoon-size impression in my homemade, sprouted three-bean dip, with organic olive oil, the king of all oils-a quick and easy way to consume my needed fat.  (See recipe for Sprouted Three Bean Dip.)  This last I eat with just eleven organic bean chips, as recommended for a serving, counting all my carbohydrates carefully.

Applying This Lesson To Life

I can have a moderate amount of carbs, just not the quantity I was previously eating, to maintain calories for my weight.  I have learned it is all about balance!

We notice that there is always a tension of some sort in watching our diets, as well as in maintaining other life experiences.  This characteristic in our existence demands that we be alert, so as not to be caught off-guard in matters of physical and mental health.

Our inward wisdom will naturally resolve these apparent problems, when we quiet ourselves and subject our instinct that reacts with feelings; thus, rather we are able to settle in calm!  We always ask God for help to access this inner voice.

In this way, we do not eat compulsively, tasting nothing, or of equal importance, we don’t eat at all, because of emotions.

All this can be done, when in restful faith, we seek composure in both eating and living.  We always achieve this symmetry, when we ask God for his needed help.

References:

1. https://swervesweet.com/about
2. https://teaching.ncl.ac.uk/bms/wiki/index.php/Oligosaccharide
3. Ibid.
4. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/swerve-sweetener
5. Ibid.

Keto Citrus Cookies  Yields: about 18 cookies.  Total prep time: 1 1/4 hr /  active prep time: 45 min/  baking time: 30 min .  Note: if desired, frosting recipe may be quadrupled, for the freezing of four parts, to facilitate quick prep of subsequent batches.  Cookies also freeze well!

 

 

Zest of 1 lg orange & 1 lemon, minus 1 tbsp saved for frosting  (Organic is important here for flavor and quality, as skin of citrus fruits readily absorb pesticides.)  Note: 2 of each fruit is required, if quadrupling recipe, to freeze for quick and easy batches in the future.

1/2 c unsalted butter, softened

3/4 c Lankanto Monkfruit alternative sweetener  (This is available most reasonably at Costco.)

1 lg egg

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 c almond flour  (Costco’s almond flour is much cheaper than any other available-$12.99 for a 3-lb bag.)

1/2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp konjac root powder, or a similar product of your choice  (This softens baked goods and is available on-line.)

1/2 tsp salt  (Himalayan, pink, or Real Salt is essential for optimum health; a fine grind Himalayan salt is available at Costco for $4.95 for 5 lbs.)

Frosting  May freeze any leftover frosting from single batch.  These are a staple in my home, and I go through them quickly; thus, I quadruple the frosting recipe and divide it into five separate containers, freezing four of them, for quick, subsequent batches.

2 tbsp butter, softened

2 oz cream cheese, softened

1 c Swerve alternative confectioners sugar  (To make your own confectioners sugar, grind the better-tasting Monkfruit in a blender-be sure to cover blender with a towel.  Note: Swerve, granulated Monkfruit, and ground Monkfruit all measure exactly the same.)

Juice of 1 lemon and 1 lg orange, to desired consistency

1 tbsp zest of lemon and orange (Use zest of one whole of each of these fruits, if quadrupling recipe.)

1/4 tsp vanilla extract

Pinch of salt

1. 

   grating fruit

   Be sure cream cheese and butter (for both cookies and frosting) are softened, before starting recipe.

2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
3. Zest one lemon and one large orange.  Set aside, saving 1 tbsp zest separately, for frosting; see photo above.
   

   dough

   (Zest two of each fruit, using half of zest for cookies and half for frosting, if quadrupling frosting recipe, to freeze for easy prep of future batches.)

4. If making frosting, juice all fruit together in a bowl; set aside.
5. In a large bowl, mix butter and Monkfruit.  Beat in: egg, vanilla, and the zest of lemon and orange, minus 2 tsp for frosting.
6. Stir together baking soda, konjac root, and salt into almond flour, using a separate dish-better yet, shake well in a quart-size sealed storage bag.  Mix almond flour mixture into butter mixture; do not over-beat.  See above photo.
7. 

   forming balls of dough

   Using a teaspoon, form 18 balls on two parchment-lined cookie sheets, several inches apart from each other; see photo.

8. Using fingers, flatten each ball into a 1 1/2″ diameter.
9. Bake pans separately in hot oven for 15-16 minutes, or until golden brown.  Do not over-bake, as these will cook more on pan while cooling; see bottom photo.  Meanwhile, make frosting.
10. 

    golden brown cookies

    Blend 2 oz room-temperature cream cheese and 2 tbsp softened butter; add 1 c alternative confectioner’s sugar; then, add juice to desired consistency, and finally add zest, vanilla, and salt.   May freeze any leftovers.  (If quadrupling the frosting recipe-to freeze for easy prep of subsequent batches-divide this large batch of frosting evenly in five small containers, freezing four of these for quick, future batches of cookies.)

11. When cookies are done, be sure to cool on pan; then, place on wax paper to frost (see photo at top of recipe).
12. Enjoy these great, “legal” cookies!