Refined Sugar-Free S'mores!

This recipe is honestly one of the most amazing things I discovered this summer!!! 😍😋  Okay, I know what you're thinking... "Why would I want to take the time to MAKE S'more ingredients when I could just go to the store and buy them in half the time?  Well, let's take a minute to evaluate the ingredients in S'more.  Sure store bought marshmallows, Graham crackers, and Hershey's chocolate is a faster option for these summer treats, but that doesn't mean they're a better option for your health.  Have you ever eaten a S'more before and felt kind of sick to your stomach afterwards?  I have!  And so naturally I stopped eating them once I became and adult. 

Let's take a minute evaluate health facts on these products:
First Health Fact:  All three of these foods are massively high in sugar, and corn syrup.  With that in mind, a S'more is pretty much just a sugar cocktail!  Sugar is highly addictive and toxic!  Sugar feeds cancer and other bacteria and parasites in the body, and increases inflammation!  Putting three high-sugar products together wages war on your body, and can very much lead to leaky gut and other auto-immune diseases.

Second Health Fact:  All three of these products are highly processed and filled with chemical additives that are highly addictive and foreign to our bodies.  When we ingest such substances, our body doesn't recognize it as food, and can make us sick simply because our body is on overdrive trying to protect us from "unknown substances." 

Third Health Fact: These foods lack nutrients that whole foods, or food made ourselves, contain.  When we eat large amounts of food that lacks nutrients it leaves our bodies feeling nutrient depleted, and can lead us to feeling weak or sick after we eat.

So... is it possible to find a S'more that has little sugar, proper nutrients, AND zero harmful additives?  Yes it is!  And not only are they healthy, but they also taste AMAZING and are perfect for every summer occasion!  They're also really not that difficult to make, and can be made in large batches and stored in the freezer so they don't go bad quickly!

​So what are we waiting for!?  Let's get started! 😋😁

Refined Sugar-Free S'mores!

Homemade Graham Crackers!

Ingredients:

• 1 cup butter (softened)
• 6 Tbs. golden Lakanto sweetener
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 3 Tbs. raw honey
• 3 cups whole wheat flour
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• 2 tsp. water

Directions:

1. In a stand mixer, mix butter, Lakanto, salt, cinnamon, and honey.  Mix until well combined.
2. Add in baking soda and then gradually add in flour one cup at a time.  Make sure flour is well combined after each cup before adding the next cup.
3. Remove from stand mixer and form dough into two balls.  This is also when you can add the water if your mixture seems to dry.  Mixture should hold together but not be sticky.
4. Roll dough onto silicone baking mat.  Cut or score into individual cracker sizes. Use a skewer or toothpick to make holes in crackers.

• Place in freezer on stainless steel baking sheet for 30 mins. to harden.
• Remove from freezer and separate dough into individual crackers on the baking sheet.  Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes or until crackers begin to brown.
• Remove from oven and transfer to cooling wrack.  Make sure crackers are totally cool before using them for S'mores!

Homemade Marshmallows!

Ingredients:

• 1 cup water
• 3 Tbs. powdered gelatin
• 1 cup raw honey
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• Arrowroot starch to coat the outside of marshmallows

Directions:

1. Grease and line and 8x8 inch pan with parchment paper on both sides.
2. Dust parchment paper with arrowroot starch so marshmallows are not sticky at the bottom when they are removed.
3. In your mixer, add gelatin with 1/2 cup water.
4. While the gelatin in softening, pour the other 1/2 cup water in a sauce pan with honey, vanilla, and salt.  
5. Turn the burner to a medium high heat.  Bring the mixture to a boil.  Place a candy thermometer in the sauce pan and continue to boil mixture until it reaches 240 degrees (soft ball stage).  This will take approximately 7 to 8 mins.
6. Immediately remove from the sauce pan from the heat.
7. Turn your stand mixer to low/med.  Slowly pour the honey mixture into the bowl combining it with the softened gelatin.  Turn the mixer to high and continue beating the mixtures until it becomes thick like marshmallow cream. (About 10 mins.)
8.  Pour marshmallow cream into the parchment lined pan.
9. Using a rubber spatula, smooth the top and add another dusting of arrowroot starch on top.
10. Cut a piece of parchment paper the size of your pan and top your marshmallow pan with it.  Using your hands, gently press down top to unsure an even top.
11. Allow your marshmallows to set for 4-6 hours.  (You'll know it's ready by pushing down and the texture is bouncy.
12. Once your marshmallows have set, cut into squares. 

*This recipe originally appeared on laurafuentes.com

Homemade Chocolate Bars!

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup coconut oil
• 1/2 cup raw honey
• 1/2 cup creamy almond butter
• 1/2 cup sifted cocoa powder
• 2 tsp. vanilla extract

Directions:

1. Combine all ingredients except cocoa powder in a small saucepan on medium heat.  Heat and stir until well combined and almost boiling.
2. Sift cocoa powder into mixture.  Stir and heat until completely combined and slightly thickened.
3. Pour into a 9x9 inch baking pan lined with parchment paper on both sides.
4. Refrigerate until firm (about 30-40 mins.)
5. Cut into squares with a pizza cutter and freeze until hard.
6. Once frozen, break into squares and store in the freezer.

And Now for the S'mores!

You know the drill!  Roast the marshmallow until golden brown and sandwich between two Graham crackers and chocolate!  😋😍😁