You give up desserts to keep your figure, but you don’t even realize that a sweet secret is hiding in your bag.
We're talking about sugar-free chewing gum.
Yes, that same chew you have after lunch contains xylitol, a natural sweetener that is 10 times sweeter than sugar and has 40% fewer calories.
Crush 2 pillows in a mortar, mix with cottage cheese, cocoa and vanilla - get chocolate mousse without remorse. But this is just the beginning.
Xylitol doesn't crystallize, so it's ideal for caramel: Melt it in a pan, add cream and sea salt, and you'll get a sauce that won't stick to your teeth or thicken in the fridge.
But be careful: more than 3 pillows a day can cause an upset stomach. For baking, use pharmacy xylitol powder - it will make shortbread crust crispy and meringue - glossy.
For example, replace sugar in meringues with xylitol in a ratio of 1:0.5 (it's sweeter!). Beat the whites longer - the mass will become dense, like marshmallow.
And for healthy truffles, mix dates, nuts and xylitol in a blender - the balls will melt in your mouth like luxury candies.
Xylitol is not the only find. Stevia, which many consider bitter, reveals itself in citrus-based baked goods. Add a pinch to lemon curd - the bitterness disappears, leaving freshness.
And erythritol, which is not absorbed by the body, is ideal for meringues: it does not cause caramelization, but it retains its shape at high temperatures.
But back to chewing gum. Its minty flavor can be used for desserts: melt white chocolate, add crushed gum and a drop of green food coloring - get "breathing" candies.
Or make mint xylitol ice cream: mix cream, yogurt and crushed xylitol pads, freeze in molds. The dessert will be sweet, refreshing and safe for teeth.
Warning: Xylitol is toxic to dogs. Don't share desserts with your pets! And remember: sugar replacement is not a panacea. Moderation is the key to health. But now you know how to pamper yourself without harm.
Author: Valeria Kisternaya
