Month: April 2019

Homemade Spicy Lamb or Beef Jerky: A Flavorful, High-Protein Snack

Homemade Spicy Lamb or Beef Jerky: A Flavorful, High-Protein Snack

If you’re looking for a protein-packed snack that’s both delicious and convenient, homemade jerky is the way to go. This spicy lamb or beef jerky recipe is perfect for satisfying your cravings without the preservatives and excessive sodium found in store-bought options. By making it Read more

Root Vegetable Chips: A Crispy, Healthy Alternative to Traditional Chips

Root Vegetable Chips: A Crispy, Healthy Alternative to Traditional Chips

Crispy, crunchy, healthy and delicious! You can add these vegetable root chips as a side to any meal or enjoy as a snack anytime you’re craving unhealthy, store-bought potato chips.

Decadent Low-Sugar Chocolate Bon-Bons: A Sweet Treat with Less Guilt

Decadent Low-Sugar Chocolate Bon-Bons: A Sweet Treat with Less Guilt

If you love indulging in chocolate but want to keep your sugar intake in check, **low-sugar chocolate bonbons** are the perfect dessert for you. Made with semi-sweet chocolate, these treats offer all the richness and satisfaction of a traditional bonbon but with significantly less sugar. Whether you’re looking for a post-dinner indulgence or a midday pick-me-up, these bonbons hit the sweet spot—without derailing your diet.

Why Low-Sugar?

Opting for **low-sugar chocolate** allows you to enjoy the flavor and creaminess of chocolate while avoiding the sugar overload that comes with many store-bought sweets. Using semi-sweet chocolate strikes a good balance: it retains enough sweetness to be enjoyable but doesn’t contribute too much sugar, making it suitable for those watching their sugar intake. Plus, by making your bonbons at home, you have control over the ingredients, keeping things simple and wholesome.

Customize Your Flavor

What makes these bonbons extra special is their versatility. While the base is semi-sweet chocolate, you can experiment with a variety of fillings to suit your taste. Nut butter, like peanut, almond, or cashew butter, create a creamy center that pairs beautifully with the chocolate’s natural richness. If you want something lighter, you can add unsweetened coconut flakes or crushed nuts for a little crunch.

For those who like a hint of spice or salt with their sweets, consider sprinkling sea salt or adding a dash of cayenne pepper to the mix. This contrast of sweet and savory or sweet and spicy adds a sophisticated layer of flavor that makes each bite exciting.

Healthier Indulgence

While still containing some sugar, semi-sweet chocolate is a healthier choice than milk chocolate. It generally contains more cocoa, which means it offers more of the antioxidants and flavonoids associated with dark chocolate. These compounds are known for their heart-healthy benefits and can also reduce inflammation.

If you choose to add nut butter, you’re adding a dose of healthy fats, which contribute to long-lasting satiety. Peanut butter and almond butter are excellent sources of protein and monounsaturated fats, making these bonbons not just a treat, but a snack that fuels your body as well.

Making the Perfect Bonbons

One key step in creating the ideal texture for your low-sugar bonbons is properly melting the chocolate. Be sure to melt it gently, either over a double boiler or in the microwave in short intervals. This prevents the chocolate from seizing and ensures a silky-smooth texture.

To take your bonbons to the next level, consider adding a drizzle of extra melted chocolate over the finished bonbons for an elegant look. If you’re feeling fancy, a sprinkle of crushed nuts, sea salt, or even a light dusting of cocoa powder on top can add a bit of flair to these already beautiful treats.

 Fun Pairings and Presentation

Bonbons aren’t just for solo snacking—they can be the highlight of your dessert spread or a great gift for friends and family. Present them alongside a fruit platter of berries or orange slices for a naturally sweet pairing that complements the chocolate’s flavor. Another idea is to serve them with tea or coffee, where the warmth of the drink balances out the cool, creamy bonbon texture.

For a fun twist, you can even pair your bonbons with wine! Try them with bold red wine, like Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon, to bring out the deeper flavors of the chocolate. If you prefer something lighter, opt for sparkling wine or Champagne—the bubbles will cut through the richness, creating a delightful balance.

Storing and Gifting

These bonbons are great to keep on hand for when you need a quick snack or dessert. Store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. If you’re planning to make them ahead for a party or a special occasion, you can freeze them as well—just be sure to let them thaw for a few minutes before serving to get that perfect bite.

Bonbons also make for thoughtful, homemade gifts. Wrap a batch in decorative cellophane or place them in a pretty box for a sweet, low-sugar gift that anyone will appreciate. Since they’re easy to transport and last well, they’re the perfect treat to share.

The Bottom Line

With these low-sugar chocolate bonbons, you don’t have to give up on indulgence. They offer a perfect balance of sweetness and richness, allowing you to enjoy chocolate while still being mindful of your sugar intake. Whether you’re customizing them with nut butter, adding a touch of sea salt, or keeping them classic, these bonbons are a treat you can feel good about enjoying—and sharing!

 

Low-Sugar Chocolate Bon-Bons

A delightful low sugar chocolate candy for those moments when you just have to have some chocolate without worrying about eating too much sugar.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Resting Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 5
Calories 178 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 bar semi-sweet chocolate
  • 1 ounce cocoa butter
  • 1 tablespoon cashew butter or any nut butter of choice
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions
 

  • Melt semi-sweet chocolate bar and cocoa butter in a double boiler or place in a bowl over a pot of simmering water until melted.
  • Stir vanilla extract into melted chocolate and pour the chocolate mix into a candy mold. Place dollops of nut butter into the center of each bon-bon and place in the refrigerator to firm up.
  • Once set, de-mold the chocolate bon-bons and enjoy!
Keyword bon-bon, cashew butter
Snack Ideas to Keep You Satisfied

Snack Ideas to Keep You Satisfied

  I never knew how much I missed having snacks as I did when I was strictly following the Keto diet. I especially missed having crunchy, crispy, salty snacks like crackers and popcorn. Now that I am following a relaxed version of a low-carb diet, Read more

Einkorn Cheese Crackers: The Perfect Crunchy, Nutty Snack

Einkorn Cheese Crackers: The Perfect Crunchy, Nutty Snack

A cheesy, salty, crispy cracker that will satisfy your snack cravings any time of day. Made with nutrition-packed einkorn flour you can’t miss with these crackers!

Hamilton Beach 63390 Stand Mixer Review: Performance and Value

Hamilton Beach 63390 Stand Mixer Review: Performance and Value

Let’s face it, many of us choose to order out rather than cook healthy meals at home. This may happen because we don’t take the time or we don’t have the right kitchen appliances to make cooking easier. If you’ve read my Small Kitchen Appliances post, you know I’m a big proponent of acquiring multi-purpose kitchen appliances that make cooking quick and healthy meals at home much easier and a joy.

For this post, I’ll review one of my essential 5 kitchen appliances – the stand mixer. This review is specific to the Hamilton Beach 63390 Stand Mixer which I have owned since September 2018.


What’s A Stand Mixer? A Brief Overview

A stand mixer is essentially an extra pair of hands but with higher wattage. A stand mixer is so-called because its heavy base allows it to firmly “stand” on kitchen countertops, while its powerful motor mixes, blends, or whips your food in a bowl. A stand mixer is composed of three main parts including the main housing (which holds the motor), the mixing bowl, and the mixing attachments.

A stand mixer is one of the most useful of all kitchen appliances, and many come with various functions and attachments. In my opinion, it’s not necessary to get a stand mixer with an over-abundance of attachments and features. As long as the mixer is sturdy and has the three main attachments it should be sufficient for everyday use.

The Hamilton Beach 63390 Stand Mixer is the epitome of functional simplicity and competes very well against popular brands like Kitchenaid and Cuisinart. See below for more about this stand mixer and its features.

Hamilton Beach 63390 Stand Mixer

I use my Hamilton Beach 63390 stand mixer for several applications like for food and cosmetics processing. I find it to be an indispensable piece of kitchen equipment that makes my life easier on several levels. The Hamilton Beach 63390 has a small suctioned base that takes up very little counter space and allows it to sit firmly on any surface. Some of the features and attachments for this stand mixture include the following:

Features

  • Powerful 300-watt motor
  • Mixing action gives complete bowl coverage
  • Better mixing than 2-beater stand mixers
  • Mixer head locks down for thorough mixing
  • 7 speeds for maximum flexibility
  • Hands-free mixing action – mixing head spins as it rotates completely inside the bowl
  • Nonslip feet
  • Tilt-up head lifts out of the way for easy bowl access

Attachments

  • Includes dough hook, whisk, and flat beater
  • Includes splatter shield
  • Stainless steel 4-quart bowl – dishwasher safe

The mixing versatility of this small, powerful stand mixer is undeniable.

Why You Should Get One

A stand mixer is an invaluable tool for anyone serious about making and cooking healthy homemade meals using whole and natural ingredients. You can use one to make a myriad of foods like:

  • Pancake & Waffle Batters
  • Fresh whipped cream
  • Kneading fresh bread dough
  • Blending cookie, cake, and muffin mixes
  • And much more!

You save time and elbow grease when you use a stand mixer to blend, beat, whip, mix, and cream your ingredients. I even use mine to make a luscious body butter made with shea butter, cocoa butter, jojoba oil, and essential oils. This body butter is full of skin-protective ingredients and it moisturizes my skin wonderfully. It also saves me a lot of money on store-bought lotions and creams!

My Hamilton Beach 63390 stand mixer is a superstar in my kitchen.

What Others Say About The Hamilton Beach 63390 Stand Mixer

Brands like Kitchenaid and Cuisinart enjoy a large share of the stand mixer market. I’d wager a lot of home chefs use these products because they’re well-made and reliable. However, these brands are also very expensive and come with an assortment of bells and whistles that you may not need.

To my mind, the Hamilton Beach 63390 stand mixer stacks up very well against the big guns and all at a great price point. Don’t just take my word for it though, here’s what others are saying about this sturdy, little hand mixer that takes on any job. On Amazon, there are 243 reviews for the Hamilton Beach 63390 Stand Mixer. This is a decent amount of reviews where this stand mixer has a respectable rating of 4.4/5 stars. Following are a few recent reviews from Amazon:

Dilnoza 5.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommended April 18, 2019 Verified Purchase

Love it!

Cindy D. 5.0 out of 5 stars is perfect for home bakers April 15, 2019 Verified Purchase

Love this mixer! Perfect for what I need. Handles three batches of cookie dough in a row with no problems. Highly recommended for typical home baker/cook.

Rosalba J. 5.0 out of 5 stars Like Kitchenaid April 13, 2019 Verified Purchase

Really good mixer. It make work easy!

Emmett Decambre 5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent product April 11, 2019 Verified Purchase

A very good investment for my kitchen.

P. Baker. 4.0 out of 5 stars Nice affordable mixer April 2, 2019 Verified Purchase

Bought it to make Christmas cookies and it works well making the dough as well as the icing. Easy to clean and stays put while mixing. No complaints on this mixer.

Heidi. 5.0 out of 5 stars Works great! You get your money’s worth April 2, 2019 Verified Purchase

I like that this is a good size and similar to the kitchen aid but not the cost. It has worked amazing for me!!!

Elinor Evans-Hampton. 4.0 out of 5 stars Performs well as expected. April 2, 2019 Verified Purchase

Great mixer at a reasonable price.

I agree wholeheartedly with these reviews. The Hamilton Beach 63390 Stand Mixer is perfect for the home baker or anyone trying to make fresh healthy foods from scratch. It really is an extra set of powerful arms for any cooking techniques that require heavy mixing, whipping, and blending.

Final Thoughts On The Hamilton Beach 63390 Stand Mixer

I highly recommend the Hamilton Beach 63390 Stand Mixer for anyone with a small kitchen or limited counter space. Although it takes up little room on countertops, this mixer comes with a spacious and dishwasher-safe, 4-quart stainless steel bowl. This is enough to make several batches of cookies, biscuits or any other baked good you can imagine.

If you’re a home baker or cook interested in making bread, cookies, or even homemade cosmetics from scratch, then this affordable stand mixer is a must-have for your kitchen and home.

Click here to get yours today.