Why I Eat Dessert

I have been compensated by Wholesome Sweeteners, Inc., maker of Wholesome™ sweeteners, for my participation in this campaign.

I eat dessert every single night. Sometimes it is fruit with some mini chocolate chips, other nights it is a freshly baked treat, and candy is in the rotation, too. I practice an “all foods fit” approach which means eating dessert is part of balanced eating. Read on to learn how I approach dessert at celebrations, during like the busy holiday season, and quality time with my family.

Enjoy special occasions: Desserts are often associated with special events. Weddings, birthdays, and holidays name only a few occasions where desserts play a part in the celebration. While the entire celebration doesn’t have to revolve around the dessert, enjoying that wedding cake, birthday cupcake, or holiday cookie adds to the experience of the event. If having a reasonable portion of dessert adds to your enjoyment and helps you feel like you’re engaging in the event, let yourself enjoy it! A good way to approach dessert at special events is to choose good quality foods throughout the day leading up to the event knowing there will be opportunity to delight in sweet treats later on. This is part of the balance that allows you to enjoy the foods you like while still making progress toward your goals!

Quality time: As a child, some of my fondest memories revolve around time in the kitchen. Making holiday treats with family, learning how to follow a recipe, and getting creative with cookie toppings are memories I will cherish forever, and are a huge reason why I involve my son in cooking and baking with me. The quality time spent in the kitchen with loved ones is priceless, and if that means licking the icing off the mixer and enjoying a cupcake after dinner, so be it. There are so many ways to spend time with those near and dear to you, and cooking and baking can be part of those memories.

When I make desserts and sweet treats at home, I am always mindful of the ingredients I purchase. Organic and fair trade are two things I look for in the sugar I use, which is why Wholesome has become my go-to. They have a complete line of essentials for all of your holiday baking. Organic Cane Sugar, Organic Dark Brown Sugar, Organic Light Brown Sugar, and Confectioners Sugar are just some of their staple ingredients that are also Fair-Trade Certified. The Fair-Trade premiums from these products go directly to the farming communities that grow and harvest the sugarcane. These premiums help to provide education, healthcare, community infrastructure and more. Products you can feel good about eating AND buying!

I recently made Chewy Molasses Cookies using Wholesome Organic Fair Trade Dark Brown, Organic Fair Trade Cane Sugar, and Organic Fair Trade Molasses and they are DELICIOUS! Check out my IG reel above for how I made these cookies- you’ll be surprised how easy it is! Stock up on all your baking essentials at wholesomesweet.com and use my discount code [HLDY20] for 20% off your entire purchase!

Molasses Cookies (aka Spice Cookies)– modified from Butternut Bakery

2 2/3 cup all purpose flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

2 tsp ground cinnamon

1 1/2 tsp ground ginger

1/4 tsp ground nutmeg

1/4 tsp ground cloves

1 cup unsalted butter, room temp

3/4 cup Wholesome Organic Fair Trade Dark Brown Sugar, packed

3/4 cup Wholesome Organic Fair Trade Cane Sugar

1 large egg

1/4 cup Wholesome Organic Fair Trade Molasses

1 tsp vanilla extract

Coating

1/2 cup Wholesome Organic Fair Trade Cane Sugar

1 tsp ground cinnamon

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350F and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, and spices in a medium sized bowl and set aside.
3. In a large mixing bowl using a hand or stand mixer with the paddle attachment, mix together the butter and sugars on medium-high speed for 2-3 minutes or until smooth, light and fluffy.
4. Scrape down the bowl and add the egg, molasses, and vanilla and mix again on the same speed for another 2-3 minutes. The mixture should be silky, light and creamy.
5. Pour in half of the dry ingredients and mix on medium-low speed until barely combined. Scrape down the bowl and then pour in the rest of the dry ingredients. Mix again on that same low speed until just combined.
6. Use a rubber spatula to manually mix together the dough, working in any dry ingredients that may have settled to the bottom of the bowl.
7. Off to the side, add the sugar and cinnamon to a bowl and mix to combine.
8. Using a 2 oz ice cream scoop, or 1/4 measuring cup, scoop out the dough and toss in the cinnamon sugar mixture.
9. Place about 5 cookies on the large baking sheet, evenly and well spaced apart. Bake for 13-15 minutes, or until the edges are a light golden brown and the center is pale and puffed. The cookies will darken, flatten, and settle as they cool.
10. If the cookies spread a bit too much, use a fork to nudge in the sides right when you pull the cookies from the oven.
11. Allow the cookies to rest on the baking sheet for about 3 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack. Continue to bake the rest of the cookies and then enjoy!