With me losing weight, I have been trying hard to find substitutes for some of my favorite foods. With sweets, I have found that it is easier said than done. I have tried cooking with Spenda and other sweeteners, and found that they most of the time ruin a recipe or give it a very strong, bad aftertaste. My husband is even worse since he will most of the time not even try a recipe if he knew there was Spenda or Stevia used to sweeten the recipe. He just HATES the aftertaste. Really, there is only one sweetener in our house that is used regularly, and both of us can use without complaining – Nectresse.
I have been using Nectresse for the past year and have slowly been converting to using it in my tea. While I can't say I always remember to use it, it's not a bad experience when I do remember. One thing I had never considered doing, however, was using it in baking. As part of one of the Sugar and Spice Voxbox, they gave me a package of individually wrapped Nectresse packages. As someone who travels and drinks coffee, I was pretty happy about getting this product to review. What I wasn't expecting was to be asked to make a sugar free recipe.
I spent nearly a month trying to figure out the perfect recipe. Eventually, my husband came up with an idea I was reluctant to try – converting my vanilla cream cheese icing into a sugar free recipe, since icings sometimes have more sugar than what they top. Even though I wasn't sure about it at first, I tried it. What happened shocked both of us – it was absolutely amazing! Neither one of us could even tell it was sugar free! Just like my original recipe, it makes enough to cover a two layer cake. We also found that it is a great on Cinnabon bagels! Don't worry, you don't have to tell anyone its sugar free, it will be our secret!
Sugar Free Vanilla Cream Cheese Icing
Ingredients
- 3 Tablespoons NECTRESSE
- 1 1/2 Tablespoons Pure Vanilla Extract
- 1 8 oz Package Cream Cheese softened
- 1 Stick Salted Butter softened
Instructions
- Place the cream cheese and butter in a stand mixer (you can use a hand mixer too if that is what you have). Beat for one minute.
- Slowly, pour in the vanilla extract. It should have a very light brown color when it's finished.
- Pour in the NECTRESSE. I used 3 tablespoons in mine but this can be adjusted to taste. Mix until the icing is smooth and easy to spread. Makes enough to cover one two layer cake.
Disclosure: Budget Earth did not receive monetary compensation for this recipe, but did receive package of NECTRESSE for review purposes from Influenster.com. All of the opinions on this blog are the opinions of said author and these opinions may differ from your own.
About Susan Bewley
Susan Bewley is a professional writer who has been writing content online & in print format for over 10 years. As well, she is an alumni of the University of Louisville with a Masters Degree in Special Education. When not working as an online business consultant or ghost writing, she can be found writing on Budget Earth, on her own novel, or working with various entities in the pet industry.
Oh man, YUM! I cuold eat cream cheese frosting by the bucket full! Great job!
This is great! I too, am trying to lose weight so I am cutting back a great deal of sugary stuff from my diet.
I have been using Splenda for some time whenever I can and I didn't realize that Nectresse is also made from the same company as Splenda. That's double the great news!!! I just hope I'll find this brand being sold here in Dubai.
Ria C
I hope so too! This stuff so much better than Splenda!
A 4 ingredient frosting looks simple and I've always wanted to see how to use the Nectresse I have in my pantry.
Putting this on my must try recipe page… It is hard to find good tasting sugar free items.
Even harder finding ones that taste good. My husband has been using this as a cream cheese spread too.
I would love to try this.
These look way too good to be yummy. This is definitely a must try for me.
Sounds delicious and healthier than other snacks! I've tried substituting splenda in recipes and then never taste right!
That’s my problem too. Splenda seems okay for beverages just not in desserts imo.
I have a problem with some of the replacement sugars. The don't seem to agree with my stomach. I have never heard of Nectresse and wonder if it would work for me. I would love to make the icing for the next time we need a sweet spread.
I hope you like it! Nectresse is all natural and actually is monk fruit – making it just another sweetener, not an alternative. I am not a big fan of Spelnda and avoid the unnatural ones!
What an awesome recipe! My husband and I are cuttig back on processed food, including sugar, and we've been verysuccessful with Stevia as a replacement except for recipes where sugar is the "bulk," like frosting. Never heard of Nectresse but I'll have to check it out!
I used to survive on Stevia, but Nectresse is bettering IMO since it doesn’t have an aftertaste. You can find it in the baking isle with the other sugars. Its a little more expensive but a little goes a long way. For example, 1/4 teaspoon of Nectresse is the equivalent of a teaspoon of sugar 🙂
I've been struggling for months to lose weight. I always start watching Jillian's dvds but I don't end up finishing them. I thinks it's because I tend to eat more than the calories I lose so I end up gaining weight. Now, I started to use LoseIt to measure my calorie intake. And now, I'm busy looking for alternative snacks to pacify my sweet tooth. Thanks for sharing!
Hope you enjoy it! I have been using LoseIt as well to lose weight! I have already lost something like 12 pounds since I started 🙂
Ohhh these sound great! Thanks for posting a different receipt!
i have been looking for healthier options that have less sugar!
I hope you enjoy it! My husband hates most sugar free things and LOVES this icing!
What is Loselt please Susan?
Sorry, just saw the comment, RozAnn! LoseIT is an iPhone app that keeps track of all of your calories. You just scan barcodes, put everything in, and tell you how you are for the week. You can even put in your exercise! If you have a registered account, you can also earn badges and keep track of your overall weightloss. You can find more about it here –
http://www.loseit.com/
Thank you! I am a diabetic and always looking for desert recipes that will not raise my blood glucose.
Mmmm….great icing recipe. This will be good for me to use because my son is a diabetic. We all just love cream cheese too. Thanks much.
Thanks for the recipe! I'll have to try this out as I have been trying to cut out sugar and a few family members are diabetic.
I'm always looking for healthier alternatives to sweet treats, thanks for sharing, sounds yummy.
This looks good! I leave out so many items because of the sugar. I will definitely try this!
Yummy. I would love to make this recipe sometime this weekend. Thank you for sharing such this wonderful cookie recipe!
Love this recipe cant wait to try!!!
I tried some samples of Nectresse and liked having a better alternative than Splenda or stevia (I won't use aspartame – haven't in years). I love cream cheese frosting, so I look forward to trying this recipe!
This sounds really delicious. I bet my kids would love it.
i am constantly on a "diet" lol this recipe sound so yummy! i have to try it soon 🙂 thanks for posting it
Me and hubby are diabetic. I love Nectresse and will be preparing it recipe tomorrow. Thanks!
It's definitely still just a "sometimes" food, though! Butter and cream cheese . . . so yummy, but super high in fat! I have personally just cut out using sugar or sugar substitutes in my drinks and I splurge once a week on a cinnamon roll or piece of cake or whatever. I think it's the frequency that gets us in trouble!
Yes, moderation is very important. While my husband would LOVE if I did this once a week, it is a every few months sort of thing 🙂
My inlaws can't have sweets as my FIL is diabetic. We all love cream cheese frosting so this will be a recipe we will be trying. Also I am trying to loose weight so I will add this in my list of recipes.
Oh this could be dangerous if it's as tasty as it looks!! Never tried Nectresse, I'll have to check that out.
That looks delicious! Great job!
i like that it's sugar free..thank you for sharing.
love this recipe i really want to try it
This would be awesome for my diabetic best friend! She would be able to enjoy desserts without worry!
I have never heard of nectresse. I can't stand splenda or stevia or aspartame, so gross. Will have to try nectresse.
Great recipe!! I'm always looking for a low in sugar option….
that looks really delicious
I'm a fan of Stevia and am wondering what substitution ratio to use for Nectresse.
Your recipe sounds delish! Thanks for sharing! =)
thank you for sharing! i have been using splenda but dont really like it so i am going to look for nectresse and try this recipe!
I love this recipe I have used variations of it often when baking….especially when watching Django and listening to Leonardo Dicaprio say "cake like 20 times and suddenly I am baking a fresh orange zest bundt cake with Cashew Cream Cheese icing lol
This is awesome! I'm diabetic, so I really appreciate that this is sugar free! I Pinned this to my Recipes board. Thank you for sharing!
Sounds really good and simple!!!
well this is something different, and i love cream cheese, can put that on just about anything loll great recipe and thanks for sharing it with us 🙂
Thank you for sharing this recipe with us. This sounds great.
oh my this is fabulous.we dont use alot of sugar in our house.alwyas looking for recipes using very little or no sugar.cant wait to try.
This sounds good, I haven’t tried Nectresse yet, but I have been cutting down on sugar and using substitutes. I want to try it. And cream cheese recipes are my fav, this is one to try.
This sounds good, I haven’t tried Nectresse yet, but I have been cutting down on sugar and using substitutes.
This sounds good, I haven’t tried Nectresse yet, but I have been cutting down on sugar and using substitutes. I want to try it