NEW: Delicious zero sugar brownies

We're quietly making plans to launch our zero sugar cake range in February... here's a sneak preview!

So, a few weeks ago I was diagnosed with gestational (pregnancy) diabetes. Once I'd got over the shock, I figured out it basically means I have to be careful how much sugar - including starchy carbohydrates like pasta and rice - I eat until after baby is born.

The bad news: My new diet means cutting out cake as it generally has has both sugar and starchy carbs (flour) in it!

How ironic. A baker who can't eat cake. 

Diabetes sufferers aside, why should everyone be more careful about the amount of sugar we're eating?

    - Sugar is the main cause of tooth decay. 
   - Weight gain is more common with high sugar diets, with children being particularly at risk. 
   - Sugar is hidden in lots of food items you may not consider, making it harder to eat less without some thought. 

More advice on reducing your sugar intake can be found on the NHS website. 

Anyway! Looking for the silver lining, an excuse to still eat cake, and with my business head on, I have created a collection of recipes which are both zero sugar and with no traditional cake flour.

How do we make cakes without sugar and flour?

    - Many of our new recipes use artificial sugars (e.g. xylitol).
    - Some use fruit to sweeten.
   - None of the cakes use plain or self raising flour, 100% gluten free flour, like almond flour. 
​    - And, of course, we have vegan recipes available too!

​This is a photo of the first bake I've done with zero sugar and no normal flour: Espresso Brownies. They look pretty good, eh? Let me tell you, they are moist, gooey, chocolatey and there's not enough caffeine in there to panic the pregnant ladies out there. 

If you're diabetic - temporarily, like me, or on a more permanent basis - you need to try our forthcoming zero sugar range. There's so much more than you imagined when it comes to healthier sweet treats! 

Follow the zero sugar baking chat on Twitter at #280skinny, and look out for our new cakes coming next month. 

Ta-ta for now, 

Louise
Owner, 280 Bakes