If you are like me, then being told you can’t eat sweet, sweet carbs for two weeks is like a prison sentence. I have to eat dessert every day. Don’t ask me why, but just trust that you do not want to find out what happens if I can’t. Never fear! There are ways around this no carb/sugar nonsense. While sugar free jello is always a fun choice, I’m over it. Unless we are talking Rainbow Jello. But that is a recipe for another day.

To give you an example of how sugar deprived I am after one week on this diet: Today I drank an Emergen-C (because summer colds are the worst) and it tasted like fairies had dusted my tongue with sweet, tart goodness. After that I knew something had to give. What had I become? We can do better than that people. Say it with me “WE CAN DO… BETTER!”

So I opened my cookbook and found the first dessert that didn’t make me want to cry. I decided to take a risk and make Sugar Free Almond-Jam Bars.

Here’s what you will need:

1 cup nuts, almonds

1/4 cup sugar substitute (I used Stevia in the Raw)

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 large egg white

1/4 cup jam, sugar-free (Please see picture for best brand)

Now what do you do?

1. Heat the oven to 375°F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment or nonstick spray.
2. In a food processor, process the almonds, sugar substitute, and salt until finely ground. Add the egg white and process until the mixture forms a paste.

   

NOTE: I used a coffee grinder and processed the almonds first, then hand mixed everything together.

 

3. Transfer the dough to the baking sheet and shape into a 12″ x 2″ log. With your thumb, make 1/4″ deep trench down the length of the log. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes, until lightly golden and set.
4. A few minutes before the log comes out of the oven, in a small saucepan, heat the jam over low heat until melted. Once the log is baked, immediately spoon the jam along the trench.
5. Cool the log on the baking sheet for 10 minutes before cutting into 16 bars, each 1/2″ thick.

The best part about this recipe is my Gluten Free friends can enjoy them as well! I have to be honest, they tasted wayyy (3 “y’s” worthy) better than I thought they would. They were actually pretty addicting. The worst part? I can’t enjoy wine with them right now. So I poured some tea and went to town. I am anxious to try them with different kinds of nuts and jams. They are the perfect tea cookie!

Did I just say the perfect TEA cookie? What has happened to me?