Baking with almond flour is different from baking with wheat flours. Since there is no gluten in almond flour, baked goods don't have the same rise or texture. This recipe also called for Arrowroot Powder or Flour which I couldn't find at my local grocery store. A Google search claimed Tapioca Starch or Flour was a good substitute, and I did find that in the gluten free area of the market.
Reading through the recipe, there was no sweetener. Stevia is okay to use on a Keto diet. I was pretty sure Ma's recipe for pizzelle called for sugar. Without a sweetener, I was sure the almond flour pizzelles would taste like cardboard.
Ma made pizzelles to feed an average size Italian family or a small nation. Her recipe used 1 1/2 cups of granulated sugar. Stevia is supposed to be way sweeter than granulated sugar so I opted to use 1/4 cup of Stevia.
The dough was similar in texture though a bit grainy.
I used the large disher, but that didn't quite fill the space on the pizzelle maker. The dough may have been a little thicker than Ma's recipe.
Pizzelles cooling on the rack.
Since I was planning on bringing some pizzelles to Red while we watched Outlander, I flavored the cookie with vanilla extract. Traditionally, the cookie is flavored with anise, but so many people don't like the licorice flavoring.
The pizzelles turned out ok. They were thin and crisp as the traditional cookie even if the waffles were a tad small. They needed more Stevia and even though I used 1 tablespoon of vanilla extract, they needed more flavoring, too.
Drop by hosts, Bleubeard and Elizabeth's blog to find out what the rest of the T Stands For gang is up to. If you want to play, include in your Tuesday post a beverage or container for a beverage. Don't forget to link your blog to Bleubeard and Elizabeth's page.
Your pizzelles look good, I would gladly try one with my coffee! Happy T Day, Valerie
ReplyDeleteHelp yourself
DeleteThe pizzelles look delicious! I love adapting recipes too as I generally stick to a low fat diet and can't eat a few things 😁. The patterns from the pizzelle maker make them look very inviting too and such a lovely treat for you and Red - Happy T Day! J 😊 x
ReplyDeleteA few more tweaks to the recipe, and they will be good.
DeleteWow I applaud you for being able to adapt the ingredients to your pizzelle recipe stevia is hard to work with too if you use too much then it goes bitter. I think the keto diet uses other sugar subsitutes that might work better in a recipe like this one. Monk fruit or Erythritol are popular. I have had to substitute so much for gluten free baking and all for diabetic-it can be a challenge.
ReplyDeleteHappy T hugs Kathy
I didn't know that about Stevia. I've used Erythritol in cookies, but found it leaves a burning after-taste like jet fuel. I haven't tried Monkfruit.
Deletecan you use splenda? I use that for diabetic baked goods and works well-but it does not brown so add a little coconut sugar for that
Deleteoh another problem with stevia traditional baking recipes is the volume-which will mess up the recipe too
DeleteSplenda isn't one of the best Keto options. The preference is for natural sugar like Stevia or Monkfruit. Also the alcohol sugars like Erythritol. And coconut sugar is a no on Keto. As is honey and maple syrup
Deletethanks, I wasn't sure about the splenda for keto or not-I knew about the other natural sweeteners I looked into it for me, and my blood test showed really bad numbers for my kidney function so not for us--good luck with it
DeleteLooks yummy! Keep tweaking, it takes a few tries to adapt the old recipes. FYI, they SAY stevia is sweeter but I find it to be not as sweet as they say when it comes to baking. ALso FYI King Arthur's website (https://www.kingarthurflour.com/shop-home/?gclid=CjwKCAiAiarfBRASEiwAw1tYv1PJBUVePOqaV25v2VpsDyXzrvZB4Gp0d95-vMMN7pSxe7yYUv7n1xoCtZcQAvD_BwE) has what you need for the 'weirder' ingredients. ;)
ReplyDeleteI thought Stevia was supposed to be sweeter than sugar, too, but the 1/4 cup could barely be tasted in the pizzelles. A few more tweaks. It's close
DeleteI love your funny little cat GIF, CJ. I can hardly take my eyes off him gobbling his holiday food. The pizzelles are so pretty. If you stay on the Keto Diet long enough, I'm sure you'll get the gluten-free recipe figured out ;-)
ReplyDeleteHappy T-day! Hugs, Eileen
The cartoon cat is Pusheen. It's close. Still needs a bit of work
DeleteI can't imagine a gluten-free diet, as I'm a carbivore like you, but it looks like you're making it work. The pizzelles look so pretty! Happy T Tuesday
ReplyDeleteIt's not an easy plan to follow. However you can have things like real butter, bacon, and heavy cream in tea, which is heaven.
DeleteGood lick with the diet and I am sure ypu will do well with your fabulous baking. It looks beautiful as well as tasty
DeleteLove Chrissie xx
Thanks!
Deleteyour version of the pizzelles sound yummy to me. My neighbor tries recipes without using gluten, carbs etc. and for the most part I have liked what she's made. She uses stevia, and the flours you mentioned too. Surprised you weren't able to find Arrowroot powder. I know McCormick makes it and it should be with all the other spices in a grocery store. Happy cooking, and happy T day too!
ReplyDeleteI looked in the gluten free area, in baking, and in spices. Perhaps the grocery was out and didn't restock the day I went.
DeleteGood luck with the diet, I have to admit I hadn't known about it until I read it here in your posts.
ReplyDeleteThe pizzelles looked delicious and I'm sure would taste very good with a cuppa.
Happy T day wishes.
Yvonne xx
The diet is trendy now, but has been around a long time. first used for folks with epilepsy. But other groups discovered benefits.
DeleteOh, these look delicious, CJ.
ReplyDeleteCarbivore. Heh. I'm one too:)
I've been able to substitute bread and cookies. But I miss pasta
DeleteThose pizzelles look amazing! And I love that you made them sugar and gluten-free. I don't have a pizzelle maker but I would love to make some of these. My brother is doing the Keto diet and has been very successful.
DeleteHappy Tea Day,
Kate
I found the same brand of Pizzelle iron Ma had (she broke hers or as I told her she broke my inheritance) Cuccinapro and was $40 or $45
DeleteWell done you for trying (and succeeding) to adapt these pizzelle. Having lived in Italy for so long of course I am familiar with pizzelle. I have an iron that you have to heat on the fire or the gas cooker.In the region where I lived (Abruzzo), they don't make them crispy, but they are soft and floppy. (spread with nutella and then rolled up, yum).
ReplyDeleteI don't know the keto diet, but I don't think Nutella will be on it, lol.
Happy T-Day,
Hugs,
Lisca
Sadly, Nutella is a big no-no on Keto )..-:
DeleteI too am a carboholic, but like you I am trying to eat good, at least so I can enjoy some holiday treats. But I am not going totally carb free, so good for you CJ. I think your pizzelles look fabulous. There's always a learning curve when you try substitutes and new things and next time they will be better. Hugs-Erika
ReplyDeleteThese were cookies Ma made for holidays and special occasions so will be nice to have a treat with can eat with our holiday meal.
DeleteYour pizzelles are pretty. I don't think I've ever tasted an original recipe one. Fortunately I don't have to leave any food groups out for health reason, other than weight. I think I like food too much to last long on any kind of diet.
ReplyDeletePart of the problem with being Italian is eating mass quantities of food. We eat to celebrate joy, sorrow, boredom. =^,.^= You can find pizzelles at the grocery store in the bakery. I've seen both anise and vanilla flavors. Almost as good as Ma made.
DeleteThey look great CJ! I've ate many of these! LOL! You should be very proud of yourself, sticking to this diet! I have to get back on mine!
ReplyDeleteIt's really Himself's diet. I'm following it so I don't have to be a short order cook preparing different meals and so there won't be things around to sabotage him.
DeleteYou're still doing great!
DeleteI’ve been without electricity for over a day. It has been frigid cold here and my fingers are still not warm. I would have been by sooner, but wanted to get something together for AEDM.
ReplyDeleteI got to looking at your pizzelle iron and realized I have one of those I got when my grandmother died. I don't ever remember her making any, although it reminds me of some Christmas cookies a friend gave me a few years ago. Make mine WITH anise, please.
Thanks for sharing these and your tea with us for T this week. Again, sorry I'm late visiting.
Oh, dear Elizabeth, I hope you got your electricity back on. Did you get snow? I wear fingerless gloves, pretty much year round as I have Raynaud's. In a pitch when I can't find my gloves, I've worn socks on my hands along with holding a warm cup of tea. In your case, coffee.
DeleteI'd be happy to send you Ma's pizzelle recipe if you want. Just ask.
And never apologize for being late. Life sometimes gets in the way. I'm just happy you visit.
I am here to wish you a very belated Happy T day! Your pizelles look delicious - so pretty too! Hugs,Chrisx
ReplyDeleteThanks for dropping by. I made another batch today. They came out much better. Still need some tweaking, but I'm close.
Delete