Sugar-free lemon lime cream pops

After sharing the recipe for Lemon-Lime Cream Pie Pops several readers asked about making these popsicles with a sugar substitute. Curious myself, and eager to please the people, I tried a batch using Wholesome Sweeteners Organic Stevia.

I didn’t test any other alternative sweeteners so I can’t attest to how well this recipe works with anything besides Stevia. I can say that this batch turned out nicely. There are a couple of functional perks to using Stevia. The primary perk is its ability to dissolve in water. With Stevia you can stir all the ingredients together and skip the step of heating granulated sugar in water to make simple syrup. No cooking means these even nicer to make on a hot day. Secondly, as with most sugar alternatives, Stevia is sweeter than sugar so you need half as much Stevia to balance the tart lemon-lime juice.

I did find some minor cons when comparing this recipe to the original. The price per popsicle is higher with this version. Sugar substitutes tend to cost more than sugar. Flavor wise, there was a slight aftertaste that I attributed to the change in sweetener. This batch did not blend as nicely, the finished popsicles turned out a teeny bit less creamy and a bit more icy.

Additional food for thought:

To be clear, I am not a health professional; please do not read the following as medical advice.

Many blood sugar management diets require a specific balance of sugar or carbohydrates to protein. Depending on the brand of Greek yogurt you choose, these popsicles could have around 7 grams of protein in a 4 ounce serving. The original recipe has approximately 22 grams of carbohydrates and 16 grams of sugar. For many striving to balance proteins and carbohydrates this may be ample to keep blood sugar levels within a healthy range.

Another option to alternative sweeteners is simply reducing the amount of sugar in the recipe. I often use raw or turbinado sugar to sweeten recipes. To my palate, this type of sugar tastes sweeter and has a nice caramel richness absent in white sugar. The fuller flavor of raw sugar lets me use less without missing any sweetness. Swapping 1/3 cup of raw or turbinado sugar for the granulated white sugar in the original recipe reduces the carbohydrates to approximately 17 grams and the sugar to 11 grams per 4 ounce serving.

Sugar alternatives allow many with dietary restrictions to enjoy a broader range of treats. I view this as a good thing. We all need ways to splurge and feel free to eat what we think tastes good. However, there is no one way to achieve personal balance. Nutritionally speaking, it is important to keep learning and working with our health providers to find the way that works best for us right now. Look for new ways to strike balance in your own life. You may find your your options expanding more than restricting your food choices.

Sugar Free Lemon-Lime Cream Pops

Just like the original version, these popsicles are sweet-tart creamy-dreamy and the perfect snack for a hot summer day. From Lemon-Lime Cream Pie Pops.

Prep time: 5 minutes; Freezing time: 4 hours to overnight; Yield: 6 (4 oz.) popsicles.

Ingredients

1 1/2 (12 ounces) Non-Fat plain Greek Yogurt (I prefer Chobani)

1/3 cup freshly squeezed lime and lemon juice (2 parts lime juice to 1 part lemon)

1/3 cup cold water

3 tablespoons Wholesome Sweeteners Organic Stevia

3/4 teaspoon vanilla

1/3 cup graham cracker crumbs

Method

1. Combine ingredients in a medium mixing bowl. Stir gently as mixture will be very runny. Mix in graham cracker crumbs last stirring just enough to swirl them throughout the yogurt mixture.

2. Pour the liquid into your popsicle molds and freeze a minium of four hours.

Approximate nutrition information per serving: 70 calories, .6 g. fat, 8 g. carbs, 7 g. protein, PP = 2

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Life

Brandon Hailey of Cytrus, center, plays the saxophone during a headlining show at Madam Lou’s on Friday, Dec. 29, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Lynnwood-based funk octet Cytrus has the juice

Resilience and brotherhood take center stage with ‘friends-first’ band.

FILE - In this April 11, 2014 file photo, Neko Case performs at the Coachella Music and Arts Festival in Indio, Calif. Fire investigators are looking for the cause of a fire on Monday, Sept. 18, 2017, that heavily damaged Case’s 225-year-old Vermont home. There were no injuries, though a barn was destroyed. It took firefighters two hours to extinguish the blaze. (Photo by Scott Roth/Invision/AP, File)
Music, theater and more: What’s happening in Snohomish County

Singer-songwriter Neko Case, an indie music icon from Tacoma, performs Sunday in Edmonds.

Sarah Jean Muncey-Gordon puts on some BITCHSTIX lip oil at Bandbox Beauty Supply on Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024, in Langley, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Bandbox Beauty was made for Whidbey Island locals, by an island local

Founder Sarah Muncey-Gordon said Langley is in a renaissance, and she’s proud to be a part of it.

Dominic Arizona Bonuccelli
Tangier’s market boasts piles of fruits, veggies, and olives, countless varieties of bread, and nonperishables, like clothing and electronics.
Rick Steves on the cultural kaleidoscope of Tangier in Morocco

Walking through the city, I think to myself, “How could anyone be in southern Spain — so close — and not hop over to experience this wonderland?”

Byrds co-founder Roger McGuinn, seen here in 2013, will perform April 20 in Edmonds. (Associated Press)
Music, theater and more: What’s happening in Snohomish County

R0ck ‘n’ Roll Hall of Famer Roger McGuinn, frontman of The Byrds, plans a gig in Edmonds in April.

Mother giving in to the manipulation her daughter fake crying for candy
Can children be bribed into good behavior?

Only in the short term. What we want to do is promote good habits over the course of the child’s life.

Speech Bubble Puzzle and Discussion
When conflict flares, keep calm and stand your ground

Most adults don’t like dissension. They avoid it, try to get around it, under it, or over it.

The colorful Nyhavn neighborhood is the place to moor on a sunny day in Copenhagen. (Cameron Hewitt)
Rick Steves: Embrace hygge and save cash in Copenhagen

Where else would Hans Christian Andersen, a mermaid statue and lovingly decorated open-face sandwiches be the icons of a major capital?

Last Call is a festured artist at the 2024 DeMiero Jazz Festival: in Edmonds. (Photo provided by DeMiero Jazz Festival)
Music, theater and more: What’s happening in Snohomish County

Jazz ensemble Last Call is one of the featured artists at the DeMiero Jazz Festival on March 7-9 in Edmonds.

Kim Helleren
Local children’s author to read at Edmonds Bookshop

Kim Helleren will read from one of her books for kids at the next monthly Story Time at Edmonds Bookshop on March 29.

Chris Elliott
Lyft surprises traveler with a $150 cleaning charge

Jared Hakimi finds a $150 charge on his credit card after a Lyft ride. Is that allowed? And will the charge stick?

Inside Elle Marie Hair Studio in Smokey Point. (Provided by Acacia Delzer)
The best hair salon in Snohomish County

You voted, we tallied. Here are the results.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.