Independence Day! NuNaturals Giveaway & Cherry-Coconut Creme Pie. Gluten-, Sugar-, & Oil-free.
 
 
Cherry Pie An Unrefined Vegan
 
Sweeteners and I:  
Sweeteners and I have a long and storied history together.  We’ve been through the good times and the bad; hit the (sugar) highs and the (sugar) lows; and have weathered various eating styles and diets, growing and changing together over the years.  After giving up refined sugars for good, I turned to unrefined sugars such as maple, agave, and brown rice syrup.  But still, they’re all still sugars – minus the processing.  Good, but not great.  Then a friend of mine introduced me to a new word: stevia.  She’d been baking with it and shared some of her recipes with me and now it’s a staple (both in liquid and powder forms) in my kitchen.  Most of the time I use a combination of an unrefined sugar and stevia which makes me feel that I’m at least cutting back.  Plus, that method eliminates the stevia aftertaste that some people find objectionable.
 
And now there’s a new kid on my sweetener block – introduced to me via Angela, at Canned Time – called Lo Han.  NuNaturals, out of Eugene, Oregon, produces a powdered extract and a liquid form of the product.  Details of Lo Han are below, but in a nutshell, Lo Han is a sugar-free, fruit-based sweetener that is much sweeter than sugar.  I haven’t had much time to work with Lo Han, but I did create a creme pie and a batch of snack cake using it and so far I’m quite pleased.  I think it has great potential.  If this sounds like something you’d like to try, read on to see how you can enter my giveaway for some free Lo Han products.
 
NuNaturals Collage
 
The giveaway details:  
Along with Canned Time, Keepin’ it Kind, and Gazing In, I am participating in a giveaway where a total of four winners per blog (for a total of 16 winners) will receive two NuNatural Lo Han sweetener products.  Each of those 16 winners will then be eligible to win a grand prize (worth $125) – which will be a nice little package (just like pictured above) of several NuNatural sweetener products.  The giveaway ends July 11 and is open to everyone all around the globe.  To increase your chances of winning, enter the giveaway on all four participating blogs!  This is a great opportunity to try these sugar-free products in your own kitchen – whether or not you are trying to eliminate sugars from your diet.
 
 
Cherry Pie An Unrefined Vegan
 
Cherry-Coconut Creme Pie with Chocolate-Coconut Crust
Serves 8
Coconut. Cherries. Chocolate. Hanging out together in this perfect-for-summer creamy-dreamy dairy-, gluten-, oil-, and sugar-free pie.
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368 calories
41 g
0 g
24 g
4 g
19 g
222 g
15 g
26 g
0 g
3 g
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size
222g
Servings
8
Amount Per Serving
Calories 368
Calories from Fat 201
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 24g
37%
Saturated Fat 19g
96%
Trans Fat 0g
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
Monounsaturated Fat 2g
Cholesterol 0mg
0%
Sodium 15mg
1%
Total Carbohydrates 41g
14%
Dietary Fiber 8g
31%
Sugars 26g
Protein 4g
Vitamin A
2%
Vitamin C
23%
Calcium
4%
Iron
13%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your Daily Values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
Crust
  1. 1/2 cup dates, chopped
  2. 1/4 cup pecans
  3. 1/4 flaxseed meal
  4. 4 ounces unsweetened applesauce
  5. juice of 1 lemon
  6. 2 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa or cacao powder
  7. 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
  8. 1/4 tsp. cardamom
  9. 10 drops NuNatural Lo Han
Filling
  1. 1 cup unsweetened apple juice
  2. 1 heaping Tbsp. agar flakes
  3. 2 15-ounce cans sweet cherries (in water, not syrup); drain, but reserve 1/2 cup of the liquid
  4. 6 ounces unsweetened plain coconut yogurt
  5. 1/2 cup full-fat coconut milk
  6. 1 tsp. vanilla extract
  7. 1 stopperful of NuNaturals Vanilla Stevia
  8. 1/2 tsp. arrowroot
  9. 1 cup coconut flakes, toasted
Make the crust
  1. Preheat the oven to 350-degrees F.
  2. In a large bowl, combine the flaxseed meal, applesauce, lemon juice, cocoa powder, spices, and Lo Han. In a food processor, process the dates and the pecans until finely ground. Add to the flaxseed mixture and stir until completely combined. Pat the mixture into a 9-inch pie plate so that it's even on the bottom and up along the sides.
  3. Bake for 30-35 minutes and let cool completely before filling.
Make the filling
  1. Chop the reserved 1/2 cup of cherries and set aside.
  2. In a blender or food processor, process the cherries (all but the reserved 1 cup), yogurt, coconut milk, stevia, and arrowroot powder. Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, bring the apple juice and agar to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer and let cook for about 10 minutes. Pour this mixture into the blender and process until thoroughly combined.
  3. Pour into the prepared pie shell and gently drop the reserved, chopped cherries onto the pie. Sprinkle the toasted coconut onto the pie and gently press down. Place the pie in the refrigerator and let chill until firm.
beta
calories
368
fat
24g
protein
4g
carbs
41g
more
an unrefined vegan http://www.anunrefinedvegan.com/
 
I also made a tasty batch of chocolate-hazelnut snack cake based on my Double Chocolate Snack Cake from March 2012.  I used Lo Han sweetener in this recipe and black beans served to replace the oil and also to add the bulk that would have been provided by sugar.
 
 
 
I’m going to let NuNaturals describe their new product, Lo Han:
We have recently introduced some new powdered Lo Han products.  This pleasant tasting fruit extract is perfect for dieters & anyone concerned about the effects of sugar on their health. These all-natural products are made from the fruit Lo Han Guo (also known as Monk fruit). The Monk fruit is notable for its sweetness, which can be concentrated from its juice. It has been used as a food, beverage, and traditional medicine to treat diabetes & obesity for centuries in Asia.  This little known non-caloric sweetener is a safe sugar alternative for diabetics since it will not raise blood sugar levels. It offers a very clean and neutral taste compared to other natural sweeteners.
And…
Though NuNaturals generously provided me with all of the products pictured above, I was in no way obligated to publish a review.
NuNaturals Giveaway
 

ENTER THE GIVEAWAY!

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65 thoughts on “Independence Day! NuNaturals Giveaway & Cherry-Coconut Creme Pie. Gluten-, Sugar-, & Oil-free.

  1. Choc Chip Uru

    Chocolate crust, beautiful cherry-coconut pie? I think I died in this beautiful recipe 😀

    Cheers
    CCU

    Reply
  2. Pingback: Independence Day! NuNaturals Giveaway & Cherry-Coconut Creme Pie. Gluten-, Sugar-, & Oil-free. | Vegan Today

  3. The Healthy Flavor

    Pie looks scrumptious! I’ve been dying to try the NuNaturals because the regular stevia packets are awful with a horrible aftertaste, but I’ve heard the Nunaturals are better. I’m entering the giveaway…I’d love to try them. Thank you!

    Reply
  4. marquesaa

    I am working on giving up the refined sugars and I am going to try this product line as I don’t like most stevia brands I have tried, perhaps the lo han will be better/

    Reply
  5. slywlf

    Wow! Keepin’ It Kind shared the link to this post and I am so glad I followed! That chocolate snack cake sounds like the perfect solution for those special cravings… 😉

    Reply
  6. Susmitha - Veganosaurus

    Woohoo!! A global giveaway! I can enter I can enter nananananana. 😀

    That pie looks amaaaazing! Perhaps you can zap a slice over to me now? :p

    Reply
  7. Deanne O'Donnell

    Would love to win this to try all the products! Vegan sweets are the way to go!!! Can’t wait to try.

    Reply
  8. celestedimilla

    As usual, reading your post made me drool! Cherries and chocolate in the same post is too much for me to handle at 6:30 in the morning. My oatmeal tastes bland at the moment – ha! Happy 4th of July! Celeste :)

    Reply
  9. The Vegan Kat

    We were just talking about how to make a vegan coconut creme pie at my house :) I like the addition of cherries! Looks yummy :) Happy Fourth of July!

    Reply
  10. Pingback: Gluten Free Rhubarb Crisp & NuNaturals Giveaway – Gazing In

  11. Sarah

    Looking gorgeous! So…I made a Rhubarb Crisp, that is vegan and GF, with my Lo Han. And the verdict? My in-laws loved it. No one knew!

    Reply
  12. Pingback: Giveaways: Happy 4th of July! Here are lots of giveaways for you! | Vegan Perks

  13. Billie Jean

    I just about gave it all up! Every once in a while I have something with a more natural form of sugar, but for the most part, my diet only has stevia and occasionally agave, honey or maple syrup:)

    Reply
  14. Billie Jean Grych

    Refined sugars don’t make their way into my diet like they use to! I’m so happy I found stevia!

    Reply
  15. gaiantlc

    I still eat cane sugar once in a while, but I use coconut sugar, maple syrup or brown rice syrup in most of my cooking/baking. I also use stevia in my coffee and smoothies.

    Reply
  16. Amanda Thomas

    Yes. I have been working for months to cut out refined sugar and it’s the best decision I made.

    Reply
  17. cassieh2

    If I were the head cook of my household, I would gladly ditch refined sugars. I at least limit them in my own diet.

    Reply
  18. Shira

    That hazelnut cake looks divine to me Annie along with that pie too of course :) Love you ladies and your giveaways — I’m not a big sugar eater but try to enjoy in moderation..and I’ve just recently realized how important supporting fair trade practices are when it comes to sugar cane production. It’s crazy!

    Reply
  19. narf77

    I can enter?…I CAN ENTER!!! :). Please enter me in the draw Annie. I now feel like a fully fledged member of the world-wide vegan community and not just annexed off into the wilderness of upper-cumbucance Tasmania :) Who cares if I win, I at least get to enter this time! :)

    Reply
  20. Treesa

    I ditched refined sugar some time ago, I’ve been looking for an alternative to stevia so this giveaway comes at a perfect time. I would love to try NuNaturals products. Really cool that they are a local to me (in Oregon) company! Thanks for hosting this giveaway!

    Reply
  21. Lynn

    Thanks for the giveaway! I am trying my best to give up refined sugars, but it’s hard. I try not to use them at home, but I have a bit of a sweet tooth when out with family/friends. I’m working on it, though!

    Reply
  22. Courtney

    I have given up refined sugars, and I recently also gave up artificial sweeteners (I am so embarrassed that I was using them at all!). So I would LOVE to win this giveaway!

    Reply
  23. Kelli

    I can’t wait to make these! The chocolate cake looks especially amazing. And thanks for the tip about combining sweeteners to reduce the sugars and not have that terrible aftertaste from the stevia. I don’t use stevia at all because of it, so this would be a great way to be able to use it.

    Reply
  24. Brittany

    Snack cake..so that means I can eat like 5 at once right?? HA! That snack cakes looks delicious, as does the patriotic pie!! I have yet to try NuNaturals! I NEED TO!

    Reply
  25. Sophie33

    That cherry coconut pie with that chocolate coconut crust looks so freaking delicious & fabulous even, Annie! And those snack cakes squares look very yummy too! :) Waw!!!!!!

    Reply
  26. Somer

    Hmm! A new sweetener on the block. I wonder how I would like it in comparison to stevia, which does sometimes have an aftertaste. Girl, that pie. Very patriotic, looking insanely delish. I just need the cherries… :)

    Reply
  27. Gabby @ the veggie nook

    Simply gorgeous Annie! I would love a chance to try the new product and I think your recipe would be high up on the list of recipes to start with :)

    Reply
  28. Pingback: A Weird & Wonderful Salad: Paulie’s Slaw. Oil-free. | anunrefinedvegan

  29. coconutandberries

    I somehow missed this was open worldwide!! Wow, thanks so much :) I’d love to try nunaturals- stevia is still fairly hard to come by here in the UK and I’ve heard NuNaturals products really are the best.

    Reply
  30. Karen Delaney

    I am cutting back and use very little refined sugar. My husband won’t eat anything with sugar, so I’ve adjusted that.

    Reply
  31. greatveganexpectations

    Wow, almost midnight is a bad time to read a blog post like this… all I can think about now are chocolatey coconutty confections! I have entered the giveaway though so hopefully soon I will be able to do some experimenting of my own – I love the challenge of making healthy low-sugar sweet treats, and as a personal trainer it’s pretty cool to be able to tell clients they can still indulge :) Thanks for sharing!

    Reply

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