Enjoying delicious desserts with friends and family is one of life’s most cherished pastimes, especially during the end-of-the-year holidays. While many people have long limited the amount of pastries they allow themselves to enjoy, out of concern for their health, snack fans can now make more nutritious lifestyle choices, without compromising on taste. Celebrity chef, entrepreneur and television personality, Buddy Valastro, who has made a name for himself for his delicious cakes, is now garnering attention again with his new business endeavor. The star of TLC’s hit reality series, ‘Cake Boss,’ has announced his latest partnership, which links him with Whole Earth Sweetener Co. on a campaign to “Rethink Sweet.”
The renowned Carlo’s Bakery owner and the artificial sweetener company will work to help his fans make healthy lifestyle choices, without jeopardizing taste. Valastro will serve as the official brand ambassador for the new line of zero- and lower-calorie sweeteners. As the ambassador, the fourth-generation baker will remain highly dedicated to quality and excellence, but will also share his culinary expertise on how his fans can eat healthier during the holiday season.
The chef and sweeteners company are working on all-new, original and seasonally festive recipes for mouthwatering treats using Whole Earth Sweetener Co.’s products. The easy-to-bake treats will continue to thrive on Valastro’s signature great taste, but will contain fewer calories than their traditional versions.
Shockya was generously given the opportunity recently to visit the Lackawanna Cake Factory and Filming Studio in Jersey City, New Jersey, to participate in a “Rethink Sweet” event. During the celebration of Valastro’s new collaboration, the chef discussed how he’s working to “Rethink Sweet” in his newest endeavor for a healthy lifestyle. He also mentioned how he creates some of his favorite new and lower-calorie holiday recipes, which are perfect for women, men and families who are concerned about limiting added sugars in their diet.
Members of the press were also given a tour of the studio, where Valastro’s hit TLC series, ‘Cake Boss,’ is filmed. After the tour, guests were able to decorate their own ginger bread cookies, sample a piece of one of the chef’s cakes that uses Whole Earth Sweetener and chat with the reality personality about his latest baking endeavors.
During the “Rethink Sweet” event, Valastro mentioned that “As a fourth-generation baker, I know that quality and taste are the top priority, which is why I’m so excited to join Whole Earth Sweetener Co. to help bakers rethink sweet! This range of great tasting, lower calorie sweeteners are made with unique blends of the world’s best sweeteners.”
The celebrity chef also revealed that he drinks a cup of coffee every morning with milk and sugar. However, he wanted “to make healthier lifestyle changes, so I know I need to change the way I sweeten my morning coffee! That’s why I’m partnering with Whole Earth Sweetener Co. on its line of zero and lower calorie sweeteners, including the Nature Sweet packets, a zero calorie way to sweeten my coffee without losing that great taste I love.”
Valastro has also expressed his excitement over being the latest Whole Earth Sweetener Co. Brand Ambassador. The father of four is “always looking for ways to reduce the amount of added sugar that my family consumes, since there’s no way we can cut out dessert! Whole Earth Sweetener Co. products are a game changer for my family, and for all the parents trying to make lifestyle choices for themselves and their children, without sacrificing the foods they love. These products are made with unique blends of the world’s best sweeteners.”
The reality star also pointed out that quality and taste are top priorities for his line of deserts and cakes. “Whole Earth Sweetener Co. uses ingredients sourced from nature, like stevia and monk fruit, which are crafted and manufactured into a great tasting line of lower calorie sweeteners that you can’t find anywhere else. Not only do Whole Earth Sweetener Co. products taste great, they also let you indulge in the sweet foods you crave and love, but with fewer calories,” Valastro explained.
Whole Earth Sweetener Co.’s range of products is now available in 45 states from more than 60 select retailers and on Amazon. It’s passionate sense of curiosity and relentless pursuit for innovation led the company to use ingredients sourced from nature which are crafted and manufactured into a great tasting line of lower calorie, non-GMO sweeteners. For more information on the company, visit its official website.
Check out the Gingerbread cookie recipe that Valastro created with Whole Earth Sweetener that he shared with his media guests, as well as photos from the tour of the Lackawanna Cake Factory and Filming Studio, during the “Rethink Sweet” event, below.
Makes 3 dozen (each about 3-inches in diameter)
3-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1-1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
2/3 cup unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons Whole Earth Sweetener Agave 50
6 tablespoons Whole Earth Sweetener Baking Blend
1/4 cup nonfat milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Sift dry ingredients; set aside
Beat butter and Whole Earth Sweetener products in large bowl of mixer until well combined. Stir in dry ingredients alternating with milk and vanilla, beginning and ending with dry ingredients; mix well after each addition. Scrape side of bowl occasionally.
Refrigerate dough at least 2 hours before using.
Preheat oven to 400°F.
Roll dough on lightly floured surface to 1/4-inch thickness. Cut into desired shapes. Reroll scraps only once.
Place cookies on parchment paper-lined baking sheets. Bake 9 to 11 minutes or until medium golden brown in color. Remove from oven to wire racks. Let cool 2 minutes. Remove cookies from baking sheet and cool completely.
NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION (per 1 cookie about 3-inches in diameter): Calories 104; Protein 1g; Total Carbohydrate 16g; Total Sugars 7g; Fiber 0g; Total Fat 4g; Saturated Fat 2g; Trans Fat 0g; Cholesterol 9mg; Sodium 50mg
Written by: Karen Benardello