Easy Sugar Free Cream Cheese Frosting and Giveaway #MonkFruitInTheRaw #mc #sponsored

There was a time a few years ago that I almost always baked sweet treats for my family at least once a week. This went to a screeching halt over 2 years ago when I started my healthier lifestyle journey. I didn't want to bake sweets and be tempted to eat them. So to control that I just stopped making sweets. Do you make sweets for your family? Do you use sugar? Do you use substitute sugars? Today I'm going to share information on Monk Fruit In The Raw as a way to cut down on the sugar at home and yet enjoy a few treats here and there. I participated in an Influencer Activation on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Monk Fruit In The Raw. I received product samples to facilitate my post as well as a promotional item to thank me for my participation.

A year or so ago I found out about Monk Fruit In The Raw as a form of sugar substitute. It is a vine ripened fruit native to South East Asia. This is a fruit sweetener and not just another chemically created sweetener. Monk Fruit In The Raw is a great way to reduce the sugar usage as well as a lower calorie option for those who are on a healthier lifestyle journey. Monk Fruit In The Raw has wholesome ingredients, taste great, has no sugar alcohols and can daily be substituted to the same amount of white sugar. If baking a recipe which involves rising and browning it is suggested to use only half of this and half white sugar. 

Monk Fruit In The Raw has been used in several of my own recipes as well as a few that I have tried from the Monk Fruit In The Raw Website. I haven't told my family that I have made the substitute and no one has asked. The reason for this is that the calorie-free sweetener doesn't have a chemical taste or a chemical aftertaste. No one can tell the difference! Besides a few of the recipes I have made, I also use Monk Fruit In The Raw in coffee, tea, lemonade, on fresh fruit, on cereal and anything else that requires sugar. I like the sweet taste when I need a little sweetness added to my food. I still try and avoid sweets but every now and again I do enjoy knowing that I can have a little which is made from real fruit. 

Here is a super simple cream cheese frosting that works great for cakes, cupcakes and cookies. 

Sugar-Free Cream Cheese Frosting

MONK FRUIT IN THE RAW Recipe | MAKES 1 1/2 CUPS

Ingredients

1	(8-ounce) package cream cheese, at room temperature
2	tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
2	tablespoons non-hydrogenated vegetable shortening
2	tablespoons Monk Fruit In The Raw® Bakers Bag or 3 packets Monk Fruit In The Raw®
1/2	teaspoon vanilla extract

Preparation

In a mixing bowl, use a hand mixer on medium speed to beat the cream cheese, butter, and shortening until they are combined and fluffy, 2 minutes. Add the Monk Fruit In The Raw® and beat until the frosting is smooth. Mix in the vanilla. If not using immediately, refrigerate the frosting in a sealed container for up to 1 week.

To use refrigerated frosting, work it with the back of a wooden spoon until spreadable.

Nutrition Information

Per 2 TB serving (for frosting 12 cupcakes – 2 TB per cupcake): 103 calories, 11 g fat 6 g saturated fat, 1 g carbohydrate, 1 g protein, 0 g dietary fiber, 26 mg cholesterol, 56 mg sodium

Did you know that September is Childhood Obesity Month? What a great way to celebrate the month by trying out Monk Fruit In The Raw. You can:

• Purchase it at your local grocery stores in individual packets and large Bakers Bags. 
• Check out their website
• Follow on Twitter @InTheRawBrand 
• Follow on Facebook

Check out their social media sites to get new recipe ideas. You can also enter to win a Monk Fruit In The Raw Bakers Bag and a box of packets in the below Rafflecopter form. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway