You would never know these caramels are made with a sugar alternative.  Sweet and Spicy Nutty Caramels have rich caramel flavor, but very little sugar.  Made with KetoseSweet, it’s perfect for those on an ultra low-carb diet, like my dad!  I received product to use in this post, but all opinions are mine.

Y’all I have got to give to you that are keto or low carb.  I would not have the strength.  Most of my pantry is packed with rice, beans, pasta, sugar (still working through the last batch from PumpkinWeek).  I was chatting with my keto friend the other day and we were talking about our trigger carbs.

For Dad, that’s just about every carb. 

However, one day he we were chatting and he was telling me about finding sugar free peanut brittle.  I think peanut brittle is just about one of the best things on earth, and he agrees.  We used to make it every year for Christmas.  I look fondly on those times where you think the baking soda is going to make the whole pot just bubble over!

The sheet pans sitting on the counter slathered in butter so the brittle didn’t stick.  Then waiting ever so patiently for it cool.  I think the most fun was getting to break it up into pieces.  Dad always had to go to Southern States for raw peanuts.  He swears it makes the best peanut brittle.

That’s when the light bulb went on.  I thought I’d try to make him peanut brittle.  No, this isn’t like brittle.  It’s like caramel, but I’ll get to that in a bit. 

I made so many attempts at a traditional peanut brittle.  That didn’t happen.  I tried modified peanut brittle recipes because of the allulose.  Those didn’t happen either.  Not because of the product, but because I haven’t really used allulose to make candy before.

So, then I thought I’d try a modified caramel recipe and that seemed to work! 

If you keep it in the freezer it does harden like peanut brittle.  But then it’s cold.  Which, I guess, isn’t such a bad thing, but just isn’t brittle.  I am still on a mission to make low carb peanut brittle for Dad.  So, stay tuned as I continue to experiment with allulose and KetoseSweet.

A little info about KetoseSweet.  It’s a product made out of allulose, monk fruit, and stevia by Steviva.  They make a full range of sugar alternatives.  There’s this KetoseSweet in both powder and liquid form.  They have sweeteners made with coconut, fructose, monk fruit, and agave nectar.  They have a sweetener for all your needs.

This particular product, KetoseSweet, has 5% the calories of sugar but has a similar taste and texture.  It doesn’t affect blood sugar levels and perfect for those following a low carb diet.  Since allulose is is not metabolized, this sweetener is nearly calorie free.

Now, what do these sweet and spicy nutty caramels taste like?  They taste like caramel with a hint of cayenne and LOTS of nuts!  These caramels are perfect for those following keto.  It has fat from the butter and protein and nutrients from the nuts.  Since I used a deluxe mix, you should get plenty of omega-3s with this snack, too.

Can you overdose on omega-3s?

Because I’d have to worry about that with these caramels laying around the house.  They are irresistible!!  The caramel has that rich and buttery flavor with the perfect amount of sweetness.  I was pleasantly surprised how much they tasted like regular caramels.  I didn’t taste any chemical flavor that some might experience.  This KetoseSweet really does taste like regular sugar.

I have to be honest, I’m glad this came out like caramels and not brittle or toffee.  That creamy sweetness paired with the salty crunchiness of the nuts makes these so good. 

And, as you’re snacking on them, you realize that in the back of your throat you taste a little heat.  Not so much that’s it’s overbearing.  And some might not even taste the little sprinkle I put in these caramels.  If that’s the case, just up the cayenne ante.

But for me, I lightly sprinkled some on the nuts right before pouring the caramel mixture over it.  If you have one of those sets of tinsy spoons, I would go for a smidge.  Maybe a smidge and a half?  I could lightly see the flecks of red on the nuts, but not an overwhelming amount of red. 

I hope I’m making sense.  Sometimes, my photographic memory just can’t be described.  Either way, sprinkle as much cayenne as you feel comfortable with.  For me it was light dusting of cayenne.  If you want a little smoky with it, try some chipotle chili powder or a sprinkling of smoked paprika with the cayenne.  I’ll have to try that next time.

I truly enjoyed working with KetoseSweet in both liquid and powder form.  I see myself using the liquid for some delicious cocktails in the near future.  And I will continue my quest for a delicious peanut brittle for Dad.  So, stay tuned.  

While you’re at it, though, make sure you follow Steviva on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest.  They share great recipes and ideas.

Sweet and Spicy Nutty Caramels

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 12 minutes

Additional Time: 3 hours

Total Time: 3 hours 17 minutes

You would never know these caramels are made with a sugar alternative. Sweet and Spicy Nutty Caramels have rich caramel flavor, but very little sugar. Made with KetoseSweet, it’s perfect for those on an ultra low-carb diet, like my dad!

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Ingredients

• 5 tablespoons butter
• 1/2 cup KetoseSweet+powder
• 1/4 cup half and half
• 2 cups mixed nuts
• pinch cayenne pepper (or chipotle chili powder, smoked paprika powder, etc.)

Instructions

1. Line a loaf pan with aluminum foil coated with butter or cooking spray.
2. Combine the butter with the KetoseSweet+ powder and the half and half in a small medium sauce pan.
3. Stir until the butter is melted and the KetoseSweet+ powder is dissolved.
4. Bring to a boil and continue to boil, undisturbed, until the mixture turns a caramel color.
5. Remove from heat and allow the mixture to cool until no longer boiling.
6. Sprinkle the nuts with the cayenne pepper before pouring the caramel mixture on top of the nuts.
7. Cool in the pan overnight or place in the freezer for 3 hours to cool quickly.
8. Slice and wrap in wax paper. Store in the refrigerator up to 1 week, if they last that long.

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