Clean Sweets: Simple, High-Protein Desserts for One

by Arman Liew

Second edition More delicious keto variations and comprehensive nutritional information Giving up dessert is no fun, so health-savvy folks have long tried to find ways to satisfy a sweet tooth. But so many Paleo-style desserts are complicated―Whole30 doesn’t even go there―and some keto sweets are total fat bombs! Arman Liew discovered a way to have his cake and eat it, too, with decadent creations that indulge the appetite and pack in the nutrients. From breakfast reinvented to no-bake treats, recipes There’s no tapioca flour, coconut nectar, or xanthan gum to be found here. Make something sweet the moment the craving hits, from foods that are already in the cabinet. Add in terrific photography, and this is a book every health-conscious person should have on hand. 100 color photographs

Genres: Cookbooks, Cooking, Nonfiction, Health, Food

176 pages, Hardcover

Published March 17, 2020

Reviews

[Ruth]

I am sooooo not the audience for this that I'm not going to even rate it because I think that would be unfair. Unless you like all your recipes to include things like "one scoop of protein powder", this is not the cookbook for you. I thought by simple he meant unprocessed ingredients, but I was totally wrong.

Toooooootally wrong.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This a great book with lots of pictures and alternate ways to bake. I can't wait to try some of these out!

[Lata · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some tasty looking ideas (especially one brownie recipe). I'm not sure that I would rely so much on protein powder for the protein parts of the many of the recipes. Pretty photos.

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

To Read: Yes, at least the section on alternative ingredients. This is a small cookbook, and there’s not a lot to read. The book starts with the author’s story of creating his blog, which led to this cookbook. Following that, is the most useful section, which explains the various categories of ingredients used in the recipes and how to use alternative ingredients. For example, if a recipe calls for a granulated sugar, you could use regular sugar, coconut sugar, granulated stevia, or several other choices. Since each recipe allows for a lot of substitution of ingredients, this info is quite useful.

To Look At: Yes. There are gorgeous photos for each recipe. Unfortunately, the photos look so good and the taste of the desserts don’t necessarily live up to the photos.

To Cook From: Maybe. If you are trying to eat desserts while avoiding certain ingredients, this cookbook can certainly be useful. Just don’t expect these desserts to taste exactly like the full-sugar, full-fat, non-vegan versions. I made the Confetti Breakfast Blondie, and the results were similar to the Deep Dish Skillet Brownie. Not great.

Many of the recipes in this little book are intriguing, so I might play around with it some more. I think if I got used to cooking with these ingredients I might be able to create some yummy desserts. I also think if you have to avoid certain ingredients, like dairy or gluten, it would be worth trying out some of these recipes.

[Janice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yet another cookbook that I would buy and the recipes are easy and healthy and delicious. My daughter and I really enjoyed this book.

[Amy Bradley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Collection of single serving dessert recipes. Fairly standard ingredients common to recipes means that trying things out isn't quite as expensive as other recipe collections I have seen, and most (probably all) are available at the Bulk Barn locations I have been to in Ottawa and Toronto (coconut flour is one I haven't noticed in store, but also haven't specifically looked for). Hints are given for gluten free, sugar free and Paleo substitutions, such as adding more or less of a different ingredient to handle the difference in texture or characteristics.

One thing to note: sugar is not specified in the nutritional information break down (probably as would vary depending on what is used to sweeten the recipe). There are a few online sites that let you input ingredients and quantities to give a nutritional breakdown, but would be nice if it had for the sweetener listed in the recipe to give a rough idea, as I have no idea how suitable these would be for a ketogenic diet unless stevia was used for everything, as some include fruit etc.

Despite that, an interesting starting point to think about for me.

Tried the Deep Dish Skillet Brownie and it was pretty tasty!

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found Arman Liew via Instagram accidentally and glad I did. He has a huge collection of clean, high-protein, single serve baking and sweets under his Big Man's World blog that I am keen to try many of. It's great as he offers options for everyone with gluten-free, sugar-free, vegan and paleo options.

I've tried a few recipes and found them very easy. Deliberately it doesn't involve using obscure or hugely expensive ingredients with a rotation of key ingredients such as a mashed starch base, nut butter, granulated sweetener, sticky sweetener, milk and flours (of your own personal preference or what you have available). Tasty and love that it is a healthier alternative so you can indulge without guilt.

[Ash · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book offers a ton of easy to follow recipes, all based on a short list of ingredients. Missing an ingredient? You don't even have to worry about figuring out a substitution. The author takes care of that for you.

[Elizabeth Judd Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Note: I won this book via Cut Out + Keep
I'm going to actually give this a 4.5, as I think I will basically enjoy everything in it. The recipes are simple to follow and look simple to make. There's a good variety, and everything looks super tasty! I can't wait to work my way through the recipes.

[Frankie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Liked this book, healthy dessert ideas for one person, my situation exactly. I appreciate the help in how to develop lo-cal delights, I so don’t want to join the ranks of the obese.
The only problem for me in some recipes are the unusual ingredients.

[Bookish · Rating 3 out of 5]

Everything looks great, but making the treats requires more dedication ingredients-wise than I'm willing to give. I'm a one-stop-shopping kind of girl.

[Gina Zappa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed all the options this book gave: gluten free, sugar free, vegan etc. I am also a sucker for any sweet that can be quickly whipped up!

[Aasinathena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy enough to make a lifestyle switch !

[Cris · Rating 2 out of 5]

The recipes look petty manageable and the photos look scrumptious. However, I am unlikely to try the recipes because they all call for ingredients I don't normally have.

[Mckinley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Specialized diet

[Sarah Jewett]

Some really tasty looking recipes that I can't wait to try!

However, I find the caption misleading on some of the recipes: "giant shortbread cookie" for one is labeled as gluten free, sugar free, vegan and paleo option when in fact it's not even a shortbread (they have no egg). Egg = not vegan and it's asking for a sweetener which no matter what you use (splenda, stevia, honey ets) is sugar in some form.