Tag: #SugarFreeBaking

I Tried the Viral Ina Garten Brownie Pudding — Low-Carb Edition (And It Wasn’t a Win)

Lisa Kidd

Every once in a while, a recipe goes viral and you have to try it. This time, it was Ina Garten’s famous Brownie Pudding — rich, decadent, and perfectly underbaked in the center.

Of course, I wanted to see if I could make it low-carb and sugar-free.

The result?
✔️ Beautiful texture for a brownie
❌ Flavor that just didn’t work for me, and it didn’t have the lava pudding center

I made several substitutions, including swapping all-purpose flour for peanut flour. While the dessert baked great for a brownie, it didn’t have the lava pudding center I was hoping for. The peanut flavor overpowered everything else. It’s not something I’d personally make again — and that’s okay.

Low-carb and bariatric-friendly baking is a lot of trial and error. Some swaps behave beautifully. Others… teach us lessons.

I usually only share recipes that make it into my regular rotation, but I wanted to share this one too — because honesty matters. If you’re experimenting in your own kitchen, know that it’s normal when things don’t turn out perfectly.

Let’s Learn Together

If you try this recipe using different low-carb ingredients (like almond flour, different sweeteners, or adjusted eggs), I’d love to hear how it turns out for you. Leave a comment or message me — your version might be the one that works!

Because at Bariatric Living 101, we’re not chasing perfection — we’re building sustainable, real-life habits.

💛

Sugar-Free Apple Cranberry Dump Cake

Lisa Kidd

If you love classic comfort desserts but want a lower-sugar option, this Sugar-Free Apple Cranberry Dump Cake is a must-try. It’s simple, flavorful, and perfect for anyone following a bariatric or low-sugar lifestyle.

This recipe combines tender apples, tart cranberries, warm spices, and a buttery cake topping—all without traditional sugar. It’s one of those desserts that no one will believe is sugar-free.

Ingredients

  • 5 apples, cubed
  • 12 oz fresh cranberries
  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • ½ cup Splenda
  • ⅛ cup Jordan’s Caramel Skinny Syrup
  • ⅛ cup Jordan’s Brown Sugar Cinnamon Skinny Syrup
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 2 tablespoons water
  • Pillsbury Zero Sugar Yellow Cake Mix
  • 16–20 pats of butter

Instructions

  1. Sauté apples and cranberries in a skillet with butter, Splenda, and both Skinny Syrups until tender.
  2. Mix cornstarch and water to form a slurry and stir into the fruit mixture until thickened.
  3. Transfer fruit filling to a 9×13 baking dish.
  4. Evenly spread the zero-sugar cake mix over the fruit.
  5. Top with butter pats.
  6. Bake at 325°F for 30–40 minutes, until golden and bubbly.

One of my favorite ways to add flavor without added sugar is by using Jordan’s Skinny Syrups. The caramel and brown sugar cinnamon flavors give this dump cake that classic holiday taste without the sugar spike.

👉 You can save 10% on your first order at skinnymixes.com by using my code: BARIATRICLIVING101

Final Thoughts

This sugar-free dump cake is proof that you don’t have to give up dessert to stay on track. It’s warm, comforting, and perfect for holidays or anytime cravings hit.