Baking with Agave Nectar: Over 100 Recipes Using Nature's Ultimate Sweetener

Boasting a low glycemic index and fewer calories per serving than refined sugar, agave nectar has been embraced by the health-conscious for years, and is becoming increasingly easier to source. Catalano, owner of Gourmet Whole Foods Catering and Cooking School in Milford, Conn., gives readers 80 ways to use the versatile sweetener in this impressive collection. Agave-sweetened versions of favorites like sticky buns, chocolate chip cookies, chocolate cake, lemon bars and creamy cheesecakes should be a boon for those previously unable to enjoy their sweets. As a bonus, a handful of recipes are vegan and gluten-free as well. Novices may be intimidated by the labor-intensive sticky buns and the prospect of making pie crust from scratch, but Catalano does her best to keep the recipes as simple as possible. As in many books of this type, ingredients like sprouted spelt flour, unsweetened soymilk powder and quinoa flour can be difficult to source, but Catalano helpfully provides a comprehensive guide to ordering them.