Carob?

[weaver]

I haven't given my LO any chocolate (he's only 13 months, plenty of time for that!)  but what do you all think about carob?  In a muffin or a biscuit?  Is there any point?  Am I only chocolate substituting for my own benefit? 

[Lemonthyme]

I think so.  I think carob is caffeine free but it tastes minging and it's still full of fat and sugar.  Why give chocolate at all?  Why not muffins with dried fruit or fresh fruit?  I've got a recipe I make quite a lot for muffins with sultanas and it's only sweetened with sweet potato, no sugar.

[weaver]

Thanks for that - had an idea carob was healthy but seems not!  Hand over your muffin recipe and I'll give it a try

[Lemonthyme]

Here's the muffin recipe:

http://mamacook.blogspot.com/2011/05/restaurants.html

Here's another recipe (no added sugar) for date loaf as well:

http://mamacook.blogspot.com/2011/04/no-added-sugar-date-loaf.html

I may have been a bit harsh; found a set of ingredients for carob chocolate: sugar, vegetable oil, milk solids (15%) carob powder (11%), emulsifier (soy lecithin 322, 492) BUT, you can get lower sugar and sugar free versions; try here: http://www.plamilfoods.co.uk/carob/

That said, personally I'd rather just give my kid chocolate very occasionally.  I mean they make dog treats out of carob, it does ming.

[weaver]

Hmmm, not planning on feeding my baby dog treats! Or indeed anything that mings!