How to make sugar free edible google eyes

Learn how to make sugar free, edible google eye balls!

These are perfect for healthier lunchboxes, party food decorations, decorating cupcakes, cookies and even a floret of broccoli!

As a parent I am always encouraging my children to make healthier choices in regards to how they fuel their bodies.

This being said, the inner child in me loves the idea of decorating their lunches with a special sweet treat.

Staying true to my values, I created the perfect middle ground. In fact, these DIY edible googly eyes are good for their health!

Yup – I said it! These edible candy eyes are healthy! Keep reading to learn more!

How to make sugar free edible googly eyes

I can’t tell you how many times I have walked past the cake decorating aisle at our local grocery store, with finger twitching to get some candy eyes.

Let’s just say, it was almost a weekly event.

Then the idea hit me and that flutter in the tummy, excitement in the back of your throat and happy shaking hands took hold!

Better yet, I had everything already in the pantry.

How to make edible googly eyes sugar free

Easy – don’t put sugar in them!

Essentially what we are making is a pipeable royal icing without the sugar.

Royal icing is such a great edible decorating element for so many treats!

Use it on cakes, biscuits or stand alone like we did to create these edible googly eyes!

Switch out traditional sugar and replace it with a natural, sugar free sweetener.

Our pick?

Xylitol!

What you need to make edible sugar free googly eyes

• 1 Egg White
• 150g Xylitol Icing Sugar (1 Cup)
• 1 Teaspoon Lemon Juice
• 1 Tablespoon Cacao Powder

I used the cacao to colour the icing for the pupils of the eye. This was to keep our DIY edible eyes as natural as possible. As an alternative, or if you prefer black pupils, you could switch the cacao for either more xylitol or corn flour (corn starch for those in the north of the world).

How to make edible sugar free googly eyes

Thermomix Method

1. Insert butterfly. Place egg white, Xylitol Icing Sugar and lemon juice into bowl and mix 30 seconds, speed 4.
2. Scrape down the bowl and repeat.
3. Place a heaped tablespoon of the mixture into a small bowl. Add cacao and mix until combined. Try and remove all lumps for easier piping.
4. Pipe tiny dots onto baking paper. These are going to be the pupils for your eyes. Make them as big or small as you would like them. Allow to dry.
5. Pipe the remaining uncoloured icing into small rounds. These are going to be the whites of your eyes. Work in small batches, positioning the cacao pupils while the whites are still wet. Allow to dry for 24 hours before storing in an airtight container.

Conventional Method

1. Using electric beaters, combine egg white, Xylitol Icing Sugar and lemon juice until combined, shiny and fluffy, scraping the bowl as required.
2. Place a heaped tablespoon of the mixture into a small bowl. Add cacao and mix until combined. Try and remove all lumps for easier piping.
3. Pipe tiny dots onto baking paper. These are going to be the pupils for your eyes. Make them as big or small as you would like them. Allow to dry.
4. Pipe the remaining uncoloured icing into small rounds. These are going to be the whites of your eyes. Work in small batches, positioning the cacao pupils while the whites are still wet. Allow to dry for 24 hours before storing in an airtight container.

I aim to get a rounded eye which is why I do the pupil and whites separately. Positioning the pupils can be fiddly. I use tweezers which are less cumbersome than my fingers.

To save time, you could pipe the white over the pupil and allow to dry. this will result in a flatter eye however will save a lot of time and fiddly work.

The pupils could also be piped on top of the whites. This however, will result with a little tip rather than a flat pupil. To remove this, you could flatten the tip with a wet finger tip.

How long do edible eyes last for?

When kept in an airtight container, your DIY edible candy eyes should last for up to a year – rarely would there be any left come a lap around the sun!

They are most definitely something that you can prepare well in advance if you are planning on using them for a birthday party or event.

How to make edible eyes stick?

Positioning your edible eyes in place need not be difficult. Simply adhere them with your favourite condiment! A tiny bit of honey, sugar free jam or peanut butter should keep your designs in place.

What is Xylitol?

Basically, Xylitol is a natural sugar alcohol. This is a carbohydrate hybrid of sugar and alcohol molecules. Now, Im not talking a boozy alcohol by all means!

This network of molecules stimulates the taste receptors for sweetness on your tongue This low calorie sweetener, replicates the taste of sugar without the negative health benefits or spiking blood sugar levels.

Xylitol was originally developed from birch bark however now days this sugar substitute is often derived from corn. It can be used to substitute sugar in drinks, baking, sweet dishes and savoury meals.

It looks and behaves much like sugar and can be switched over at a 1:1 ratio.

Excessive consumption can result in creating a laxative effect.

Is Xylitol natural or artificial?

Xylitol is found in small amounts in many fruits and vegetables. Because of this, it is considered a natural product. Even the human body produces a small amount xylitol in metabolic processes.

Is Xylitol healthier than sugar?

Yes! Xylitol is healthier than sugar and for many reasons! While xylitol is not brimming with minerals and vitamins, there are many benefits to consuming it in place of sugar.

1. Low GI: GI refers to glycemic index. This is a form of measurement showing how quickly food raises blood sugars. Xylitol has a GI of 7. Now to put that into perspective, sugar has a GI of 60-70. Slipping so treats sweetened with Xylitol is not going to have your kids racing around the classroom in a post lunch break sugar frenzy! This low GI also makes it suitable for diabetics too!
2. Promotes dental health: Yes, we are talking something that tastes like sugar, that is low GI and it can help protect your teeth. Oral bacteria cannot use xylitol. Switching sugar for xylitol reduces the food for harmful bacterias, basically resulting in them starving to death.
3. Promotes gut health: Xylitol supports a healthy digestive system by feeding the beneficial bacteria in the gut.

Which is healthier, stevia or xylitol?

Both of these natural sweeteners, xylitol and stevia, are low GI and low calorie. The main difference are the health benefits that comes with xylitol.

For this reason, Xylitol would be seen as the healthier natural sugar substitute.

Warning for dog owners

With all the health benefits for humans, I cannot say the same for dogs. In fact, xylitol is highly toxic to our canine friends. Dogs metabolise xylitol completely different to humans. It only takes a small amount to have huge health percussions.

Personally, to ensure our dog was not at risk of any accidental consumption, I used other sugar free natural sweeteners in foods that may leave crumbs as the children ate them. My dog friendly go to alternative is Erythritol.

How to make fun lunchboxes

Creating fun lunches is a great way of encouraging kids to actually eat their lunch.

Kids are more likely to try new foods after repeated exposure to them.

Using tools, along with your sugar free googly eyes, can be a simple way of presenting foods differently to make the experience fun rather than confrontational.

Make lunch time fun with these exciting bento box accessories and tools!

• Sandwich Cutters
• Stix
• Wrap Bands
• Tiny Cutlery
• Themed Food Picks
• Surprise Boxes
• Food Stamps
• Coloured Food Cups
• Themed Food Rings
• Novelty Food Bottles
• Themed Yoghurt Pouches