Swerve

I’ve never heard of that product so I have no advice about that. I have done baking without traditional sugar – substituting honey or agave nectar instead. They turned out really good.

So glad you are on a good track dealing with your diagnosis. It certainly is a tough one. The world is a better place with you in it :) and your focus to help others will make a huge impact and I wish you every success.

Here is a website link to help give you ideas about frostings and baking without traditional sugar. I hope they are helpful. You will have to scroll through them to find the cakes, cupcakes and frostings.

https://elanaspantry.com/category/desserts/

http://recipes.splenda.com/search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&query=frosting&commit=Search

You may have to rethink the confectioners/icing sugar idea and use frostings that don’t require the use of it. I have a recipe in a book that is made with honey instead of sugar and it’s more like an italian meringue frosting and it’s super yummy. If you would like the recipe just message me and I will send it to you. I don’t want to post it online and risk any copyright issues. :)

I hope this helps.

Firstly, cakennewbie, glad your onto the road of recovery. I’ve suffered from depression, and have family members and a close friend who are working through depression on a daily basis. Not easy at all.
White sugar, too many processed foods, which contain high levels of sugar, and too many carbs in our diet on a continual basis, I believe contribute to the decline in our overall health. Physically and mentally. I truly believe that good nutritious food feeds our bodies and our brain. Obviously, poor diet alone does not create mental illness. That is way too simplistic. But I have noticed in my close friend with depression problems, that a poor diet lacking fruits, veg, unprocessed grains, and zero exercise, definitely makes there depression worse. Seems the very thing our body craves sometimes…sugar, leads to our physical detriment.
Now as for swerve, not heard of it. I can say unequivocally…stay away from both Splenda and Truvia. Splenda was invented as a fertilizer…toxic ingredients. Went to a nutrition seminar, and what I learned about Splenda, and other so called “safe sweeteners” was shocking!! Truvia says it’s natural, but it’s not…also, dangerous chemical additives. My son has frutose intolerance. I didn’t keep anything ending in the word “tose” in the house, still don’t. That’s frutose, sucralose…which is Splenda…Truvia. You really have to do your homework.
Like Teri, I use natural sweetners. Honey, Agave, but mostly organic stevia and organic sugar. Stevia is a natural plant, can’t get any more basic than that. But I stick to organic, because I know it hasn’t been processed. As for icing, I saw a blog post on FB about no sugar icing. Combo of powdered stevia, cornstarch and either milk or it’s equivalent…rice/almond/soy milk. Can’t remember the actual amounts. You would have to play around with it. Of course as Teri stated, it won’t taste like your traditional icing. But that’s ok, it will still be good.

Thanks ladies. I’ll look into the honey and agave.. I had no idea about the splenda….wow. I’ve been using that for about 10 years.