These D-Lectable sugar free dark chocolate covered cereal balls are a healthy version of the classic malted milk balls. There's only 6g carbs per serving.

I really liked the previous version of sugar-free malted milk balls. The problems were that the recipe was a bit high in resulting carbs, and also that they caused a lot of stomach problems. I would literally make sure to restrict myself to two at a time, so that my stomach did not begin gurgling.

So because of that, I was really keen to try this new version. The new formulation has a lower carb count, and it seems they have solved the tummy-rumbling issues. The problem is that the compromise also lost some of the malted milkedness of the inside.

The outside is great - the dark chocolate tastes perfect. Dark chocolatey, smooth, creamy, delicious. I really think sugar-free cooks have perfectly nailed the art of creating sugar free chocolate. There's no reason any more to ever have sugar-filled chocolate. Safe your teeth from decay, safe your stomach from expanding, and relish the chocolate antioxidant powers. So that part is great.

But the inside ... it's sort of hard to explain. If you like malted milk balls, you know the crisp, airy, milky flavor the insides have. It's a special balance. Too hard and it tastes like stale croutons. Too soft, and it's like gushy, humidity-filled bread. It needs to be right in the middle.

It's hard to describe what's wrong about these. The inside is crisp - but sharp and pointy. It's like a medium-lacy network of sharp cornflakes that have little flavor. So it's a combination of air and points. With some little chewy bits. It's just not very pleasing at all.

I realize this must be hard for the candy cooks. If it was easy, they would have figured it out by now! The fact that they keep trying and improving - in a way - is a good sign. Surely after a while more experimenting they will figure it out. After all, they got the chocolate side perfect! But they just don't have the innards right yet. Give this one a pass.

UPDATE: I gave my extra cereal balls to someone else to try, because I couldn't finish them. She hated them. So we have multiple people who have tried and disliked these.


Lisa Shea's Library of Low Carb Books