There are a handful of diabetics in my immediate and extended family. And every Christmas I get a little stressed because at the very last minute, I realize that my goodie baskets are not diabetic friendly. And when he’s the one you call when your air conditioner goes kaput in the middle of the Texas summer, the last thing you want to do is alienate your father at Christmas.

My dad loves chocolate. He is firmly in the “I’ll eat whatever the heck I want, when I want” camp, sugar levels be darned. But I do try to play the responsible daughter card when I can. Sugar plays several roles in baking, sweetening only being one of them. Back when Splenda had just made it’s public splash, I tried making brownies for him. Nope! It might have sweetened like sugar but it sho’ didn’t behave like sugar.

I always make sure to include a bag of Chocolate Crackles in his goodie basket at Christmas. They’re super chocolatey. Part of the sugar is replaced with my favorite not-sugar, Ideal. I’ve actually baked cakes, cupcakes, and pumpkin bread with it and I think it performs beautifully.

Get the recipe: Chocolate Crackles

The 12 Days of Homemade Christmas 2010