During a recent road trip, I stumbled upon a store in Virginia that sells gluten-free cookies, crackers, pastas, pastries, and more.
To my surprise, I found a product I had never seen before: Know Brainer Max Mallow Burnt Caramel Marshmallows. I love a high-quality gourmet marshmallow. I was excited about this find, since eating conventional marshmallows makes me bloated and tired. I found the marshmallows to be soft and fluffy, and the burnt caramel flavor was pronounced and satisfying.
This brand is unique. It’s sweetened with a monk fruit sweetener blend of non-GMO erythritol and monk fruit extract as well as the sugar substitute xylitol*, so no sugar crash for me. These marshmallows also contain prebiotic fiber, MCT oil to fuel the body with healthy fat, and 5 grams of grass-fed hydrolyzed bovine collagen protein per serving.
Shari Leidich, founder of Max Sweets Know Brainer started the company after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS). She yearned for a tasty and sweet handcrafted snack, so she came up with a sugar-free treat that would be healthy for her.
Some fans of the brand wish it were a less expensive product. (A bag of about 12 marshmallows retails for around $6, making each serving of about two marshmallows 99 cents.) The manufacturer acknowledges the product is more similar to a fiber or protein supplement that’s added to the diet, hence the higher cost.
I enjoyed the marshmallows as an occasional treat on my trip, which made the amount I paid more palatable. I found I could eat only two per serving anyway, since I’m sensitive to an overconsumption of sugar alcohols.
Sadly these marshmallows can’t be roasted over an open flame, so no s’mores. They can be melted for a sugar-free sauce or be used as a replacement for traditional sugar in some recipes.
The product is paleo, keto, gluten free, dairy free, and diabetic friendly, and there are zero net carbs. One serving has just 15 calories. Other flavors in the line include Mint Chip, Classic Vanilla, and Cinnamon Toast. There’s also currently a limited edition vegan release in Classic Vanilla.
*Please note that this item is NOT pet friendly as it contains xylitol, which can be extremely toxic to dogs.
