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Gluten-Free Apple Cake

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This gluten-free apple cake is amazing! There are NO grains in the cake itself and I used gluten free oats for the topping. This one is a keeper — it’s so delicious and everyone can eat it!gluten free apple cake

I scare people when I bake. I mean, I literally scare them. I often burn things, the end result sometimes tastes… ummm… less than delicious, and I have even started fires in the oven. And yes, I did go to cooking school…

I’m a great cook because I can taste as I go and I don’t have to measure. But when it comes to baking, all bets are off  because I tend to treat baking like cooking and it just doesn’t work that way. You know… science.

But, every now and then I really get in the mood to bake something. I attribute this to my obsession with the Great British Baking Show. I can sit here and binge a ton of those shows and it truly makes me want to be a better baker. Oh, and if anyone knows where to buy Pru’s blue eyeglasses, pleeeaaaassseeee let me know because I really want them…  So, one day after watching a few episodes, I got that baking yen. So I started to peruse a ton of recipes that I have saved up and I figured I’d try my hand at combining recipes for several apple cakes until I got the desired result.

The cake needed to taste great. I wanted it to be healthy. It had to have great texture. In short I wanted it to not taste like a healthy dessert but rather like something I would actually be proud to serve.

It took some time, but this Gluten Free Apple Cake is the result. It’s great. Really. And not just great “for me”. It got the seal of approval from my family and they are the ones who are most scared to try my baked goods. This just goes to show you that anything is possible.

This Gluten Free Apple Cake is now tied with my Flourless Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookies for my favorite dessert.

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gluten free apple cake

Here are some of the healing ingredients in this recipe for Gluten Free Apple Cake:

Almond flour is great. In Chinese medicine, nuts are known to be good for your brain, heart, skin and reproductive system. Almonds are particularly nutritious. They are a good source of protein and they give you energy. And, they are gluten free and make the best grain free flour! Almonds will help relieve a cough and asthma and are also good for constipation.

Buckwheat is great to eat if you have diarrhea. It also helps lower blood pressure, stops some types of sweating, and has a good amount of vitamin E. It also contains antioxidants that can help fight cancer and heart disease. Buckwheat is a seed, not a grain, so no inflammation here! I used some buckwheat flour in this cake.

It really is true that an apple a day is a good thing. Apples help to strengthen your heart. They are also good for your digestion and they can help eliminate mucus when you have a cold. So, the combination of apples and cinnamon together are great for this time of year when everyone seems to be getting sick. Apples have a high antioxidant content, especially Granny Smiths and Red Delicious. This, combined with the fact that they have a lot of healthy fiber, is why apples are good at fighting Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and some cancers. They have also been shown to help ward off diabetes, high cholesterol and gallstones.

Oats are great for the digestive system — they make you feel better if you are feeling bloated or have indigestion. This ancient grain can also help reduce some types of swelling in the body and, a little known tidbit: they can be eaten to help stop lactation. Just make sure to buy gluten-free oats if that’s your preference.

Ghee is a clarified butter that has had the milk solids removed and it is lactose free. And, it has the delicious taste of butter.  It has a high smoking point, and it doesn’t have to be refrigerated. I recommend buying organic ghee if possible. Ghee contains conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) which has been shown to lower the risk of heart disease.

Cinnamon is one of the best herbs to warm the body. It’s great if you have a cold. If you are nauseous or have diarrhea, go for the cinnamon. It also gives you energy and helps with menstrual pain. Cinnamon is a Chinese herb: “gui zhi” is the cinnamon twig and “rou gui” is the cinnamon bark. Both are warming and are used for a variety of ailments. In the winter I add cinnamon to all sorts of foods. It helps with the common cold, swelling, various menstrual issues and some aches and pains. Be careful with it if you have a fever because it is so warming. Here’s an article about the benefits of cinnamon from Well-Being Secrets.

gluten free apple cake

If you make any of this recipe for Gluten Free Apple Cake, please be sure to let me know in the comments below. I love hearing how you like a recipe, and I love to answer your questions! If you make it, be sure to take a photo and tag me and post it on Instagram.

Gluten-Free Apple Cake
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Recipe type: cake, dessert
Cuisine: gluten free
Author:
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 9
This gluten free apple cake is delicious, healthy, and has all the feels of fall. You will love it!
Ingredients
  • 1-1/3 cups almond flour
  • ⅓ cup buckwheat flour
  • ¼ cup tapioca flour
  • ½ cup coconut sugar
  • ½ tsp baking soda (make sure it's gluten-free if that is your need)
  • 1 tsp baking powder (make sure it's gluten-free if that is your need)
  • pinch of salt
  • 2 eggs
  • ¼ cup oat milk (or can use another milk of choice -- again, make sure gluten-free if needed)
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • ¼ cup non-dairy yogurt (I used cashew yogurt)
  • 1 Tbs apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • ½ tsp pumpkin pie spice
  • 1 green apple, peeled and finely diced
  • For the topping:
  • 3 Tbs melted ghee
  • 5 Tbs coconut sugar
  • ¼ cup rolled oats (gluten-free if needed)
Instructions
  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F.
  2. Line an 8 x 8 baking pan with parchment paper.
  3. In a large bowl, combine all of the flours, ½ cup coconut sugar, the baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Stir well.
  4. In a small bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, and vanilla.
  5. Add the contents of the small bowl to the large bowl. Stir until combined.
  6. Stir in the yogurt, vinegar, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, and diced apple.
  7. Spread the contents into the prepared baking pan.
  8. Make the topping: stir together the ghee, oats, 5 Tbs coconut sugar, and the oats.
  9. Spread the topping evenly over the top of the batter.
  10. Bake until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean, about 35 minutes.
  11. Let cool in the pan on a wire rack.
  12. Cut into squares and enjoy!

gluten free apple cake

Grain-Free Pumpkin Muffins

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These grain-free pumpkin muffins are delicious — but since they are completely grain-free, they will actually give you energy, soothe your digestion, and of course, make you smile.

grain free pumpkin muffins

I am a chef. I’m not a baker. Not by any stretch of the imagination. I cook with love and I love to taste as I stir, and season as I taste. It’s like a foodie’s dance of sorts.

Baking just mystifies me. It’s all too measured for my liking. There’s no tasting as you go, and no seasoning things up halfway through.

Over the past few years, I’ve come up with tried-and-true baked goods recipes that even I can make. Believe me, this means these recipes are idiot-proof.

Since I eat grain-free and dairy-free, there are not a lot of store-bought baked goods options that taste good. If I’m going to eat candy or cake or cookies or muffins or pies, then they have to be delicious while also meeting my stringent health requirements.

I’m forever on the lookout for great recipes like this. And, when I find one, I make it many, many, many times, sometimes gently tweaking things to further meet my needs, and then I bring these recipes to you.

So, without any further chatter, here’s my new favorite grain-free, dairy-free, delicious muffin recipe. The credit for the original genius recipe goes to Katie at Wellness Mama. Thank you Katie! I’m in love with these grain-free pumpkin muffins! Honestly, I just love a good muffin… and these are great!

Best part: these are so easy to make. Even I couldn’t screw them up. Whisk. Pour into muffin tins. Bake. Cool. Done.

By the way, pumpkin is great for  your digestive system. What more could you ask… here’s a muffin that makes you feel good!

So bake these. Then make a cuppa Pumpkin Turmeric Latte. Sit on your couch. Watch the winter weather and happily sigh…

I love to customize recipes for specific health concerns. So, when my clients ask me to put on my health coach and chef’s hats, I often customize recipes for their specific needs.  Let me customize a sweet recipe for you that will work for whatever’s going on in your body now… I’m such a geek that I really do get excited about doing this. So CLICK HERE to be taken directly into my calendar to sign up for your free phone consultation… I’d love to create a vegetable noodle recipe that addresses your specific needs!

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grain free pumpkin muffins

Each time I test out a baked goods recipe, I try to add in some superfoods to amp up the healing powers of the recipe. Pumpkin seeds went on top of these muffins, and hemp seeds and maca root powder went inside… perfection!

grain free pumpkin muffins

Here are some of the great healing ingredients in this recipe for Grain-Free Pumpkin Muffins:

Pumpkin can help reduce pain and fever and can soothe stomach irritations. It’s a great food to treat constipation, allergies and asthma. It’s high in vitamin A and can help protect your lungs and intestines from cancer.

I am a big proponent of eating the whole egg. So many of the nutrients and the taste are in the yolk; I’ll never understand separating nature’s perfect food. Eggs help with many types of dryness in the body. If you have a dry cough or a frog-in-your-throat, try eating some eggs. They have also been shown to help women with various conditions during and after pregnancy. Some people consider eggs to be a superfood. They contain a large amount of vitamins A and B and are a great source of protein. Eggs sometimes get a bad rap because of cholesterol, but it’s been shown that in 70% of people, eggs do not raise cholesterol, so don’t assume they are bad for you. Buy organic eggs and you are really doing the right thing.

Hemp seeds are a superfood. They are high in protein, easily digestible, and contain a full complement of amino acids. They contain disease-fighting phytonutrients that are good for your blood, immune system, tissues and skin. Hemp contains a specific fatty acid that acts as a powerful anti-inflammatory. It also helps balance hormones, making it a great choice to fight the symptoms of PMS. This super seed is also good for your liver and your brain.

Maca Root is one of the superfoods I take every day. It has many healthy benefits including increasing libido, helping menopausal symptoms, relieving menstrual cramps, regulating hormones, and increasing energy.

Pure maple syrup contains antioxidants that help reduce inflammation in the body (think inflammatory bowel syndrome or heart disease). It also contains zinc, calcium, and magnesium. It’s much lower on the glycemic scale than traditional sugar. Whenever possible, use a darker (grade B) syrup because the nutritional composition is better than that of lighter syrups.

Coconut strengthens the body, reduces swelling, and stops bleeding. It kills viruses, bacteria, and parasites. It’s good for all types of infections and viruses in the body, including the flu, bronchitis, tapeworms, urinary tract infections, and herpes. There’s coconut flour and coconut oil in this recipe.

grain free pumpkin muffins

Grain-Free Pumpkin Muffins
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Recipe type: muffins, paleo, grain-free, dairy-free, breakfast, snack
Cuisine: recipe adapted from: Wellness Mama
Author:
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 12
These grain-free pumpkin muffins are perfect for breakfast or as a snack. They are healthy, delicious, and so easy to make!
Ingredients
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 400°F.
  2. Grease the muffin tins with coconut oil
  3. Combine the ¼ cup coconut oil, pumpkin, eggs, coconut flour, hemp seeds, maca root powder, baking soda, vanilla, cinnamon, and maple syrup in a large bowl. Whisk until well combined.
  4. Scoop ¼ cup batter into each muffin tin cup.
  5. Sprinkle the tops with pumpkin seeds.
  6. Bake until the edges start to brown and the top is firm. Stick a knife in the center of one and when it comes out clean, they are done. Mine took 19 minutes, but start to check them at about 13 minutes.
  7. Let them cool on a rack.
  8. Enjoy!

grain free pumpkin muffins

Flourless Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookies

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Looking for a grain-free cookie that’s as good as the original? These flourless chocolate chip walnut cookies fit the bill… Read more

Grain Free Banana Bread

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grain free banana bread

The other day I was on a hunt for grain-free, unsweetened desserts. I know, sounds pretty unappetizing. That’s why I needed to hunt. When I came across this recipe for grain free banana bread, my expectations were fairly low. But, I must give kudos to Michele at Paleo Running Mamma because that’s where I found the original recipe, and it’s genius.

I’ve made grain free cakes and breads before and more often than not, they don’t rise enough or they are really dense. But not this recipe. This grain free banana bread is delicious. And it rose. And it turned golden on the outside. And it tastes unbelievable — it’s sweet with no added sweeteners.

This month, I’ve been on an elimination diet. I’ve been indulging a tad too much since I moved into Manhattan. I mean, it’s just so easy to eat and drink way too much here. I really deluded myself into thinking that because there are so many healthy places to eat here that I would be in tip top shape. Haha — turns out even though I eat really healthy, I eat way too much. And don’t even get me started on happy hours and brunches…

This grain-free banana bread is sitting in my kitchen now and it’s making me smile because I know I can grab a slice of it later and have it with a great cuppa something. Yum.

And, if you are looking for another healthy baked goods recipe, try my Grain Free Peanut Butter Cookies.

grain free banana bread

grain free banana bread

This grain free banana bread has some great healing ingredients:

Bananas are good for your intestines (an old Asian remedy was to eat a banana every day to relieve hemorrhoids) and your lungs, and they even help relieve the effects of overindulging in alcohol.

I am a big proponent of eating the whole egg. So many of the nutrients and the taste are in the yolk; I’ll never understand separating nature’s perfect food. Eggs help with many types of dryness in the body. If you have a dry cough or a frog-in-your-throat, try eating some eggs. They have also been shown to help women with various conditions during and after pregnancy. Some people consider eggs to be a superfood. They contain a large amount of vitamins A and B and are a great source of protein. Eggs sometimes get a bad rap because of cholesterol, but it’s been shown that in 70% of people, eggs do not raise cholesterol, so don’t assume they are bad for you. Buy organic eggs and you are really doing the right thing.

In eastern medicine, nuts are known to be good for your brain, heart, skin and reproductive system. Almonds are particularly nutritious. They are a good source of protein and they give you energy. And, they are gluten-free. Almonds will help relieve a cough and asthma and are also good for constipation. This recipe uses almond flour.

Hemp seeds are a superfood. They are high in protein, easily digestible, and contain a full complement of amino acids. They contain disease-fighting phytonutrients that are good for your blood, immune system, tissues and skin. Hemp contains a specific fatty acid that acts as a powerful anti-inflammatory. It also helps balance hormones, making it a great choice to fight the symptoms of PMS. This super seed is also good for your liver and your brain.

Cinnamon is one of the best herbs to warm the body. It’s great if you have a cold. If you are nauseous or have diarrhea, go for the cinnamon. It also gives you energy and helps with menstrual pain. Cinnamon is a Chinese herb: “gui zhi” is the cinnamon twig and “rou gui” is the cinnamon bark. Both are warming and are used for a variety of ailments. In the winter I add cinnamon to all sorts of foods. It helps with the common cold, swelling, various menstrual issues and some aches and pains. Be careful with it if you have a fever because it is so warming. Here’s an article about the benefits of cinnamon from Well-Being Secrets.

grain free banana bread

Grain Free Banana Bread
Print
Recipe type: dessert, snack, paleo, vegetarian, gluten free
Cuisine: Recipe adapted from: Paleo Running Mamma
Author:
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 10
All the taste of traditional banana bread, but no grains and no sweeteners! This is so easy and so delicious! Perfect with a cuppa....
Ingredients
  • 4 very ripe bananas, mashed
  • 4 eggs
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • ¼ cup coconut oil
  • 1-3/4 cups almond flour
  • ½ cup tapioca flour
  • ¼ cuphemp seeds
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • ½ tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • ¼ tsp sea salt
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
  2. Line a loaf pan with parchment paper.
  3. In a large bowl, whisk together the mashed bananas and the eggs.
  4. Stir in the vanilla and the coconut oil.
  5. In a smaller bowl, whisk together the rest of the ingredients.
  6. Add the dry ingredients to the mashed banana and egg mixture.
  7. Stir to combine.
  8. Pour the batter into the lined loaf pan.
  9. Bake until a knife inserted into the center comes out clean. (Mine took 65 minutes, but be sure to check yours at 45 minutes... all ovens are different.)
  10. Let cool completely in the pan on a wire rack.
  11. Slice.
  12. Enjoy!

grain free banana bread

Paleo Lemon Cookies

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Lemon peels help detoxify your body and boost your immune system!
paleo lemon cookies

These cookies are what I call a “pantry dessert”. That means that I can whip it up without having to go to the store for anything. These paleo lemon cookies are made with a bunch of ingredients found in many healthy pantries and with some fresh lemons.

Everyone who knows me knows that desserts are not my forte. I oftentimes get an A for effort, but a C for taste. I was the mom who used to burn the chocolate chip cookies that you just had to slice and bake. I attribute this lack of baking ability to the fact that I like to taste as I go and I hate to measure. My daughter is constantly slapping her hand to her forehead in frustration when she watches me bake — she’s a great baker and understands the value of the science behind it.

So, believe me when I tell you, that these paleo lemon cookies are easy. I made them and they came out great the first time. I took the original impressive recipe from a great blog, Texanerin Baking and it’s a winner — even with my not-so-standard adjustments.

These cookies taste like deliciously sweet sugar cookies with a hint of lemon. The first night, we ate a bunch of them because they were so good. The second day, the taste was the same, but the texture changed to be like moist soft macarons. The taste was still just as amazing, but we crumbled them on top of smoothie bowls and yogurt parfaits. I highly recommend that you try this too!

For another great simple cookie, try my Paleo Peanut Butter Cookies.

paleo lemon cookies

paleo lemon cookies

Here are some of the healing ingredients in these paleo lemon cookies:

Lemon peels contain calcium, potassium and vitamin C. Lemons are good for your stomach, they help detoxify your body, they balance your pH and they act as an antibacterial. If you have a sore throat or a cough, go for lemons to make things better. Lemons are great for quenching your thirst, and, in China, many years ago, hypertension was treated by drinking tea made from lemon peels. This recipe uses zested lemon peel and lemon juice.

Hemp seeds are a superfood. They are high in protein, easily digestible, and contain a full complement of amino acids. They contain disease-fighting phytonutrients that are good for your blood, immune system, tissues and skin. Hemp contains a specific fatty acid that acts as a powerful anti-inflammatory. It also helps balance hormones, making it a great choice to fight the symptoms of PMS. This super seed is also good for your liver and your brain.

Pure maple syrup contains antioxidants that help reduce inflammation in the body (think inflammatory bowel syndrome or heart disease). It also contains zinc, calcium, and magnesium. It’s much lower on the glycemic scale than traditional sugar. Whenever possible, use a darker (grade B) syrup because the nutritional composition is better than that of lighter syrups.

In eastern medicine, we use coconut to strengthen the body, reduce swelling, and stop bleeding. Coconut kills viruses, bacteria, and parasites. It’s good for all types of infections and viruses in the body, including the flu, bronchitis, tapeworms, urinary tract infections, and herpes. And perhaps most importantly, it helps you keep your mind sharp and it makes it easier for you to focus. These cookies contain coconut oil and coconut flour.

In eastern medicine, nuts are known to be good for your brain, heart, skin and reproductive system. Almonds are particularly nutritious. They are a good source of protein and they give you energy. And, they are gluten-free. Almonds will help relieve a cough and asthma and are also good for constipation. This recipe uses almond flour.

paleo lemon cookies

Paleo Lemon Cookies
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Recipe type: dessert, cookies, paleo
Cuisine: recipe adapted from: Texanerin Baking
Author:
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 13
These cookies taste like deliciously sweet sugar cookies with a hint of lemon. They are completely grain-free and dairy-free and contain healing ingredients!
Ingredients
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk the coconut oil, maple syrup, lemon zest, and lemon juice.
  3. In another bowl, combine the coconut flour, almond flour, baking soda, salt, and hemp seeds.
  4. Stir the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients.
  5. Roll the dough into golf-ball size balls and place them on a parchment-lined baking tray, spacing them at least a few inches apart.
  6. Press down on the cookies with a fork or your hand. (I used a fork, but found it much easier when the fork was wet.)
  7. I got 13 cookies out of my dough, but whatever you get, is fine.
  8. Bake until the cookies are slightly brown on the edges and a bit on the tops too; mine took 23 minutes, but the original recipe says to check them after 12 minutes...
  9. Remove from oven and let cool completely before removing them from the tray.
  10. I stored my leftovers in a sealed container and they were awesome the next day, just a lot softer. (I highly recommend crumbling them up the next day and topping your yogurt or smoothie bowl with the crumbles...yum!)
  11. Enjoy!

paleo lemon cookies

Grain-Free Peanut Butter Cookies

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These grain-free peanut butter cookies will make you smile.

In our house, dessert is a must. And this is because Steve thinks he has to have some kind of dessert after every dinner. I don’t really go this route. I mean, if I’m full from dinner, I don’t need dessert. But, I get that a lot of people are like Steve. These paleo peanut butter cookies are perfect — paleo, delicious, and they only have four ingredients!

Having a healthy dessert that can be grabbed in an instant is imperative. I say imperative because I’m not made of steel. If I don’t have a “safe” dessert available, he will bring in all sorts of crap, and depending on what it is, I might be tempted.  It’s beyond me how a man who is so smart can think that because a box says “healthy” or “natural” that it must be so.

To avoid having desserts that make me cringe, I make it a point to have Stacey-approved treats available. It’s just so much easier than having to do the big eye-roll every time…

Now, I am no baker. For real. I kind of stink at baking. I don’t like to measure and I do like to taste as I’m creating, and these things don’t mix well with baking. That’s why I am so appreciative of all of the awesome bloggers out there who create easy and delicious desserts. These paleo peanut butter cookies are the amazing creation of Brandi from The Vegan 8.

If you are looking for another awesome peanut butter treat, try my Peanut Butter Pumpkin Fudge recipe.

paleo peanut butter cookies

These grain-free peanut butter cookies are made with only 4 ingredients, but they each pack a great nutritional punch:

Peanuts, contrary to what some believe, are actually good for many things in your body. I don’t often let myself eat them because they sometimes contain mold and it’s really hard to find reasonably priced organic healthy peanuts. But, these popular nuts are great for lessening edema; they act like a diuretic. They can also help you if you have insomnia or if you are breast feeding. An old-time remedy is to made peanut tea and drink it for bed to promote sleep. And, peanut shells used to be used to help with high blood pressure.

Coconut strengthens the body, reduces swelling, and stops bleeding. It kills viruses, bacteria, and parasites. It’s good for all types of infections and viruses in the body, including the flu, bronchitis, tapeworms, urinary tract infections, and herpes. These cookies are rolled in coconut sugar and it really makes them taste awesome!

In Asian medicine, nuts are known to be good for your brain, heart, skin and reproductive system. Almonds are particularly nutritious. They are a good source of protein and they give you energy. And, they are gluten-free. Almonds will help relieve a cough and asthma and are also good for constipation. This recipe uses almond flour instead of traditional flour.

Pure maple syrup contains antioxidants that help reduce inflammation in the body (think inflammatory bowel syndrome or heart disease). It also contains zinc, calcium, and magnesium. It’s much lower on the glycemic scale than traditional sugar. Whenever possible, use a darker (grade B) syrup because the nutritional composition is better than that of lighter syrups.

paleo peanut butter cookies

paleo peanut butter cookies

Paleo Peanut Butter Cookies
5.0 from 2 reviews
Print
Recipe type: dessert, cookies, sweets, paleo, vegan, vegetarian
Cuisine: recipe from: The Vegan 8
Author:
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 14
These delicious cookies are made with only 4 ingredients! They are grain-free and dairy-free... and they taste incredible!
Ingredients
  • 1-1/4 cup almond flour
  • ½ cup organic creamy peanut butter
  • ¼ cup pure grade B maple syrup
  • 2 Tbs coconut sugar
  • small pinch of salt
Instructions
  1. Preheat your oven to 375°F.
  2. Combine the peanut butter, almond flour, maple syrup, and a tiny pinch of salt in a large bowl. Use a big spoon to mush it all together. (My peanut butter was in the fridge, so I let it sit in a warm place for a bit to make this easier.)
  3. Roll the dough into balls the size of golf-ball. (I made 14 balls.)
  4. Put the coconut sugar in a small bowl and roll each ball in the sugar, until well coated.
  5. Place the sugar-coated balls on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
  6. Use a fork to press down on each cookie (in 2 directions).
  7. Bake just until the edges start to brown a bit, but not too long. I found that 10 minutes was perfect.
  8. Remove from oven and let the cookies cool completely.
  9. Enjoy!

paleo peanut butter cookies

Paleo Blueberry Cobbler

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This paleo blueberry cobbler is an incredibly delicious dessert!

paleo blueberry cobbler

You know when you go to the market looking for organic berries and you have to to a double-take when you see the price? Sometimes I can’t believe what I’m seeing… it’s like I’m being punked or something. But, finally, it’s that time of the year when the price of berries drops down to a reasonable level. Last week, there were blueberries everywhere! And when I checked the price, not only were these gorgeous blueberries affordable, but they were packaged in huge containers. So, I bought 2 containers. I didn’t need to, but I did. Did I tell you these containers were HUGE…

I’m sure it’s happened to you: you get home from the market, and you’re all kinds of smug because you got some great deals, and then you look at what you bought and you have no idea how you are going to use it all up…

Sooooooo, I put some of these gorgeous blueberries in the freezer. And I ate a lot of them right out of the container. And I made coconut yogurt parfaits. And a smoothie bowl. And then, I made this paleo blueberry cobbler. It’s just awesome. I made more than we could eat, so we ate half, and I froze the other half. Yesterday, I defrosted the frozen cobbler and when I ate it today, it’s just as awesome. And surprisingly, it tastes just as good cold as it did warm.

I’m on a big customized-recipe-creation kick right now (okay… always…), so let me customize a recipe for you that will work for whatever’s going on in your body now… I’m such a geek that I really do get excited about doing this. I’ve got a dessert recipe with your name on it…  So CLICK HEREto be taken directly into my calendar to sign up for your free phone consultation.

Here’s my recipe for Berry Fig Yogurt Parfait, that you can make with your extra berries.

paleo blueberry cobbler

This cobbler is so good for you:

Blueberries are filled with antioxidants and have been shown to help fight cancer, diabetes, heart attacks and strokes. In some circles, they are known as “longevity berries.”

Coconut strengthens the body, reduces swelling, and stops bleeding. It kills viruses, bacteria, and parasites. It’s good for all types of infections and viruses in the body, including the flu, bronchitis, tapeworms, urinary tract infections, and herpes. There’s coconut flour, coconut oil, and coconut sugar in this recipe.

Cashews are really a multi-tasking nut. I use them all the time so I say it all the time: Cashews have a lower fat content than most other nuts. Most of the fat in cashews is unsaturated and is made up of oleic acid; this is the same acid that is found in olive oil, making these nuts a heart-healty choice. I used cashew milk in this cobbler, but you can substitute whatever non-dairy milk you like.

Hemp seeds are a superfood. They are high in protein, easily digestible, and contain a full complement of amino acids. They contain disease-fighting phytonutrients that are good for your blood, immune system, tissues and skin. Hemp contains a specific fatty acid that acts as a powerful anti-inflammatory. It also helps balance hormones, making it a great choice to fight the symptoms of PMS. This super seed is also good for your liver and your brain.

Tapioca is a starch that comes from the cassava plant. It’s not really a flour in the traditional sense; it’s grain and gluten free. It’s good for your circulation and your digestion. Oftentimes I will make recipes (like this one) with tapioca flour — it crisps things up well and it works as a great thickener too.

paleo blueberry cobbler

If you make this Paleo Blueberry Cobbler recipe, please be sure to let me know in the comments below. I love hearing how you like a recipe, and I love to answer your questions! If you make it, be sure to take a photo and tag me and post it on Instagram.

Paleo Blueberry Cobbler
5.0 from 1 reviews
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Recipe type: dessert, paleo
Cuisine: American, fruit
Author:
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 6
This paleo blueberry cobbler is so refreshing. It also freezes well... and the ingredients are so healing... this one's a keeper... it's summer on a plate!
Ingredients
  • 3 Tbs coconut oil
  • 1 cup coconut flour
  • 1-1/2 cups cashew milk (substitute almond milk or another non-dairy milk if you prefer)
  • ⅓ cup coconut sugar, plus extra for sprinkling on the top
  • ½ tsp baking soda
  • ¼ cup hemp seeds
  • 1-1/4 cups tapioca flour
  • juice of ½ a lemon
  • ¼ tsp pure vanilla extract
  • ¼ tsp sea salt
  • 2-1/4 cups fresh blueberries
Instructions
  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F.
  2. Put the coconut oil in a baking pan (mine was 9x9-in.), and put the pan in the oven to melt the oil while the oven is heating.
  3. In a large bowl, combine the coconut flour, cashew milk, coconut sugar, baking soda, hemp seeds, tapioca flour, lemon juice, vanilla, and salt. Stir until combined.
  4. Spread this batter into the baking dish with the melted coconut oil.
  5. Pour the blueberries over the batter and press them into the batter.
  6. Sprinkle the top with coconut sugar.
  7. Bake until golden and a bit crisp. (Mine took 1 hour and 5 minutes.)
  8. Remove from oven and let the pan cool a bit on a rack.
  9. Enjoy!

paleo blueberry cobbler

Paleo Lemon Cake

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Paleo Lemon Cake! This is so delicious; it’s kind of like a cake grandma used to make, but way healthier!

paleo lemon cake

I’m a chocolate lover. But when I tasted this cake, I thought to myself: hmmmm… I think this might be better than chocolate.

And then, I remembered that it was grain-free. Yup, I actually forgot this is a paleo cake when I tasted it… it’s that good!

If you’ve been following me at all, you may know that I don’t consider myself the best baker. I’m a great cook, but baking… not so much. I’m not much of a measurer or a perfectionist, but with baking when you just wing it or go with the flow, sometimes it’s just a hot mess.

I saw a recipe for lemon bread on a blog called Connie’s Finally Losing It. Connie calls it a bread, and I’m sure hers is perfect and delicious. When I made it, mine didn’t look quite as perfect, and it tastes more like a cake, but OMG, it is just delicious!

And yes, it’s really as good as chocolate. I think part of this is due to the fact that when I made the glaze and poured it over the cake, instead of it sitting prettily on top of the cake, mine soaked into the cake and made it so sweet and lemony, that I can’t imagine doing it any other way.

I put the leftovers in the fridge and we’ve been eating it cold all week. So, put your chocolate bias aside, and try this lemony, sweet, tart, amazing cake!

paleo lemon cake

You should make this cake because it’s delicious. But you should also make it because it’s so good for you:

Lemon peel contains calcium, potassium and vitamin C. Lemons are good for your digestion, they help detoxify your body, they balance your pH, and they act as an antibacterial. They also can soothe a sore throat, lessen a cough, and hydrate the body.

I am a big proponent of eating the whole egg. So many of the nutrients and the taste are in the yolk; I’ll never understand separating nature’s perfect food. Eggs help with many types of dryness in the body. If you have a dry cough or a frog-in-your-throat, try eating some eggs. They have also been shown to help women with various conditions during and after pregnancy.

Honey is an amazing food. It is also a Chinese herb (Feng Mi). Raw honey is honey in its purest form; it has not been filtered, strained or heated above 115 degrees. This means when you eat it, the enzymes, anti-oxidants and nutrients haven’t been disturbed. I use raw honey in my tea, smoothies and in any recipe that calls for honey. Raw honey is solid and may need to be melted before you use it, but this is easy and only takes a minute or two. Honey helps with constipation, some coughs, and some stomach ulcers.

Coconut strengthens the body, reduces swelling, and stops bleeding. It kills viruses, bacteria, and parasites. It’s good for all types of infections and viruses in the body, including the flu, bronchitis, tapeworms, urinary tract infections, and herpes. It’s the coconut flour in this recipe that holds it together, and there is also some coconut oil in this cake.

paleo lemon cake

 

Paleo Lemon Cake
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Recipe type: Dessert
Cuisine: recipe adapted from: Connie's Finally LosingIt
Author:
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 8-10
This lemon cake is sweet, and tart, and when I ate it, I forgot it was grain-free! It's so healthy and delicious and simple -- it will become your new favorite dessert!
Ingredients
  • 1 Tbs coconut oil to grease a loaf pan
  • For cake:
  • 6 large eggs
  • ¼ cup coconut oil, melted and cooled
  • juice from 2 lemons plus enough almond milk to equal a total of 1 cup liquid
  • zest from 2 lemons
  • ⅓ cup raw honey, melted and cooled slightly
  • ⅔ cup coconut flour
  • 1-1/4 tsp baking soda
  • ¼ tsp sea salt
  • For glaze:
  • 2 Tbs coconut oil
  • 2 Tbs raw honey
  • 2 Tbs almond milk
  • zest and juice from 1 lemon
  • ½ tsp pure vanilla extract
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
  2. Grease a loaf pan with the coconut oil.
  3. Put all of the cake ingredients into the bowl of a mixer and mix until well combined.
  4. Pour into the loaf pan.
  5. Place on the middle rack of the oven and bake until a knife inserted into the center comes out clean and the top is golden brown. Mine took 49 minutes. (Please watch the cake carefully, because the original recipe calls for only baking the cake for 32-45 minutes.)
  6. Remove the cake from the oven and let the pan cool on a rack.
  7. When the pan is cool, remove the cake and let it cool completely on the rack, out of the pan.
  8. Make the glaze: put all of the glaze ingredients into a small pot and simmer over low heat until it's all melted together. Turn off heat and let cool slightly
  9. When the cake is completely cool, pour the glaze over the top of the cake. (My glaze was very liquid, but I poured the whole thing over the cake and let it soak in and it was delicious. In the original recipe, the glaze in the picture looks while and thick and pretty... I'm just letting you know that either way it should be delicious!)

 

paleo lemon cake

Grain-Free Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

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You’ll swear there’s oatmeal in these grain-free oatmeal raisin cookies, but nope… totally grain-free!

grain-free oatmeal raisin cookies

These grain-free oatmeal raisin cookies are magical. I say that because there is no way you can tell that they are grain-free. You can’t tell by the texture — they have the exact texture of traditional oatmeal cookies. You can’t tell by the taste –nthey taste better than most oatmeal raisin cookies!

Full disclosure: I am not the magician here. The original recipe is from Danielle Walker’s Against All Grain, cookbook, so kudos to Danielle! I took some liberties with the recipe when I made it (because I am pretty sure I am incapable of not changing a recipe…), and I (not being the best baker in the world) was so impressed with the end result that I ended up making a ton of these cookies and putting bags of them in my freezer! Another disclosure: they are so good that sometimes we eat them frozen instead of waiting for them to defrost…

A few weeks ago I had some old friends over for dinner. It was the first dinner party I had in our new apartment. But more importantly, the women who were coming are amazing women who I re-connected with after many years and I really wanted the serve special food.  I knew some of my guests would bring dessert (at least those that were not bringing wine) so I just wanted to have something here that was healthy to nibble on so I wouldn’t go crazy eating all of the decadent desserts I expected would be on the table. Well, my friends did not disappoint. Yes, we had lots and lots of wine. But, between the Italian pastries and the cheesecake and the prettiest boxes of cookies I ever saw, I set a basket of these grain-free oatmeal raisin cookies. And, they were able to withstand the competition! They really are that good!

If you like chocolate chip cookies, but don’t want the grains, try my Flourless Chocolate Walnut Cookie recipe.

grain-free oatmeal raisin cookies

Here are some of the reasons these cookies are awesome for you:

In Asian medicine, nuts are known to be good for your brain, heart, skin and reproductive system. Almonds are particularly nutritious. They are a good source of protein and they give you energy. And, they are gluten-free. Almonds will help relieve a cough and asthma and are also good for constipation. Even if you are not on a dairy-free diet, almond milk is the way to go. This recipe uses almond meal instead of a grain-based flour.

Coconut strengthens the body, reduces swelling, and stops bleeding. It kills viruses, bacteria, and parasites. It’s good for all types of infections and viruses in the body, including the flu, bronchitis, tapeworms, urinary tract infections, and herpes. It’s the coconut flakes that mimic the texture of oatmeal in these cookies, and there is also some coconut flour included.

Raisins help relieve constipation, can help bring down a fever, and can be good for you if you have anemia. Research has also shown them to be effective in helping to ward of cancer because they increase antioxidant levels in your body.

Cinnamon is one of the best herbs to warm the body. It’s great if you have a cold. If you are nauseous or have diarrhea, go for the cinnamon. It also gives you energy and helps with menstrual pain. Cinnamon is used in different forms in Chinese medicine: “gui zhi” is the cinnamon twig and “rou gui” is the cinnamon bark. Both are warming and are used for a variety of ailments. In the winter I add cinnamon to all sorts of foods. It helps with the common cold, swelling, various menstrual issues and some aches and pains. Be careful with it if you have a fever because it is so warming.

Goji berries are a Chinese herb (Gou Qi Zi). They are great for your blood. I prescribe them to some people with chronic pain in the legs and lower back. They are also good for men experiencing impotence and can be used to treat some eye problems. Women who are pregnant and people with intestinal issues should be careful not to eat too many gojis, but the amount in these cookies shoud be fine for anyone.

Honey is an amazing food. It is also a Chinese herb (Feng Mi). Raw honey is honey in its purest form; it has not been filtered, strained or heated above 115 degrees. This means when you eat it, the enzymes, anti-oxidants and nutrients haven’t been disturbed. I use raw honey in my tea, smoothies and in any recipe that calls for honey. Raw honey is solid and may need to be melted before you use it, but this is easy and only takes a minute or two. Honey helps with constipation, some coughs, and some stomach ulcers.

grain-free oatmeal raisin cookies

 

Grain-Free Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
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Recipe type: dessert, grain-free, paleo
Cuisine: Recipe adapted from: Against All Grain
Author:
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 2 dozen
These are oatmeal cookies with no oatmeal... but no one will ever know!
Ingredients
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
  2. In a mixer bowl, place the shortening and egg and mix until well combined.
  3. Add the honey and vanilla and mix until creamy.
  4. In a separate small bowl, combine the cinnamon, nutmeg, almond meal, coconut flour, baking soda, salt, and flax meal.
  5. Add these dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix for about one minute, scraping down the sides as necessary.
  6. Add the coconut, raisins, and goji berries and mix again until combined, about one minute.
  7. Using a tablespoon, place balls of dough onto 2 parchment-lined baking sheets. You should end up with about 2 dozen balls.
  8. Wet your palm and gently flatten each ball. I like my cookies kind of thick, so I didn't flatten mine too much.
  9. Bake for 6 minutes, then swap the tray positions so they will evenly cook. Then cook for 4 minutes and then swap again and cook for another 4 minutes. Then repeat for 3 minutes in each position.
  10. *This is how long my cookies took to bake; be aware and check the cookies often -- if they are thinner than mine were (see how thick mine are in the photos), they will cook faster. The original recipe calls for 12 minutes total cooking time.

 

grain-free oatmeal raisin cookies