Category: Sweet Treats

Coconut Lime Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

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I wanted to make a dessert recipe that screamed “Summer!” without a ton of sugar and processed ingredients. I love all things coconut and lime pairs very well, adding a juicy burst of flavor.

Instead of traditional flour, I used a combination of coconut and tapioca flours. Coconut flour is great for baking gluten free dishes with a nice coconut aroma and tapioca starch keeps the cupcake batter light while remaining allergy-friendly. I really enjoy desserts with a cream cheese based icing. It helps cut through the richness of a dessert and doesn’t add heaps of unnecessary sugar. Instead of buying store bought cupcakes, try this crowd pleasing cupcake recipe full of summertime goodness.

Coconut Lime Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

Coconut Lime Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

Ingredients

  • 1 cup coconut flour
  • 1 cup tapioca starch
  • 1 tbsp baking powder
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/3 c coconut oil, melted
  • 1.5 cups unsweetened almond milk
  • 1/2 cup coconut sugar
  • 1 cup unsweetened shredded Coconut
  • 1/3 cup lime juice
  • 2 tbsp lime zest
  • FOR FROSTING
  • 8 oz cream cheese
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 tbsp raw honey (the thick kind)
  • 1 tbsp milk

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 and line a muffin tin with paper liners. Cream together coconut sugar and eggs using a hand mixer. Add melted coconut oil and almond milk, beat once more until combined.
  2. Gradually mix in coconut flour, tapioca starch and baking powder. Add lime juice, lime zest and coconut. Stir. Use a 1/4 cup measuring scoop to add cupcake batter to muffin tin. Bake 30 minutes.
  3. In the meantime, beat cream cheese, vanilla extract, and raw honey. Add milk and beat once more. Pour frosting into a piping bag. Refrigerate.
  4. Allow cupcakes to cool 20 minutes. Frost and refrigerate until serving.
http://freshandfit.org/coconut-lime-cupcakes-with-cream-cheese-frosting/

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Superfood Dark Chocolate and Fruit Bark

Superfood Dark Chocolate and Fruit Bark Main Image

Sometimes a rich piece of dark chocolate is all it takes to satisfy the craving for something sweet. In today’s recipe for superfood dark chocolate and fruit bark we are going to up the ante with a dose of chia seeds and fresh fruit to add a heap of health boosting antioxidants and omega 3’s to the chocolate.

I didn’t realize how truly easy it is to make homemade chocolate bark until now. All you do is choose your add ons and melt some chocolate. let it set in the refrigerator and you have a beautiful dessert in under an hour.

Superfood Dark Chocolate and Fruit Bark

Superfood Dark Chocolate and Fruit Bark

Ingredients

  • 24 oz dark chocolate chips
  • 1/3 c cherries, pitted and chopped
  • 1/3 c blackberries, halved
  • 1/3 c raspberries, halved
  • 1 tbsp chia seeds
  • 1 tbsp unsalted sunflower kernels
  • 1/4 tsp sea salt

Instructions

  1. Line a 9x13 baking sheet with wax paper.
  2. In a microwave safe bowl, melt chocolate chips working in 30 second increments until melted stirring occasionally.
  3. Pour chocolate chips into pan and spread to edges.
  4. Top with cherries, raspberries, blackberries, chia seeds, sunflower kernels and sea salt. Gently press into chocolate. Refrigerate 30 minutes or until solid. Use a butter knife to break into pieces.
  5. Store in airtight container in refrigerator.
http://freshandfit.org/superfood-dark-chocolate-fruit-bark/

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Strawberry-Kiwi Cream Cheese Tart

Strawberry Kiwi Cream Cheese Tart Main Image

Warmer weather and chilled desserts go hand in hand. This weekend I am having my mom and stepdad over for a BBQ. I wanted to create a dessert for us to enjoy after dinner that would feel Spring-like. I have been making this oat crust for all sorts of dessert recipes from protein pie to piña colada bars. It is safe to say that it has become my go-to crust recipe for desserts. I like it because it is full of fiber and taste like cookies, providing a nice crumbly texture for just about any filling or topping. I thought it would make the perfect base to be topped with a lightly sweetened cream cheese filling and fresh strawberries and kiwi. I hope you enjoy this strawberry kiwi cream cheese tart as much as we will!

 

Strawberry-Kiwi Cream Cheese Tart

Strawberry-Kiwi Cream Cheese Tart

Ingredients

  • FOR CRUST
  • 1 c oat flour
  • 1/4 c old fashioned oats
  • 1/4 c cane sugar
  • 1/2 c melted butter
  • FILLING
  • 2 16 oz packages cream cheese at room temperature
  • 1 tbsp vanilla extract
  • 1/3 c powdered sugar
  • 2 tbsp unsweetened almond milk
  • TOPPING
  • 2 c thinly sliced strawberries
  • 1 c thinly sliced kiwi

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350. Grease a tart or pie pan.
  2. Combine oat flour, butter and sugar in a mixing bowl. Mix until combine and moistened.
  3. Press crust mixture into pan using hands.
  4. Bake 20-25 minutes or until light golden brown. Remove from oven. Cool at room temperature.
  5. Using a hand mixer, beat together cream cheese, powdered sugar, almond milk and vanilla until smooth.
  6. Spread cream cheese filling over crust.
  7. Top with sliced kiwi and strawberries. Refrigerate 2 hours. Slice and serve.
http://freshandfit.org/strawberry-kiwi-cream-cheese-tart/

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Olive Oil and Tangerine Muffins with Chia Seeds

Olive Oil and Tangerine Muffins

Fruit infused muffins are a delicious way to use fresh fruit of the season. Using the zest and the juice of the fruit, in this case tangerines, adds a ton of flavor and aroma to muffins. Chia seeds are a nice switch from traditional poppyseed. Chia seeds are a great source of plant based protein and fiber. I also typically use oat flour, which I grind out of old fashioned oats in my food processor, to create the base for my muffins. It is a super simple way to create you own fresh ground flour.

The shining star in this recipe is the use of olive oil rather than butter. Most people don’t typically reach for olive oil for baking, but trust me, it is a terrific fat substitute. I used a premium extra virgin olive oil by Oilio. Oilio is a family owned company and their oil is single sourced in Southern Kalamata Greece. The olive oil gives these muffins a super moist texture while amping up the good for you fatty acids, making for a muffin that is equally delicious as it is healthy.

Olive Oil and Tangerine Muffins with Chia Seeds

Olive Oil and Tangerine Muffins with Chia Seeds

Ingredients

  • 1 c oat flour
  • 1 c old fashioned oats
  • 1/2 c olive oil
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/2 c unsweetened almond milk
  • 1/3 c tangerine juice or orange juice
  • 2 tbsp tangerine zest or orange zest
  • 1/3 c cane sugar
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 2 tbsp chia seeds

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 and line a muffin pan with paper liners.
  2. Combine oat flour, oats, sugar and baking powder. Stir to combine.
  3. In a separate bowl, whisk eggs, add olive oil, almond milk, tangerine juice, tangerine zest. Stir to combine.
  4. Pour wet ingredients into dry. Stir. Add chia seeds and stir once more.
  5. Use a 1/4 cup measuring scoop to pour batter into muffin pan.
  6. Bake for 35 minutes.
http://freshandfit.org/olive-oil-and-tangerine-muffins-with-chia-seeds/

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