Tag: dessert

Coconut Lime Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

 Main Image

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.

Print
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/

Image 1

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.

Print
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/

Main Image 4

Maple Nut Cheesecake

Maple Nut Cheesecake FF

Today’s recipe is the reason we eat healthy all year long and take great care of our bodies – so that we can eat lots and lots of pie during our holiday celebrations. We want to eat healthy and still fit into our jeans come the new year. I can promise you that as long as you are mindful of your eating in the weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas, you won’t have to feel guilty indulging when the holidays come around. Like I say again and again, it is balance that is key. You shouldn’t think twice about indulging at holiday parties and get togethers. This is a time for celebration and joy. Like I said, be mindful in the days between and stay on your workout schedule, so that you already have a plan in place by the time January 1st rolls around. Part of a fresh and fit lifestyle is indulging!
Now, back to the pie. Who doesn’t love cheesecake piled with sweet, buttery, maple syrup coated hazelnuts, almonds, and pecans?! This maple nut cheesecake recipe is super easy to whip up and cooks all at once. Chill it for a few hours and it is ready to go. You can even freeze it if you are making it ahead of time. Best of all, this recipe is for 2 pies; so you can save one for holiday parties and one for you!

Print
Maple Nut Cheesecake

Maple Nut Cheesecake

Ingredients

  • For Cheesecake Layer
  • 2 9 inch Graham cracker crusts
  • 2 packages cream cheese at room temperature
  • 2 tbsp powdered sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 eggs
  • For Maple Nut Layer
  • 1/2 c maple syrup, at room temperature
  • 1/3 c brown sugar
  • 2 tbsp melted butter
  • 2 cups unsalted nuts (I used pecans, hazelnuts and almonds)
  • 2 eggs

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350.
  2. For Cheesecake Layer: Using a hand mixer on low-medium speed, beat together the cream cheese and powdered sugar.
  3. Add eggs and vanilla extract. Beat again until well combined and smooth.
  4. Evenly distribute amongst two pie crusts.
  5. For Pecan Layer: In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together eggs, sugar, melted butter, maple syrup.
  6. Add nuts and stir well.
  7. Gently spoon mixture evenly over cheesecake layer.
  8. Fold foil around edges. This helps prevent burning.
  9. Bake in oven for 50 minutes. Allow to completely cool at room temperature for 2 hours. Chill until serving, at least 2 hours.
http://freshandfit.org/maple-nut-cheesecake/

Maple Nut Cheesecake Pin

Baked Apple Holiday Nachos

Baked Apple Holiday Nachos 1

In the weeks between Thanksgiving and January 1st, most of us gain weight without even trying. We indulge in the nostalgic dishes of the season and fill our glasses with festive punches, ciders and spiked nog. It’s the holidays, a time of togetherness and joy. The clinking of glasses and celebrating the excitement of a new year. Until we come to a screeching halt on January 2nd and suddenly we are wearing a different size pants than we were back in October.

This year, go into the holidays with a festive dessert recipe that won’t pile on the pounds. This recipe for Baked Apple Nachos is a festive take on my traditional Apple Chips. These addictive crispy apples  get topped with a drizzle of melted butterscotch, dark chocolate, and toasted hazelnuts for a crowd pleasing dish that doesn’t scream “healthy!” This recipe is also a great snack idea for kids and makes the house smell absolutely incredible.

Don’t be afraid to indulge this season, but keep a few recipes like this in your back pocket to keep things balanced.

Print
Baked Apple Holiday Nachos

Baked Apple Holiday Nachos

Ingredients

  • 3 large apples
  • 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/3 c butterscotch chips
  • 1/3 c dark chocolate chips
  • 1/3 c roasted hazelnuts, coarsely chopped

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 200. Line 2-3 baking sheets with parchment paper.
  2. Using a mandolin slicer or sharp knife, thinly slice apples and spread out on baking sheets. Remove any seeds.
  3. Sprinkle with cinnamon. Bake apples in oven 1 hour.
  4. Carefully flip apples. Bake 1 hour longer. Allow to cool in oven to room temperature. If you are going to do another batch, put that batch in the oven now.
  5. Toast hazelnuts in a small pan over medium heat, about 5 minutes.
  6. Coarsely chop hazelnuts.
  7. Melt butterscotch chips in microwave in a glass bowl working in 30 second intervals. Stir.
  8. Melt chocolate chips in microwave in a small glass bowl also in 30 second intervals. Stir.
  9. Arrange apple slices on serving platter. Drizzle with chocolate, butterscotch and chopped hazelnuts.
http://freshandfit.org/baked-apple-holiday-nachos/