Desserts Archives | healYOUnaturally

Scrumptious And Easy Banana-Carrot Bread (Gluten Free-No sugar added)

Last updated on November 12, 2018 By Astrid 2 Comments

Last weekend I am looking at my overripe bananas and figured I’d look up some gluten-free banana bread. This recipe was inspired by Taste of Home which sounds absolutely delicious. However, I adapted mine to make it low carbohydrate, with no sugar added and gluten-free.

We all love a moist, delicious piece of cake. However, in order to enjoy an unprocessed cake that isn’t filled with partially hydrogenated oils, tons of sugar, preservatives and other chemicals that are harmful to our health– we have to go back to basics and do make it from scratch.

Luckily I have found a way to make a healthy and scrumptious banana carrot cake you will never forget.
What? a healthy cake you say. Yup!

I don’t really want to sound pretentious, but this cake was so good that the only reason it lasted two days is that I made it at night. Between my husband, two friends, my son and I (poof) gone the next day. Needless to say, it was a bit hit and so I decided to share it with you.

Sugarless Flourless Soft Cake? Yes, Ma’am Here’s How…

This cake was absolutely moist and delicious, especially a few minutes after coming out of the oven… I am sure your family and guests will be delighted with this cake at your next gathering or holiday party. I made three small cakes in four-inch diameter bakeware (see instructions for other options). However, feel free to adjust the ingredients and ratios to make a larger cake.

I’d like to add that this recipe was definitely husband and children approved. I feel that the key to this fabulous slightly sweet and moist cake was the apple butter made from scratch. By doing this you ensure the freshness of the ingredients, plus combining the grass-fed butter offers Omega 3′ fatty acids. As you may know, grass-fed butter is a great source of CLA (conjugated linoleic Acid) good for cardiovascular and brain health among others.

For this recipe, I used swerve (try it here) which is a natural sweetener that is Diabetic friendly and has no calories. It is amazingly easy to use, measures just like sugar in any recipe, and tastes great. What is the added bonus? It has no extra calories, the hazardous chemicals of artificial sweeteners or the horrible side effects of sugar in your body such as chronic inflammation, eczema, mental and behavioral changes, artery plaque (in combination with bad cholesterol) and the list goes on. Chopped walnuts organic

Have you made a gluten-free banana cake? I’d love to hear your experiences below!

Scrumptious & Easy Banana-Carrot Bread: Gluten Free-No sugar added

Ingredients

2 cups gluten-free all-purpose baking flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon himalayan salt
4 eggs
2 cups mashed ripe bananas (4-5 medium)
1 cup shredded carrots
3/4 cup of swerve (or to taste)
1/2 cup apple butter
1/3 cup grass-fed butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup chopped walnuts I like these

Instructions

In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking soda and salt. In a small bowl, whisk the eggs, bananas, sugar, apple butter, butter and vanilla. Stir into dry ingredients just until moistened.
Transfer to two 8-in. x 4-in. loaf pans. I use these
Coate them with grass-fed butter or coconut oil. Sprinkle with walnuts. Bake at 350° for 45-55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks. Yield: 2 loaves (12 slices each).

https://www.healyounaturally.com/gluten-free-banana-carrot-cake/

If you are going to use this recipe on your blog or website, kindly put a link back to this page. Thanks!

You can also try my soft and decadent Gluten- Free Pumpkin Apple Muffins

Want more delicious healthy Holiday dessert recipes? You are in luck. You can enjoy the festivities without the guilt with these awesome recipes:
Pumpkin Apple Muffins- Grain, Gluten Free, No Sugar Added [healyounaturally]
Pear & Goat Cheese Appetizer: Easy and Elegant [Savoring Today]
Coconut Butter Butter Fudge [Buttter for All]
Healthy Pumpkin Spice Latte Recipe [Attainable Sustainable]

Coconut Ice Pops Sugar, Gluten & Dairy Free + (Easy Recipe)

Last updated on July 6, 2018 By Astrid 9 Comments

There is nothing better than an Ice pop during a hot summer day. These homemade coconut ice pops recipe will absolutely quench your thirst and sweet tooth simultaneously without the guilt. Not only are they refreshing and delicious– they are dairy, and sugar-free because they are made with swerve sweetener.

So let me ask you this when was the last time you had an Ice pop that:

1. Is not only delicious but at the same time can boost your immune system.

2. Helped your brain do its job to protect you from Alzheimer’s disease (oils in coconut)

3. Provided one of the best sources of fiber (from the raw coconut chunks)?

4. Didn’t raise your sugars making it of course diabetic friendly, because it is made with swerve sweetener— A zero calories, low glycemic natural sweetener (contains no chemicals).

5. It’s dairy free because it is made with coconut or even almond milk.

Now that is what I call a “Healthy Pop”. You can add berries, nuts I love brazil nuts, or whatever your little heart desires to make this your own.

How is it possible to make a low carb, low glycemic load ice pop? Glad you asked.

When you use a low glycemic, low-calorie sweetener, and ingredients with a low glycemic load your sugars won’t spike — unlike using sugar or even honey. I have used liquid stevia (alcohol-free), lucuma, yakon, and even coconut palm sugar. However, swerve is what I use on ice pops and it works really well.

What is swerve? Swerve is a great tasting, natural sweetener that measures cup-for-cup just like sugar! Made from a unique combination of ingredients derived from fruits and vegetables, Swerve contains zero calories, it has a low glycemic index making it a diabetic friendly and sugar-free without chemicals. Here is the super quick and easy recipe.

You can make this recipe in an ice cube tray, any size dessert bowls for a fancy dessert or as a palate cleanser after a meal.
These pops were a staple growing up so whenever I make these I think of my mom. However, this time I am not using dairy or sugar so I truly hope that will make an impact on our overall future health.

Coconut Berries Pops Gluten and Dairy Free

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 5 hours

Yield: 6

Ingredients

2 cups of coconut, milk (or milk of your choice)
1/2 cup fresh shredded coconut chunks
1/4 cup swerve sweetener or to taste
1/4 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

If you purchased a fresh coconut, poke the softest hole then drain its water into a glass. You may drink it now or store it in the fridge for later.
If it is your first time make sure to pour it out and into a glass and watch for mold floating, or cloudiness.
The easiest way for me to crack open a coconut is simply to smash it against a hard surface such as concrete or use your favorite (safest) technique.
Get a few pieces of coconut and put them in a food processor to make them into chunks. I like chunky pieces but you can do flakes.
In a medium bowl mix pour the milk, then add the sugar and mix.
Next add the fresh coconut flakes, and mix some more.
Get your ice pop molds ready
With a spoon get some of the coconut chunks into your first mold
then pour milk and repeat until each mold is full
refrigerate for about six hours or until they have the consistency of pops.

https://www.healyounaturally.com/coconut-ice-pops-gluten-dairy-free/

If you are going to use this recipe on your blog or website, kindly put a link back to this page. Thanks!

So, have you ever had coconut ice pops? No? Oh, you have no idea what you are missing :D.

Is there a particular pop that reminds you of Gran’s or Mom? If, so I’d love to hear all about it in the comments below.

How to Carve a Watermelon Tinkerbell Fruit Bowl

Last updated on July 8, 2018 By Astrid 2 Comments

If you are looking to make your princess super happy on her special day while impressing your guests, this watermelon Tinkerbell will be the center of attention.

A watermelon carved to resemble Tinkerbell surrounded by healthy and delicious fruit makes a charming and refreshing addition to the spread for a summertime cookout or Tinkerbell-themed birthday party.

This project requires a round or even oblong watermelon to achieve the cup shape where Tinkerbell stands. Use the teacup watermelon as a vessel for serving the watermelon and other fruits such as strawberries, berries, cantaloupe or grapes, where you and your guests can enjoy the fruit.

Things You’ll Need

Bowl
Precision knife
Channel knife
Large carving knife
Permanent marker or pencil
Melon baller
Paper
Bamboo skewers

Step 1

Cut one end of the watermelon, which will serve as the “plate” that holds the teacup and Tinkerbell. Make sure both the skin and flesh surfaces are flat so the teacup won’t tip over (it happened to me twice).

Step 2

Cut your watermelon with a long sharp knife right down the middle in half. Make the cuts as clean as possible, using a sawing motion when needed.

Step 3

Scoop out the watermelon flesh with a melon baller, and make sure to get rid of the pits. Place the melon balls in a bowl, and refrigerate. Make sure to scoop out watermelon balls from the other half of the watermelon. If you’d like only scoop half the flesh from the half that is going to be the “teacup” as to only fill the surface with fruit and watermelon balls. Reserve the large rind pieces to make the teacup holder and Tinkerbell.

Step 4

Trace and cut out Tinkerbell from this template . Then lay it over the large pieces of rind you reserved from the other half of watermelon. Start cutting by the legs and larger areas, then move into the creases and cut with a channel knife. I found that the watermelon-slicer-corer tool worked best to accomplish this look but you can use any knife you prefer. Also, a small precision knife, such as one used for pumpkin carving, comes in handy for cutting corners and fine design details.Set aside.

Step 5

Trace and cut the teacup handle by using a smaller or pairing knife.

Step 6

Fill in the watermelon tinkerbell teacup with the watermelon balls, strawberries, and blueberries or your choice of other fruit. The fruit is of course used for decoration, but also helps hold the skewers in place. A precision knife, such as one used for pumpkin carving, comes in handy for cutting corners and fine design details.
Tip: You may fill up the bowl with bigger chunks of watermelon at the bottom, then put the watermelon balls and fruit on top for a fuller look.

Step 7

Push a toothpick or bamboo skewer horizontally through the bottom of Tinkerbell’s feet, then insert in the middle of the fruit bowl. I placed a chunk of watermelon in the middle which helped hold Tinkerbell stand straight. That’s it!

PIN IT FOR LATER

Over to you.

Did you find the steps easy? I think it was and it took about two hours only because I was taking pictures too :).

Tell me in the comments below. Have you made this beautiful creation or any other watermelon creations?

The Best Gluten Free Coconut Chocolate Chip Cookies I Ever Made

Last updated on August 2, 2018 By Astrid 2 Comments

You may not believe me, but I have news about gluten-free coconut chocolate chip cookies: Good news, and better news.

There is nothing better during the winter months than a nice warm cup of tea or your favorite milk, with a soft- chewy but also a guilt-free cookie.

It is cold outside and if like me you have been craving some warm delicious cookies, then you are in luck because these “healthified” cookies will simply– knock your socks off. So, I decided to make these gluten-free low carb, low sugar version, that was adapted from the Vedgedout’s Chocolate-Chip coconut almond cookie recipe. Thanks, Somer. (Pay her a visit she has amazing recipes).

The good news is that, not only are they moist and decadent, they are low in carbs and also have a low glycemic index (LGI).

I am so excited to be able to share this with you because these are in fact, the best gluten-free coconut chocolate chip cookies I ever made! As a bonus, you get to nourish your body with two super healthy foods: Coconut and real Chocolate (cacao).

So to start off, I like to use fresh coconut for my coconut recipes. I feel that the texture and flavor is simply decadent. Here is a picture of my fresh shredded coconut. I like my flakes chunky, but you can shred them smaller if you prefer.

fresh-raw-coconut-for-GF-cookies — Image by healYOUnaturally.com ©

Eating fresh coconut provides an array of vitamins and minerals here are few:

Fiber, omega-3 fatty acids (the good for your body fat)
Calcium, potassium, iodine, zinc, magnesium, vitamin A
Vitamin B2, B3, B5, B6, B7, B9, B12, and Vitamin D – just to name a few

A few more reasons to add fresh coconut or coconut in any form for that matter.

I often get questions regarding the healthiest sugar alternatives. My natural sweetener of preference is: Swerve Sweetener which I often use in baking. Alcohol-free stevia, maple syrup, and raw honey. However, the reason I love swerve is that, it tastes delicious, measures just like sugar, and has zero calories. Therefore, making it Diabetic friendly and low glycemic.

Now here is the end result. decadent gluten-free, low carb, low sugar-healthy, and best gluten free coconut chocolate chip cookies I ever made! Yum! Make these for any occasion with confidence because your family or guests will absolutely devour them.

The Best Gluten Free Coconut-Chocolate Chip Cookies I Ever Made

Ingredients

Dry Ingredients
1 cups almond flour
¾ cup Natural Swerve Sweetener
2 tablespoons ground golden flax seed
½ tsp baking powder (remember is almond flour)
½ tsp baking soda
½ tsp Himalayan or Sea Salt
1/2 cup sliced walnuts or the nut of your choice
1 cup raw cacao chips or 85% raw cacao bar (I crumbled my own chips 🙂
1/2 tbsp Superfood Chocolate powder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Wet Ingredients
2 Large eggs (preferably pastured for those Omega 3's)
1/3 Cup Coconut Oil or Grass-fed butter
1/4 cup almond milk
1 tsp raw organic honey (optional)
1 tsp almond extract
1/2 cup shredded fresh coconut
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F.
Mix dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl.
In a separate bowl mix wet ingredients. Mix together until combined. Then add the shredded coconut, crushed walnuts and the chocolate chips. Mix well until all ingredients are well incorporated.
Line a cookie sheet with unbleached parchment paper and use a spoon to scoop the dough. If you want to get fancy use an ice cream scoop.
It's important that you use parchment paper for this recipe! If you don't, the cookies will stick to the sheet-no fun!.
Bake on center rack for about 10-12 minutes.
Cool cookies on the sheet for about 10 minutes then on a wire cooling rack.
Enjoy!

https://www.healyounaturally.com/the-best-gluten-free-coconut-chocolate-chip-cookies-i-ever-made/

If you are going to use this recipe on your blog or website, kindly put a link back to this page. Thanks!

Now is your turn– Do you have a favorite ingredient to bake with? Let me know in the comments!

How I Save Hundreds Making My Own Natural Probiotics. You can too!

Last updated on April 29, 2017 By Astrid Leave a Comment

Fermented and Natural Probiotic foods can be made at home. If you are looking to save money in probiotics such as Kefir, Kombucha, and plain yogurt this is the way to do it.

This time I made homemade yogurt in a crock pot which serves as the incubator if you don’t own a yogurt maker . Again, a crock pot will do the job just as you’ll soon learn.

Making your own natural probiotics at home is easy, fast and best of all– you’ll save hundreds if not thousands of dollars every year!

See, busy people like you and I hear Kefir grains (to make milk kefir) or the word SCOBY –to make kombucha and the process that comes with it, and we automatically think:

Oh no, another chore on my long list of things to do…
It is too difficult, I don’t know where to start, what if I mess up? That is what I used to think but believe me, fermented foods literally make themselves.
You feel intimidated and think, forget it too much work. Off to the store you go.

I know exactly how you feel and that is why I’m going to show you, the quickest and easiest way to make your own probiotics at home– specifically Yogurt and Kefir.

The time that is spent in preparation, is about 15 minutes while I gathered my ingredients and tools.

Homemade Yogurt in a Crockpot

What You’ll Need

1/2 gallon of organic milk (unpasteurized or raw works best) 2 hours and 45 minutes.
Small crock pot closer to the 2-quart size
Plain organic yogurt
mixing bowls
plastic spatulas
glass jars (for storage)

Instructions

The instructions below are from Thankfully Thrifty, they are easy to follow and will yield amazing creamy yogurt. Check out her website which has amazing recipes as well.

Pour 1/2 gallon of whole milk into your crock pot and turn it on low. Let it sit for 2 hours and 45 minutes. (If you have a small crock pot, closer to the 2-quart size, you should do 2-1/2 hours from what I have read. Mine is the normal large size.)
Then turn the crock pot off, and unplug it. Let it sit for 3 hours.
Then spoon 1-2 cups into a small mixing bowl, and add your starter. Whisk them together well.
Add this mixture back into the crockpot. And just to be safe, whisk it all together. — This is not a big to-do. You just want to make sure the yogurt is mixed with the milk. The idea is just to make sure that the live cultures are mixed into the milk, allowing them to grow and form yogurt.
Put the lid back on the crockpot. And wrap the crock pot in a towel. I kid you not. If you have guests come over, they’ll think you’re nuts until you make them a homemade parfait. Go with it.
Allow the crock pot to sit 8-12 hours while the yogurt cultures.
Then let it cool off and put in the fridge. You’ve made organic homemade yogurt… Woo hoo!!!
Spoon it into jars or storage containers and refrigerate it before serving.

Here is the end result.

Kefir

Kefir is essentially fermented liquid yogurt which you can flavor or enjoy plain. Learn about Kefir here.

What You’ll Need

Organic Kefir Grains
Organic Milk (raw even better)
Plastic strainer
breathable cloth, or coffee filters (unbleached)
1 Quart glass jar

Instructions:

Pour 1 quart of whole milk into your glass jar.
Then add 1 spoon of kefir grains.
Cover with a coffee filter, or any thin cloth where the culture will be able to breathe but will be protected from fruit flies and other intruders.
Allow the culture to ferment for 8-12 hours while the kefir grains culture the milk.
When the consistency of kefir is thick like custard your Kefir is ready.
Get a glass bowl, put your strainer over it and drain your kefir carefully saving your grains for the next batch.
Store your kefir in any glass jar with the lid in the fridge else it’ll continue to ferment.
Either start a new batch following the same procedure or store your kefir grains covered in the fridge.

That is pretty much it. You now know how to make your own yogurt or kefir at home.

Question: Have you ever made yogurt or Kefir at home? Have you tried store bought and if so which one do you prefer? Leave a comment below.

Refreshing, Low Carb, Healthy Chia Seeds Pudding + Fresh Berries & Honey

Last updated on April 17, 2018 By healYOUnaturally Leave a Comment

I am sure that as this point you’ve heard Chia Seeds and have asked yourself: What is all the fuzz about these seeds besides growing a figure with grass on top?

I am glad you asked. Chia seeds go way beyond a pretty decorative plant- Here is why:

Chia seeds are an amazing source of protein, Omega -3, are loaded with fiber and work pretty much like a “colon cleanser” only without the side effects of Psyllium husk because when Chia seeds are soaked with any liquid, they absorb that liquid to become gelatinous.Once this gelatinous substance is in your intestines toxins, and extra waste will adhere to this mix and will be removed. This will of course be excreted in your next bowl movement.

One of my favorite ways of enjoy Chia seeds is in smoothies, yogurt, salad dressings and of course in this super healthy dessert: Chia seeds pudding, I decided to make my own and it was satisfying, filling, delicate and delicious. Plus the combination of fruits and chia seeds in this recipe make it high in protein, minerals and anti oxidants from both the chia seeds and the berries.

Here are some of the top benefits of the ingredients in this amazing pudding.

Benefits of Chia Seeds

Chia seeds are a great source of Omega 3 fatty acids. For ei: 4 tbs of Chia seeds contain a generous 10 grams of Omega -3 ideal for those of you following the Vegan lifestyle or Salmon isn’t readily available. They also contain 14 grams of Fiber and 8 grams of protein. You can add them to your smoothies, Yogurt, Kefir, oatmeal, meals or like I do to your salads (or salad dressing). You can buy organic chia seeds in bulk at you local Whole Foods, but if you can’t make it to the store, you can buy Chia Seeds here.

Benefits of Berries

Scientists have found berries have some of the highest antioxidant levels of any fresh fruits (measured as ORAC), and kale and spinach are the only vegetables with ORAC values as high as fresh, delicious berries.

Fresh berries are some of the most powerful (and delicious) disease-fighting foods available.

Anthocyanins Color pigments in berries that are powerful antioxidants. Blue, purple, and red color has been associated with a lower risk of certain cancers, urinary tract health, memory function, and healthy aging.
Antioxidants Substances that protect the body by neutralizing free radicals or unstable oxygen molecules, which can damage the cells and are a major source of disease and aging.
Catechins Catechins are flavonols that support the antioxidant defense system.Catechins found in caneberries are very similar to those found in green tea which studies show may contribute to cancer prevention. The catechins content found in 100 grams (about 3 /4 cup) is as follows: red raspberries, .83 milligrams and Evergreen blackberries, 1.4 milligrams.
Dietary Fiber Found only in plant foods, fiber helps maintain a healthy GI tract, lowers blood cholesterol, reduces heart disease and may prevent certain types of cancers.
Ellagic Acid A phenolic compound known as a potent anti-carcinogen which has anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties. Scientists feel ellagic acid plays a major roll in cancer prevention and tumor reversal.
Fiber A carbohydrate-like substance found only in plants. Dietary fiber helps maintain a healthy gastrointestinal tract and may help prevent certain types of cancers. It can also help to reduce blood cholesterol levels and lower the risk of heart disease.
Gallic Acid A potent antioxidant also found in black tea and red wine, shown in tests to inhibit cell proliferation and cell death in prostrate cancer cells.

Benefits of raw honey

Raw Honey isn’t subjected to the heat of processing, only warmed enough to flow (same temperatures the honey would see inside the hive). We select only premium honey that is pure, smooth and creamy, with the consistency of soft margarine at harvest. It contains live yeast and enzymes, because it has not been processed. It also contains pollen because it has not been filtered—merely screened. Fine textured crystals are characteristic of totally pure, unheated, unprocessed, raw honey.

Properly crystallized honey has a fine, smooth texture. Crystallized honey preserves natural goodness and doesn’t drip. The more rapidly honey crystallizes the finer the texture will be. It will also turn harder over time as it crystallizes. Truly raw honeys do not deteriorate with age, but like fine wines, continue to age and develop into more complex tastes. Raw Organic Honey is hard to find locally. We buy the best tasting Raw Organic Honey here.