​Those who have been following me a while know that I love to bake healthier desserts, and almond flour is one of my go-tos. Full of nutrients, low-glycemic and grain-free, I find it the perfect substitute for traditional sweets without any of the belly bloat. The consistency however, makes it a little tricky to find the right balance of moisture and fluffiness. Well look no further. This is the fluffiest almond flour cake I have ever made!

I have two daughters; one who consistently loves my baking (even the fails) and another who wants nothing to do with any sweets that are healthy. This one had her coming back for seconds (and thirds!)

I made this version in a loaf pan, but feel free to experiment with a cake pan or even a muffin tin.  Just be sure to adjust the cooking time appropriately.

You'll know your cake is ready when the consistency is spongy, bouncy, and the color is a nice golden brown.

I added wild blueberries from a bush in our backyard, but regular sized blueberries also work, fresh or frozen.

Give this one a go! Perfect for a breakfast, brunch, or light afternoon dessert. 

Golden Maple Lemon Cake (with Blueberries)

​​INGREDIENTS:
- 2 cups almond flour plus more for dusting
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
- 4 eggs
- 2/3 cup 100% real pure maple syrup
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- Zest of two lemons
- 1 cup blueberries (I prefer wild for this recipe)

DIRECTIONS:
- Preheat over to 325 F. Grease a loaf pan and lightly dust with almond flour.
- In a large bowl, combine the 2 cups almond flour, the baking powder, baking soda and salt. Whisk to thoroughly incorporate.
- In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs. Slowly add in the maple syrup, olive oil and lemon zest. Add the wet to the dry ingredients and thoroughly combine. Fold in the blueberries very gently. Add to loaf pan.
- Bake for 1 hour and 10 minutes until the cake is golden brown with a spongy texture. Let the cake completely cool prior to removing from pan. 

This has easily become my new go-to. Once you make it, I'm sure it will become yours too! 

​  Tried this recipe? Tag @perfectly_nourished on Insta.

There is nothing more comforting than the smell and taste of home made banana bread. It is the one universal baked good that spans across age groups. Bananas have such a distinct and strong taste that it is quite simple to “health it up” without anyone knowing the wiser!

My banana bread recipe is gluten-free which is important as gluten is a big culprit of creating inflammation throughout the body. I also add in my super secret ingredient flaxseed!

Flaxseeds hold superior superfood status. Flaxseed has been around for ages but like many great medicinal foods, they’ve only recently become mainstream. Here are some wonderful reasons why you should try and add flaxseed wherever you can:
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• Omega-3’s: You don’t have to get all of your omega-3’s from fish. Flaxseed is an excellent vegetarian option.
• Fiber: Fiber is necessary to help remove toxins from your body and maintain a healthy colon. They also help you to feel full longer which helps to stabilize blood sugar.
• Antioxidant-rich: Flaxseeds contain B, C, and E vitamins along with iron, zinc, calcium, magnesium, and some potassium.

Adding them to banana bread, by way of flaxseed flour, is amazing as they possess a nutty, mild flavor which  pairs nicely with banana.

Nourishing Banana Bread (with Flaxseed)

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 cups almond flour
• 1 cup flaxseed flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 3 very ripe bananas, mashed
• 3 organic eggs
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup melted coconut oil
• 1 cup organic, dark chocolate chips (at least 70% cacao)

DIRECTIONS:

• Preheat oven to 350 F.
• In a large bowl add the almond and flaxseed flours. Combine well.
• Add the baking soda and mix.
• In a separate bowl whisk the eggs.
• Whisk in vanilla and melted coconut oil.
• Combine the wet ingredients with the dry and completely incorporate.
• Separately mash the three bananas and fold into your batter.
• Add in dark chocolate chips and fold.
• Grease a bread pan (preferably with coconut oil or a healthy non-stick cooking spray) and pour in batter.
• Bake for 40 minutes.

Let cool prior to serving. I find a serrated knife works best for cutting this bread.

Pressed for time? Create two breads and pop one in the freezer!

​Happy Baking!

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​Perfect for holiday gifts, parties, or even just for yourself this homemade chocolate bark is a crowd-pleaser. On a mission to create nourishing desserts using real-food healthy ingredients, I've created a bark you can share from your heart with friends, family and co-workers alike.

This is so simple to make! 

Using coconut oil as the base, this chocolate is both stable and good for you. Coconut oil, although a saturated fat, contains essential lauric acid which has been proven to speed up weight loss, reduce the risk of heart disease and high blood pressure, and stimulate thyroid function. Raw cacao is considered a superfood!

Chocolate itself is not unhealthy. It is all the processed sugars, oils, artificial colors and flavorings we add to it that are. In just a matter of a few ingredients you can create your own healthy version of an unhealthy favorite.

Holiday (And Any Day) Dark Chocolate Bark
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​INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup unrefined coconut oil
• 1/2 cup raw cacao powder
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1/3 cup raw almonds chopped (or nut of choice)
• 1/4 cup dried unsweetened cranberries
• 1 tablespoon grade B maple syrup (or to taste)

DIRECTIONS

Melt coconut oil over low heat and mix in cacao powder. Add in pure vanilla extract plus maple syrup to taste. Whisk and remove from heat. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Pour the chocolate onto the parchment paper and immediately spread your toppings into the mixture, ensuring the pieces are spread evenly.

Pop in the refrigerator to set for about 1 hour (less time if in freezer). Break into bark-sized pieces.

Optional: can replace the cranberries with two drops of your favorite food grade essential oil or extract. I often make peppermint bark for the holidays.

Do you have a favorite nourishing dessert recipe that is your go-to? Please share in the comments below!

 
Tried this recipe? Tag @perfectly_nourished on Insta.