Healthy sweets to sate those cravings

2nd December 2021 | Eativity editors

Dessert for breakfast? Hey, why not? It’s basically Christmas already, so go ahead and treat yourself. But since there are still a few weeks to go before the pants-stretching festive season of feasting begins, our mates at McKenzie’s have brought you these toothsome tantalisers that are also a little bit good for you. These healthy sweets feature alternative flours like oat and quinoa, which offer more nutrients than your average wheat flour.

McKenzie’s makes a whole range of alternative flours, from coconut and buckwheat to brown rice and chick pea. You can use them to add some extra nutritional oomph to your everyday meals. They also bring more interesting flavours and textures to your cooking.

But back to today’s goodies and that delicious breakfast you’re planning. The first two recipes also feature coconut sugar. While not exactly great for you, coconut sugar does contain more trace elements. such as potassium, than regular sugar. Plus, it’s lower on the glycaemic index. Coconut sugar also contains small amounts of a type of fibre known as inulin. This can boost gut health and slow down the absorption of sugar into the bloodstream. While it’s true you’re better off getting your fibre from something slightly more wholesome, using a more natural form of sugar such as coconut sugar in your baking can go some way towards assuaging any impending food guilt. And who needs that?

Healthy sweets: cocoa pancakes

Healthy cocoa pancakes

You’ll need:

⅔ cup McKenzie’s Quinoa Flour
⅓ cup coconut sugar
2 tbsp cocoa powder
½ tsp baking powder
¼ tsp salt
⅓ cup milk
2 large eggs

Method:

1. Mix together all dry ingredients. Add the eggs and milk.

2. Whisk well together until all ingredients are blended and no lumps are visible.

3. Spray a non-stick pan with cooking spray and heat over low-medium heat.

4. Drop a quarter cup of batter into the pan and cook until bubbles form on top (about 2-3 minutes). Carefully flip. Continue to cook on the other side until done (about 1 minute).

5. Top with your favourite sauce and toppings.

Healthy sweets: date, apple and quinoa muffins

Date, apple and quinoa muffins

You’ll need:

¾ cup pitted dried dates
1 cup water
1 tsp bi-carb soda
¼ cup solid coconut oil
3 tbsp coconut sugar
1½ cups McKenzie’s Quinoa Flour
2 eggs, at room temperature
1 Granny Smith apple, grated
1½ tsp baking powder
1 tsp ground cinnamon

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 180 °C/160 °C fan forced. Grease 10 muffin pans.

2. Put dates and water in a saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat. Simmer, stirring, for 2 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in bi-carb. Set aside for 10 minutes to cool.

3. Meanwhile, use electric beaters to beat coconut oil and sugar until pale and creamy. Add 1 tbsp of flour and 1 egg. Beat to combine. Repeat with 1 tbsp flour and 1 egg. Stir in apple and half the remaining flour. Add baking powder, cinnamon, date mixture and remaining flour. Stir until just combined.

4. Divide among pans. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Cool in pan for 5 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool for 5 minutes.

5. Serve with caramel sauce and/or ice cream.

Healthy sweets: gluten-free banana bread

Gluten-free banana bread

You’ll need:

1 cup McKenzie’s Brown Rice Flour
¾ cup McKenzie’s Almond Flour
¼ cup McKenzie’s Tapioca Flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp mixed spice
½ cup sunflower oil
⅓ cup raw sugar
2 extra-large eggs
2 tbsp almond or soy milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 small ripe bananas, mashed

Method:

1. Pre-heat oven to 180°C/160°C fan forced. Grease and line a 10 x 20cm loaf pan.

2. Combine the flours, baking powder and mixed spice in a large mixing bowl.

3. In a separate bowl whisk together the oil, sugar, eggs, milk and vanilla. Mix in the banana. Add to the bowl of dry ingredients and mix until just combined. Pour into the prepared pan and bake for 40 minutes until golden and an inserted skewer comes out clean.

Want more healthy sweets? Try these superfood treats and these recipes for vegan doughnuts and brownies that use matcha as a star ingredient. For a vegan recipe with a twist, you might also want to try these vegan Vegemite brownies. And you also simply have to check out this recipe for the world’s healthiest chocolate cake. It’s the bomb.