Healthy Magic Bars

Crust
1 1/4 c almond flour
1/4 c butter, softened
2 T honey

Preheat oven to 350. Combine all ingredients and press into 8x8 pan. Bake 10 minutes. While crust is baking, prepare filling.

Filling
3 T butter, melted and cooled
1/4 c honey
2 egg yolks
1/2 c dark chocolate coarsly chopped, recommended: Ghiradelli 86%
1/2 c walnuts coarsley chopped
1/2 c unsweetened flake coconut

Combine butter and honey. Add egg yolks and mix well. Add remaining ingredients and stir until fully incorporated. Pour evenly over crust, return to oven and continue baking for 20 minutes. Cool completely before slicing. Yield 16 bars.

Kentucky Derby Pie Bars ~ adapted from 'all day I dream about food'

crust
1 1/4 c almond flour
1/4 c butter, softened
2 T honey

Preheat oven to 325. Mix all ingredients well, press into a 9x9 pan. Bake 12 minutes or until edges are just beginning to turn golden. While crust is baking, prepare filling.

filling
1 c pecans
1/4 c coarsely chopped good quality dark chocolate, recommended Ghiradelli 86%
1/2 c butter
1/4 c honey
2 t vanilla
1/2 c heavy cream
2 large eggs

Place pecans in cast iron skillet and roast over medium-high heat until well browned and fragrant. Stir often taking care not to burn.

While pecans toast, melt butter over medium heat. Remove from heat and add honey and vanilla. Whisk until completely incorporated. Add cream and eggs.

Sprinkle pecans and chocolate over hot crust. Pour over cream and butter mixture, return to oven. Bake an additional 20 minutes or until center is just set. Cool 30 minutes minimum before slicing.

Best served completely chilled from the refrigerator, topped with unsweetened whipped cream and chopped pecans.

Low Carb Lemon Squares ~ adapted from mygutsy.com

For the crust:
1 1/2 c almond flour
2 T honey
2 T butter
1 T vanilla

Preheat oven to 350.
Mix all crust ingredients well until it forms a ball. Press into a greased 9x9 pan and bake 15 minutes.

For the filling:
1/2 c lemon juice, recommended: Italian Volcano organic lemon juice
3 eggs at room temperature
scant 1/4 c honey
1/4 c melted butter

Whisk filling ingredients until well mixed. Pour filling over hot crust, return to oven and bake an additional 15 minutes. Take care not to over bake, crust will burn easily. Wait 30 minutes minimum to slice. Store leftovers covered in refrigerator.

Yield 16 lemon squares.

Enjoy for breakfast topped with berries and honey for a decadent treat!

Single Serving Chocolate Cake, Gluten & Refined Sugar Free ~ adapted from leelalicious

2 T coconut oil
2 T coconut flour
2 T cocoa powder
1 t honey
1/2 t baking powder
1/2 t vanilla
1 egg
Splash of milk

Place all ingredients in a ramekin and stir with a fork until completely smoothe and looks like cake batter. Microwave on high power 2 minutes. Remove from microwave and let stand 2 minutes prior to serving. Top with unsweetened whipped cream and chocolate shavings, if desired.

Total carbs: 9g

Low Carb Snickerdoodles ~ adapted from Ancestral Nutrition

2 c almond flour

1/4 rounded teaspoon baking soda

1 t cinnamon, plus extra for topping
Pinch of kosher salt, optional

2 T butter, melted

1 egg

3 T honey, more or less to taste

1 T vanilla

Preheat oven to 350. Line a baking sheet with parchment or silpat.

Combine dry ingredients in medium bowl. Add wet ingredients and mix well. Using cookie scoop, place batter on baking sheet. Wet hands slightly and press cookies down to flatten (cookies will not spread while baking). Sprinkle extra cinnamon on top.

Bake 13-15 minutes or until beginning to brown. Allow to cool 5 minutes minimum before moving to a wire rack to cool completely. Store loosely covered at room temperature. Depending on the size of your cookie scoop, yield is approximately 15 cookies with 3.2 carbs each.

Low Carb Chocolate Cream Cheese Brownies ~ adapted from Yummy Inspiriations

3.5 oz high quality dark chocolate, 90% cacao minimum
3.5 oz butter
2 eggs
2 T honey
1 t vanilla
1/4 c coconut flour
1/4 c cream cheese

Preheat oven to 350. Grease 8x8 pan, set aside.

Melt butter and chocolate over low heat until completely smooth. Take care not to scorch chocolate, remove from heat as soon as completely melted and allow to cool slightly.

In medium bowl, beat eggs, honey, and vanilla until honey is fully incorporated into eggs. Slowly add cooled chocolate mixture, whisking constantly. Gradually add coconut flour, one tablespoon at a time,  until thoroughly incorporated.

Pour half batter into prepared pan. Dot with small pieces of cream cheese and top with remaining batter, covering cream cheese completely. Bake 15-18 minutes. Do not over bake or brownies will be dry. Cool a minimum of 15 minutes prior to cutting. Store loosely covered at room temperature up to 3 days.

Grain Free Granola

1 c pecans
1 c walnuts
1 c cashews
1/2 c slivered almonds
1 c unsweetened flake coconut
3 T coconut oil, melted
3 T maple syrup, more to taste
1 t vanilla
1 t sea salt

Preheat oven to 350. Line baking sheet with silicone baking mat or parchment paper. Set aside.

Coarsely chop pecans, walnuts, and cashews. In large bowl, toss all ingredients until well combined and coated with oil and syrup. Spread evenly on baking sheet and bake 20 minutes, stirring halfway through. Cool completely, store in an airtight container at room temperature up to 2 weeks. Yield 4 cups granola.

Low Carb Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting ~ adapted from Cut the Carbs

Carrot Cake
3 eggs
1 1/2 stick butter,  melted
2 T honey
2 t vanilla
3 c carrots, grated
1/2 c walnuts, chopped
1/2 c unsweetened flake coconut
1 1/2 c blanched almond flour
2 t baking powder
1 t allspice
1/2 t cinnamon, more to taste
1/2 t ginger powder

Cream Cheese Frosting
8 oz cream cheese, softened
4 T butter, softened
1 T honey, more to taste

Preheat oven to 350. Grease heavily one 8 inch cake pan, line bottom with wax paper and grease with butter. Set aside.

In large bowl, beat eggs, melted butter, honey, and vanilla with a wooden spoon until combined. Add carrots, walnuts, and coconut. Mix thoroughly. Add almond flour, spices, and baking powder and fold until combined.

Pour into prepared cake pan and bake 45 to 50 minutes or unitl a toothpick comes out clean. Cool in pan 15 minutes then transfer to rack to cool completely before adding cream cheese frosting.

In medium bowl, beat softened cream cheese, butter, and honey until very smooth. Frost top of cake generously with cream cheese frosting. Store cake tightly covered in refrigerator up to 5 days.

Approximate nutrition facts:
Serving size: 1/10
Calories: 320
Carbohydrates: 5.5g
Protein: 5.4g

Flourless Peanut Butter Mini Muffins ~ adapted from Avery Cooks

1 over ripe banana

1/2 c natural peanut butter, no added sugar

1 egg

2 T honey (optional)

1 t vanilla

1/4 t baking soda

pinch salt (optional)

chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Lightly spray mini muffin pan with cooking spray, set aside. 

Place all ingredients except chocolate chips in a blender and puree until very smooth, approximately 1 minute. Using a small cookie scoop, fill each muffin cup 3/4 with peanut butter mixture. Top each with 4 or 5 chocolate chips.

Bake 8-9 minutes until tops are puffed and set and a toothpick comes out clean. Cool in pan 10 minutes then remove to wire rack to cool completely. Yield 18-20 mini muffins.

Note: If omitting honey, also omit salt. 

Healthy Cheesecake Bites ~ adapted from heathersdish

Crust
1 c raw almonds
1 egg white
1 T honey
Pinch of salt

Filling
4 oz cream cheese, softened
1 egg yolk
2 T honey
1/2 t vanilla
1 T milk

Preheat oven to 325.

Place almonds in food processor and grind until very fine, but not into a paste. Add remaining crust ingredients and pulse to combine.

Spray 8 to 10 cups of a mini muffin tin with nonstick cooking spray. Place approximately one tablespoon almond mixture in each cup. With wet fingers, press mixture into bottom and up sides of cups. Bake 7 minutes.

While crust is baking, cream filling ingredients in a small bowl. Divide filling into crusts and return to oven to bake 20 minutes or until tops are set and begin to crack.

Cool cheesecakes completely before removing from tin. Refrigerate for best taste. Yield 8 to 10 mini cheesecakes.



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Pumpkin Pie Cupcakes

1 ~ 15 oz can pumpkin purée, not pie filling
2 eggs
1/2 c half and half
1/3 c honey
1 t vanilla extract
2/3 c flour
1/4 t baking soda
1/4 t baking powder
1/4 t salt
Dash of each; cinnamon, ground ginger, nutmeg, and cloves

Preheat oven to 350. Line 12 cup muffin tin with foil liners or use silicone liners. Set aside.

In medium bowl, mix pumpkin, eggs, half and half, honey, and vanilla until well mixed. Sift flour, soda, baking powder, spices, and salt into bowl with pumpkin and mix well. Divide evenly into muffin tin and bake 20 to 25 minutes, or until tops are not tacky.

Remove from oven to wire rack to cool 20 minutes. Place in freezer 20 minutes. Remove from liners and enjoy with light whipped cream, if desired. Yield 12 cupcakes, 99 calories each (without whipped cream).


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Oatmeal Carrot Cookies ~ adapted from Amy's Healthy Baking

1 c quick cook oatmeal
3/4 c unbleached all purpose flour
1 t baking powder
1/2 t cinnamon
1/4 t salt
1 egg
2 T coconut oil, melted and cooled slightly
1/4 c honey
1 t vanilla
1 c grated carrot
1 c chopped walnuts
1 c golden raisins

In medium bowl, whisk together oats, flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt until well blended. Set aside. In separate large bowl, mix egg and oil together. Add honey and vanilla and beat until smooth. Add dry ingredients to egg mixture and stir just until dry ingredients are combined. Fold in carrot, walnuts, and raisins. Place dough in refrigerator for 30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 350. Drop cookie dough onto parchment lined baking sheet, making 15 cookies. Place baking sheet in center of oven, immediately reduce heat to 325 and bake cookies 15 minutes. Cool slightly on baking sheet, approximately 3 minutes, transfer to wire rack to cool completely. Store in an airtight container at room temperature 5 days. Yield 15 cookies, 135 calories each.

Low Sugar Peanut Butter and Honey Cookies ~ adapted from Gluten Free Girlfriend

1 c natural peanut butter, recommended Laura Scudders
1/4 c honey
1 egg
2 T flour*

Preheat oven to 300.

Mix all ingredients together, stirring until smooth and creamy. Using small cookie scoop, divide batter into 18 balls. Place on ungreased cookie sheet 2" apart. Flatten with fork making cross-hatch marks. Bake 12-15 minutes. Cool on cookie sheet 5 minutes, transfer to wire rack and cool completely. Store tightly covered in refrigerator. Yield 18 cookies, 84 calories each.

These cookies come out very soft due to the use of honey in place of table sugar, but are cooked at 15 minutes.

*Substitute rice or almond flour for gluten free cookie.


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Chewy Chocolate Truffles

5 oz dried plums
1 c water
2 oz unsweetened baking chocolate
2 oz semisweet baking chocolate
Unsweetened cocoa powder

Place dried plums in medium bowl. Heat water to boiling and pour over plums. Let set 20 minutes minimum. Drain off water and finely mash plums using a pastry cutter or fork. Set aside.

Chop chocolate and place in microwave safe dish. Heat in microwave 20 seconds, stir. Add chocolate to plums and mix until well incorporated. Divide into 12 balls using mellon baller or small cookie scoop. Roll in unsweetened cocoa powder and place on wax paper lined plate. Place in freezer 2 hours minimum. Transfer to sealed container when frozen, store tightly covered in freezer.

80 calories per truffle. Yum!

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No Bake Cheesecake ~ adapted from Martha Stewart

2 packages (20 sheets) graham crackers
11 T (1 3/8 sticks) butter, melted
1 T sugar
2~8 oz packages cream cheese, softened
1~14 oz can sweetened condensed milk
1/4 c lemon juice
1 t vanilla extract

Place graham crackers in food processor and pulse until finely ground. Add sugar, pulse to combine. Drizzle butter into food processor slowly, pulse until well combined. Press crumb mixture into a 9-inch springform pan, spreading 1 1/2 to 2 inches up side; press flat. Chill crust in freezer at least 10 minutes.

In bowl of stand mixer set at medium-high speed, beat cream cheese until fluffy. Add condensed milk a little at a time, scraping sides of bowl as necessary. Beat in lemon juice and vanilla.

Pour filling into crust, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm, 2 1/2 to 3 hours. Unclasp sides of pan, and remove cheesecake. Serves 12.

Maple Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting and Bacon Crumbles

Maple Cupcakes

2 1/2 c flour
2 t baking powder
1 t baking soda
1/2 t salt
1/2 c (1 stick) butter, softened
1/2 c brown sugar
2 eggs
1 1/4 c maple syrup
2 t vanilla
1/2 c buttermilk

Preheat oven to 350. Line muffin tins with 20 cupcake liners.

Sift flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together. Set aside. Beat butter and sugar on medium speed in a large bowl until fluffy. Add in eggs, syrup and vanilla and mix until well blended. Add flour mixture, alternating with buttermilk, in one-third additions. Fill lined muffin tins two-thirds full, and bake in center of oven 20 minutes, rotating pans halfway through cooking time.

Cool completely before frosting.

Cream Cheese Frosting

1/2 one stick butter, softened
2 oz. cream cheese
3 c powdered sugar, sifted
2 T milk

Beat all ingredients in a medium-sized bowl on low speed to incorporate. Increase mixer speed to high and beat until fluffy, approximately 3 minutes.

Bacon Crumbles

Preheat oven to 400. Line rimmed baking sheet with foil, place baking rack inside baking sheet. Lay bacon strips on baking rack, making sure pieces do not overlap. Bake until crisp, 15 to 18 minutes. Drain bacon on paper towel until cool. Chop into bits when cooled.

Assemble Cupcakes

After cupcakes are cooled, top each with a generous spoonful of frosting. Sprinkle with bacon crumbles and enjoy!

Store leftovers tightly covered for up to 4 days.

Chocolate Sauce

2 1/4 c sugar
3/4 c unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted
1 T plus 1 1/2 t flour
1/4 t salt
1/2 c heavy cream
1 c milk
1 T vanilla

Place sugar, coca, flour, salt and cream in a medium saucepan and whisk to combine into a thick paste. Add milk and bring mixture to a boil over medium high heat, whisking often. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 5 minutes, whisking frequently. Remove from heat, add vanilla. Allow sauce to cool, or serve warm.

Store in refrigerator for up to 2 weeks, covered. Yield approximately 3 cups chocolate sauce.

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Flourless Chocolate Cake ~ adapted from Epicurious

4 oz fine-quality dark chocolate, recommended Lindt 85% very dark
1 stick (1/2 c) butter
3/4 c sugar
3 eggs
1/2 c unsweetened cocoa powder
Chocolate syrup
Fresh fruit for garnish, optional

Preheat oven to 375°F and butter an 8-inch round baking pan, or spray with nonstick cooking spray. Line bottom of pan with a round of wax paper and butter paper.

Chop chocolate into small pieces. In double boiler set over a saucepan of barely simmering water melt chocolate with butter, stirring until smooth.

Remove top of double boiler from heat and whisk sugar into chocolate mixture. In a small bowl, lightly beat eggs. Temper eggs by adding 1/2 c melted chocolate to eggs, then add mixture to melted chocolate and sugar. Whisk well. Sift cocoa powder over chocolate mixture and whisk until just combined.

Pour batter into pan and bake in middle of oven 25 minutes, or until top has formed a thin crust. Cool cake in pan on a rack 5 minutes and invert onto a serving plate.

May be eaten warm or cooled. Pictured, double recipe made into layer cake to serve 16.


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Cake Mix Cookie Bars

1 box yellow cake mix
2 eggs
5 T butter, melted
2 c chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350. Grease 11 x 7 pan and set aside. In medium bowl, combine all ingredients and mix well to combine.

Press dough into prepared pan and bake 20-25 minutes, until light golden brown. Do not over bake. Serve warm with ice cream. Serves 10.

Adapted from Duncan Hines.


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White Chocolate Tiramisu

2 c Heavy whipping cream
8 oz Cream cheese, softened
4 oz Mascarpone cheese, room temperature
9 oz White baking chocolate, melted and cooled
1/2 c Powdered sugar
1 t vanilla
2 Packages lady fingers
1/2 c Orange juice
4 c Fresh raspberries, for garnish

In large bowl, beat whipped cream until soft peaks form. In separate bowl, beat cheeses on medium high speed until light and fluffy, approximately 3 minutes. Beat in white chocolate and vanilla until well blended. Fold in half of whipped cream, approximately 2 cups.

Place one layer of lady fingers in bottom of trifle bowl, covering to edge. Brush lightly with orange juice. Add one third of cheese filling and spread evenly over lady fingers. Place another layer of lady fingers over cheese filling, brush with orange juice. Add another third of cheese filling and spread over lady fingers. Repeat one more layer of lady fingers, juice, and remaining filling.

Add one final layer of lady fingers and brush with orange juice. Briefly beat remaining whipped cream with 1/2 c powdered sugar. Top final layer of lady fingers with whipped cream.

Cover tightly and refrigerate 4 hours or overnight. Serve with fresh berries. Serves 12-15.