Oh maple-pecan, you classically scrumptious combo. What’s not so scrumptious is the refined flour and sugar that you’re often paired with. Not today! I have you mixed with some healthy fats, blood sugar balancing spices, and gluten-free flours to yield the most delectable little cookies...
Read moreGrain-Free Gingerbread
In North America, when we think of “gingerbread” we often think of people-shaped cookies with gumdrop buttons and icing sugar smiles. While these are more accurately referred to as “gingerbread men” the only thing they have in common with traditional gingerbread is that telltale spicy flavour profile. Classic gingerbread is just that, bread. Or perhaps more accurately, a loaf. Because of this, it is also known as gingerloaf, pain d'épices ("spice bread") in French, or lebkuchen (“loaf cake”) and pfefferkuchen ("pepper cake") in German. Whatever you call it, it’s damn tasty and wonderfully warming especially during the winter months when most mouths savour the spicy flavours of this delightfully dense folk food...
Read moreSimple Seasonal Dark Chocolate Mousse, Four Ways
Enter the following incredibly simple, and seriously tasty delight that, with an All-Clad immersion blender, takes only a few minutes to make. Plus, it’s free of grains and gluten, dairy, refined sugar, eggs, and is completely paleo and vegan friendly. Best part of all, you can whip it up the day before so that it’s all ready to go when the dessert course arrives and you’re a rummy eggnog or two deep...
Read moreDecadent Dark Chocolate Espresso Cashew “Cheesecake”
This decadent dark chocolate espresso cake is grain/gluten-free, refined-sugar free, dairy-free, egg-free (in fact it’s totally plant-based), and therefore hopefully pleasing to a number of your brunch guests with dietary considerations. And the mocha flavour goes smashingly with a latte, espresso shot, or even Bailey’s and coffee (hey, this is a no-judgement zone), as the feasting comes to a close. Best part of all, you can make it the day before and let it set in the fridge overnight so it’s ready to go without a fuss as the stunning centrepiece of your sweet-treat side table...
Read moreSpiced Sweet Potato Loaf
The fall baking frenzy has officially begun in the Whole Happy kitchen! To be quite honest, I bake a tonne all year round (if you haven’t already noticed, coming up with alternative baked good recipes is one of my favourite things to do), but there’s something special about baking during this season. Perhaps it’s the inherently warming and comforting nature of baked goods that lend so well so that cozy fall vibe. Perhaps spending time indoors when the whether gets colder and wetter doesn’t feel so bad when you have something sweet and aromatic wafting from the oven. Or perhaps it’s because autumnal produce lens so well to sweet treats like pumpkin spice muffins, apple cinnamon pudding, and spiced plum cake, and as I’m sure you can guess…sweet potato loaf...
Read moreChai Spice Coconut Cream Rice Pudding
Another one of my favourite ways to "rice-ycle" is with a creamy rice pudding. Thick coconut cream, and a number of anti-inflammatory and immune boosting spices make it the perfect weeknight dessert, especially when the colder weather moves in. And the best part is it seems to only get better with time, reheating easily, and satisfying many hungry mouths (tip for all you family folks out there).
Read moreLeftover Coffee Loaf
I’ve made chocolate cake with leftover coffee before, but wanted to make something a bit denser and loaf-like that would pair well with some melty butter and a warm beverage of sorts. Plus, I was missing the baking soda and a portion of the almond flour from my Chocolate Espresso Cake recipe and had some leftover coconut cream on hand that I was itching to use up...
Read moreManuka Honey Turmeric Lemon Tarts
Now, as you can probably imagine, the course was rather heavy in the dairy, gluten, and refined sugar department – all things that as you can see I often avoid with my Whole Happy recipes – so many of my old cooking school recipes have been recently adapted to suite my GF and DF amis, including this delightful tarte au citron creation below...
Read moreDark Cocoa Cupcakes with Chocolate Fudge Icing and a Praline Topping
Incredibly simple, and seriously decadent chocolate cupcakes. Perfect for birthday parties, baby and wedding showers, job promotions, or “just cuz” (I mean do we really need an excuse to eat cupcakes?), this recipe is gluten-free, dairy-free, grain-free, refined-sugar-free, and dead easy! Super moist, yet still perfectly buoyant...
Read moreLemon Blueberry Muffins
There’s just something so fresh and summery about blueberry and lemon. And this classic combo goes so beautifully in a big old fluffy muffin! But if that muffin makes you feel sick, tired, grumpy, and bloated, well all of a sudden blueberry and lemon doesn’t seem so “fresh," does it? Well, like all my recipes, I aim to find alternatives that satisfy various wellness considerations and dietary restrictions. This particular recipe is gluten-free, dairy-free, and nut-free for anyone avoiding those common allergens and irritators. And of course, like ALL the recipes on the Whole Happy blog, it’s 100% refined-sugar free. Best of all, it’s foolproof!..
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