Healthy lemon loaf cake recipe – perfect for Mothering Sunday

My mum is such a fanatic about afternoon tea so this year I’ve decided to have a go at making my very own selection of homemade treats for her to try.

This is just one of the tasters I’ve made that will be a sliced up on the cake stand. This recipe is actually a little bit of experimentation I have done myself to turn a lemon drizzle cake into a guilt-free dessert!

This lighter alternative is sugar-free, dairy free and can be made gluten-free. Oh and it’s totally delicious!!

Healthy Lemon Cake recipe

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups of self-raising flour (oat flour or other gluten-free flour)
• 1 1/2 tsp of baking powder (2 tsp for gluten-free)
• 1 cup of alpro plant-based yogurt/ low-fat greek yogurt
• 1/2 cup of agave nectar
• 1/2 tsp of vanilla extract
• 3 eggs
• Zest from 2 lemons
• 1/2 cup of lemon juice
• 1/2 cup of melted coconut oil

Simple steps

1. Mix wet ingredients together (yogurt, eggs, agave nectar, vanilla extract, lemon juic and zest). Leave out the coconut oil for now.

2. In a large mixing bowl combine the dry ingredients together.

3. Slowly add the two mixtures together, gradually folding in the coconut oil.

4. Pour into greased loaf cake dish and bake in pre-heated oven for 40 minutes.

5. With a skewer check if it comes out clean then leave to cool before eating.

It will last in an airtight container for a week. Delicious as an afternoon sweet treat with a cuppa or a fab dessert for you and your friends with custard or ice cream.

So you can have your cake and eat it! I hope you try this recipe at home and enjoy it as I hope my mum does this Sunday.

Love Leeanna xo

Guilt-free Raw Snickers Cheesecake

Who doesn’t love a chunky snickers bar or a naughty slice of cheesecake?! Well there is a lot to love about this tasty combo of the two with it being gluten-free and refined sugar-free. It’s all-natural wholesome ingredients with no added sugar will help satisfy those sweet-tooth cravings and keep you satisfied for longer.

To replace the processed sugars of a normal snickers bar, I made this dessert a healthier alternative by using a raw and sugar-free recipe which is just as indulgent and fulfilling as the original. I was so shocked this actually turned out tasty and my whole family enjoyed it too. You can’t go wrong with a dessert of chocolaty healthy goodness- the perfect pud if you’re having friends over!

Raw Snickers Cheesecake

Ingredients

Base:

• 1 1/2 cups of cashew nuts
• 1 cup of desiccated coconut
• 8 pitted Medjool dates
• 2 tbsp of Agave Nectar

Peanut Butter Caramel layer:

• 8 pitted Medjool dates
• 1/4 cup of peanut butter (you can use a reduced fat one too)
• 2 tbsp unsweetened almond milk
• 1 tbsp Agave Nectar

To decorate:

• 1/4 bar of melted dark chocolate

Instructions

For the base:

1. In a food processor, crush up the cashews into small pieces.
2. Add in coconut dates and agave until a sticky dough forms.
3. Press the mixture into a round dish lined with clingfilm and put in the freezer for a good hour.

For the caramel:

1. Blend all ingredients, adding the almond milk a little bit at a time.
2. Once a smooth caramel consistency has formed spread over the base.
3. Drizzle with melted chocolate in any pattern you desire.
4. Pop it back into the freezer until it has hardened and viola a deliciously healthy dessert for everyone to have a slice of.

After trying my first ‘raw’ creation I will definitely give some other treats a go. I hope you enjoy this easy-to-make recipe and test it on your friends at home.

Love Leeanna xo

#MotivationalMonday: Healthy snacking

Sometimes I just get those days where I feel really hungry all day- often it can be because of a sheer lack of boredom or because I’ve done lots of exercise and not re-fueled. But trying to snack on something that isn’t really unhealthy like biscuits and crisps or foods that aren’t so boring like an apple or grapes can be very difficult!

So I’ve been experimenting with some recipes and found a couple of snack ideas to satisfy your cravings and give an energy re-boost whether it’s for your elevenses, a post-work out treat or an afternoon pick me up.

These healthy snacks are completely guilt-free and SO easy to make!

Coconut Macaroon Balls

These tasty treats are free of gluten, dairy and refined sugar, making them a perfect mid-morning or afternoon snack! Me and my housemates loved enjoying these with a cup of tea and snuggling up on the sofa on Sunday evening.

INGREDIENTS

• 150g of desiccated coconut
• 2 tbsp of Agave Nectar
• 1 tbsp of Honey
• 3 tbsp of almond milk (or other plant milk)
• 1 tsp of vanilla extract
• 2 tbsp of coocnut flour
• 1 pinch of salt
• 1 tsp of cinnamon
• 1 tbsp of chia seeds

DIRECTIONS

1. Pre-heat the oven to 180c. Heat up the the almond milk in a saucepan and then mix the agave, honey, vanilla, salt, chia seeds and cinnamon together on a low heat.
2. Take it off the heat and fold in the desiccated coconut and coconut flour until fully combined.
3. Roll them into balls and place them onto a greased baking tray or dish lined with baking paper.
4. Bake in the oven for 10 minutes then let cool. DELISH!

This recipe makes 12 macaroons which can be kept in an air-tight container. My mum and sister are coming down to stay with me tomorrow so i’m very excited to show off my new-found culinary skills and give them these healthy treats to taste!

Raspberry Cocoa Energy Bites

These are super quick and easy to make and are yummy yummy yummy if you are a bit of a sweet tooth like me and can’t get enough of chocolate.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 tbsp of coconut oil
• 1 tbsp of almond butter (or any other nut butter you’rd prefer)
• 1 tbsp of cacao
• Frozen raspberries

DIRECTIONS

1. Melt the coconut oil
2. Then just mix all the ingredients together and shape them into balls

It’s that simple! I topped mine with some desiccated coconut just to make it extra sweeeeet.

I hope you enjoy these guilt-free recipes. Happy snacking!

Love Leeanna xo