Easy, Nourishing & Delish Recipes

healthy, easy, simple and tasty recipes for busy people

Bethany And Rachel

Paleo Banana Nut Donut Holes

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My favorite muffin flavor is banana nut (igf your’e wondering my motivation behind making these banana nut donut holes).  There is just something about it that makes the world go round! My mom used to by the prepackaged banana nut muffins for my lunch in middle school and they were the highlight of my day (I hated middle school!!).  They were no where near healthy, with artificial banana flavoring and a chock-full of sugar (yuck I do not know why I ate them!)

 I have made a few types of muffins the past few days so it was time to recreate something else.  Banana nut munchkins came into my mind and they are amazing!  They literally taste like a banana nut muffin transformed into a donut!

Homemade Banana Nut Donut Holes

 No artificial flavoring or added sugar in here, just the good stuff!  Wheat and Gluten-free and perfect for all you paleo guys out there in need of a donut!

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Banana Nut Munchkins

Makes 15-20 donuts

  • 1/3 cup coconut flour
  • 2 eggs, beaten
  • 1 1/2 Tbsp. unrefined cane sugar (I used chancaca) or honey
  • 1/4 tsp. baking soda
  • 1/4 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 2 Tbsp. coconut oil
  • 1/2 banana mashed
  • 2 tbsp. crushed walnuts,
  • more walnuts to roll donuts in, optional
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Place all ingredients in a food processor.  Blend for 20 seconds or until dough is form.
  3. Roll dough into 15-20 balls and roll in crushed walnuts.
  4. Bake for 10-15 minutes, or until fully cooked.
  5. Enjoy!

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Health Benefits

Coconut flour

  • Packed with fiber and protein
  • Healthy fats
  • Wheat-free
  • Gluten-free

Bananas

  • Packed with many vitamins and minerals such as potassium, manganese, magnesium, folate, vitamin B6, C and A
  • Plenty of fiber
  • Natural sugar

Like This Recipe? Try This One!

Paleo Maple Banana Donuts

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Recipe Redux: Healthy Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake!

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This month’s Recipe Redux theme was a combo of chocolate and something else. So naturally, I decided to make a chocolate and peanut butter cake! You can never beat that combo!

I always loved making birthday cakes ever since I knew how to turn on an oven.  I’ve made all my friends cakes, my uncles, my aunts, my grandparents, my parents and my siblings. This year my mom requested a chocolate peanut butter cake, and since she is on a clean eating diet, I’d figure I would make it with all-naturak ingredients.  I did, and it turned out fabulous! Its not too sweet like cake normally is, and its super duper moist!  A little sliver goes a long way!

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Clean-Eating Gluten-free Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake

  • 2 cups brown rice flour
  • 3/4 cup cocoa powder
  • 1/4 cup coconut sugar
  • 2 tsp. baking powder
  • 1 tsp. baking soda
  • 1 tsp. instant coffee granules
  • 1/2 cup apple sauce
  • 2 eggs, beaten (or two flax eggs for vegan option)
  • 1/2 cup almond milk (or any milk of your choice)
  • 3/4 cup coffee, cooled
  • 1 Tbsp. natural peanut butter
  • 1 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 1 1/2 oz. dark chocolate, melted (or semi-sweet)

Filling (adapted from Minimalist Baker)

  • 1/3 cup coconut cream
  • 2 Tbsp. natural peanut butter
  • 1 1/2 Tbsp. agave nectar/honey/ maple syrup

Chocolate drizzle

  • 3 Tbsp. coconut oil, melted
  • 2 Tbsp cocoa powder
  • 2 Tbsp. maple syrup/agave/honey
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Combine first 6 ingredients in a large bowl.  Mix well.
  3. In a separate bowl, combine remaining ingredients except melted chocolate.  Mix well and add to dry ingredients.  Scrape sides of the bowl while mixing to ensure all ingredients are evenly mixed.
  4. Add melted chocolate to batter and stir well.
  5. Spray cooking spray in two circle layer cake pans.  Add batter evenly between two pans and bake for about 45 minutes, or until done.
  6. For filling, use a hand mixer to beat coconut cream until smooth and fluffy.  Add in peanut butter and agave and beat for another 15 minutes or until evenly mixed.
  7. Once cake is cooled, take out of pans carefully and spread filling on top of bottom layer and place other layer on top.

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Health Benefits Peanut Butter:

  •  Healthy fats
  • Protein
  • Vitamin E
  • Magnesium

Cocoa Powder:

  • High in antioxidants
  • Low in calories
  • Fiber
  • Magnesium

Recipe as a whole:

  • Clean Ingredients
  • Healthy fats
  • Gluten-free
  • High in fiber
  • Protein
  • Refined sugar-free
  • Can be vegan

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Homemade Banana Bread Dairy-free Coffee Creamer

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This Banana Bread Dairy-Free Coffee Creamer tastes delicious in coffee without all of the added sugar and preservatives!

This Dairy-Free Banana Bread Coffee Creamer tastes delicious in coffee without all of the added sugar and preservatives!

I’ll admit it, I used to be one of those flavored coffee cream junkies.  What ever flavor it was, I had to have it!  I adored all the dessert flavors, including caramel macchiato, irish cream, butter pecan and every flavor in between. 

 

Once I read an article on how bad these really were, I stopped buying them completely.  I was not into the added sugars, artificial flavoring and the processed ingredients that I can’t even pronounce. This Dairy-Free Banana Bread Coffee Creamer tastes delicious in coffee without all of the added sugar and preservatives!  I was destined to come up with my own flavored creamer made with all-natural ingredients.  Coconut milk stood in for the creamy texture of creamy and the date and ripe banana lends to a sweet flavor.  This is super easy to make, dairy-free, vegan, paleo and just plain delicious in a cup of coffee! This Dairy-Free Banana Bread Coffee Creamer tastes delicious in coffee without all of the added sugar and preservatives!

Dairy-free Banana Bread Coffee Creamer

Print Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 1/2 cups canned coconut milk
  • 2 cups almond milk
  • 4 dates presoaked in water and drained
  • 1 overripe banana
  • 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

Instructions
 

  • Place banana and dates in a blender (I used a vitamix) and blend until smooth.
  • Add remaining ingredients and blend for about 1 minute, or until mixture is smooth without any lumps.
  • Enjoy in coffee or tea!

This Dairy-Free Banana Bread Coffee Creamer tastes delicious in coffee without all of the added sugar and preservatives!

 

linking up for Strange but Good with Sprint 2 the Table!

Dark Chocolate Orange Oatmeal Brûlée

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I love chocolate (who doesn’t right?), especially dark chocolate.  I love the bitter yet slightly sweet taste of it.  I remember sampling a piece of fine dark chocolate with a hint of orange from Paris and it was out of this world!  I missed that flavor so much that I NEEDED to recreate it.  And of course it had to be oatmeal, because  I eat oatmeal everyday!  Not any kind of oatmeal, oatmeal brûlée because it is fancier and more amazing than regular oats!  This flavor combo may be the most amazing yet, thanks to the bitterness of the cocoa paired with the sweet acidity of the orange.  You will not be disappointed! photo 3 Click HERE to get your unrefined Cane Sugar!

Dark Chocolate Orange Oatmeal Brûlée

  • 1/3 cup oats
  • 1/4 cup almond milk
  • 2 Tbsp. freshly squeezed juice from an orange
  • 1/8 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 1 Tbsp. cocoa powder
  • 1 tsp. grated orange rind
  • 1 tsp.  dark chocolate chips ( can be vegan), chopped or cocoa nibs
  • 1 tsp. unrefined cane sugar ( I used chancaca)
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Combine all ingredients in a ramekin.  Mix well.
  3. Bake oatmeal for about 15 minutes, or until done.
  4. Sprinkle oatmeal with cane sugar. 
  5. Heat oven to broil (550 degrees) and place oatmeal in oven for about 1 minutes, or until sugar caramelizes.
  6. Enjoy!

photo 2 Health Benefits Cocoa Powder Contains

  •  many minerals such as iron, manganese, magnesium and zinc
  •  flavonoids with help reduce systemic inflammation 
  •  fiber

Oranges Contains

  • Plenty of vitamins, such as C, A, folate and calcium
  • Fiber
  • Natural sugars

Recipe as a whole

  • All natural
  • No refined sugar
  • No artificial ingredients
  • No preservatives
  • No processed ingredients
  • Gluten-free
  • Dairy-free
  • Nut-free
  • 100% clean
  • Vegan
  • Vegetarian
  • Low-glycemic
  • Non-GMO

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Linking up with Sprint to the Table for Strange but Good!

Paleo Skillet Carrot Cake

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Cake for breakfast?  I know what your thinking, “that doesn’t sound like a good start to the day!”  It normally isn’t , but this recipe is an exception.

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 Unlike most breakfast cakes and pastries, this breakfast cake is made with all natural ingredients that contain beneficial nutrients to fuel your body.  This will energize you while making your taste buds pretty happy.

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 Besides carrot cake is delicious for dessert, but even better for breakfast in my opinion

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Paleo Carrot Skillet Breakfast Cake 

Serves anywhere from 1-4

(adapted by One Green Planet)

  • 6 Tbsp. coconut flour
  • 1/2 tsp. baking powder
  • 1/4 cup grated carrot
  • 2 Tbsp. apple sauce
  • 1 egg, beaten (or flax egg)
  • 1/2 Tbsp. maple syrup
  • 6 Tbsp. almond milk (or other non-dairy milk)
  • 1 tsp. vanilla
  • 2 Tbsp. raisins
  • 1 Tbsp. paleo friendly white chocolate chips
  • 1 Tbsp. crushed walnuts
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. In a bowl combine the coconut flour and baking powder.
  3. Add in remaining ingredients and stir well until all ingredients are completely and evenly combined.
  4. Spray cooking spray in a small cast iron skillet add spoon in mixture.  Spread evenly.
  5. Bake for about 35 minutes, or until done.
  6. Enjoy!

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Health Benefits

  • All-natural ingredients
  • No processed ingredients
  • No preservatives
  • High fiber
  • Moderate amount of protein
  • Gluten-free
  • Grain-free
  • Dairy-free
  • Nut-free
  • Refined sugar-free
  • Paleo-friendly
  • Whole 30-friendly
  • Vegan- friendly (if flax egg is used)
  • Vegetarian

Gluten-free Orange Sesame Scones

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Nothing goes better with a giant cup of tea or coffee then scones!  You guys already know that I’m talking about the healthy homemade ones, nut the store bought stuff.  I’ve only made scones one other time and they turned out Bomb (click HERE for the recipe)!

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It was time to come up with another flavor using the same base as the other one I created.  I’ve been meaning to make a recipe with the tahini I received from Swanson’s, and what better way then to add it into the scones!  It helps to moisten the batter while lending to a toasty nutty flavor.

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I also figured out that orange would help compensate the nutty savory flavor because I’ve tasted orange sesame chicken before at a Chinese restaurant.  These scones are super duper easy and only require of few minutes of prep time before their in the oven.  Full of heart healthy ingredients, there is no reason not to make them!

Orange Sesame Scones Makes 6-8 scones

  • 2 cups Gluten-free Rolled Oats
  • 1 cup brown rice flour
  • 1 tsp. baking soda
  • 1/4 tsp. ginger
  • 1/4 tsp. cinnamon
  • 1 tsp. orange zest
  • 1 Tbsp. sesame seeds
  • 1/4 cup tahini (sesame seed butter)
  • 1/2 cup apple sauce
  • 1/2 cup orange juice (preferably freshly squeezed)
  • 1 egg, beaten (or flax egg)
  • 1 1/2 Tbsp. maple syrup
  • 1/4 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 1 Tbsp. sesame seeds
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. In a bowl combine first 7 ingredients.  Mix well.
  3. In a separate bowl, combine remaining ingredients excluding the sesame seeds.  Mix well and add to other bowl.  Combine well, scraping bowl to ensure all ingredients are evenly mixed.
  4. Spoon batter a larger even circle onto a cooking sheet covered with parchment paper. Sprinkle remaining sesame seeds on top.
  5. Bake for about 20 minutes and partially slice into 8 equal slices.
  6. Bake for another 15 minutes or until done.
  7. Enjoy!

photo 5 photo 4 Health Benefits

Tahini:

  • Contains healthy fats
  • Good source of fiber
  • It’s rich in minerals such as phosphorus, lecithin, magnesium, potassium and iron
  • It’s high in vitamin E and vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5 and B15

Recipe as a  whole:

  • All-natural ingredients
  • No artificial ingredients
  • No preservatives
  • No processed ingredients
  • Gluten-free
  • Grain-free
  • Dairy-free
  • High in fiber
  • Good source of healthy fats
  • Vegan -friendly
  • Vegetarian

Linking up to Meatless Monday with Tina Muir and Confessions of a Mother Runner!

 

*”This post contains Affiliate Links through Amazon Affiliates Program”

Easy DIY Kitchen Staple: Homemade Cinnamon Applesauce

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I don’t know about you all, but applesauce is a staple in my apartment.  I mix it with oatmeal, plain yogurt, bake with it, or just eat it by itself!  I only realized a few days ago that I could make it myself with little to no effort at all!  All you basically do is chop up apples,  add a dash of cinnamon and a little water and place in your slow cooker on low for 4-6 hours!  Thats all there is to it!  And did I mention it tastes like apple pie filling?  No joke, this stuff is literally the bomb!  Keep the skin on for added fiber and a chunkier texture, or leave them out for a smoother texture.

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Plus, this applesauce is MUCH healthier then the store bought stuff! Just look at the ingredients in Mott’s Cinnamon Applesauce:

INGREDIENTS: APPLES, HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, WATER, CINNAMON, ASCORBIC ACID (VITAMIN C), NATURAL FLAVOR

What? High fructose corn syrup listed as the second ingredient??  Apples are sweet enough, they really don’t need that added fake sweetness!  And 24 grams of sugar per 1/2 cup serving?  You might as well eat cake instead of this!

Homemade Cinnamon Applesauce

  • 8 apples, cored and sliced (you could use any type, I like fuji or golden delicious best!)
  • 3/4 tsp. cinnamon
  • 1/2 cup water
  1. Throw all ingredients in a crock pot and place on medium heat for 4-6 hours, or until sauce like.
  2. Let cool and enjoy!

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Health Benefits:

  • All-natural
  • No preservatives
  • No chemicals
  • No sugar added
  • Gluten-free
  • Grain-free
  • Dairy-free
  • High fiber
  • Low calorie
  • Vegan
  • Vegetarian
  • Paleo
  • Whole-30

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10 Amazing Healthy Pancake Recipes you MUST TRY!

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Hey there!  I don’t know bout you, but I LOVE pancakes!  They can easily be made into a filling ,healthy and nutritious breakfast in the blink of an eye!  Let me share with you a few of my favorite amazing healthy pancake recipes from me and other incredible bloggers!

  1. Zucchini-Cornbread Pancakes From Athletic Avocado

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2.Paleo Mocha Almond Pancakes From the Healthy Maven

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Photo from thehealthymaven.com

3.Buckwheat Pancakes with Almonds and Honey Roasted Peaches From Food Faith Fitness

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photo from foodfaithfitness.com

4.Chocolate Zucchini Bread Pancakes From Athletic Avocado

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5.Healthy Cannoli Pancakes From Kitchen Tested

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photo from kitchentested.com

6.Chai-Spiced Banana Bread Pancakes From Athletic Avocado

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7.Healthy Red Velvet Pancakes From The Big Man’s World

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Photo From thebigmansworld.com

 8.Chocolate Chunk Maca Banana Bread Pancakes From Honey and Figs Kitchen

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photo from honeyandfigskitchen.com

9.Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Pancakes From Breakfast Drama Queen

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photo from breakfastdramaqueen.com

10.Oatmeal Peanut Butter Cakes with Blueberry Glaze From The Housewife Training Files

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Photo from houseworktrainingfiles.com

We hope you enjoy these Amazing Healthy Pancake Recipes!

The Most Amazing Healthy Triple Chocolate Granola

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This Delicious Triple Chocolate Granola will make you want to get out of bed in the morning! Believe it or not, it’s actually very healthy!!

I am obsessed with making granola, I can’t get enough. I eat it almost every day with yogurt for breakfast so I am constantly coming up with new flavor combinations to try.  Now my fave is this healthy triple chocolate granola.

This Healthy Triple Chocolate Granola will make you want to get out of bed in the morning! Believe it or not, its actually very healthy!!

Having cocoa powder, cocoa nibs and chocolate chips in the house called for me to make triple chocolate granola AKA Chocolate Lover’s Granola, because well, if you are a fan  of chocolate, you will become addicted to this!

This Healthy Triple Chocolate Granola will make you want to get out of bed in the morning! Believe it or not, its actually very healthy!!

Atleast it’s as healthy as can be, which makes you feel less guilty, or eat more. 🙂

This Healthy Triple Chocolate Granola will make you want to get out of bed in the morning! Believe it or not, its actually very healthy!!

 Healthy Triple Chocolate Granola

One bite of this and you’ll be in chocolate heaven, minus the sugar, chemicals and artificial flavoring

The Most Amazing Triple Chocolate Granola

Print Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings 8 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 2 1/2 cups dry oats (gluten-free if needed)
  • 1/4 cup cocoa powder
  • 1 ripe banana mashed
  • 1/4 cup stevia sweetened chocolate chips
  • 2 tbsp cocoa nibs
  • 3 tbsp white chocolate chips optional
  • 1 tbsp unsweetened coconut optional

Instructions
 

  • 1. PLace oats on a cookie sheet coated with wax paper, toast for 10 minutes at 350 degree or until golden
  • 2. In a bowl, mix together rest of ingredients and combine well
  • 3. Combine chocolate mixture to oats in pan, mix well
  • 4. Bake for 20 minutes or until golden ( oven temp. should still be at 350 degrees)

This Healthy Triple Chocolate Granola will make you want to get out of bed in the morning! Believe it or not, its actually very healthy!!

Whole Recipe

  • Vegan
  • Gluten-free
  • High in fiber
  • No added sugar
  • Dairy-free
  • Oil-free

This Healthy Triple Chocolate Granola will make you want to get out of bed in the morning! Believe it or not, its actually very healthy!!

[Tweet “This #glutenfree Triple Chocolate Granola will be calling your name first thing in the morning! #healthy #chocolate”]

Like this Granola Recipe? Try this one!

Paleo Chocolate Hazelnut Granola

  • What’s your favorite way to eat chocolate?
  • What’s your favorite kind of granola?
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