Sugared & Stirred

dairy-free. still delicious.

Quick Bread

Healthier Banana Nut Bread (dairy-free and oil-free!)

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Sometimes I’m in the mood for a warm slice of soft banana bread. And sometimes I have a bunch of near-black bananas in desperate need of someplace to be before they get tossed in the trash. This, my friends, is the perfect banana bread for those days when you’re craving the comfort of carbs, or when you just have too many freaking bananas. It’s tender, moist, and perfectly spiced. I collaborated with my husband, Nathan, to get this bread just right – he used to be famous amongst his friends for his delicious banana bread! I like to add walnuts to our classic banana bread, but, of course, you can leave them out or replace them with chocolate chips, dried fruit, or whatever!

I used a mix of coconut sugar (my fave, but brown sugar will also work) and honey to add a bit of moisture. You’ll need three whole bananas for this recipe and your favorite flour – I like to use whole wheat pasty flour because I find that it lends to a tender crumb in my quick breads. You can use all-purpose flour or even a mix of half all-purpose and half whole wheat. The applesauce in this recipe replaces oil, but if you have no applesauce on hand you can use any kind of vegetable oil (or melted coconut oil). We baked this loaf at a lower temperature for a longer amount of time to ensure maximum moistness (sorry not sorry if you hate that word)! As always, happy baking!

Healthier Banana Nut Bread
Makes one 9×5″ loaf (serves 8-9)

1/3 cup coconut sugar
1/4 cup honey
3 ripe bananas (~1 1/3 cup mashed banana)
1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk, room temp
2 large eggs, room temp
3 Tbsp unsweetened applesauce
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 1/4 cups whole wheat pastry flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp fine sea salt
2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

1.) Preheat your oven to 300°F and spray a 9×5″ loaf pan with olive oil. Bring your eggs to room temperature by placing them in a glass of warm water for 10 minutes.

2.) Meanwhile, mix the coconut sugar and honey in a medium bowl; set aside. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.

3.) Mash your bananas with a fork and add to the sugar honey mixture. Whisk in the almond milk, eggs, applesauce, and vanilla extract until well combined, making sure to scrape the bottom of your bowl.

4.) Add the wet ingredients to the dry and gently mix until nearly combined. Stir in the chopped walnuts or other add-ins (chocolate chips, raisins, etc) until no flour pockets remain.

5.) Pour batter into your prepared loaf pan and top with any desired toppings (extra nuts, banana slices, chocolate chips, etc). Bake at 300°F for 65-75 min or until a toothpick inserted into the loaf comes out clean.

6.) Allow your baked loaf to cool in the pan for 10 minutes before gently removing it with a butter knife and transferring it to a cooling rack. I like to turn my loaf pan on its side to shimmy the loaf out with a butter knife, so I don’t ruin any toppings. Enjoy warm and store leftovers in an airtight container.

Vegan Orange Cranberry Swirl Bread

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Okay, so I love a good cranberry orange bread. You know those giant cran orange muffins at the grocery store? LOVE THOSE. So I made my own, dairy-free version. And then Thanksgiving came around and I really wanted to make a cranberry orange loaf with a cranberry swirl. Talk about festive.

This loaf is easy to get together – seriously, don’t let the homemade cranberry sauce deter you. It’s vegan. And it’s sweetened with just the right amount of coconut sugar – my favorite unrefined, low GI sweetener. For this loaf, you’ll make the cranberry sauce, and then get to work on the easy quick bread batter. If you decide to use fresh squeezed orange juice, zest your oranges before you cut them in half.

When it comes to adding your batter and cranberry sauce to the loaf pan, remember that it doesn’t have to be perfect. That’s what makes this so easy! You’ll just plop spoonfuls of batter and cranberry sauce into the pan and then swirl it all together with a chopstick (or knife). You’ll have way more batter than sauce, so opt for big spoonfuls of batter and little spoonfuls of cranberry sauce. I found that this loaf baked fast for me, so keep that in mind. Happy baking!

Vegan Orange Cranberry Swirl Bread
Makes one 9×5″ loaf

Cranberry Sauce
2 cups fresh cranberries
1/3 cup orange juice
1/4 cup maple syrup
1 Tbsp coconut sugar
Zest from one orange
Orange Bread
2 Tbsp flaxseed meal
4 Tbsp orange juice
2 Tbsp water
1/2 cup coconut sugar
1/4 cup coconut oil, melted
1/3 cup unsweetened almond milk, room temp
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce, room temp
1 tsp vanilla extract
Zest from two oranges
1 3/4 cup whole wheat pastry flour
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp fine sea salt

1.) Preheat your oven to 350°F and spray a 9×5″ loaf pan with olive oil. In a small saucepan, make your cranberry sauce by combining fresh cranberries, orange juice, maple syrup, coconut sugar, and orange zest. Cook on medium heat until cranberries have burst (I like to mash mine with a fork along the way) and sauce has thickened a bit. For a less chunky cranberry sauce, blend the sauce in a blender or food processor (I didn’t do this). Transfer to a small bowl and set aside to cool.

2.) In another small bowl, combine the flaxseed meal, orange juice, and water; set aside to thicken. Grab a medium bowl and stir together the coconut sugar, coconut oil, almond milk, applesauce, vanilla, and orange zest; set aside.

3.) In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Add all of the liquid ingredients, including the flaxseed meal mixture, and gently mix until no flour pockets remain.

4.) Begin spooning your batter and cranberry sauce into your prepared loaf pan, alternating between the two. You will have much more batter than cranberry sauce, so drop smaller spoonfuls of the cranberry sauce so you don’t run out (I like to make sure I have plenty to spoon onto the top of the loaf). Once you’ve added all of your batter and sauce, use a chopstick or knife to swirl the two together. Be sure you insert your chopstick all the way to the bottom of the pan for a more even swirl.

5.) Bake your loaf at 350°F for 25-35 minutes or until toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean or with slight crumbs. Allow your loaf to rest in the pan on a cooling rack for 15 minutes. Gently remove the loaf by running a knife along the edges, tilting your pan, and using a spatula or knife to shimmy the loaf out, careful not to ruin the pretty swirl on top. Enjoy warm or let cool!

Pumpkin Coffee Chocolate Chip Muffins

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So I’ve been meaning to make a pumpkin quick bread for quite a while now, but then Halloween came and went and I was afraid everybody would be over pumpkin. Well, turns out, people are still totally into pumpkin leading up to Thanksgiving, too! Unlike gingerbread or peppermint, pumpkin basically has two holidays. Good news for me!

When Nathan started talking about a coffee pumpkin bread that he used to bake (complete with tons of sugar + milk-filled butterscotch chips) I knew I wanted to tackle a recipe for dairy-free, healthier Pumpkin Coffee Muffins. I decided to add chocolate chips – no one is surprised – because there’s nothing better than biting into a warm, freshly baked muffin loaded with melted chocolate! I’ve been craving that exact bite for over a week, and these muffins did not disappoint. We all love them, including my toddler who couldn’t get enough. I just might be adding these to the Thanksgiving playlist.

Pumpkin Coffee Chocolate Chip Muffins
Makes 9 regular muffins

1/4 cup unsweetened almond milk, room temp
2 Tbsp instant coffee granules
1/2 cup coconut sugar
1/4 cup coconut oil, melted
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 eggs, room temp
1 cup pumpkin puree
1/2 cup chocolate chips + 1/4 cup for topping
1 1/2 cups whole wheat pastry flour
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp fine sea salt
1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
3/4 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp ground cloves

1.) Preheat your oven to 350°F and prepare your muffin pan – spray with olive oil or line with paper liners. Bring your eggs to room temperature by placing them in a glass of warm water for ~10 minutes.

2.) In a medium bowl, mix the almond milk and instant coffee until granules have dissolved. Whisk in the coconut sugar, coconut oil, vanilla, and eggs until totally combined. Whisk in the pumpkin until smooth.

3.) In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and spices. Whisk in 1/2 cup of chocolate chips. Add the pumpkin coffee mixture and gently mix until no flour pockets remain.

4.) Divide your batter into nine regular muffins, filling the muffin pan nearly to the top. Top with chocolate chips, pressing them slightly into the batter. Bake at 350°F for 18-24 minutes or until toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean – you’ll have to prick around the melty chocolate chips.

5.) Allow your muffins to cool for 10 minutes before removing to a cooling rack. Enjoy warm!

Cranberry Orange Crumb Muffins

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I’ve always loved the big, bakery-style cranberry orange muffins at the grocery store, so when I saw a bag of cranberries in my freezer from last holiday season, I knew I wanted to set out to make my own dairy-free cranberry orange muffins! I topped these ultra fluffy muffins with a cinnamon crumb topping pre-bake and then drizzled the cooled muffins with a delicious, homemade cranberry orange sauce. The crumb topping and drizzle add a sweetness and flavor that you won’t want to miss! The best part is that these toppings are rather simple and made up of ingredients you will already have on hand. I like to use whole wheat pastry flour in my muffins and quick breads because it gives them such a dreamy fluffy texture. If you don’t have WWPF readily available, then all-purpose flour will work just fine. Happy baking!

 

Cranberry Orange Crumb Muffins
Makes 12 regular muffins

Muffins
2 large eggs, room temp
2 1/2 cups whole wheat pastry flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup coconut sugar
1 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/2 cup coconut milk yogurt
1 tsp vanilla extract
3 Tbsp fresh orange juice
Zest from two oranges
1 Tbsp coconut oil, melted
1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries (unthawed)
Crumb Topping
1/4 cup flour (whole wheat pastry or all-purpose)
3 Tbsp coconut sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
2 Tbsp coconut oil, melted
Cranberry Orange Drizzle (optional)
1/2 cup fresh or frozen cranberries (unthawed)
1/4 cup fresh orange juice
2-3 Tbsp honey

1.) Bring your eggs to room temperature by placing them in a glass of warm water for ~10 minutes. Preheat your oven to 350°F and spray your muffin pan(s) with olive oil.

2.) In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon; set aside. In a medium bowl, whisk together the coconut sugar and eggs. Add the applesauce, yogurt, vanilla extract, orange juice, and orange zest and stir until combined. Mix in the melted coconut oil; set aside.

3.) Make your crumb topping by combining the flour, coconut sugar, and cinnamon in a small bowl. Add the melted coconut oil and mix until small crumbs form; set aside.

4.) Stir your fresh or frozen (unthawed!) cranberries into the flour mixture. Pour wet ingredients into dry and fold until no flour pockets remain. Fill your muffin pan all the way to the top and top each muffin with your desired amount of crumb topping – I think that more is better!

5.) Bake your muffins at 350°F for 18-22 min. Let them rest in the pan for 10 minutes before gently removing to a cooling rack to totally cool.

6.) Meanwhile, prepare your sauce/drizzle by adding cranberries, orange juice, and honey to a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer and continue cooking until all the cranberries have popped and the liquid has reduced. Taste your sauce and add more orange juice to thin or more honey to sweeten. For a finer consistency, use a food processor or immersion blender to blend (I did not do this). Drizzle sauce over your cooled muffins and top with fresh orange zest. Enjoy!

Keto Strawberry Protein Mini Muffins

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When one of my Instagram followers messaged me about high-protein, ketogenic desserts, I knew I wanted to really branch out (y’all know I love my carbs!) and attempt something that was keto-friendly and made with protein powder! I came up with these Strawberry Protein Mini Muffins after doing a bit of Googling on what kind of foods are keto-friendly. I was looking for ingredients that were low-carb and higher in fat, so I chose to use almond flour as the base and added three large eggs, protein powder, olive oil, and a sprinkling of coconut flakes – these get nice and toasty in the oven.

I’ve had a big bag of Stevia in the Raw sitting around for a while now, so I took this opportunity to finally put it to use! Yes! I’m so excited to offer you guys a yummy, keto-friendly treat in portions that are small enough for you to decide how many carbs you want to add to your daily diet. My husband and mom (who is a major sweets lover!) both love these! Happy baking!

Keto Strawberry Protein Mini Muffins
Makes ~40 mini muffins

2 cups almond flour
1/2 cup protein powder
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp fine sea salt or table salt
3 large eggs, room temp
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
3/4 cup unsweetened almond milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup Stevia in the Raw
1 cup chopped strawberries
1/2-1 cup flaked coconut for topping (optional)

1.) Bring your eggs to room temperature by placing them in a glass of warm water for ~10 minutes. In the meantime, preheat your oven to 350° and line your mini muffin pan with paper liners*

2.) In a large bowl, whisk together the almond flour, protein powder, baking powder, and salt; set aside.

3.) In a medium bowl, whisk the eggs. Whisk in the olive oil, almond milk, and vanilla extract until combined. Add the Stevia and stir until combined.

4.) Add liquid ingredients to dry and stir until just combined. Fold in the chopped strawberries until no flour pockets remain.

5.) Fill mini muffin pan 3/4 of the way full (I used a 1 Tbsp cookie scoop of batter for each muffin). Top with desired toppings – I chose coconut flakes! – and bake at 350° for 15-20 minutes or until toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean**

6.) Allow muffins to cool in the pan on top of a cooling rack for 10 minutes before removing to totally cool on a cooling rack until ready to eat. We actually liked these better the next day, and I recommend storing them in the refrigerator. Enjoy!

*I highly recommend using liners when baking muffins with almond flour. I’ve found that this kind of flour tends to make quick breads stick to the pan, no matter how much oil spray I’ve used
**before using a toothpick, I like to lightly tap one muffin to see if it bounces back. If it does, I know there’s a good chance the muffins are done