Sweets and Treats

Apple Pie in a Bowl

Apple Pie in a Bowl

Serves 2 humans Ingredients 1 banana 1 organic apple (such as Fuji) 2 tablespoons chunky almond butter 1 tablespoon cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg Instructions Slice the banana and add it to a medium-sized mixing bowl. Chop the apple into medium size squares and add it…

Chocolate Berry Cobbler

Chocolate Berry Cobbler

This is one of my favorite recipes in this chapter. I love the variation on a cobbler, using a chocolate cakelike topping over saucy cooked berries. It’s heavenly. And don’t forget about the Whipped Coconut Cream. Prep time 20 minutesServes 6 11/2 pounds (680 g)…

A Big Chocolate Chip Cookie

A Big Chocolate Chip Cookie

This is just what the title says—a big chocolate chip cookie. It began as a fun experiment, but after three or four tries, it became a contest of me vs. the cookie. After six tries, I finally had something I was excited about. You could also use this dough (or even…

Apple-Pomegranate Crumble

Apple-Pomegranate Crumble

One aspect of a paleo lifestyle I like a lot is how fine the boundary is between a dessert and a sweet breakfast. They could almost be interchangeable. And if a doughnut can be considered a breakfast food, I’m pretty sure that this lightly sweetened crumble can join…

Whipped Coconut Cream

Whipped Coconut Cream

Although our family does splurge sometimes and use real whipped cream, it’s nice to have a dairy-free option if you don’t tolerate dairy well—or eat it at all. I love the coconut flavor this adds, too! Prep time 5 minutesServes 6 2 to 3 13.5-ounce (398 ml) cans…

Vanilla Cake with Strawberry-Balsamic Sauce

Vanilla Cake with Strawberry-Balsamic Sauce

If you happened to try the Strawberry-Balsamic Chicken, this sauce should look familiar. It amuses me that you can use the same sauce over chicken or a cake and they both turn out delicious! Prep time 20 minutesServes 6 For the cake: 11/2 cups (144 g) blanched almond…

Nut-Free Fudgy Brownie Cake

Nut-Free Fudgy Brownie Cake

Paleo baking typically relies on nut flours, and because nut allergies are becoming more common, I wanted to create a cake that was free of nuts. This chocolate dessert is like a cross between a cake and a fudgy brownie. I love how the avocado keeps it moist—an…

Blueberry Muffin Cake

Blueberry Muffin Cake

The first time I tested this recipe, I used loads of fresh blueberries. When I pulled the cake out, it was lumpy, bluish-green, and seemed to be covered with a slimy substance. Time to try again. Not wanting to re-create the swamp thing, I used freeze-dried…

Upside-Down Cranberry Gingerbread

Upside-Down Cranberry Gingerbread

Baking in a slow cooker might seem odd, but for grain-free recipes (which can easily turn out dry and chalky) it’s the perfect, steamy cooking environment to keep cakes moist. The dense, but not too dense, pound cake–like gingerbread is studded with plump, juicy…

Pumpkin Spice Cake with Chocolate Pecan Streusel

Pumpkin Spice Cake with Chocolate Pecan Streusel

Before creating this recipe, I had never baked anything in a slow cooker. I imagined overcooked edges, gooey centers, and a layer of cake left in the bottom that refused to release itself. As apprehensive and doubtful as I felt, I dived in and tried it. After a few…

Nutty Coconut Baked Apples with Cider Sauce

Nutty Coconut Baked Apples with Cider Sauce

If you have a hankering for apple pie but can’t seem to nail down a grain-free pie crust (I feel your pain), this is a great alternative. You have the same soft, juicy apples, but with a sweet-tart cider sauce and a chewy nut-coconut mixture for contrast. Add a dollop…

Whole Caramelized Pineapple with Sweet Ginger Sauce

Whole Caramelized Pineapple with Sweet Ginger Sauce

The first time I made this, I couldn’t help but think of the whole, cooked pineapple as a “roast” as I lifted it out of the slow cooker, laid it on a cutting board, and sliced it. It made me giggle. Those giggles turned to lip smacks after I drizzled some of the…