Walnut Blondies

Brownies - turned blonde.... and healthy ;-)

You'll need:
2 cups wholemeal spelt flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2/3 cup coconut sugar
1/2 cup walnuts

1 Tablespoon ground flax mixed with 3 Tablespoons boiling water
1 banana
1 cup apple sauce
1 teaspoon vanilla
100g dairy free white chocolate (I used Sweet William)
1/4 cup boiling water



Smash the walnuts into crumbly pieces. I do this by putting them in a zip-lock bag & hitting with a 'meat' mallet. Combine the dry ingredients in a bowl and stir until well combined and walnuts are evenly distributed.


 
Prepare the flax seeds - combine them with the water and whisk well. Leave aside for 5 minutes until thickened.
Mash the banana.
Melt the chocolate. I do this in a microwave on 50% power, checking every minute and stirring til nearly melted. The residual heat will do the rest. I find it best not to wait until it's completely melted or some parts tend to be hard and overdone.

Pour all the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and gently stir until folded through.
Pour mixture into a lined 18cm square baking tray and spread until evenly distributed.
Place in a preheated 180C oven and bake for 20 minutes until golden brown.
Cool before slicing.

School Tip:
For nut-free schools make this with sunflower seeds instead.  

Submitted to Meatless Monday A-Z:
Unbleached Flour

Banana Currant Soft Spelt Cookies

I love love love these cookies.
The soft centres make them so addictive!
They are a really healthy treat to have on hand. I think its great to have a collection of healthy treats available - especially at this time of year when it seems that there is chocolate & so many not-so-healthy treats everywhere!
Great for when guests are coming soon & you need a quick & easy recipe to cook up in no time!

This mixture makes 8 large cookies.

You'll need:
2 overripe bananas, mashed
1 cup spelt flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/3 cup currants
2 Tablespoons maple syrup
1/4 cup almond milk
1 teaspoon cinnamon

Mix all the ingredients in a bowl & stir until well combined.
Pour spoonfuls onto a lined cookie tray - I use an ice-cream scoop! Works really well & makes the cookies be much more even than if I was relying on my own eyes!!! ;-)

Bake at 180C for 20 minutes until golden brown and cooked through.
Allow to cool for 10 minutes before serving.

Deliciously sweet soft centre = perfect cookie! :D

Simple Apple Cake - just for one!

This is a great little cake - so easy to make & it takes no time at all.
Wonderful as an afternoon treat or dessert..... or anytime you want really.

I love Pyrex jugs for mixing in, of course you can use another jug or small bowl.
This is what you put in it!

1/2 cup spelt flour
1 teaspoon dry sweetner (I used stevia)
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon baking powder

Mix the flours together until well combined.
Make a well in the center and add:
2 tablespoons applesauce
2 tablespoons vanilla soymilk

Combine well.

Pour into a ramekin that has been lightly sprayed with oil.
I must admit I did use a rather 'large' ramekin for this one. Its diameter is 10cm.
Microwave for 1minute20seconds (this was in our 1100W microwave). You may need to adjust time slightly for your own microwave. I recommend doing 20 second intervals.

You know the cake is done when you lightly press in the center and its not sticky & will spring back up.

While the cake is cooking (such hard work that it is) combine 1 tablespoon applesauce with 1/2 tablespoon brown sugar. Mix well.

Pour over the warm cake & sprinkle broken piece of nuts on top. Pecans go well with apple flavour.

These are spoon marks I promise!