Healthy Baking Tips

Here are some tips for baking with healthy alternatives

Apple Cranberry Bars

A nice addition to your holiday baking, this twist on date squares uses an apple/cranberry compote as the filling.

What you need:

3 apples peeled and chopped

1 cup frozen cranberries

1/4 cup of water

1 1/2 whole wheat flour

3/4 coconut palm sugar

3/4 cup vegan margarine

1/2 cup oats

In a medium saucepan combine the apples and cranberries with the water, simmer on medium high heat until the fruit is tender and a bit mushy to make a compote.

In a large mixing bowl combine all other ingredients to form a crumbly mixture.

 In a greased 9x9 pan press half the mixture, top with the compote and crumble the remaining mixture over to.  Bake at 350 for about 35 minutes until the top us browning.  Let cool and cut into bars.  Enjoy!

Coconut Flour Chocolate Chip Cookies

These Cookies are a very yummy gluten free cookie.  I use coconut palm sugar to make them diabetic as well.  Using mini chocolate chip allows you to make them small bite size cookies.

What you need:

1/2 cup melted coconut oil or margarine or butter

3/4 cup coconut palm sugar

2 eggs

3/4 cup coconut flour

1/2 tsp baking soda

Pinch of salt

1 cup mini chocolate chips

In a large mixing bowl or stand mixer, cream together oil and sugar, beat in eggs.   Gradually add coconut flour, baking soda and salt when it is blended together add chocolate chips and mix to combine.  Drop by tsp full onto a cookie sheet and press flat.  Bake for 10-12 minutes at 375.