Desserts Archives - Queen of My Kitchen

02
May
2019

Farro Shortcake Biscuits

A healthier version of classic shortcake biscuits made with the Italian ancient grain farro. JUMP TO RECIPE

Once the warm weather arrives here in the Boston area, one of the things I really look forward to is local strawberries. Usually by mid-June the season is in full swing and the farm stands in my neighborhood are bursting with this sweet, delicious fruit. (Botanically speaking, strawberries are actually considered fruit, not berries! Read more about this little-known fact here.) Supermarket strawberries can’t hold a candle to fresh picked, and unless you buy organic, they’re usually loaded with pesticides. So I make sure I enjoy the season while it lasts which always includes a serving or two of strawberry shortcake. This year I’m putting a twist on the classic dessert by making it with these delicious Farro Shortcake Biscuits. (more…)

26
Mar
2019

Maple Glazed Scottish Oatcakes

categories: Desserts, Snacks

A remake of traditional Scottish oatcakes. These not-too-sweet-cookies have a rustic whole grain texture and rich maple flavor. JUMP TO RECIPE

Maple Glazed Scottish Oatcakes are a perfect example of my penchant for taking classic recipes and putting my own spin on them. Oatcakes are not traditionally thought of as a sweet treat. In fact, in Scotland, where oatcakes have been a dietary staple since the 14th century, they’re eaten as an alternative to bread, often replacing toast for breakfast. But classic Scottish oatcakes look like cookies and I thought their wholesome ingredients would pair well with maple syrup to create oatcakes that could be enjoyed more as a dessert or snack. Rather than simply adding maple syrup to the oatcake batter, I decided instead to top each oatcake with a thin layer of maple glaze and then throw a pecan halve on top. These not-too-sweet cookies have a rustic whole grain texture and rich maple flavor. They’re definitely not your average oatcakes! (more…)

18
Mar
2019

Dark Chocolate Lentil Brownies

categories: Desserts, Gluten Free, Healthy, Snacks

Rich chocolate flavor in a healthy brownie made with lentils. Lower in sugar and higher in protein and fiber than regular brownies. JUMP TO RECIPE

If I hadn’t already known that one could make delicious tasting brownies with foods like black beans, sweet potatoes, and avocados, I might have been skeptical when I first heard about lentil brownies. After all, lentils are one of the most nutritious foods on the planet. Who would ever think you could use them to make rich and decadent desserts? But now that I’ve been a food blogger for a few years, I’m quite familiar with how healthy foods can be disguised in baked goods and the magic that happens when, in combination with other nutritious ingredients, they’re transformed into delicious treats – ones far better for us than their classic counterparts. If you don’t believe me, try this little experiment. Whip up a batch of Dark Chocolate Lentil Brownies and serve them to your friends, family, or guests, without disclosing that they’re made with lentils. Once you’ve watched everyone gobble them up, ask if anyone can guess what the secret ingredient is. Get ready to see some very surprised looking faces when you tell them the answer! (more…)

14
Mar
2019

Gluten-Free Orange Almond Cake

categories: Desserts, Gluten Free, Snacks

A single layer cake you can throw together lightening quick. Versatile enough to be served as a snack, dessert, or even breakfast! JUMP TO RECIPE

Most of us wait for special occasions to make a cake simply because cakes made from scratch are a little labor intensive, but I’m a big fan of simple, every day cakes – single layer cakes you can make at a moment’s notice that don’t require frosting or glaze and are versatile enough to be served as a snack, dessert, or even breakfast – cakes like this Gluten-Free Orange Almond Cake! It can be thrown together lightening quick with ingredients you may already have on hand and takes only about 20 minutes to bake. Now that’s my kind of cake! (more…)

11
Feb
2019

Dairy Free Crispy Chocolate Cups

categories: Desserts, Gluten Free, Healthy, Snacks, Vegan

“Candy is dandy” as in these easy to make dairy free chocolate treats sweetened with maple syrup. JUMP TO RECIPE

Valentine’s Day is coming up and if you love classic holiday traditions then maybe you’re planning to give your loved ones some chocolates. If so, why not earn extra bonus points and “make” instead of “buy” them. These Dairy Free Crispy Chocolate Cups are a great homemade Valentine’s gift and you can whip them up quickly without any special equipment. All you need is a handful of simple ingredients and some cupcake liners. (more…)

31
Jan
2019

Chocolate Chunk Chickpea Tahini Cookie Tarts

categories: Desserts, Gluten Free, Snacks

A clean-eating twist on classic chocolate chip cookies made with gluten-free chickpea flour. JUMP TO RECIPE

According to this article, the most popular cookie recipe of all-time is chocolate chip. No surprise really. Hardly anybody can resist the melt-in-your-mouth goodness of a warm from the oven chocolate chip cookie with a glass of cold milk on the side for optional dipping. It’s hard to imagine a more comforting snack, unless of course, it’s a healthier version of this iconic treat! Enter Chocolate Chunk Chickpea Tahini Cookie Tarts – a clean-eating twist on classic chocolate chip cookies made with gluten-free chickpea flour and flavored with dark chocolate and tahini. After just one bite you’ll be shaking your head in disbelief and wondering aloud how you ever lived without these cookies! (more…)

10
Jan
2019

Peanut Butter Cookie Flax Bars

categories: Desserts, Gluten Free, Healthy, Snacks, Vegan

Vegan, gluten-free, dairy free snack bars that taste like caramel. Similar to Larabars, they’re made with healthy, unprocessed ingredients, and sweetened naturally. JUMP TO RECIPE

It might seem counterintuitive, but one of the best way to maintain good eating habits is to enjoy a healthy treat each day. Following this rule has really worked for me because like a lot of people, I have a bit of a sweet tooth, and if I don’t satisfy my craving, I just end up feeling deprived, which makes me much less likely to eat healthfully over the long term. So I allow myself a little something sweet after lunch or dinner, as long as it’s made with healthy, wholesome ingredients and minimally processed. One of my favorite healthy treats are these Peanut Butter Cookie Flax Bars. I have one almost every day. In fact, my whole family is addicted to these bars. They taste like candy, but unlike candy, they keep you feeling full for a long time because they have a decent amount of protein, and are high in healthy fats. (more…)

04
Jan
2019

Chocolate Red Wine Black Bean Fudge Cake with Greek Yogurt Cabernet Glaze

categories: Desserts, Gluten Free, Healthy

This rich, decadent, chocolate cake makes the perfect clean eating dessert for the New year! JUMP TO RECIPE

Even if you’ve vowed to improve your diet in 2019, you don’t have to give up desserts, just choose healthier ones, like this rich and decadent Chocolate Red Wine Black Bean Fudge Cake with Greek Yogurt Cabernet Glaze. It’s gluten-free, made with healthy ingredients like black beans, chickpea flour, and almond butter, and contains no refined sugar. If you love chocolate, this cake is for you! (more…)

12
Nov
2018

Almond Oat Cups

categories: Breakfast, Desserts, Gluten Free, Healthy, Snacks

A cross between a cookie, a muffin, and a teacake. Free of gluten and eggs, and only take 10 minutes to bake. JUMP TO RECIPE

These gluten-free, egg-free Almond Oat Cups are a cross between a cookie and a muffin, and even though they’re perfect for teatime, because they’re dainty and not too sweet (each cup has only 4 grams of sugar), they’d also be fantastic for dessert. Just imagine some fresh berries or baked apples on top, along with a scoop of vanilla ice cream – yum! One of the best things about these healthy little treats is that they only take 10 minutes to bake – the prep time is pretty quick too, 15 minutes max. I use a standard 12-cup muffin pan to make “cups” but if you don’t own a muffin pan you can also use an 8 x 8-inch square pan and make “bars” instead. Simply line the pan with parchment paper and press the mixture evenly into the pan. Once it’s finished baking, let it cool completely and then cut it into bars or squares. (more…)

15
Oct
2018

Honey Almond Shortbread

categories: Desserts, Gluten Free, Snacks

A tender, buttery, melt-in-your-mouth shortbread, sweetened naturally and gluten-free. JUMP TO RECIPE

Shortbread has been around for hundreds of years. According to this article on the history of shortbread, the earliest documented recipe appeared in a Scottish cookbook in the year 1736. Back then nobody was concerned about the difference between natural and refined sweeteners or whether the baked goods they were eating were gluten-free, but nowadays most of us want (or need) healthier, more allergy friendly food. Thankfully shortbread can be replicated to address these modern-day concerns without any sacrifice in taste. This recipe for Honey Almond Shortbread is every bit as rich, delicious, and buttery as traditional shortbread but it’s sweetened naturally (with honey), and made with almond flour instead of wheat flour, so it’s gluten-free too. (more…)

Category: Desserts