Hearts with Strawberry Sauce

I think I’ll make these for my husband for Valentine’s Day.  🙂  I have made them in years past and he just loves them with vanilla ice cream.  I prefer mine either as is or with a small spoon of sweetened whipped cream on top.  Either will make a nearly effortless treat for my Valentine.  I double a small cake recipe so there are few leftovers.   This kind of portion control works best for me.  😉   This recipe is not suitable until you reach the grains level of Phase 2 Atkins.  Below is a photo of the silicone pan I use, but any large muffin or shortcake pan works: 

INGREDIENTS:

2 recipes my Einkorn Individual Vanilla Cake

1¼ c. whole, frozen strawberries (no sugar added)

¼ tsp xanthan gum (or favorite thickener)

4 drops liquid sweetener of choice (I used EzSweets)

VARIATION:  You can puree the sauce until smooth with a stick blender if you prefer. 

DIRECTIONS:   Make the cake batter per that recipe’s instructions, but add 1/4 c. of the strawberries to the batter.  Beat with a stick blender until smooth.  Fill mold slots half full, which made 8 little cakes for me (with other size molds, your mileage may vary).  Microwave on HI for 2 minutes or until center is dry to the touch.    Tip out of molds with the tip of a knife onto a waiting platter or service plates.  When cool, top with sauce made as follows:  Heat over medium heat the remaining strawberries, any juice and the sweetener.  When it begins to simmer, stir in the xanthan gum and stir constantly until thick.

NUTRITIONAL INFO:   Makes 8 small cakes, each contains:

113.6 calories, 8.33 g fat, 7.50 g carbs, 2.0 g fiber, 5.50 g NET CARBS, 4.57 g protein, 63 mg sodium

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Low Carb Blueberry Buckle

With your next purchase of blueberries you can make this delicious Blueberry Buckle to delight your family.  It’s great with coffee, as a snack or a dessert with a dollop of whipped cream on top.  If you’re wondering where it gets its name, when constructed  in frontier days, the fruit was placed on top of the cake.  The weight of the fruit would sink the berries during baking causing the cake around the edges of the buttered cast iron skillet to puff up and then fall inward over the fruit.  Nowadays, people often just stir the berries right into the cake batter, but they still sink, causing dimples in the top of the buckle.  Whichever way you construct yours, they are wonderful desserts.  If you are watching carbs even closer, you can lower the amount of berries, making it more like a traditional coffeecake.  However, traditionally they used a high ratio of fruit to batter in this popular frontier dessert.

This recipe is not suitable until you reach the late stages of Atkins carb re-introduction ladder.  Please note there is no sugar in this recipe as I am off all sweeteners.   It is sweet enough for me as written, but if you like things sweeter you could add 1/8-¼c. more sugar equivalent of your favorite sweetener either to the batter or sprinkled on top just before baking.

INGREDIENTS: 

1 c. Buttoni’s Low Carb Bake Mix (or other low-carb mix of choice)

½ tsp. sea salt

Zest from 1 small lemon

2 tsp. fresh lemon juice

2 large eggs, beaten

½ c. (1 stick) butter, unsalted, melted in a 9″ cake pan

2 c. fresh blueberries

1/4 c. granular erithritol or equivalent sweetener

DIRECTIONS:   Preheat oven to 350º.  Measure out dry ingredients into a mixing bowl.  Grate lemon zest and add to bowl.  Add the went ingredients and the berries.  Stir to mix and moisten all ingredients well but do not over mix.  Spoon into the already greased round cake pan.  Pop into 350º oven for 15 minutes or just until batter spots are dry to the touch.  Do not over cook.  Serve warm.

NUTRITIONAL INFO:  Makes 6 srvgs., each contains: (based on my bake mix)

261 cals, 21.23g fat, 13.1g carbs, 3.6g fiber, 9.5g NET CARBS (use fewer berries for lower carbs), 8.6g protein, 256 mg sodium

Strawberry Chocolate Torte

I’m not a big sweets eater, as many of my readers and forum acquaintances know by now.  But my husband is and I fix him low-carb treats for special occasions otherwise he WILL go buy the awful flour/sugar laden junk at the bakery.  This dessert I created for his Valentine’s Day treat some years back and thought I’d share it today since Valentines Day is just around the corner once again.   Where does time fly?

The basic chocolate cake batter in this recipe is actually not my recipe.  My inspiration was a recipe posted by a wonderful cook on LowCarbFriends forums named Gwen, known there as “The Chicken Lady”.  This cake is a testimonial to her incredible cooking skills. I’m very pleased with this chocolate cake!  And I can’t say that about many low-carb chocolate cakes I’ve tried. Despite it looking sinfully rich, it was very light.   I have made no changes to her original chocolate cake recipe.  🙂

I did bake my cake in ONE 9″ round cake (wax-paper lined) cake pan that is unusually deep (2½”) and the cake rose nearly to the top!  It would bake OK in two standard shallow 9″ cake pans also, but reduce the cooking time if you make that pan change.  You’ll have more trouble slicing it into 4 layers, and might prefer to just do a two-layer final cake instead of three.  Or you could bake the cake in a wax-paper lined stew pot/dutch oven.  That has worked for me many a time.  This cake is not suitable until the berries rung of the Atkins OWL carb reintroduction ladder.  Due to the artificial sweeteners and dairy, this dessert is not be suitable for Paleo-Primal followers without considerable modification.

VARIATION:  Substitute raspberries for the strawberries.

This cake is fairly carb pricey, but if you can’t afford the carbs, you could cut it into 12 pieces.  That’s a wee bit better.  This should be considered a very special occasion treat because it IS so carb pricey.  Be sure if substituting other than liquid sweeteners, to add in those carbs!

CHICKEN LADY’S CHOCOLATE CAKE INGREDIENTS: 

4 c. almond flour
liquid sweetener to equal 2 c. sugar
½ c. granular erythritol (or equivalent of 1/3 cup of sugar)
4 pkts. stevia (equivalent for 8 tsp. sugar)  
½ c. cup cocoa powder
2 t. baking powder
2 t. baking soda
½ t. salt
1 Tbsp. vanilla
1/3 c. butter or coconut oil, melted
4 eggs, beaten
1 c. sour cream

MY FROSTING/FILLING INGREDIENTS:

2½ c. heavy cream, whipped

Pinch (less than 1/16 tsp.) glucomannan powder, dusted over cream as you whip it (optional, to help firm up the whipped cream)

14 oz. frozen whole strawberries, thawed and drained of juice, chopped

1 c. fresh strawberries, chopped (or 1 c. more frozen berries, or use all fresh berries)

Sweetener of choice to taste

DIRECTIONS: Preheat oven to 350º.   Mix and beat the wet cake ingredients in a large mixing bowl.   If your almond flour isn’t room temperature, make it so and press out any lumps.  Measure and add in all dry ingredients to the bowl and stir well. Line your cake pan(s) with waxed paper or parchment.  Grease the sides of the pan(s) well.  Pour batter into pan spreading it evenly with a rubber spatula. Tap pan on counter to eliminate air pockets and pop into 350º oven.  Bake for about 60 minutes if using one, very deep pan like I did.  If using two 1″ x 9″ round cake pans, they will cook much faster, in about 25-30 minutes or so.   Toothpick test the center.  It should come out clean and dry when the the cake is done.  Completely cool before attempting to tip cake out onto a board to cut it into layers.  This cake can also be made in a rectangular 9 x 13″ pan, cut in half and each half then sliced laterally to form 4 layers (reserve 1 layer for another use as you only need 3 layers for this cake).  All sorts of possibilities with that cake size.

While cake is in the oven, make the frosting:  Whip the cream until thick.  Run the berries through a food processor (or chop coarsely) for a few seconds.  Fold the berries into the whipped cream. Dust the pinch of glucomannan powder over the mixture slowly, folding after each addition, until all of it has been incorporated.  Taste for sweetness and add your favorite sweetener to taste.  Chill frosting until cake is totally cool.

Next cut the cake layers:  I sliced the completely cooled cake very carefully with a long-bladed knife, using a piece of cardboard covered with foil to gently slide each layer onto to set aside while I filled/frosted the final creation.  This cake has a firm texture and is not as crumbly as some almond flour cakes.  All good, but you still need to be careful, as even firm cakes can break.

Place about 1¼ c. of the frosting on the bottom layer of the cake.  Spread evenly with a rubber spatula, going almost to the edges.  Place the second layer of cake gently on the top and press slightly.  Put another 1¼ c. frosting on this layer and spread it out evenly.  Place the top cake layer on the stack, press slightly and spread all remaining frosting on the top and sides. OPTIONAL GARNISH:  Decorate the top of your cake with fresh strawberry slices, a few strawberry leaves  or perhaps a sliced and “fanned out” single strawberry at the center.  Chill in the refrigerator with plastic wrap on top until ready to cut and serve.

This cake was simply DELICIOUS and I will definitely be making it again!   My thanks to The Chicken Lady for her wonderful chocolate cake recipe.  It truly made my Valentines treat a success!

CONFESSION TIME:  The reason I used both frozen and fresh berries in the topping is I only had one 14 oz. bag of the frozen diced unsweetened berries in my freezer.  I thought that would make enough frosting.  But 1½ c. cream and those berries didn’t make enough frosting to frost the sides of the cake!  So I had to whip up a little more frosting real quick with another cup of cream and berries, so the last batch of frosting had to be made with the few fresh berries I had on hand.

NUTRITIONAL INFO:   Makes 10 servings, using the sweeteners specified, each serving contains:

632 cals, 57.8 g fat, 20.4 g carbs, 7.05 g fiber, 13.35 g NET CARBS, 15.2 g protein, 521 mg sodium

Strawberry Chocolate Torte

I’m not a big sweets eater, as many of my readers and forum acquaintances know by now.  But my husband IS!  And since he’s Type 2 diabetic, I do try to fix him low-carb treats so he won’t go and buy the awful junk at the grocery store and bakery that is laden with flour and sugar.   This dessert I created for his Valentine’s Day treat some years back and thought I’d share it again since holidays are just around the corner.

The basic chocolate cake batter in this recipe is actually not my recipe.  My inspiration was a recipe posted by a wonderful cook on LowCarbFriends forums named Gwen, known there as “The Chicken Lady”.  This cake is a testimonial to her incredible cooking skills. I’m very pleased with this chocolate cake!  And I can’t say that about many low-carb chocolate cakes I’ve tried. Despite it looking sinfully rich, it was very light.   I have made no changes to her original cake recipe.  🙂

I did bake my cake in ONE 9″ round cake (wax-paper lined) cake pan that is unusually deep (2½”) and the cake rose nearly to the top!  It would bake OK in two standard shallow 9″ cake pans also, but reduce the cooking time if you make that pan change.  You’ll have more trouble slicing it into 4 layers, and might prefer to just do a two-layer final cake instead of three.  Or you could bake the cake in a wax-paper lined stew pot/dutch oven.  That has worked for me many a time.  This cake is not suitable until the berries rung of the Atkins OWL carb reintroduction ladder.  Due to the artificial sweeteners and dairy, this dessert is not be suitable for Paleo-Primal followers without considerable modification.

VARIATION:  Substitute raspberries for the strawberries.

This cake is fairly carb pricey, but if you can’t afford the carbs, you could cut it into 12 pieces.  That’s a wee bit better.  This should be considered a very special occasion treat because it IS so carb pricey.  Be sure if substituting other than liquid sweeteners, to add in those carbs!

CAKE INGREDIENTS: 

4 c. almond flour
liquid sweetener to equal 2 c. sugar
½ c. granular erythritol (or equivalent of 1/3 cup of sugar)
4 pkts. stevia (equivalent for 8 tsp. sugar)  
½ c. cup cocoa powder
2 t. baking powder
2 t. baking soda
½ t. salt
1 Tbsp. vanilla
1/3 c. butter or coconut oil, melted
4 eggs, beaten
1 c. sour cream

FROSTING INGREDIENTS:

2½ c. heavy cream, whipped

Pinch (less than 1/16 tsp.) glucomannan powder, dusted over cream as you whip it (optional, to help firm up the whipped cream)

14 oz. frozen whole strawberries, thawed and drained of juice, chopped

1 c. fresh strawberries, chopped (or 1 c. more frozen berries, or use all fresh berries)

Sweetener of choice to taste

DIRECTIONS: Preheat oven to 350º.   Mix and beat the wet cake ingredients in a large mixing bowl.   If your almond flour isn’t room temperature, make it so and press out any lumps.  Measure and add in all dry ingredients to the bowl and stir well. Line your cake pan(s) with waxed paper or parchment.  Grease the sides of the pan(s) well.  Pour batter into pan spreading it evenly with a rubber spatula. Tap pan on counter to eliminate air pockets and pop into 350º oven.  Bake for about 60 minutes if using one, very deep pan like I did.  If using two 1″ x 9″ round cake pans, they will cook much faster, in about 25-30 minutes or so.   Toothpick test the center.  It should come out clean and dry when the the cake is done.  Completely cool before attempting to tip cake out onto a board to cut it into layers.  This cake can also be made in a rectangular 9 x 13″ pan, cut in half and each half then sliced laterally to form 4 layers (reserve 1 layer for another use as you only need 3 layers for this cake).  All sorts of possibilities with that cake size.

While cake is in the oven, make the frosting:  Whip the cream until thick.  Run the berries through a food processor (or chop coarsely) for a few seconds, but leave them coarse.  Fold the berries into the whipped cream. Dust the pinch of glucomannan powder over the mixture slowly, folding after each addition, until all of it has been incorporated.  Taste for sweetness and add your favorite sweetener to taste.  Chill frosting until cake is totally cool.

Next cut the cake layers:  I sliced the completely cooled cake very carefully with a long-bladed knife, using a piece of cardboard covered with foil to gently slide each layer onto to set aside while I filled/frosted the final creation.  This cake has a firm texture and is not as crumbly as some almond flour cakes.  All good, but you still need to be careful, as even firm cakes can break.

Place about 1¼ c. of the frosting on the bottom layer of the cake.  Spread evenly with a rubber spatula, going almost to the edges.  Place the second layer of cake gently on the top and press slightly.  Put another 1¼ c. frosting on this layer and spread it out evenly.  Place the top cake layer on the stack, press slightly and spread all remaining frosting on the top and sides. OPTIONAL GARNISH:  Decorate the top of your cake with fresh strawberry slices, a few strawberry leaves  or perhaps a sliced and “fanned out” single strawberry at the center.  Chill in the refrigerator with plastic wrap on top until ready to cut and serve.

This cake was simply DELICIOUS and I will definitely be making it again!   My thanks to The Chicken Lady for her wonderful chocolate cake recipe.  It truly made my Valentines treat a success!

CONFESSION TIME:  The reason I used both frozen and fresh berries in the topping is I only had one 14 oz. bag of the frozen diced unsweetened berries in my freezer.  I thought that would make enough frosting.  But 1½ c. cream and those berries didn’t make enough frosting to frost the sides of the cake!  So I had to whip up a little more frosting real quick with another cup of cream and berries, so the last batch of frosting had to be made with the few fresh berries I had on hand.

NUTRITIONAL INFO:   Makes 10 servings, using the sweeteners specified, each serving contains:

632 cals, 57.8 g fat, 20.4 g carbs, 7.05 g fiber, 13.35 g NET CARBS, 15.2 g protein, 521 mg sodium

Pumpkin Cake

I could eat my weight in this moist, delicious pumpkin cake.  With the holidays just around the corner, this one is sure to be a hit.

INGREDIENTS:

2 c. almond flour

1 c. plain whey protein powder

1 c. Splenda or equivalent sweetener of choice

2 tsp. baking powder

1/8 tsp. salt

1 T. + 1 tsp. cinnamon

1 tsp. ground cloves

½ tsp. nutmeg

8 oz. cream cheese, softened

3/4 c. (1½ sticks) butter, softened

1 c. fresh (or canned) cooked pumpkin puree

4 large eggs

½ c. sugar-free maple syrup or caramel sugar-free syrup

1 tsp. vanilla

DIRECTIONS:  Preheat oven to 350º.  Line the bottom of a tube pan with parchment cut-to-fit, or use a lightly oiled non-stick bundt pan.  Oil the sides and post of your tube pan as well.  In a medium bowl, soften cream cheese and butter.  With electric mixer, blend them well.  Add eggs, syrup, pumpkin and vanilla.  Whip on high until very smooth.  In a separate bowl, measure out all dry ingredients and stir well to blend to a uniform mixture.  Add to the wet ingredients and beat with the electric mixer until a smooth batter is achieved.  With a rubber spatula, scrape the batter into the cake pan spreading it as evenly as possible.  Bake at 350º for 50-55 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean and dry.  Cool almost totally before loosening with a knife and tipping onto a cake plate for serving.   You can top with dollop of fresh whipped cream if you  like.

VARIATION:  Use lightly oiled silicone muffin pans for a muffin version.  Should make 12 large muffins that will take about 20-25 minutes to bake at 350º.

NUTRITIONAL INFO:  Makes 14 slices, each contains:

295 calories, 25.8 g fat, 7.28 g carbs, 2.30 g fiber, 4.98 g NET CARBS, 12.4 g protein, 287 mg sodium

Low Carb Blueberry Buckle

With your next purchase of blueberries you can make this delicious Blueberry Buckle to delight your family.  It’s great with coffee, as a snack or a dessert with a dollop of whipped cream on top.  If you’re wondering where it gets its name, when constructed  in frontier days, the fruit was placed on top of the cake.  The weight of the fruit would sink the berries during baking causing the cake around the edges of the buttered cast iron skillet to puff up and then fall inward over the fruit.  Nowadays, people often just stir the berries right into the cake batter, but they still sink, causing dimples in the top of the buckle.  Whichever way you construct yours, they are wonderful desserts.  If you are watching carbs even closer, you can lower the amount of berries, making it more like a traditional coffeecake.  However, traditionally they used a high ratio of fruit to batter in this popular frontier dessert.

This recipe is not suitable until you reach the late stages of Atkins carb re-introduction ladder.  Please note there is no sugar in this recipe as I am off all sweeteners.   It is sweet enough for me as written, but if you like things sweeter you could add 1/8-¼c. more sugar equivalent of your favorite sweetener either to the batter or sprinkled on top just before baking.

INGREDIENTS: 

1 c. Buttoni’s Low Carb Bake Mix (or other low-carb mix of choice)

½ tsp. sea salt

Zest from 1 small lemon

2 tsp. fresh lemon juice

2 large eggs, beaten

½ c. (1 stick) butter, unsalted, melted in a 9″ cake pan

2 c. fresh blueberries

1/4 c. granular erithritol or equivalent sweetener

DIRECTIONS:   Preheat oven to 350º.  Measure out dry ingredients into a mixing bowl.  Grate lemon zest and add to bowl.  Add the went ingredients and the berries.  Stir to mix and moisten all ingredients well but do not over mix.  Spoon into the already greased round cake pan.  Pop into 350º oven for 15 minutes or just until batter spots are dry to the touch.  Do not over cook.  Serve warm.

NUTRITIONAL INFO:  Makes 6 srvgs., each contains: (based on my bake mix)

261 cals, 21.23g fat, 13.1g carbs, 3.6g fiber, 9.5g NET CARBS (use fewer berries for lower carbs), 8.6g protein, 256 mg sodium

Chocolate Mini Bundt Cake

This is what I made my husband for his Valentine’s Day treat.  He’s not going to have it until dinner but I think he’ll like it.  I used a little single serving cake recipe I worked up in 2009 when I first started Atkins for my starting point and just changed it up a bit as well as decorated it to make it special for the occasion.  The Jelly Bellies I decorated with for the holiday occasion are NOT included in the nutritional stats below. It is difficult to get chocolate desserts sweet enough with artificial sweeteners, so I find 2-3 in combination does the job better than just using one and increasing the amount.  Thus the 3 different ones in this.

This recipe is not suitable until you are closer to your goal weight in Atkins Pre-Maintenance or Maintenance as there is a wee bit of flour product in my bake mix.  Feel free to use any other low-carb bake mix you have on hand in this recipe.

INGREDIENTS:

¼ c. my Buttoni’s Low Carb Bake Mix (or other low-carb mix)

1T.+1tsp. cocoa powder (I used Hershey’s)

Dash salt

2 T. erythritol, granular

1 T. Splenda

Dash pure stevia powder (I use KAL brand)

1 T. melted butter

1 large egg, beaten

½ tsp. vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS:  Preheat oven.  Set your mini bundt pan on a small baking pan.  If you don’t own one, use a jumbo muffin cup or small, straight-sided ovenproof bowl.  Add the butter to your pan and pop in oven on a sheet pan to melt the butter as the oven preheats.  Take it out when butter melts and brush it up the sides of the bundt pan.  Then pour off the butter into a small medium mixing bowl.  Add the vanilla and egg and beat well.  Measure the dry ingredients onto the top of the wet and stir well.  Scrape into the buttered mini bundt pan, tap to settle the batter and put back into hot oven.  Bake for 20-22 minutes or until dry to the touch or toothpick comes out clean/dry.  Cool and frost if desired.  Since I wasn’t eating this, for my frosting I just melted a block of Lindt 70% chocolate with 2 T. butter and drizzled over cake.  The frosting is NOT included in the stats below.

NUTRITIONAL INFO:  Makes 1 mini cake which contains: (not including any frosting)

322 cals, 23.4g fat, 14.4g carbs, 4.9g fiber, 9.5 NET CARBS, 16.4g protein, 437 mg sodium

Low Carb Blueberry Buckle

I had some blueberries in the fridge I really needed to use up, as I’m not eating sweets these days.  Hubby was griping I’d not baked anything in ages, so I made this old-fashioned buckle.  If you’re wondering where it got its name, when constructed  in frontier days, the fruit was placed on top of the cake.  The weight of the fruit would sink the berries during baking causing the cake around the edges of the buttered cast iron skillet to puff up and then fall inward over the fruit.  Nowadays, people often just stir the berries right into the cake batter, but they still sink, causing dimples in the top of the buckle.  Whichever way you construct yours, they are wonderful desserts.  If you are watching carbs even tighter, you can lower the amount of berries.  But traditionally they used a high ratio to batter in this popular frontier dessert.  This recipe is not suitable until you reach the late stages of Atkins carb re-introduction ladder.  Please note there is no sugar in this recipe as I am off all sweeteners.   It is sweet enough for me as written, but if you like things sweeter you could add ¼c. sugar equivalent of your favorite sweetener either to the batter or sprinkled on top just before baking.

INGREDIENTS: 

1 c. Buttoni’s Low Carb Bake Mix (or other low-carb mix of choice)

½ tsp. sea salt

Zest from 1 small lemon

2 tsp. fresh lemon juice

2 large eggs, beaten

½ c. (1 stick) butter, unsalted, melted in a 9″ cake pan

2 c. fresh blueberries

DIRECTIONS:   Preheat oven to 350º.  Measure out dry ingredients into a mixing bowl.  Grate lemon zest and add to bowl.  Add the went ingredients and the berries.  Stir to mix and moisten all ingredients well but do not over mix.  Spoon into the already greased round cake pan.  Pop into 350º oven for 15 minutes or just until batter spots are dry to the touch.  Do not over cook.  Serve warm.

NUTRITIONAL INFO:  Makes 6 srvgs., each contains: (based on my bake mix)

261 cals, 21.23g fat, 13.1g carbs, 3.6g fiber, 9.5g NET CARBS (use fewer berries for lower carbs), 8.6g protein, 256 mg sodium

 

 

 

Sock-It-To-Me Cake

 

This was my mother-in-law’s favorite cake.  While still living in her own home, she made it every year at Christmas.  What didn’t get eaten at Christmas Eve dinner, was finished off with breakfast coffee Christmas morning.  She always made hers  with 1 c. chopped pecans, but I leave them out as my husband isn’t so fond of nuts.  To be more authentic, you could substitute sour cream in for the heavy cream, but carbs will be  a tad higher if you do. This recipe is not suitable until the grains rung of Atkins OWL (Ongoing Weight Loss) carb ladder.  Carbquik, much like Bisquick, has some flour in it, albeit specially processed to reduce the carb load. I order my Carbquik at Netrition.com, but you might be able to buy it at your local health food store.

More delicious low-carb recipes can be at your fingertips with your very own set of Jennifer Eloff and friends’ best-selling cookbooks LOW CARBING AMONG FRIENDS.  She has collaborated with famous low-carb Chef George Stella and several other talented chefs to bring you a wealth of delicious recipes you are going to want to try.  Even a few of my recipes are in her cookbooks! Order your 10-volume set TODAY for special pricing! (also available individually) from Amazon or: here

INGREDIENTS:

2 T. granular Splenda

2 tsp. cinnamon

1 c. Jennifer Eloff’s Splendid Low Carb Bake Mix (for gluten free, use her Gluten-Free Bake Mix)

1½ c. CarbQuik or other low-carb bake mix (for gluten free, use 1½ c. more Jennifer’s Gluten-Free mix)

½ c. plain whey protein

2 T. golden flax meal

1 T. coconut flour

1 tsp. baking powder

½ c. + 2 T. erythritol

3 large eggs, beaten

3 T. sugar-free maple syrup

1/4 tsp. maple extract

4 T. melted butter, unsalted (for batter)

2 T. melted butter, unsalted (to drizzle on cake)

1 tsp. vanilla extract

liquid Splenda to equal 1/3 c. sugar (about 20 drops)

2 T. water

¼ c. + 1 T. heavy cream

DIRECTIONS:  Preheat oven to 350º.  PLEASE NOTE THIS IS NOT A FULL-SIZED 9″ CAKE.  Grease an 8″ round, deep cake pan or 8″ round ceramic baking dish (the Corning “French” vegetable dish I used is 8″ in diameter, 3″ deep and the cake rose all the way to the top without overflowing).   Mix 2 T. granular Splenda with cinnamon (and nuts, if using) on paper plate and set aside for now.  In a large mixing bowl,  measure and mix all the dry ingredients. In a separate mixing bowl, microwave melt the 4 T. butter.  Beat in egg and add all other wet ingredients and whisk until fairly smooth.  Stir wet ingredients into dry.     Blend well.   Drop approximately 1/3 of the batter onto bottom of baking dish by tablespoons sort of randomly.  Sprinkle with about 1 T. of the cinnamon topping.  Drop another layer of 1T. blobs of batter on top.  Again sprinkle with about 1 T. cinnamon topping.  Drop the final 1/3 of the batter on top in 1T. blobs and sprinkle with remaining cinnamon topping.  Drizzle 2 T. melted butter across top of cake evenly.  Pop into 350º oven and bake for about 30 minutes.  Gently remove from oven and check for doneness with toothpick stuck in center.  Mine took exactly 40 minutes.  It is done when toothpick stuck in center comes out completely dry.  Cool 5-8 minutes before tipping out onto serving platter.  Can be enjoyed either warm or cooled.

NUTRITIONAL INFO:  Makes 8 slices, each contains:

250 calories, 20.7 g  fat, 14.23 g  carbs, 9.96 g  fiber, 4.27 NET CARBS  (4.6 NC if you add 2 , oz. chopped pecans), 18.49 g  protein, 218 mg sodium

 

Meyer Lemon Pound Cake

My lemon pound cake is basically my dessert bread batter with the zest and juice of 1 Meyer lemon added.  Comes out out very moist and incredibly delicious!  It has been a very popular recipe on my blog.  If you’ve never tasted them before, Meyer lemons are a cross between a lemon and a Mandarin orange in flavor.  A very aromatic taste but much milder than regular lemons to me!  You can make this recipe with regular lemons if you prefer a more intense flavor.  The Meyer lemons are not always available in your grocery stores.  My local store has them once in awhile in the summertime.  I snatch up a bag and make this recipe whenever they are on the shelf!

This recipe is not suitable until you reach the nuts and seeds rung of the Atkins OWL carb ladder.  It is suitable for Primal if you use a plan-acceptable sweetener.  This pound cake is so moist, it is delicious without frosting.  But it was also good with a cream cheese frosting made from 4 oz. cream cheese, juice and zest of another Meyer lemon and a little sweetener.  But I didn’t calculate any frosting in the nutritional info below, so be sure to add in numbers for any frosting you put on this cake.

More delicious low-carb treats can be at your fingertips with your very own set of Jennifer Eloff and friends’ best-selling cookbooks LOW CARBING AMONG FRIENDS.  They are a collaboration of several great cooks including famous low-carb Chef George Stella.  The collection is a wealth of delicious recipes you are going to want to try.  Order your 10-volume set TODAY at special discounted prices! (books also available individually) from Amazon or here: http://amongfriends.us/order.php

INGREDIENTS:

1/3 c. coconut flour

2/3 c. almond flour

¼ tsp. sea salt

1 T. glucomannan powder (optional, but improves texture & fiber)

Granular sweetener to equal 3/4 c. sugar

5 drops liquid Splenda

3 T. coconut oil

1 stick unsalted butter

½ tsp. vanilla

Juice of 1 Meyer lemon (or regular lemon)

Zest of 1 Meyer lemon (or regular lemon)

¼ tsp. Boyajian lemon oil  (see “where to buy” tab atop this page)

8 large eggs, beaten

DIRECTIONS:   Preheat oven to 350º.  Melt butter and coconut oil in microwave in a medium mixing bowl.  Add almond flour, coconut flour, salt and glucomannan powder to the melted butter and oil and beat with a spoon until smooth.    Add vanilla, lemon zest, juice and Boyajian lemon oil now.  Add sweeteners and beaten eggs.  Beat with spoon until all lumps are out of batter.  Using a rubber spatula, scrape the batter evenly into a lightly oiled non-stick loaf pan (mine is extra long, but shallow 4″x 2.5″x10).  Level batter as best you can with the spatula.  Pop into preheated oven for 40-45 minutes or until it is lightly browned on top and passes the toothpick test in the center.  Remove and cool before attempting to remove from pan and slicing. Enjoy plain or with a thin lemon frosting on top.

NUTRITIONAL INFO:   Makes fourteen ½” thick slices, each contains:

168 cals, 15.3g fat, 3.56g carbs, 2.03g fiber, 1.53g NET CARBS, 90 mg sodium

Apple-Caramel Snack Cake

I continue to try new versions of my modified Atkins MIM (Muffin-in-a-Minute) recipe.  I’m trying to increase my flax intake for a health issue and so far these flax-based gems are helping me.  To the basic Atkins MIM recipe, I added a couple items to improve texture & flavor.  I also increased sweeteners and the amount of butter.  The resulting muffins/cakes are baking up consistently moist and very tasty.

For this one, I used diced apple, caramel sugar-free syrup and cinnamon.  Yummy! This version is not suitable until you get closer to goal weight and are at the higher-carb fruits rung of the Atkins OWL carb-re-introduction ladder.

Our latest three volumes of LOW CARBING AMONG FRIENDS cookbooks are calling you.  Volume 8 and Volume 9 are almost exclusively comprised of my recipes!  Included in both editions are a few tasty new creations of my dear friends George Stella and Jennifer Eloff.   Volume 10 is hot off the press with more delectable goodies.  Special prices currently.  There’s a deal for the 10 volume set for around $99!  Hurry and place your order today before this offer ends.  Visit our direct order page at: https://amongfriends.us/Secret-SALE.php.  When you purchase our books, we would sure appreciate you stopping by Amazon to leave a review there.

DRY INGREDIENTS:  (I like to measure out 10 sets of the dry ingredients to put in plastic bags so I can have them on hand like a “ready mix”)

¼ c. golden flax meal

½ tsp. baking powder

1 T. granular Splenda (or equivalent sweetener of choice)

1 T. Resistant Wheat Starch

1 tsp. oat fiber (do not substitute oat bran or oat flour)

1/3 tsp. cinnamon

WET INGREDIENTS:

1 T. melted butter

1 large egg, beaten

2 T. sugar-free Caramel syrup (or almond, or vanilla)

1/2 c. apple, diced

DIRECTIONS:  In a 5-6″ round or oval dish melt the butter in the microwave.  Add the sugar-free syrup & stir with fork (to cool down the butter).  Add the egg and beat all together.  Add in all dry ingredients and stir well with a fork.  Add in your diced apple and stir well. Microwave on HI for about 1 minute 30-40 seconds.  Slide knife tip between cake and bowl and tip cake onto serving plate.  Cut in half for two servings.  This batter rises as it bakes and then slightly falls when removed from microwave…..that is normal………it is done.

VARIATION:  Add some chopped pecans (recalculate those into numbers below if you do).

NUTRITIONAL INFO:  Makes 1 cake (2 servings) the size of 2 muffins.  Each half of the cake is a serving and contains:

200.5 cals, 14.3g fat, 16.16g carbs, 9.15g fiber, 7g NET CARBS (use less apple to lower), 5.9g protein, 134 mg sodium

 

 

Pineapple Spoon Cake

I’ve been playing around with the classic Atkins MIM (Muffin-in-a-Minute) recipe lately and have come up with several tasty versions.  I’ll be sharing another one here today that I’m calling Pineapple Spoon Cake because it is so moist you simply have to eat it with a spoon.  I’m presenting this recipe with two versions, the original with real pineapple and also a lower-carb second version that substitutes pineapple extract for the real pineapple.  Both are quite good.

I’m trying to increase my flax intake for a health issue and so far these flax-based gems are doing the trick.  To the basic Atkins MIM recipe, I added a couple texture enhancers to improve texture & flavor.  I also increased sweeteners and the amount of butter.  The resulting muffins/cakes are baking up consistently moist and very tasty, especially this one!  All have been sturdy enough to slice or hand-hold but this one and it really requires a spoon to eat.  It’s just too moist to eat with your hands.   Only the extract version of this cake is suitable for Atkins Induction Phase and Keto programs.  Once you’re nearing or at goal weight, the real pineapple version is a must try!

DRY INGREDIENTS: I like to measure out 10 sets of the dry ingredients to put in plastic bags so I can have them on hand like a “ready mix” for when I get a snack craving.  Then all I have to do is add the melted butter, egg, syrup and flavoring item.

¼ c. golden flax meal

½ tsp. baking powder

1 T. granular Splenda (or equivalent sweetener)

1 T. Resistant Wheat Starch

1 tsp. oat fiber (do not substitute high-carb oat bran or oat flour!)

Optional:  Dash ground cinnamon

WET INGREDIENTS:

1 T. melted butter

1 large egg, beaten

2 T. crushed pineapple juice pack

1 T. pineapple or almond sugar-free syrup

LOWER-CARB VARIATION:  Substitute 1/2 tsp. pineapple extract for the crushed pineapple

DIRECTIONS:  In a 5-6″ round or oval dish, melt the butter in your microwave.  Add the sugar-free syrup (to cool down the butter).  Add the egg and beat all together.  Add in the dry ingredients and stir well with a fork.  Add in your choice of flavorings below by stirring to blend or dropping fruit bits in by hand evenly.  Microwave on HI for about 1 minute 30-40 seconds.  This batter rises as it bakes and then slightly falls when removed from microwave…..that is normal.  It is done when dry to touch in center.  If not dry to touch, cook 5-10 seconds longer, as ovens can vary.  Remove and slightly cool. Cut in half with a knife and spoon half onto two individual plates or bowls to serve with a spoon to eat.

NUTRITIONAL INFO:  Makes 1 cake that is two servings.  Bake in two separate ramekins if you prefer.  Numbers do not include photo garnish (whipped cream and additional teaspoon pineapple).

Each half of the plain cake contains:

With Real Pineapple:  200 cals, 14.25g fat, 16.05g carbs, 8.45g fiber, 8.6g NET CARBS, 6.05g protein, 136mg sodium

With Pineapple Extract: 181 cals, 14.25g fat, 11.6g carbs, 8.2g fiber, 3.4g NET CARBS, 5.8g protein, 134mg sodium

Miniature Black Forest Cake

This has been my signature dessert for many years but of course, in it’s larger incarnation, so it would serve a crowd for dinner.  My original recipe uses real flour and real sugar.  I’ve revamped the  recipe to make it Atkins friendly now, which was quite an undertaking.  First trial wasn’t so good actually.    I’d be lying if I said this final version is as good as the original sugar-flour version. But this is a close facsimile in appearance and flavor in my and my husband’s opinion.  It may yet undergo further “fine-tuning”.

This dessert is surprisingly light, so don’t be fooled by it’s rich appearance.  It is always well-received when I serve this to guests.   This is not a terribly sweet dessert, neither the original cake nor my low-carb version.  So you may want to do some tasting for sweetness along the way in case this isn’t sweet enough for you.

There are four layers of cake and three different filling layers so it really takes a bit of effort to put together from start to finish. But none of the steps are particularly difficult nor do they require unusual ingredients.  It just takes some time and time for the flavors and Kirsch to mellow.  As you blow your daily sweetener limit on this, and it’s a bit carb pricey, I usually only do this dessert for VERY special occasions. 🙂  This dessert is not suitable until you reach Maintenance/Goal weight due to the higher carbs.

We don’t entertain as much as we used to and just for the two of us, I don’t like to make my full-size Black Forest Cake .  But on Valentine’s Day and my husband’s birthday, and sometimes for our Wedding Anniversary, I will do this very special somewhat carb-pricey cake as it is his very favorite dessert.   This recipe is not suitable until the legumes rung of OWL as I use my favorite black bean chocolate cake recipe by Lauren over at the Healthy Indulgences blog  . Lauren’s cake is actually better than the original cake modified  🙂 One of the best low-carb chocolate cakes I’ve come across to date.

For this mini Black Forest cake, I make up one whole recipe of the cake, which makes 3 small round 5″ cakes.  I use two for this recipe and reserving the third cake for some other dessert use (or freeze it).

I have carefully calculated only 2/3 of the nutritional values on cake for the serving nutritional information below.   Of course, you can attempt to cut this into 5 or 6 servings and lower the carb count, but I forewarn you cutting this cake into smaller pieces is extremely difficult given its height.  You could also substitute Eden Black Soy Beans pureed and lower the carb count considerably, but the flavor and texture of the cake will change a bit.

DIRECTIONS: 

STEP I –  Cherry Filling:The day before needed, mix the following cherry filling ingredients in small saucepan except for the xanthan gum.  Cook over medium heat stirring, adding xanthan gum in several light dustings, stirring well after each addition of xanthan gum.  This is to avoid lumps in the thickener.  I go for medium thick on this filling.  Refrigerate overnight.  If you got it too thick, not to worry.  That’ll never be noticed in this cake.  Stir it up to loosen the sauce before applying to cake.

CHERRY FILLING INGREDIENTS:

1/2 can red sour cherries in natural juice, drained, saving liquid
1/4 c. of the reserved cherry liquid
liquid sweetener to = 1/4 c. sugar (I used 1½ tsp. Fiberfit)
1/4 tsp. xanthan gum
1 T.  Kirschwasser liqueur (cherry brandy)
few drops red food coloring
1/4 tsp. almond extract

STEP II – Chocolate Mousse: The day before cake is being served, prepare the chocolate mousse.

CHOCOLATE MOUSSE INGREDIENTS:

1 T. cocoa

½ pkg. (1 tsp.) unflavored gelatin

1 egg, beaten

1 c. total heavy cream

4 tsp. total granular Splenda (or 4 tsp. sugar equivalent of other sweetener)

½ tsp. vanilla extract

1 T. Kirschwasser

Combine the cocoa with gelatin, the beaten egg and ½ c. of the heavy cream in a saucepan.  Heat to boiling over medium heat and then remove from heat.  Add 2 tsp. granular Splenda and Kirschwasser and stir well.  In a separate bowl, whip the other ½ c. heavy cream until very thick and add remaining 2 tsp. of Splenda and the vanilla. Spoon a little of the whipped cream into the cooling chocolate mixture and stir to temper the chocolate a bit.  Now pour the chocolate mixture into the rest of the whipped cream and fold the two mixtures into each other until smooth.   Taste for sweetness and add liquid Splenda to your taste.  Chill the mousse overnight or for a couple hours for flavors to mellow.  Remove from fridge a bit ahead of applying to cake in case it is too stiff.

STEP III – The Cakes: The day you plan to serve, early in day, bake your cakes. I say early, because this cake needs to be assembled for at least 2-4 hours for the kirsch to soak into the bottom layer of cake.  Preheat oven to 325º.  I use this small silicone pan to bake my cakes which requires no greasing (pictured below).  But 5″ quiche pans would work for this.   Be sure to grease your pans well, and wax-paper the bottoms, too if not using silicone pans.   This batter recipe will make 3 cakes this size, however only two of the cakes are needed to make this dessert.  Save the third cake to frost for snacks or for some other use.

CAKE INGREDIENTS: (Yes, this is Lauren of Healthy Indulgence’s chocolate cake recipe……the best!)

20 oz. black beans, drained and rinsed (I just use one 15 oz. can)

5 large eggs

1 T. water

1 T. vanilla (yes, that much!)

¼ tsp. salt

6 T. unsalted butter, softened

3/4 c. erythritol, powdered

2 pkts. stevia

6 T. unsweetened cocoa powder

½ tsp. baking powder

½ tsp. baking soda

Preheat oven to 325º.  Process the erythritol to a powder (if you buy granular like me).  Add the drained, rinsed beans, soft butter, vanilla, eggs and water and process until all is smooth.  Mix dry ingredients in a medium bowl and add to the mixture in the processor.  Pulse a few times to blend batter well.  Of course, this can be done with an electric mixer.  Spoon batter equally (This is really important) into the three pans.  They will be approximately 3/4 full, but don’t worry, mine did not overflow.  Place pans on a cookie sheet if using silicone pans.  If using metal pans, be sure your oven shelf is level and level pans with a skewer or metal coat hangar if need be, as cake batter needs to be level in the pans.  Bake at 325º for about 30 minutes.  Ovens vary so check and if still soft in the center, bake another 10 minutes or so. The cakes are done when dry to the touch and set in the center.  Toothpick will test dry in the center as well.  Remove from oven and completely cool before attempting to remove from the pans.

STEP IV – FINAL ASSEMBLY  AND FROSTING:

Whip 1 c. heavy cream and add ½ tsp. vanilla and a few drops of liquid Splenda, or to taste.  Set aside while you cut the cakes.

Gently tip cakes out of pans.  Set one cake onto serving plate.  With a long-bladed serrated knife, with a gentle motion, carefully cut laterally each cake into two thin layers as even as you can get them.  Gently lift top layer off this first cake with BOTH hands slipping fingers toward center of cake to support it and prevent it breaking in half.  (I have a piece of square of sheet metal I slide under the cake to support it while moving to prevent breakage).  Gently set this layer on the counter until needed.

On bottom layer of cake, spread the cherry filling.  Carefully lift and place next thin layer of cake on top.  Now spread the chocolate mousse on top of that layer evenly.  Slice second cake in similar manner as you did the first.  Gently lift and add the third layer of cake on top of the stack.  Spread with a ½ ” of whipped cream.  Place the final layer of cake on top and now ice the entire cake with the remaining whipped cream, spreading evenly on sides and top so no chocolate cake or fillings are visible.   Dust top of cake with shaved chocolate and sling a little also on the sides.  If it falls all over the serving platter, that just makes the presentation prettier in my opinion.  If you have one, place a whole maraschino cherry with stem and a sprig of mint in the center of the cake for visual impact.

Chill well (at least 2 hours) covered with a dome or inverted soup pot.  Cut cake into four quadrants/servings.  Enjoy!

NUTRITIONAL INFO:  Makes 4 adult servings, each contains:

450 cals, 28.95g fat, 24.32g carbs, 5.85g fiber, 18.47g NET CARBS (Cut into 5-6 servings to lower), 17 g  protein, 549 mg sodium

If interested in cutting into smaller servings to pull down the numbers, the entire cake has 1764 calories, 115.4g fat, 97.2g carbs, 23.4g fiber, 73.8g net carbs, 66.92 g protein and 2196 mg sodium.  So cutting into 5 pieces lowers each serving to 14.76g net carbs; cutting it into 6 pieces lowers each serving to 12.3g net carbs.  I repeat, however, it will be difficult to cut the slices this small without them falling apart on you upon slicing.  That’s one reason I always do the bigger cake version for company. 🙂

Mini Boston Cream Pie

Another treat for consideration this Valentine’s Day.  I’ve often wondered why they call this dessert a “pie”.  I’ve always figured it was because pie tins were more available than the type of cake pan we think of today when this dish was created by a Boston chef. It’s my husband’s favorite cake, actually.  He asked me if I thought I could make a low-carb version of his favorite cake and I decided to give it a try.  This famous dessert is only as good as the cake it’s made with.  I used Nancy’s 3 Minute Vanilla Cake on Linda Genaw’s site.  So I thought that would be a good starting point.  I baked two of those (slightly modified) in 6″ ceramic quiche dishes.  This recipe is not suitable for Induction.

CREAM FILLING INGREDIENTS:  Whisk the following well in a small bowl.  Chill for 20-30 minutes.

½ package sugar-free vanilla pudding powder

¼ c. heavy cream

½ c. water

If you prefer to make your pastry cream from scratch, I would recommend DJfoodie’s Pastry Cream recipe, but the stats below were calculated on the cream made with the dry pudding powder.

CHOCOLATE FROSTING INGREDIENTS:  Make a recipe of this frosting and use 1/2 of it to frost this small cake.  Refrigerate or freeze the remaining half for other uses.  Exactly 1/2 of the recipe has been calculated in the nutritional info below.

CAKE INGREDIENTS:

4 T. butter, unsalted

2 eggs, beaten

4 T. water

½ c. granular Splenda (or equivalent liquid sweetener)

¼ c. golden flax meal

¼ c. almond flour

2/3 c. whey protein, unflavored, unsweetened

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1 tsp. baking powder

DIRECTIONS:   In your microwave, melt 2 T. of the butter in each of two small 6″ quiche dishes.  Add 1 beaten egg and 2 T. of water to each dish.  Stir well to blend.  Next add to each baking dish: ¼ c. Splenda (or equivalent liquid sweetener) , 2 T. flax meal, 2 T. almond flour, 1/3 c. whey protein, ½ tsp. vanilla extract and ½ tsp. baking powder.  Stir well until completely smooth.  Microwave each layer for about 70 seconds or until center is dry and spring back when touched.  Remove and cool slightly.  Using a flexible spatula, gently tip/lift out layer to your serving plate.

Remove cream from refrigerator and stir once for smoothness.  Gently spread a ¼-½” layer of cream onto bottom layer of cake, which may not use it all up.  If you’ve got kids, not a problem.  They’ll be happy to take care of the leftovers for ya!  😉  Don’t get the cream too close to the edges of the cake or it will ooze out when layer #2 goes on.

Gently remove second cake from the dish and set it carefully on top of the cream layer.  Slightly press to seat it well.  Now spread a thin layer of frosting on the top of the cake.  Frosting the sides is tricky, as the cream tends to want to ooze out and mix with the frosting.  Not a problem, just smooth such spots back and forth and the cream and frosting will blend and nobody will ever know but you.  😉

Store uneaten cake in the refrigerator.  Chill cake for 30 minutes or so to set the frosting and it’s ready to serve.  I find this cake gets firmer when totally cold, so the next day, if any leftover, I like to pull it out of the fridge for an hour before serving so the cake and frosting return to their softer state.  🙂

NUTRITIONAL INFO:  Makes 6 servings, each contains:  (Carbs will be lower if you use liquid sweetener)

271 cals. , 23 g  fat, 8.7g  carbs, 2.22g  fiber, 6.48g NET CARBS, 13 g protein, 250 mg sodium

SPECIAL NOTE:  For those that want a bigger slice (with a higher carb price to pay):  1/4 of the cake=406 calories, 13.05 carbs, 3.33 g fiber, 9.72 g NET CARBS, 19.1 g protein, and 374 mg sodium.

Hearts with Strawberry Sauce

I think I’ll make these for my husband for Valentine’s Day.  🙂  I have made them in years past and he just loves them with vanilla ice cream.  I prefer mine either as is or with a small spoon of sweetened whipped cream on top.  I double a small cake recipe so there are few leftovers.   This kind of portion control works best for me.  😉   Below is a photo of the silicone pan I use, but any large muffin or shortcake pan works:  This recipe is not suitable until you reach the grains level of Phase 2 Atkins.

INGREDIENTS:

2 recipes my Einkorn Individual Vanilla Cake

1¼ c. whole, frozen strawberries (no sugar added)

¼ tsp xanthan gum (or favorite thickener)

4 drops liquid sweetener of choice (I used EzSweets)

VARIATION:  You can puree the sauce until smooth with a stick blender if you prefer. 

DIRECTIONS:   Make the cake batter per that recipe’s instructions, but add 1/4 c. of the strawberries to the batter.  Beat with a stick blender until smooth.  Fill mold slots half full, which made 8 little cakes for me (with other size molds, your mileage may vary).  Microwave on HI for 2 minutes or until center is dry to the touch.    Tip out of molds with the tip of a knife onto a waiting platter or service plates.  When cool, top with sauce made as follows:  Heat over medium heat the remaining strawberries, any juice and the sweetener.  When it begins to simmer, stir in the xanthan gum and stir constantly until thick.

NUTRITIONAL INFO:   Makes 8 small cakes, each contains:

113.6 calories, 8.33 g fat, 7.50 g carbs, 2.0 g fiber, 5.50 g NET CARBS, 4.57 g protein, 63 mg sodium

Individual Raspberry Cream Cake

This quick little dessert takes all of about 10 minutes to make and would make a lovely dessert for your honey on Valentine’s Day.  It’s very tasty with a wide variety of berries and fruit.  It’s a variation on my Einkorn Individual Vanilla Cake recipe.  This recipe isn’t suitable until you are fairly close to goal weight.  You can make this dessert with a few pureed strawberries if you like.

VARIATIONS:  Substitute 3 pureed strawberries for the raspberries.  Or, sub in 3 slices of pureed fresh peach.  Or stir in 2 T. crushed canned pineapple (drained).  All are delicious versions!

INGREDIENTS:

1 recipe my Einkorn Individual Vanilla Cake

2 T. my Raspberry Coulis (or sugar-free raspberry preserves)

½ c. heavy cream, whipped and sweetened (makes about 3/4 cup total)

DIRECTIONS:  Make the cake per that recipe’s instructions, but use raspberry sugar-free syrup instead of the vanilla syrup.   Scrape the batter into a 6″ ramekin (or 2 smaller ones).  Microwave on HI for 1 minutes or until center is dry to the touch.  Cool completely.  Slice cake horizontally into 2 layers.  Place one layer on a serving plate.  Whip and sweeten the whipping cream.  Stir in the fruit puree.  Spread half on top of the bottom layer.  Place top cake layer on top and frost with  remaining whipped mixture.  Cut into two servings and ENJOY!

NUTRITIONAL INFO:   Makes two servings, each contains:

316 calories, 39.4 g  fat, 8.2 g  carbs, 2.3 g  fiber, 5.9 g NET CARBS, 5.8 g  protein, 85 mg sodium

Blueberry-Lemon Snack Cake

I have developed my own bake mix and this was my first experiment with it.  Boy was this ever good!  Smooth texture, moist and great taste!  I only had on hand 1/2 cup dried blueberries left in an open bag in my freezer and I needed to use them up.  Fresh berries would have been healthier and tastier, but the dried is what I had and not many of those.  The second time I baked it, I increased berries by a couple tablespoons and it just gets better!

My husband was out of town all weekend and this was hot out of the oven when he walked in the door. He really liked it, too, and downed a second slice.  Said “Please make this again soon, with some other fruits as well.”  Any berries, chopped fruit or nuts you can fit into your daily carb limits will work in this basic batter.  Make it just a lemon cake, or add a bit of diced peaches.  Get creative!  This recipe isn’t suitable until you are near goal weight at the grain level of carb-re-introduction of the Atkins program.  The carbs are low on the basic lemon cake batter (4.02 NC per slice).  With 1/2 cup dried berries added, it jumps to 9.02 NC per slice.

INGREDIENTS:

4 oz. cream cheese, softened

4 T. (½ stick) unsalted butter, melted

2 eggs, beaten

½ c. egg whites (I used from carton), but 4 whole egg whites will work

Zest of 1 large lemon

Juice of 1 large lemon (2 T.)

1½ c. Buttoni’s Low Carb Bake Mix

½ c. each Splenda and erythritol (or 1c. sugar equivalent other sweetener)

½ c. fresh, dried or frozen blueberries

DIRECTIONS:  Preheat oven to 350º.  Butter the inside of an 8×4″ loaf pan.  Or you can butter the ends only and line sides & bottom of the pan with a piece of parchment, which is what I like to do. Set aside while you prepare batter.

Soften the cream cheese on counter or in microwave.  Whip until smooth with a whisk.  In a separate medium bowl, whip the egg whites until frothy.  Add the 2 whole eggs to the egg whites and beat the two well together a couple minutes.  Add sweeteners.  Add melted butter slowly and beat until you have a smooth mixture.  Add the bake mix next and beat by hand with a rubber spatula until batter is smooth and well-blended.  Add your berries (or chopped fruit/nuts) and stir to distribute berries throughout batter.  Scrape the batter into prepared pan and pop into 350º hot oven for 40-45 minutes or until toothpick stuck in center comes out clean/dry.  Slice into approximately  ½-5/8″ thick slices to make 12 nice portions.  After serving, wrap remainder in plastic wrap or place in plastic bag.  Refrigerate as with all low-carb baked goods that lack the preservative quality of real sugar.

NUTRITIONAL INFO:   Makes 12 slices, each contains: (using ½c. dried berries).  You must recalculate if you use other berries/fruit/nuts

166 cals, 11.1g fat, 11.44g carbs, 2.42g fiber, 9.02g NET CARBS, 7.21g protein, and 84 mg sodium

 

 

Tarte Tatin

Holidays always make me remember desserts my mother loved to serve at this time of year.  The well-known French apple Tarte Tatin is one of those.  My low-carb version has a much thinner cake layer than is typical of this famous dessert.  My husband and I really liked this conversion.  I serve mine with a dollop of whipped cream on top.  I apologize for the photo quality, but this picture was taken with my very first digital camera, in the evening when natural light just isn’t there.  I’m going to have to bake this again and get a prettier picture next time.  But the photo can’t take away the fact that this recipe is absolutely delicious!  If you decide to give this one a go, you’ll be glad you did!

VARIATIONS:  Although Tarte tatin is only made with apples, this basic concept can be made with strawberries or raspberries and carbs will go down.  Pear or peach slices also do well in this but carbs will go up with those choices.

This recipe is not suitable until the higher carb fruit rung of the Atkins Phase 2 OWL carb re-introduction ladder, as you approach Maintenance.  This dessert would be acceptable for a Paleo-Primal liefstyle provided you substituted REAL honey for the sugar-free honey and subbed in REAL maple syrup for the Cary’s sugar-free maple syrup called for below.

Our latest three volumes of LOW CARBING AMONG FRIENDS cookbooks are calling you.  Volume 8 and Volume 9 are almost exclusively comprised of my recipes!  Included in both editions are a few tasty new creations of my dear friends George Stella and Jennifer Eloff.   Volume 10 is hot off the press with more delectable goodies.  Early orders can be delivered by Thanksgiving.  EARLY BIRD SECRET SALE!!  Special pricing and limited-time free shipping so hurry and place your order today.  You can order these or any of our cookbooks at https://amongfriends.us/Secret-SALE.php.  When you purchase our books, we would sure appreciate you stopping by Amazon to leave a review at this site

INGREDIENTS:

For the Apple filling:

4 T. total unsalted butter or ghee

11 oz. apple, peeled and sliced thin (I used 1 large JonaGold)

½ tsp. cinnamon

¼ tsp. nutmeg

2 T. sugar-free maple syrup (I used Cary’s)

¼ tsp. grated lemon zest

For the bottom Cake Layer:

½ c. almond butter

2 T. coconut milk

2 eggs, beaten

1 tsp. vanilla extract

4 T. sugar-free honey (I buy at Walmart)

½ tsp. baking powder

¼ c. almond flour

1 T. coconut flour

¼ glucomannan powder (for best texture)

DIRECTIONS:  Grease bottom and sides of a non-stick tarte pan with 1 T. of the butter and set aside.  Melt remaining 3 T. of the butter in a non-stick skillet.  Add cinnamon, nutmeg to the skillet and stir.  Add sliced apples and saute them for 3-4 minutes until apples begin to soften.  Turn off heat. Using a fork or small tongs, remove apples and layer them in the bottom of the tart pan.  You should have enough apple slices for a single layer of apples in a standard tart pan.  with the help of a spatula or heat-proof rubber spatula, scrape out and drizzle any buttery juices left in the skillet over the apples.  You don’t want to wast any of that rich flavor.  Grate lemon zest over the apples and finally drizzle the maple syrup over the apples.

Now to make the cake.  Preheat oven to 350º.  In a medium bowl, measure out the almond butter.  Add the coconut milk, imitation honey and stir with a rubber spatula until fairly smooth. Add the vanilla and beaten eggs.  Beat a minute or two to achieve a smooth liquid batter.  Measure the almond flour on top, then the coconut flour and finally the baking powder.  Beat with the spatula until smooth.  Evenly pour the cake batter over the apples, gently coaxing it out to the edges of the pan.    Pop into 350º preheated oven for about 20 minutes.  This does not rise very much and it will be completely dry to the touch in the center when done. Toothpick test will come out clean at the center.  Remove tart from the oven and cool for awhile.  While still a little warm, invert your serving plate over the tart pan or pie plate and using two hands, holding tightly, flip tart pan and serving plate over and the tart should fall neatly onto the serving plate.  Gently re-place any apples that may have stuck to the pan.  Cut into 8 slices and serve with sweetened whipped cream if desired.

NUTRITIONAL INFO:   Makes 8 servings each contains:  (does not including any whipped cream topping)

235 calories, 19.5 g  fat, 11.6 g  carbs, 2.76 g  fiber, 8.94 g NET CARBS, 5.1 g  protein, 125 mg sodium

Miniature Black Forest Cake

This has been my signature dessert for many years but of course, in it’s larger incarnation, so it would serve a crowd for dinner.  My original recipe uses real flour and real sugar.  I’ve revamped the  recipe to make it Atkins friendly now, which was quite an undertaking.  First trial wasn’t so good actually.    I’d be lying if I said this final version is as good as the original sugar-flour version. But this is a close facsimile in appearance and flavor in my and my husband’s opinion.  It may yet undergo further “fine-tuning”.  Let me add up front that this is the HIGHEST CARB recipe on my website.  So not one to bake often and stay on a strict low-carb diet.  It is a very special cake for a very special occasion cake, and worth every carb in that setting.

This dessert is surprisingly light, so don’t be fooled by it’s rich appearance.  It is always well-received when I serve this to guests.   This is not a terribly sweet dessert, neither the original cake nor my low-carb version.  So you may want to do some tasting for sweetness along the way in case this isn’t sweet enough for you.

There are four layers of cake and three different filling layers so it really takes a bit of effort to put together from start to finish. But none of the steps are particularly difficult nor do they require unusual ingredients.  It just takes some time and time for the flavors and Kirsch to mellow.  As you blow your daily sweetener limit on this, and it’s a bit carb pricey, I usually only do this dessert for VERY special occasions. 🙂  This dessert is not suitable until you reach Maintenance/Goal weight due to the higher carbs.

We don’t entertain as much as we used to and just for the two of us, I don’t like to make my full-size Black Forest Cake .  But on Valentine’s Day and my husband’s birthday, and sometimes for our Wedding Anniversary, I will do this very special somewhat carb-pricey cake as it is his very favorite dessert.   This recipe is not suitable until the legumes rung of OWL as I use my favorite black bean chocolate cake recipe by Lauren over at the Healthy Indulgences blog  . Lauren’s cake is actually better than the original cake modified  🙂 One of the best low-carb chocolate cakes I’ve come across to date.

For this mini Black Forest cake, I make up one whole recipe of the cake, which makes 3 small round 5″ cakes.  I use two for this recipe and reserving the third cake for some other dessert use (or freeze it).

I have carefully calculated only 2/3 of the nutritional values on cake for the serving nutritional information below.   Of course, you can attempt to cut this into 5 or 6 servings and lower the carb count, but I forewarn you cutting this cake into smaller pieces is extremely difficult given its height.  You could also substitute Eden Black Soy Beans pureed and lower the carb count considerably, but the flavor and texture of the cake will change a bit.

Although this recipe is not in the cookbooks, more delicious low-carb cakes and desserts can be at your fingertips with your very own set of Jennifer Eloff and friends’ best-selling cookbooks LOW CARBING AMONG FRIENDS.  She has collaborated with famous low-carb Chef George Stella and several other talented chefs to bring you a wealth of delicious recipes you are going to want to try.  Even a few of my recipes are in her cookbooks! Order your 5-volume set TODAY! (available individually) from Amazon or: http://amongfriends.us/order.php

DISCLAIMER: I do not get paid for this book promotion or for the inclusion of my recipes therein.  I do so merely because they are GREAT cookbooks any low-carb cook would be proud to add to their cookbook collection

DIRECTIONS: 

STEP I –  Cherry Filling:The day before needed, mix the following cherry filling ingredients in small saucepan except for the xanthan gum.  Cook over medium heat stirring, adding xanthan gum in several light dustings, stirring well after each addition of xanthan gum.  This is to avoid lumps in the thickener.  I go for medium thick on this filling.  Refrigerate overnight.  If you got it too thick, not to worry.  That’ll never be noticed in this cake.  Stir it up to loosen the sauce before applying to cake.

CHERRY FILLING INGREDIENTS:

1/2 can red sour cherries in natural juice, drained, saving liquid
1/4 c. of the reserved cherry liquid
liquid sweetener to = 1/4 c. sugar (I used 1½ tsp. Fiberfit)
1/4 tsp. xanthan gum
1 T.  Kirschwasser liqueur (cherry brandy)
few drops red food coloring
1/4 tsp. almond extract

STEP II – Chocolate Mousse: The day before cake is being served, prepare the chocolate mousse.

CHOCOLATE MOUSSE INGREDIENTS:

1 T. cocoa

½ pkg. (1 tsp.) unflavored gelatin

1 egg, beaten

1 c. total heavy cream

4 tsp. total granular Splenda (or 4 tsp. sugar equivalent of other sweetener)

½ tsp. vanilla extract

1 T. Kirschwasser

Combine the cocoa with gelatin, the beaten egg and ½ c. of the heavy cream in a saucepan.  Heat to boiling over medium heat and then remove from heat.  Add 2 tsp. granular Splenda and Kirschwasser and stir well.  In a separate bowl, whip the other ½ c. heavy cream until very thick and add remaining 2 tsp. of Splenda and the vanilla. Spoon a little of the whipped cream into the cooling chocolate mixture and stir to temper the chocolate a bit.  Now pour the chocolate mixture into the rest of the whipped cream and fold the two mixtures into each other until smooth.   Taste for sweetness and add liquid Splenda to your taste.  Chill the mousse overnight or for a couple hours for flavors to mellow.  Remove from fridge a bit ahead of applying to cake in case it is too stiff.

STEP III – The Cakes: The day you plan to serve, early in day, bake your cakes. I say early, because this cake needs to be assembled for at least 2-4 hours for the kirsch to soak into the bottom layer of cake.  Preheat oven to 325º.  I use this small silicone pan to bake my cakes which requires no greasing (pictured below).  But 5″ quiche pans would work for this.   Be sure to grease your pans well, and wax-paper the bottoms, too if not using silicone pans.   This batter recipe will make 3 cakes this size, however only two of the cakes are needed to make this dessert.  Save the third cake to frost for snacks or for some other use.

CAKE INGREDIENTS: (Yes, this is Lauren of Healthy Indulgence’s chocolate cake recipe……the best!)

20 oz. black beans, drained and rinsed (I just use one 15 oz. can)

5 large eggs

1 T. water

1 T. vanilla (yes, that much!)

¼ tsp. salt

6 T. unsalted butter, softened

3/4 c. powdered erythritol (or 3/4 c. sugar equivalent other sweetener)

2 pkts. stevia

6 T. unsweetened cocoa powder

½ tsp. baking powder

½ tsp. baking soda

Preheat oven to 325º.  To a food processor, add the erythritol, drained, rinsed beans, soft butter, vanilla, eggs and water and process until all is smooth.  Mix dry ingredients in a medium bowl and add to the mixture in the processor.  Process a few seconds to blend batter well and to make sure the beans are well pureed in the process.  Spoon batter equally (really important) into the three pans.  They will be approximately 3/4 full, but don’t worry, mine did not overflow.  Place pans on a cookie sheet if using silicone pans.  If using metal pans, be sure your oven shelf is level and level pans with a skewer or metal coat hangar if need be, as cake batter needs to be level in the pans.  Bake at 325º for about 30 minutes.  Ovens vary so check and if still soft in the center, bake another 5 minutes or so. The cakes are done when dry to the touch and set in the center.  Toothpick will test dry in the center as well.  Remove from oven and completely cool before attempting to remove from the pans.

STEP IV – FINAL ASSEMBLY  AND FROSTING:

Whip 1 c. heavy cream and add ½ tsp. vanilla and a few drops of liquid Splenda, or to taste.  Set aside while you cut the cakes.

Gently tip cakes out of pans.  Set one cake onto serving plate.  With a long-bladed serrated knife, with a gentle motion, carefully cut laterally each cake into two thin layers as even as you can get them.  Gently lift top layer off this first cake with BOTH hands slipping fingers (or long metal spatula) toward center of cake to support it and prevent it breaking in half.  Gently set this layer on the serving plate until needed.  On this bottom layer of cake, spread the cherry filling.

Carefully lift and place next thin layer of cake on top.  Spread the chocolate mousse evenly on top of the second layer of cake evenly.  Slice second cake in similar manner as you did the first.  Gently lift and add the third layer of cake on top of the stack.  Spread with a ½” of whipped cream.  Place the final layer of cake on top and now ice the entire cake with the remaining whipped cream, spreading evenly on sides and top so no chocolate cake or fillings are visible.   Dust top of cake with shaved chocolate and sling a little also on the sides.  If it falls all over the serving platter, that just makes the presentation prettier in my opinion.  If you have one, place a whole maraschino cherry with stem and a sprig of mint in the center of the cake for visual impact.

Chill well (at least 2 hours) covered with a dome or inverted soup pot.  Cut cake into four quadrants/servings.  Enjoy!

NUTRITIONAL INFO:  Makes 4 adult servings, each contains:

450 cals, 29g fat, 24.32g carbs, 5.85g fiber, 18.47 NET CARBS, 17g protein, 549 mg sodium

If interested in cutting into smaller servings to pull down the numbers, the entire cake has 1764 calories, 115.4g fat, 97.2g carbs, 23.4g fiber, 73.8g net carbs, 66.92 g protein and 2196 mg sodium.  Cutting into 5 pieces lowers each serving to 14.76g net carbs; cutting it into 6 pieces lowers each serving to 12.3g net carbs.  I repeat, however, it will be difficult to cut the slices this small without them falling apart on you.  That’s one reason I always do the bigger cake version of this cake for company.  🙂

Cranberry-Orange Ladyfingers

Cranberry Orange Ladyfingers

WOW!  Did these ever come out tasty!  And they just get better and better each day.  They’re gluten-free, if you leave out the oat fiber.  I think they are one of my very best cake treats.  🙂  Hubby really liked these and he’s not really a fruit and nut man.  If you don’t have a twinkie baking pan, just make 12 small muffins, a round flat circle you will cut into 12 scone wedges or a single cake using a loaf pan.  These are not suitable for Atkins Induction on several levels.  They are suitable for Phase 2 and above and Keto diets as well.

Many more delicious low-carb recipes can be at your fingertips with your very own cookbooks from LOW CARBING AMONG FRIENDS, Volume 8, by Jennifer Eloff, Chef George Stella of Food Network fame, and myself.  Volume 8 is almost completely comprised of my recipes! But George Stella and Jennifer Eloff are also including several tasty new delights to try in this latest Volume 8! You’ll LOVE these delicious recipes, so order yours (Volume 8 or ANY of our cookbooks) from Amazon  or our direct order site: amongfriends.us/order.php.  For a limited time, there is free shipping if you order 2 or more cookbooks on the same order.  Remember, they make GREAT birthday or holiday gifts!If you’ve already purchased a book, take a moment and drop by the our Amazon page and  leave your personal review on the latest book.  Inquiring minds want to know. 🙂

INGREDIENTS:

½ c. almond flour

¼ c. flax meal (I use 50:50 gold and dark)

¼ c. plain whey protein powder

1 tsp. baking powder

1 T. oat fiber (omit for gluten free version)

1 c. shredded Monterrey Jack cheese

3 T. softened cream cheese

2 beaten large eggs

1 tsp. cider vinegar

1 T. heavy cream

2 T. fresh squeezed orange juice

1 T. warm tap water

1 tsp. yeast dissolved in the warm water above

½ c. cranberries (fresh or homemade sugar-free dried)

½ c. slivered almonds (or chopped pecans)

1 oz. orange peel

DIRECTIONS:  Preheat oven to 350º.  Lightly oil a non-stick pan of your choice (discussed above) and set aside.

Measure out the first 6 (dry) ingredients into a medium mixing bowl.  In a separate small glass bowl, soften the cream cheese either at room temp or in your microwave on defrost.  Dissolve the yeast in the tablespoon of warm water in a saucer and add to the cream cheese.  Stir. Beat in the eggs well. Add the cider vinegar and cream.  Add the creamy mixture to the dry ingredients bowl and stir.

Trim off 1 oz of orange peel from an orange.  You want to get as little white, bitter membrane as possible.  Cut into approximately 1″ pieces.  Place in food processor or blender.  Add cranberries and nuts to the bowl and pulse it all together about 10 times or so, to a coarse chop.   Add the fruit/nut mixture to the batter.  Stir. Finally squeeze/measure out the orange juice. Stir well one last time to incorporate all to achieve a uniform distribution of the fruit/nuts.

Dip into/onto your chosen pan, distributing the batter evenly into 12 muffin cups, 12 twinkie slots or a round circle about 1/2″ thick for scones.  Pop into 350º oven and bake for  20 minutes until lightly browned.  Allow to cool a bit before lifting with the assistance of a knife tip.  If making a loaf, bake around 35 minutes or until the center passes a dry toothpick test.

NUTRITIONAL INFO:  Makes 12 portions (whatever shape you make), each contains:

160 calories, 12.64 g  fat, 6.53 g  carbs, 2.71 g  fiber, 3.82 g  NET CARBS, 8.3 g protein, 266 mg sodium

Strawberry Shortcake

My husband came home yesterday with the prettiest carton of ginormous strawberries.  I quickly pulled out an old standby cake recipe and made a classic strawberry shortcake.  Nothing says summer like strawberry shortcake!  Before you get bent out of shape when you note the net carbs below, please bear in mind these are quite large, like the muffins in a minute (MIM’s) we all know and love.  I don’t think there’s any way I could eat but half of one of these.  In fact, outside of the desired photographic impact of a whole one here for my website, I plan to always slice these laterally and use half a cake and only 1 oz. berries for each serving.  But of course, portion size decisions are up to you.  You know YOUR appetite and YOUR family better than I.  This dessert not suitable until the grains rung of OWL.

Sometimes I like to puree a few berries with a tablespoon or so of water, a couple drops of sweetener and red food coloring to make a sauce to moisten the shortcake before placing the sliced berries and adding the whipped cream.  If you do this, any additional pureed berries on top are not included in the nutritional info below.

More delicious low-carb recipes can be at your fingertips with your very own set of Jennifer Eloff and friends’ best-selling cookbooks LOW CARBING AMONG FRIENDS.  She has collaborated with famous low-carb Chef George Stella and several other talented cooks to bring you a wealth of delicious recipes you are going to want to try.  Even a few of my recipes are in her cookbooks! Order your 5-volume set TODAY! (available individually) from Amazon or: http://amongfriends.us/order.php

INGREDIENTS:

1 recipe my Individual Vanilla Cake

4 oz. sliced strawberries

½ c. whipped heavy cream

2-4 drops liquid Splenda

½ tsp. vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS:  Preheat oven to 350º, grease 2 individual cake pans or 2 jumbo muffin cups.  Make Individual Vanilla Cakes per that recipe’s instructions.   Cool before attempting to remove from pans or slicing laterally.  Slice berries and place atop each serving.  Top with whipped cream sweetened to taste with the ½ tsp. vanilla added.  Garnish with a whole berry if desired.

NUTRITIONAL INFO:    Makes 2 whole shortcakes.  Each contains:   (If serving half portions, which is all I can eat, halve the numbers below)

387 calories, 32.2 g  fat, 22.2 g  carbs, 11.765 g  fiber, 10.45 g  NET CARBS, 18.45 g  protein, 560 mg sodium

 

Individual “Irish” Chocolate Cake

Just in time for St. Patrick’s Day!  A tasty, quick dessert to top off that corned beef and cabbage on St. Patrick’s Day.  Tasty and quite easy, too!  The cake goes together in minutes, microwaves in 1 minute and the icing is just as easy.  And boy, oh, boy, is this icing ever delicious!  This cake is moist and has just the right amount of whiskey flavor.

I normally bake this cake for 1 minute in a glass dish in the microwave.  But when I want to use a very large, metal shamrock cookie cutter, I bake it in the regular oven (15 min 350º), using foil to form a “bottom” for the cookie cutter.  I would recommend baking this either as 4 cupcakes or as I usually do other times of the year, in a 5″ square or round baking dish.  You could also use two small “mini-cake pans.  If doing cupcakes, fill them evenly, which will be about 3/4 full.  Don’t worry, this batter doesn’t rise too much during baking.

This recipe is not suitable until Phase 2  of Atkins.  Those on other Ketogenic diets may get bumped out of ketosis consuming alcohol, but there is very little in this, so that might not happen.   Of course, you should omit the booze if in the first 2 weeks Induction phase.

More delicious low-carb recipes can be at your fingertips with your very own set of Jennifer Eloff and friends’ best-selling cookbooks LOW CARBING AMONG FRIENDS. She has collaborated with famous low-carb Chef George Stella and several other talented cooks to bring you a wealth of delicious recipes you are going to want to try. Even a few of my recipes are in each of the 5 volumes! Order your set TODAY! (also available individually) from Amazon or: http://amongfriends.us/order.php

CAKE INGREDIENTS:

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1 T. butter, melted

4 pkts. stevia (I use Sweet Leaf)

¼ c. erythritol

2 large eggs, beaten

1 T. Irish Whiskey (I used Powers)

¼ c. cocoa powder, sifted

1½ tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. glucomannan (konjac) powder

1 tsp. oat fiber

CAKE DIRECTIONS:   Spray or grease your dish(s) or pan(s) with coconut oil or oil of your choosing.  Melt the butter and place in a medium glass bowl.   Add the stevia, erythritol and stir well.  Next beat in the two eggs.  Add the vanilla and Irish Whiskey, stirring once again.   Sift the cocoa on top and measure the remaining dry ingredients in next.  Stir gently to incorporate the dry into the wet ingredients.  Beat the batter with a spoon until it is smooth.    Pour into greased glass or ceramic pan(s) and bake for 1 minute on HI.   If using metal pans or conventional oven, bake at 350º about 13-15 minutes or until dry to the touch in the center.  Remove, cool completely and ice.

FROSTING INGREDIENTS:  

1 oz. cream cheese, softened

1 T. softened butter

2 tsp. Irish Whiskey (I used Powers)

¼ tsp. vanilla

2 T. plain whey protein powder (I use NOW brand)

2 pkts. stevia (or 1/2 tsp.)

3 T. powdered erythritol (I just powder it in my food processor)

FROSTING DIRECTIONS:  Soften the butter and cream cheese in a small bowl.  Add the protein, whiskey and vanilla.   Stir well until smooth.  Begin adding the sweeteners slowly, tasting as you go and STOP when it’s sweet enough for you, or add more if needed.  Everybody is different on sweetness preferences.    You can use food coloring to make your frosting green if you like (about 13-15 drops).  Frost the cooled cake(s) and serve at once or chill and then cover with plastic wrap if you must hold them over.

NUTRITIONAL INFO:    Makes 2 large servings, each contains:

316 calories, 23 g  fat, 11.2 g  carbs, 5.1 g  fiber, 6.1 g NET CARBS, 13.5 g  protein, 434 mg sodium

Boston Cream Pie

I’ve often wondered why they call this dessert a “pie”.  I’ve always figured it was because pie tins were more available than the type of cake pan we think of today when this dish was created by a Boston chef. It’s my husband’s favorite cake, actually.  He asked me if I thought I could make a low-carb version of his favorite cake and I decided to give it a try.  This famous dessert is only as good as the cake it’s made with.  I used Nancy’s 3 Minute Vanilla Cake on Linda Genaw’s site.  So I thought that would be a good starting point.  I baked two of those (slightly modified) in 6″ ceramic quiche dishes.

I actually had about half a batch of my current favorite low-carb chocolate frosting in the freezer, so I just defrosted it to use.  For the cream filling, I used vanilla sugar-free pudding mix, changing how I make it.  Cake was quite good and here’s a pic of the whole cake.  This recipe is not suitable for Induction.

More delicious low-carb recipes can be at your fingertips with your very own set of Jennifer Eloff and friends’ best-selling cookbooks LOW CARBING AMONG FRIENDS.  She has collaborated with famous low-carb Chef George Stella and several other talented cooks to bring you a wealth of delicious recipes you are going to want to try.  Even a few of my recipes are in the cookbooks! Order your 5-volume set TODAY! (also available individually) from Amazon or: http://amongfriends.us/order.php

CREAM FILLING INGREDIENTS:  Whisk the following well in a small bowl.  Chill for 20-30 minutes.

½ package sugar-free vanilla pudding powder

¼ c. heavy cream

½ c. water

If you prefer to make your pastry cream from scratch, I would recommend DJfoodie’s Pastry Cream recipe, but the stats below were calculated on the cream made with the dry pudding powder.

CHOCOLATE FROSTING INGREDIENTS:  Make a recipe of this frosting and use 1/2 of it to frost this small cake.  Refrigerate or freeze the remaining half for other uses.  Exactly 1/2 of the recipe has been calculated in the nutritional info below.

CAKE INGREDIENTS:

4 T. butter, unsalted

2 eggs, beaten

4 T. water

½ c. granular Splenda (or equivalent liquid sweetener)

¼ c. golden flax meal

¼ c. almond flour

2/3 c. whey protein, unflavored, unsweetened

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1 tsp. baking powder

DIRECTIONS:   In your microwave, melt 2 T. of the butter in each of two small 6″ quiche dishes.  Add 1 beaten egg and 2 T. of water to each dish.  Stir well to blend.  Next add to each baking dish: ¼ c. Splenda (or equivalent liquid sweetener) , 2 T. flax meal, 2 T. almond flour, 1/3 c. whey protein, ½ tsp. vanilla extract and ½ tsp. baking powder.  Stir well until completely smooth.  Microwave each layer for about 70 seconds or until center is dry and spring back when touched.  Remove and cool slightly.  Using a flexible spatula, gently tip/lift out layer to your serving plate.

Remove cream from refrigerator and stir once for smoothness.  Gently spread a ¼-½” layer of cream onto bottom layer of cake, which may not use it all up.  If you’ve got kids, not a problem.  They’ll be happy to take care of the leftovers for ya!  😉  Don’t get the cream too close to the edges of the cake or it will ooze out when layer #2 goes on.

Gently remove second cake from the dish and set it carefully on top of the cream layer.  Slightly press to seat it well.  Now spread a thin layer of frosting on the top of the cake.  Frosting the sides is tricky, as the cream tends to want to ooze out and mix with the frosting.  Not a problem, just smooth such spots back and forth and the cream and frosting will blend and nobody will ever know but you.  😉

Store uneaten cake in the refrigerator.  Chill cake for 30 minutes or so to set the frosting and it’s ready to serve.  I find this cake gets firmer when totally cold, so the next day, if any leftover, I like to pull it out of the fridge for an hour before serving so the cake and frosting return to their softer state.  🙂

NUTRITIONAL INFO:  Makes 6 servings, each contains:  (Carbs will be lower if you use liquid sweetener)

271 cals. , 23 g  fat, 8.7g  carbs, 2.22g  fiber, 6.48g NET CARBS, 13 g protein, 250 mg sodium

SPECIAL NOTE:  For those that want a bigger slice (with a higher carb price to pay):  1/4 of the cake=406 calories, 13.05 carbs, 3.33 g fiber, 9.72 g NET CARBS, 19.1 g protein, and 374 mg sodium.

Banana Muffins

Despite their small size, these muffins pack a wallop of a punch in the flavor department.  They melt in your mouth and are incredibly moist.  If you leave the oat fiber out, these would even be gluten free, for those following a GF eating plan.  Omitting that oat fiber shouldn’t impact the texture too much, either.   These are not suitable until you get to the upper fruits rung of the Atkins OWL ladder and are nearing Atkins Pre-Maintenance, as bananas are fairly carby.  I don’t put nuts in these because my husband isn’t fond of nuts in baked goods.  But of course I personally think they would be improved with some chopped pecans or walnuts.  Add some at your discretion, but be sure to add any nuts to the nutritional info below if you decide to add them.  I made up a recipe and a half of this batter and cooked it in an over-long loaf pan not long ago and it baked up nicely as a loaf, too!  Seems like it took about 40-45 minutes to bake completely.  I froze half of it and it tasted very nice after the freezing experience.

More delicious low-carb recipes can be at your fingertips with your very own set of Jennifer Eloff and friends’ best-selling cookbooks LOW CARBING AMONG FRIENDS.  She has collaborated with famous low-carb Chef George Stella and several other talented cooks to bring you a wealth of delicious recipes you are going to want to try.  Even a few of my recipes are in each of the 5 volumes! Order your set TODAY! (also available individually) from Amazon or: http://amongfriends.us/order.php

INGREDIENTS:

2 very ripe bananas, mashed

¼ c. coconut oil

¼ c. unsalted butter, melted (or use all butter or all coconut oil, if you prefer)

4 large eggs, beaten

16 drops liquid Splenda (I use EZsweetz small bottle)

1½ c. almond flour

¼ c. +2 T. coconut flour

1 tsp. glucomannan powder

2 tsp. baking powder

Pinch sea salt

2 T. oat fiber (omit for gluten free)

1 T. granular erythritol

DIRECTIONS:  Preheat oven to 350º.  In large mixing bowl, peel and mash the bananas with a fork.  Add eggs and beat well.  Add liquid sweetener and the ½ c. total oil/melted butter/or combination thereof.  Stir well.  Measure out the dry ingredients on top of the wet ingredients in the order listed above.  Stir the dry ingredients slowly into the wet without overworking the batter.  Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula to be sure all ingredients are blended well.  Line 12 muffin cups with paper liners.  Spoon batter into paper liners evenly, about 3/4 full (about 3T. batter).  These muffins will not rise too much, so they should not overflow the cups.  Bake at 350º for about 22-25 minutes or until they pass the toothpick test or feel done to the touch in the center.  Cool a bit before attempting to peel the paper liners off for best results.  Enjoy these scrumptious muffins for breakfast, dessert or with a hot cup of afternoon coffee or tea.

NUTRITIONAL INFO:  Makes 12 small muffins, each contains:

218.4 calories, 13.4 g  fat, 10.4 g  carbs, 3.87 g  fiber, 6.53 g  NET CARBS, 6.06 g  protein, 110 mg sodium

Individual Raspberry Cream Cake

This quick little dessert takes all of about 10 minutes to make. And it’s very tasty!  It’s another variation on my Einkorn Individual Vanilla Cake recipe.  This recipe isn’t suitable until you are fairly close to goal weight.  You can make this dessert with a few pureed strawberries if you like.

More delicious low-carb recipes can be at your fingertips with your very own set of Jennifer Eloff and friends’ best-selling cookbooks LOW CARBING AMONG FRIENDS. She has collaborated with famous low-carb Chef George Stella and several other talented cooks to bring you a wealth of delicious recipes you are going to want to try. Several of my own creations appear in each of the 5 volumes! Order your set TODAY! (also available individually) from Amazon or our direct order site: http://amongfriends.us/order.php

VARIATIONS:  Substitute 3 pureed strawberries for the raspberries.  Or, sub in 3 slices of pureed fresh peach.  Or stir in 2 T. crushed canned pineapple (drained).  All are delicious versions!

INGREDIENTS:

1 recipe my Einkorn Individual Vanilla Cake

2 T. my Raspberry Coulis (or sugar-free raspberry preserves)

½ c. heavy cream, whipped and sweetened (makes about 3/4 cup total)

DIRECTIONS:  Make the cake per that recipe’s instructions, but use raspberry sugar-free syrup instead of the vanilla syrup.   Scrape the batter into a 6″ ramekin (or 2 smaller ones).  Microwave on HI for 1 minutes or until center is dry to the touch.  Cool completely.  Slice cake horizontally into 2 layers.  Place one layer on a serving plate.  Whip and sweeten the whipping cream.  Stir in the fruit puree.  Spread half on top of the bottom layer.  Place top cake layer on top and frost with  remaining whipped mixture.  Cut into two servings and ENJOY!

NUTRITIONAL INFO:   Makes two servings, each contains:

316 calories, 39.4 g  fat, 8.2 g  carbs, 2.3 g  fiber, 5.9 g NET CARBS, 5.8 g  protein, 85 mg sodium

Sock-It-To-Me Cake

 

This was my mother-in-law’s favorite cake.  While still living in her own home, she made it every year at Christmas.  What didn’t get eaten at Christmas Eve dinner, was finished off with breakfast coffee Christmas morning.  She always made hers  with 1 c. chopped pecans, but I leave them out as my husband isn’t so fond of nuts.  To be more authentic, you could substitute sour cream in for the heavy cream, but carbs will be  a tad higher if you do. This recipe is not suitable until the grains rung of Atkins OWL (Ongoing Weight Loss) carb ladder.  Carbquik, much like Bisquick, has some flour in it, albeit specially processed to reduce the carb load. I order my Carbquik at Netrition.com, but you might be able to buy it at your local health food store.

More delicious low-carb recipes can be at your fingertips with your very own set of Jennifer Eloff and friends’ best-selling cookbooks LOW CARBING AMONG FRIENDS.  She has collaborated with famous low-carb Chef George Stella and several other talented chefs to bring you a wealth of delicious recipes you are going to want to try.  Even a few of my recipes are in her cookbooks! Order your 5-volume set TODAY! (available individually) from Amazon or: here

INGREDIENTS:

2 T. granular Splenda

2 tsp. cinnamon

1 c. Jennifer Eloff’s Splendid Low Carb Bake Mix (for gluten free, use her Gluten-Free Bake Mix)

1½ c. CarbQuik or other low-carb bake mix (for gluten free, use 1½ c. more Jennifer’s Gluten-Free mix)

½ c. plain whey protein

2 T. golden flax meal

1 T. coconut flour

1 tsp. baking powder

½ c. + 2 T. erythritol

3 large eggs, beaten

3 T. sugar-free maple syrup

1/4 tsp. maple extract

4 T. melted butter, unsalted (for batter)

2 T. melted butter, unsalted (to drizzle on cake)

1 tsp. vanilla extract

liquid Splenda to equal 1/3 c. sugar (about 20 drops)

2 T. water

¼ c. + 1 T. heavy cream

DIRECTIONS:  Preheat oven to 350º.  PLEASE NOTE THIS IS NOT A FULL-SIZED 9″ CAKE.  Grease an 8″ round, deep cake pan or 8″ round ceramic baking dish (the Corning “French” vegetable dish I used is 8″ in diameter, 3″ deep and the cake rose all the way to the top without overflowing).   Mix 2 T. granular Splenda with cinnamon (and nuts, if using) on paper plate and set aside for now.  In a large mixing bowl,  measure and mix all the dry ingredients. In a separate mixing bowl, microwave melt the 4 T. butter.  Beat in egg and add all other wet ingredients and whisk until fairly smooth.  Stir wet ingredients into dry.     Blend well.   Drop approximately 1/3 of the batter onto bottom of baking dish by tablespoons sort of randomly.  Sprinkle with about 1 T. of the cinnamon topping.  Drop another layer of 1T. blobs of batter on top.  Again sprinkle with about 1 T. cinnamon topping.  Drop the final 1/3 of the batter on top in 1T. blobs and sprinkle with remaining cinnamon topping.  Drizzle 2 T. melted butter across top of cake evenly.  Pop into 350º oven and bake for about 30 minutes.  Gently remove from oven and check for doneness with toothpick stuck in center.  Mine took exactly 40 minutes.  It is done when toothpick stuck in center comes out completely dry.  Cool 5-8 minutes before tipping out onto serving platter.  Can be enjoyed either warm or cooled.

NUTRITIONAL INFO:  Makes 8 slices, each contains:

250 calories, 20.7 g  fat, 14.23 g  carbs, 9.96 g  fiber, 4.27 NET CARBS  (4.6 NC if you add 2 , oz. chopped pecans), 18.49 g  protein, 218 mg sodium

 

Banana-Peanut Butter “Twinkies”

Banana-Peanut Butter “Twinkies”®

One of my Mom’s favorite afternoon snacks for us when I was growing up was a banana sandwich with a smear of peanut butter on it.  Well, I took that flavor to a new medium……….a banana muffin batter.   These were tasty beyond words.  A little carb-y, so they are not for regular consumption.  But they are a tasty treat once in a rare while.  🙂  These are not suitable until you have reached the high-carb fruits level of the Atkins carb reintroduction ladder, nearer to maintenance.  These are too high carb for most Keto followers, but those at goal weight might indulge.  Totally not suitable for Primal-Paleo folks.

More delicious low-carb recipes can be at your fingertips with your very own set of Jennifer Eloff and friends’ best-selling cookbooks LOW CARBING AMONG FRIENDS. She has collaborated with famous low-carb Chef George Stella and several other talented cooks to bring you a wealth of delicious recipes you are going to want to try. Several of my own creations appear in each of the 5 volumes! Order your set TODAY! (also available individually) from Amazon or our direct order site: http://amongfriends.us/order.php

INGREDIENTS:

1 recipe my Banana Muffin batter

1 ripe banana, mashed

2 T. natural peanut butter (I use Laura Scudder)

DIRECTIONS:  Preheat oven to 350º.  Lightly grease a non-stick Twinkie® pan (or use a regular muffin pan if you don’t have a Twinkie® pan).  Make the recipe of banana muffin batter in a medium bowl.  Stir until smooth.  Spoon into the 12 slots of the pan equally (will be quite full as they don’t rise much).  Bake at 350º for about 22-25 minutes.  I’m still learning to use a new oven in a new house so these came out a little browner than I like, but the oven performed pretty well for me.  Remove when firm to the touch and cool off.  Slice in half and set aside.  Stir the mashed whole banana and peanut butter together until well-blended.  Makes 3/4 c. filling or exactly 12 tablespoons.  Fill each “Twinkie”® with 1 T. of the filling, spreading somewhat evenly.  You can, if you prefer, just “frost” the Twinkies® on the tops if this is easier.  🙂  ENJOY!

NUTRITIONAL INFO:  Makes 12, each contains:

244.7 calories, 19.76 g  fat, 13.15 g  carbs, 4.29 g  fiber, 8.86 g  NET CARBS, 6.83 g  protein

Orange Pound Cake

This cake is quite dense like a good pound cake should be.  It can be made as an orange pound cake, or you can substitute lemon juice and lemon zest for a lemon pound cake, sub in lime juice and lime zest for a lime pound cake.  This cake is lovely with a cup of good coffee or as a dessert with a dollop of sweetened whipped cream or a citrus glaze on top.   If you are avoiding wheat (Carbalose is low-carb flour), I would substitute in about 3/4 c. almond meal, bearing in mind the texture of this cake will likely be different with that substitution.  And of course, you will always have to recalculate net carbs making any substitutions.  This recipe, as written, is not suitable for Induction.  By the way, the Boyajian Citrus Oils I use in my baked goods is well worth the investment for the three-flavor sampler box.  They have lasted me for ages and are the best citrus flavorings I’ve ever used!

More delicious low-carb recipes can be at your fingertips with your very own set of Jennifer Eloff and friends’ best-selling cookbooks LOW CARBING AMONG FRIENDS.  She has collaborated with famous low-carb Chef George Stella and several other talented chefs to bring you a wealth of delicious recipes you are going to want to try.  Even a few of my recipes are in her cookbooks! Order your 5-volume set TODAY! (available individually) from Amazon or: http://amongfriends.us/order.php

INGREDIENTS:

1½ sticks unsalted butter, softened

4 oz. cream cheese, softened

4 beaten eggs

½ c. + 2T. vanilla whey protein (I use Body fortress)

½ c. + 2T. Carbalose flour (or 2/3 c. Jennifer Eloff’s gluten-free bake mix)

juice of ½ small orange

zest of l small orange (about 1 T.)

1/8 tsp. Boyajian Orange Oil  or 1/2 tsp. orange extract

½ tsp. xanthan gum

1 T. oat flour (grind from 100% gluten-free oats for gluten-free version.  DO NOT use higher-carb oat bran!)

2 T. oat fiber (or 2 T. more oat flour for gluten-free version)

1 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. cream of tartar

½ c. each granular Splenda and erythritol

DIRECTIONS: Preheat oven to 350º.   Soften cream cheese and butter and blend the two together until very smooth.  Beat in the 4 eggs, fruit zest and juice.  Now add in the Splenda and erythritol.  Stir well.  Measure and add in all dry ingredients and beat batter 8-10 times with wooden spoon until smooth.  Using rubber spatula, scrape batter into 5×8″ oiled loaf pan and spread batter evenly in pan.   Bake at 350º for about 40-45 minutes, checking at 35 minutes, as ovens can vary.  Toothpick test center for doneness.

NUTRITIONAL INFO: Makes twelve ½” slices, each containing:

203 calories, 16.7 g  fat, 5.68 g carbs, 2.31 g fiber, 2.37 g NET CARBS, 7.03 g protein, 89 mg sodium

Applesauce Cake

One of my doctors put me on a special diet for 3 days recently that included applesauce.  Well, I told him I was a low carber and that wasn’t such a good food choice for me, but he insisted I needed to incorporate some every day.  We went out and bought some unsweetened Motts applesauce and I have a fair amount leftover.  Today’s sweet treat was a delicious, pleasant way to use some of it up!  I basically started with my Pumpkin Cake recipe, changed the spices and subbed in applesauce for the pumpkin.  This recipe is not suitable until you reach the fruit rung of the carb re-introduction ladder of Phase 2 Atkins (OWL).  I had 1 apple I wanted to use up, so the loaf in the photo has the diced apple.  This cake improves after overnight refrigeration:  gets denser; gets tastier as the flavors mellow.  🙂

Many delicious low-carb recipes can be at your fingertips with your very own cookbooks from LOW CARBING AMONG FRIENDS, by Jennifer Eloff and low-carb friends (me included).  Chef George Stella also brings to the table a wealth of delicious recipes added to the collection!  You’ll LOVE these recipes!  Order your copy today from Amazon  or our direct order site: amongfriends.us/order.php.

INGREDIENTS:

8 oz. cream cheese, softened

3/4 c. (1½ sticks) butter, softened

1 c. unsweetened applesauce

½ c. sugar free maple syrup

4 large eggs, beaten

1 tsp. vanilla extract

2 c. almond flour

1 c. plain whey protein powder

1 c. Splenda (or equivalent product of your choice to equal 1 c. sugar)

2 tsp. baking powder

1/8 tsp. sea salt

1 T. ground cinnamon

OPTIONAL:  1½ c. peeled, diced apple

DIRECTIONS:  Line 2 loaf pans with parchment paper on the bottom.  Lightly grease the sides of the pan with a little coconut oil.  Set prepared pans aside. Preheat oven to 350º.

Soften butter and cream cheese in a large mixing bowl.  Whip with electric mixer until smooth.  Add applesauce, syrup, eggs, vanilla and continue beating with the mixer until smooth throughout.   Add all the dry ingredients, beating between each one you add to the bowl.  Beat with the mixer for 2-3 minutes or until batter is very smooth.  With a spoon, stir in the diced, peeled apple if using.  Using a rubber spatula, scrape half of your batter into each pan.  Pop pans into preheated 350º oven and bake for about 40-45 minutes.  Watch the tops as you near end of time, as ovens can vary.  Remove and slightly cool.  Slice loaf into 8 slices.  Do not slice if freezing the loaves.  I freeze my cakes in gallon freezer plastic bags.

NUTRITIONAL INFO:  Makes 16 servings/slices, each contains:

Without diced apple: 261 cals., 22.5 g fat, 7.43 g carbs, 1.98 g fiber, 5.45 g NET CARBS, 10.75 g protein, 250 mg sodium

With diced apple:  267.4 cals. 22.5 g fat, 9.05 g carbs, 2.26 g fiber, 6.79 g NET CARBS, 10.78 g. protein, 250 mg sodium.

Individual “Irish” Chocolate Cake

Just in time for St. Patrick’s Day!  A tasty, quick dessert to top off that corned beef and cabbage on St. Patrick’s Day.  Tasty and quite easy, too!  The cake goes together in minutes, microwaves in 1 minute and the icing is just as easy.  And boy, oh, boy, is this icing ever delicious!  This cake is moist and has just the right amount of whiskey flavor.

I normally bake this cake for 1 minute in a glass dish in the microwave.  But when I want to use a very large, metal shamrock cookie cutter, I bake it in the regular oven (15 min 350º), using foil to form a “bottom” for the cookie cutter.  I would recommend baking this either as 4 cupcakes or as I usually do other times of the year, in a 5″ square or round baking dish.  You could also use two small “mini-cake pans.  If doing cupcakes, fill them evenly, which will be about 3/4 full.  Don’t worry, this batter doesn’t rise too much during baking.

This recipe is not suitable until Phase 2  of Atkins.  Those on other Ketogenic diets may get bumped out of ketosis consuming alcohol, but there is very little in this, so that might not happen.   Of course, you should omit the booze if in the first 2 weeks Induction phase.

More delicious low-carb recipes can be at your fingertips with your very own set of Jennifer Eloff and friends’ best-selling cookbooks LOW CARBING AMONG FRIENDS. She has collaborated with famous low-carb Chef George Stella and several other talented cooks to bring you a wealth of delicious recipes you are going to want to try. Even a few of my recipes are in each of the 5 volumes! Order your set TODAY! (also available individually) from Amazon or: http://amongfriends.us/order.php

CAKE INGREDIENTS:

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1 T. butter, melted

4 pkts. stevia (I use Sweet Leaf)

¼ c. erythritol

2 large eggs, beaten

1 T. Irish Whiskey (I used Powers)

¼ c. cocoa powder, sifted

1½ tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. glucomannan (konjac) powder

1 tsp. oat fiber

CAKE DIRECTIONS:   Spray or grease your dish(s) or pan(s) with coconut oil or oil of your choosing.  Melt the butter and place in a medium glass bowl.   Add the stevia, erythritol and stir well.  Next beat in the two eggs.  Add the vanilla and Irish Whiskey, stirring once again.   Sift the cocoa on top and measure the remaining dry ingredients in next.  Stir gently to incorporate the dry into the wet ingredients.  Beat the batter with a spoon until it is smooth.    Pour into greased glass or ceramic pan(s) and bake for 1 minute on HI.   If using metal pans or conventional oven, bake at 350º about 13-15 minutes or until dry to the touch in the center.  Remove, cool completely and ice.

FROSTING INGREDIENTS:  

1 oz. cream cheese, softened

1 T. softened butter

2 tsp. Irish Whiskey (I used Powers)

¼ tsp. vanilla

2 T. plain whey protein powder (I use NOW brand)

2 pkts. stevia

3 T. powdered erythritol (I just powder it in my food processor)

FROSTING DIRECTIONS:  Soften the butter and cream cheese in a small bowl.  Add the protein, whiskey and vanilla.   Stir well until smooth.  Begin adding the sweeteners slowly, tasting as you go and STOP when it’s sweet enough for you, or add more if needed.  Everybody is different on sweetness preferences.    You can use food coloring to make your frosting green if you like (about 13-15 drops).  Frost the cooled cake(s) and serve at once or chill and then cover with plastic wrap if you must hold them over.

NUTRITIONAL INFO:    Makes 2 large servings, each contains:

316 calories, 23 g  fat, 11.2 g  carbs, 5.1 g  fiber, 6.1 g NET CARBS, 13.5 g  protein, 434 mg sodium

Hearts with Strawberry Sauce

I think I’ll make these for my honey this Valentine’s Day.   🙂  I have made them in years past and he just loves them with vanilla ice cream.  I prefer mine either as is or with a spoon of sweetened whipped cream on top.  I double small cake recipe so there are few leftovers.   This kind of portion control works best for me.  😉   Below is the silicone pan I use, but any shortcake or large muffin pan will work:  This recipe is not suitable until you reach the grains level of Phase 2 Atkins.

INGREDIENTS:

2 recipes my Einkorn Individual Vanilla Cake

1¼ c. whole, frozen strawberries (no sugar added)

¼ tsp xanthan gum (or your favorite thickener)

4 drops liquid sweetener of choice (I used EzSweets)

VARIATION:  You can puree the sauce until smooth with a stick blender if you prefer. 

DIRECTIONS:   Make the cake batter per that recipe’s instructions, but add 1/4 c. of the strawberries to the batter.  Beat with a stick blender until smooth.  Fill mold slots half full, which made 8 little cakes for me (with other size molds, your mileage may vary).  Microwave on HI for 2 minutes or until center is dry to the touch.    Tip out of molds with the tip of a knife onto a waiting platter or service plates.  When cool, top with sauce made as follows:  Heat over medium heat the remaining strawberries, any juice and the sweetener.  When it begins to simmer, stir in the xanthan gum and stir constantly until thick.

NUTRITIONAL INFO:   Makes 8 small cakes, each contains:

113.6 calories, 8.33 g fat, 7.50 g carbs, 2.0 g fiber, 5.50 g NET CARBS, 4.57 g protein, 63 mg sodium

Pumpkin Cake

Shown cake made with fresh pumpkin.

This moist, delicious pumpkin cake, inspired by a recipe I saw at Fabulous Foods.com, came out simply wonderful.  It cooked perfectly and has a lovely smooth texture.  I don’t care for the texture of cakes made exclusively with almond flour, so I subbed 1/3 whey protein powder into her recipe for a smoother texture.  I also chose to use fresh pumpkin rather than canned.  I reduced the butter called for by 25% as well.  This one’s a keeper for our holiday baking, for sure!  This recipe is suitable for all phases of Atkins, Keto diets and Primal as well.  The cream cheese knocks this out of suitability for Paleo, unless there is a suitable substitute that meets that program’s requirements.

Many delicious low-carb recipes like this one can be at your fingertips with your very own cookbooks from LOW CARBING AMONG FRIENDS, by Jennifer Eloff and low-carb friends (me included).  Chef George Stella also brings you a wealth of delicious recipes you will love!  Order yours TODAY! from Amazon  or our direct order site: amongfriends.us/order.php.

INGREDIENTS:

2 c. almond flour

1 c. plain whey protein powder

1 c. Splenda or equivalent sweetener of choice

2 tsp. baking powder

1/8 tsp. salt

1 T. + 1 tsp. cinnamon

1 tsp. ground cloves

½ tsp. nutmeg

8 oz. cream cheese, softened

3/4 c. (1½ sticks) butter, softened

1 c. fresh (or canned) cooked pumpkin puree

4 large eggs

½ c. sugar-free maple syrup or caramel sugar-free syrup

1 tsp. vanilla

DIRECTIONS:  Preheat oven to 350º.  Line the bottom of a tube with parchment cut-to-fit, or use a lightly oiled non-stick bundt pan.  Oil the sides and post of your tube pan as well.  In a medium bowl, soften cream cheese and butter.  With electric mixer, blend them well.  Add eggs, syrup, pumpkin and vanilla.  Whip on high until very smooth.  In a separate bowl, measure out all dry ingredients and stir well to blend to a uniform mixture.  Add to the wet ingredients and beat with the electric mixer until a smooth batter is achieved.  With a rubber spatula, scrape the batter into the cake pan spreading it as evenly as possible.  Bake at 350º for 50-55 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean and dry.  Cool almost totally before loosening with a knife and tipping onto a cake plate for serving.   You can top with dollop of fresh whipped cream if you  like.

VARIATION:  Use lightly oiled silicone muffin pans for a muffin version.  Should make 12 large muffins that will take about 20-25 minutes to bake at 350º.

NUTRITIONAL INFO:  Makes 14 slices, each contains:

295 calories, 25.8 g fat, 7.28 g carbs, 2.30 g fiber, 4.98 g NET CARBS, 12.4 g protein, 287 mg sodium

Mesquite Cranberrry-Orange Brandy Cake

This moist cake can be a marvelous addition to your Holiday celebrations.  It reminds me a little of my grandmothers fruitcake, just not with all the high-carb candied fruit bits.  This cake has been modified several times now and I think I’ve finally gotten the ingredients just about right.  Even my husband thought this cake had a nice texture and deep, rich flavor (thanks to the slight “smoky” taste of mesquite flour).  And trust me, he is NOT a fan of cakes with this much fruit and nuts in them.

Mesquite flour has a hint of a smoky taste to me, although you might not find is so.  This cake is light and fluffy, and not dense at all like traditional fruitcakes.  I think the addition of the oat fiber plays a major role in texture here, so don’t omit that. I order oat fiber from Honeyvillegrains.com.  The company I ordered my mesquite flour direct from Casa de Fruta is no longer carrying this product.  Amazon has several sources if you search there.  Nuts.com also carries mesquite flour and this is yet another source:  http://www.mesquiteflour.com/. This recipe is not acceptable until the grains rung of OWL.  This cake was baked in an 8½” x 3″ round silicone cake pan shown below:

INGREDIENTS:

7/8 stick butter (7 T.)

1 ¼ c. granular Splenda

¼ c. brandy

¼ c. DaVinci coconut or vanilla sugar-free syrup

4 beaten eggs

½ c.  coarsely chopped fresh cranberries

2 T.  grated orange rind

3/4 c. chopped pecans

¼ c. unsweetened coconut

2 T. oat fiber

1 3/4 c. CarbQuik bake mix (or Jennifer Eloff’s Gluten Free Bake Mix for gluten-free)

4 T. mesquite flour

1 tsp. baking powder (yes, even though CarbQuick has some in it!)

DIRECTIONS:  Preheat oven to 350º.  Pour brandy over cranberries to soak while mixing up the cake.  Chop nuts.  Soften butter and beat with Splenda until smooth.  Add eggs beating well after each one.  Mix all dry ingredients in separate bowl and slowly add to egg mixture,  Stir well.  Now add in cranberry mixture, brandy and all, and the nuts.  Be sure batter is well-blended.  Pour into a sprayed round, deep cake pan (I used a small silicone sunflower-shaped pan that is about 3″ deep).  Bake in a preheated 350º oven for 50 minutes.  It is done when toothpick stuck in center comes out dry/clean.  Cake will be mounded in the middle at first fall back level as it cools.  Turn cake onto cake plate when fully cooled.  As with most low-carb baked goods, store leftovers in the refrigerator to avoid spoilage.

NUTRITIONAL INFO:  Serves 12, each serving contains:

203 calories, 18 g  fat, 15.75 g  carbs, 9.62 g  fiber, 6.13 g NET CARBS, 6.1 g  protein, 239 mg. sodium

Coconut Cake

I tried my hand at a classic coconut cake shortly after I began low-carbing.   It has always been a favorite of mine.  So I thought I’d share it with you today.  It’s a great way to get some coconut and coconut oil into your diet!  With all the eggs that coconut flour requires, this is a costly cake to make.  It is not as white and light as traditional coconut cakes, but with all the coconut oil and butter, this cake certainly doesn’t want for moisture.  I iced my two layer cake with whipped cream to which I added some dehydrated coconut milk powder for stabilizing and a pinch of coconut flavoring, but you could certainly use whatever cream cheese or coconut frosting you prefer.  This recipe isn’t suitable until the nuts rung of Phase 2 of Atkins.  It is suitable for Keto if you can fit the carbs into your daily limits.

More delicious low-carb recipes can be at your fingertips with your very own set of Jennifer Eloff and friends’ best-selling cookbooks LOW CARBING AMONG FRIENDS. She has collaborated with famous low-carb Chef George Stella and several other talented cooks to bring you a wealth of delicious recipes you are going to want to try. Even a few of my recipes are in each of the 5 volumes! Order your set TODAY! (also available individually) from Amazon or our direct order site: http://amongfriends.us/order.php

DISCLAIMER: By personal choice, I do not accept payment for this book promotion nor for the inclusion of my recipes therein. I do so merely because they are GREAT cookbooks any low-carb cook would be proud to add to their cookbook collection.

INGREDIENTS:

½ c. butter, unsalted, softened

1/3 c. coconut oil (melted)

12 medium-large eggs

3/4 c. sugar-free syrup (vanilla or coconut)

¼ c. erythritol

2 tsp. vanilla

1 tsp. almond extract

1/3 c. Carbquik bake mix (use Jennifer Eloff’s Gluten-Free Bake Mix for gluten-free version)

3/4 c. coconut flour

2 T. oat fiber

1 tsp. glucomannan powder or xanthan gum (texture enhancers)

1/4 tsp. salt

2 tsp. baking powder

For frosting:  1 c. whipping cream, 2 tsp. Coconutti extract (or 1 tsp. regular coconut extract), 6 drops liquid sucralose, and either 1 T. coconut milk powder or 1/8 tsp. glucomannan powder to stabilize.

VARIATION:  Add 1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts.

DIRECTIONS:  Preheat oven to 350º. Line the bottom of two 9″ cake pans with either parchment or waxed paper.  Grease the sides of the pan with coconut oil and set them aside while you mix up the batter.  In a large bowl, soften the butter and coconut oil and beat well until smooth.  Beat in the eggs.  Add erythritol and syrup.  Stir well.  Measure and add in all dry ingredients.  Beat with a spoon until smooth.  Scrape batter as evenly as possible into the two prepared pans.  Bake in preheated 350º oven for 30-35 minutes.  Toothpick check the center to make certain it comes out dry.  Remove and cool completely before attempting to frost.

While cakes are cooling, make the frosting.  Whip the cream until thick.  Stir in 2 tsp. Coconutti extract (or 1 tsp. other coconut extract), the liquid sucralose and the coconut milk powder and stir well.  When cakes have totally cooled, place one on a serving plate.  Spoon a thin layer of frosting on the bottom layer.  Place second layer on top and ice the top and sides with remaining frosting.  Sprinkle a tiny bit of toasted coconut on top if desired.  Keep this cake (and all low-carb cakes) refrigerated when not serving/consuming.  I highly recommend removing it from the refrigeratore for 1 hour before serving.  It gets fairly “dense” when chilled due to the coconut oil in it.

NUTRITIONAL INFO:   Makes 10 servings, each contains:

373 calories, 32.46 g  fat, 14.82 g  carbs, 8.8 g  fiber, 6.02 g  NET CARBS, 11.0 g  protein, 24.8 mg sodium

Strawberry Chocolate Torte

I’m not a big sweets eater, as many of my readers and forum acquaintances know.  But my husband IS!  And since he’s Type 2 diabetic, I do try to fix him low-carb treats so he won’t go and buy the awful junk at the grocery store and bakery that is laden with flour and sugar.   This dessert I created for his Valentine’s Day treat some years back and thought I’d share it again since Valentine’s Day is just around the corner.

The basic chocolate cake batter in this recipe is actually not my recipe.  My inspiration was a recipe posted by a wonderful cook on LowCarbFriends forums named Gwen, known there as “The Chicken Lady”.  This cake is a testimonial to her incredible cooking skills. I’m very pleased with this chocolate cake!  And I can’t say that about many low-carb chocolate cakes I’ve tried. Despite it looking sinfully rich, it was very light.   I have made no changes to her original cake recipe.  🙂

I did bake my cake in ONE 9″ round cake (wax-paper lined) cake pan that is unusually deep (2½”) and the cake rose nearly to the top!  It would bake OK in two standard shallow 9″ cake pans also, but reduce the cooking time if you make that pan change.  You’ll have more trouble slicing it into 4 layers, and might prefer to just do a two-layer final cake instead of three.  Or you could bake the cake in a wax-paper lined stew pot/dutch oven.  That has worked for me many a time.  This cake is not suitable until the berries rung of the Atkins OWL carb reintroduction ladder.  Due to the artificial sweeteners and dairy, this dessert is not be suitable for Paleo-Primal followers without considerable modification.

VARIATION:  Substitute raspberries for the strawberries.

This cake is fairly carb pricey, but if you can’t afford the carbs, you could cut it into 12 pieces.  That’s a wee bit better.  This should be considered a very special occasion treat because it IS so carb pricey.  Be sure if substituting other than liquid sweeteners, to add in those carbs!

CAKE INGREDIENTS: 

4 c. almond flour
liquid sweetener to equal 2 c. sugar
½ c. granular erythritol (or equivalent of 1/3 cup of sugar)
4 pkts. stevia (equivalent for 8 tsp. sugar)  
½ c. cup cocoa powder
2 t. baking powder
2 t. baking soda
½ t. salt
1 Tbsp. vanilla
1/3 c. butter or coconut oil, melted
4 eggs, beaten
1 c. sour cream

FROSTING INGREDIENTS:

2½ c. heavy cream, whipped

Pinch (less than 1/16 tsp.) glucomannan powder, dusted over cream as you whip it (optional, to help firm up the whipped cream)

14 oz. frozen whole strawberries, thawed and drained of juice, chopped

1 c. fresh strawberries, chopped (or 1 c. more frozen berries, or use all fresh berries)

Sweetener of choice to taste

DIRECTIONS: Preheat oven to 350º.   Mix and beat the wet cake ingredients in a large mixing bowl.   If your almond flour isn’t room temperature, make it so and press out any lumps.  Measure and add in all dry ingredients to the bowl and stir well. Line your cake pan(s) with waxed paper or parchment.  Grease the sides of the pan(s) well.  Pour batter into pan spreading it evenly with a rubber spatula. Tap pan on counter to eliminate air pockets and pop into 350º oven.  Bake for about 60 minutes if using one, very deep pan like I did.  If using two 1″ x 9″ round cake pans, they will cook much faster, in about 25-30 minutes or so.   Toothpick test the center.  It should come out clean and dry when the the cake is done.  Completely cool before attempting to tip cake out onto a board to cut it into layers.  This cake can also be made in a rectangular 9 x 13″ pan, cut in half and each half then sliced laterally to form 4 layers (reserve 1 layer for another use as you only need 3 layers for this cake).  All sorts of possibilities with that cake size.

While cake is in the oven, make the frosting:  Whip the cream until thick.  Run the berries through a food processor (or chop coarsely) for a few seconds, but leave them coarse.  Fold the berries into the whipped cream. Dust the pinch of glucomannan powder over the mixture slowly, folding after each addition, until all of it has been incorporated.  Taste for sweetness and add your favorite sweetener to taste.  Chill frosting until cake is totally cool.

Next cut the cake layers:  I sliced the completely cooled cake very carefully with a long-bladed knife, using a piece of cardboard covered with foil to gently slide each layer onto to set aside while I filled/frosted the final creation.  This cake has a firm texture and is not as crumbly as some almond flour cakes.  All good, but you still need to be careful, as even firm cakes can break.

Place about 1¼ c. of the frosting on the bottom layer of the cake.  Spread evenly with a rubber spatula, going almost to the edges.  Place the second layer of cake gently on the top and press slightly.  Put another 1¼ c. frosting on this layer and spread it out evenly.  Place the top cake layer on the stack, press slightly and spread all remaining frosting on the top and sides. OPTIONAL GARNISH:  Decorate the top of your cake with fresh strawberry slices, a few strawberry leaves  or perhaps a sliced and “fanned out” single strawberry at the center.  Chill in the refrigerator with plastic wrap on top until ready to cut and serve.

This cake was simply DELICIOUS and I will definitely be making it again!   My thanks to The Chicken Lady for her wonderful chocolate cake recipe.  It truly made my Valentines treat a success!

CONFESSION TIME:  The reason I used both frozen and fresh berries in the topping is I only had one 14 oz. bag of the frozen diced unsweetened berries in my freezer.  I thought that would make enough frosting.  But 1½ c. cream and those berries didn’t make enough frosting to frost the sides of the cake!  So I had to whip up a little more frosting real quick with another cup of cream and berries, so the last batch of frosting had to be made with what fresh berries I had on hand.

NUTRITIONAL INFO:   Makes 10 servings, using the sweeteners specified, each serving contains:

632 cals, 57.8 g fat, 20.4 g carbs, 7.05 g fiber, 13.35 g NET CARBS, 15.2 g protein, 521 mg sodium

Individual Cinnamon Coffee Cakes

Individual Cinnamon Coffee Cake

This is just one of many ways you could use my Individual Vanilla Cake recipe.  You could even take a bit of chopped nuts and cinnamon and add to the bottom of the cake pan before filling with batter and bake some nuts right on the very crown of your coffee cake!  But my husband doesn’t like nuts, so mine are baked sans nuts.   This is not suitable until you get to the grains rung of OWL.  Please bear in mind the nutritional info below does NOT include any nuts you add.

More delicious low-carb recipes can be at your fingertips with your very own set of Jennifer Eloff and friends’ best-selling cookbooks LOW CARBING AMONG FRIENDS. She has collaborated with famous low-carb Chef George Stella and other wonderful cooks to bring you a wealth of recipes you will love! Some of my low-carb creations appear in each of the 5 volumes! Order yours TODAY! from Amazon or our direct order site: http://amongfriends.us/order.php

DISCLAIMER: By personal choice, I do not accept payment for this book promotion nor for the inclusion of my recipes therein. I do so merely because they are GREAT cookbooks any low-carb cook would be proud to add to their cookbook collection.

INGREDIENTS:

1 recipe Individual Vanilla Cakes

1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon

1 T. butter

1 T. erythritol or your favorite sweetener

DIRECTIONS:    Preheat oven to 350º and grease pans.  Make Vanilla cakes per recipe instructions. If you want to add chopped nuts, I would recommend adding them to the bottom of your pans before filling with batter to bake.  That way the nuts will be cooked right on top of the cake itself! When cakes have cooled just enough to remove from pans (mine are non-stick, so that’s just a few minutes), place on serving dish.  Slice laterally and spread ½ T. butter on each.  Replace top half of cake and top with remaining ½ T. butter (it will melt from the heat).  Mix erythritol and cinnamon and sprinkle on top.  Serve warm with coffee or tea.

NUTRITIONAL INFO:   Makes two individual coffeecakes, each contains:

316 calories

26.8 g  fat

17.2 g  carbs, 10.7 g  fiber, 6.4 NET CARBS

17.5 g  protein

551 mg sodium

Meyer Lemon Pound Cake

Meyer Lemon Pound Cake

My lemon pound cake is basically my dessert bread batter with the zest and juice of 1 Meyer lemon added.  Comes out out very moist and incredibly delicious!  It has been a very popular recipe on my blog.  If you’ve never tasted them before, Meyer lemons are a cross between a lemon and a Mandarin orange in flavor.  A very aromatic taste indeed!  You can use regular lemons for this if you can’t find Meyer lemons in your grocery store.  My local store has them once in awhile in the summertime.  I snatch up a bag whenever they are on the shelf!

This recipe is not suitable until you reach the nuts and seeds rung of the Atkins OWL carb ladder.  It is suitable for Primal if you use a plan-acceptable sweetener.  This pound cake is so moist, it is delicious without frosting.  But it was also good with a cream cheese frosting made from 4 oz. cream cheese, juice and zest of another Meyer lemon and a little sweetener.  But I didn’t calculate any frosting in the nutritional info below, so be sure to add in numbers for any frosting you put on this cake.

More delicious low-carb treats can be at your fingertips with your very own set of Jennifer Eloff and friends’ best-selling cookbooks LOW CARBING AMONG FRIENDS.  She has collaborated with famous low-carb Chef George Stella and several other talented chefs to bring you a wealth of delicious recipes you are going to want to try.  Even a few of my recipes are in her cookbooks! Order your 5-volume set TODAY! (also available individually) from Amazon or here: http://amongfriends.us/order.php

DISCLAIMER: I do not get paid for this book promotion or for the inclusion of my recipes therein.  I do so merely because they are GREAT cookbooks any low-carb cook would be proud to add to their cookbook collection

INGREDIENTS:

1/3 c. coconut flour

2/3 c. almond flour

¼ tsp. sea salt

1 T. glucomannan powder (optional, but improves texture & fiber)

Sweetener to equal 3/4 c. sugar (I used ¼ c.+ 2T. Steviva)

6 drops liquid Splenda

3 T. coconut oil

1 stick unsalted butter

½ tsp. vanilla

Juice of 1 Meyer lemon (or regular lemon)

Zest of 1 Meyer lemon (or regular lemon)

¼ tsp. Boyajian lemon oil  (see “where to buy” tab atop this page)

8 large eggs, beaten

DIRECTIONS:   Preheat oven to 350º.  Melt butter and coconut oil in microwave in a medium mixing bowl.  Add almond flour, coconut flour, salt and glucomannan powder to the melted butter and oil and beat with a spoon until smooth.    Add vanilla, lemon zest, juice and Boyajian lemon oil now.  Add sweeteners and beaten eggs.  Beat with spoon until all lumps are out of batter.  Using a rubber spatula, scrape the batter evenly into a lightly oiled non-stick loaf pan (mine is extra long, but shallow 4″x 2.5″x10).  Level batter as best you can with the spatula.  Pop into preheated oven for 40-45 minutes or until it is lightly browned on top and passes the toothpick test in the center.  Remove and cool before attempting to remove from pan and slicing. Enjoy plain or with a thin lemon frosting on top.

NUTRITIONAL INFO:   Makes fourteen ½” thick slices, each contains:

168 calories

15.3 g  fat

3.56 g  carbs, 2.03 g  fiber, 1.53 g  NET CARBS

90 mg sodium

Individual Raspberry Cream Cake

This quick little dessert takes all of about 10 minutes to make. And it’s very tasty!  It’s another variation on my Einkorn Individual Vanilla Cake recipe.  This recipe isn’t suitable until you are fairly close to goal weight.  You can make this dessert with a few pureed strawberries if you like.

VARIATIONS:  Substitute 3 pureed strawberries for the raspberries.  Or, sub in 3 slices of pureed fresh peach.  Or stir in 2 T. crushed canned pineapple (drained).  All are delicious versions!

INGREDIENTS:

1 recipe my Einkorn Individual Vanilla Cake

2 T. my Raspberry Coulis (or sugar-free raspberry preserves)

½ c. heavy cream, whipped and sweetened (makes about 3/4 cup total)

DIRECTIONS:  Make the cake per that recipe’s instructions, but use raspberry sugar-free syrup instead of the vanilla syrup.   Scrape the batter into a 6″ ramekin (or 2 smaller ones).  Microwave on HI for 1 minutes or until center is dry to the touch.  Cool completely.  Slice cake horizontally into 2 layers.  Place one layer on a serving plate.  Whip and sweeten the whipping cream.  Stir in the fruit puree.  Spread half on top of the bottom layer.  Place top cake layer on top and frost with  remaining whipped mixture.  Cut into two servings and ENJOY!

NUTRITIONAL INFO:   Makes two servings, each contains:

316 calories

39.4 g  fat

8.2 g  carbs, 2.3 g  fiber, 5.9 g NET CARBS

5.8 g  protein

85 mg sodium

Einkorn Individual “Dreamsicle”® Cake

Yet another creation with my Individual Vanilla Cake recipe that makes actually TWO servings.  This was delicious so you ought to consider giving this a go! This little basic vanilla cake has so many possibilities!  It is not suitable for Atkins Induction, but is OK to enjoy once you get to Phase 2 of Atkins.

Individual Dreamsicle® Cake

More delicious low-carb recipes can be at your fingertips with your very own set of Jennifer Eloff and friends’ best-selling cookbooks LOW CARBING AMONG FRIENDS. She has collaborated with famous low-carb Chef George Stella and several other talented cooks to bring you a wealth of delicious recipes you are going to want to try. Several of my own creations appear in each of the 5 volumes! Order your set TODAY! (also available individually) from Amazon or our direct order site: http://amongfriends.us/order.php

DISCLAIMER: By personal choice, I do not accept payment for this book promotion nor for the inclusion of my recipes therein. I do so merely because they are GREAT cookbooks any low-carb cook would be proud to add to their cookbook collection.

INGREDIENTS:

1 recipe my Einkorn Individual Vanilla Cake

½ c. heavy cream, whipped

¼ tsp. orange zest

liquid sweetener of choice to taste

2-4 drops Crush® orange water flavor drops (to taste)

DIRECTIONS:  Mix and bake the the cake according to that recipe’s instructions (linked above).  When cool, tip out of the dish with a knife tip and slice horizontally into 2 layers.  Place one layer on a medium serving plate.  Next, in a small bowl, whip and sweeten to taste the heavy cream.  I use a stick blender and I like to whip 1 cup of whipping minimum at a time.  It’s just easier. Then I measure out the ½ cup needed for this recipe, refrigerating the rest of the whipped cream for another day.  Be sure to cover the reserved cream.  Stir the orange zest into the whipped cream.  Add 2-3 drops of the orange water flavor drops and stir.    Spread half the creamy orange “frosting” on the bottom cake layer.  Place the second cake layer on top and ice the top only with the rest of the orange-flavored cream.  Cut into two servings and ENJOY!

NUTRITIONAL INFO:   Makes 2 servings, each contains:

307 calories

30.3 g  fat

6 g  carbs, 1.25 g  fiber, 4.75 NET CARBS

5.6 g  protein

85 mg sodium

Banana-Peanut Butter “Twinkies”

Banana-Peanut Butter “Twinkies”®

One of my Mom’s favorite afternoon snacks when I was growing up was a banana sandwich with a smear of peanut butter on it.  Well, I took that flavor to a new medium……….a banana muffin batter.   These were tasty beyond words.  A little carb-y, so they are not for regular consumption.  But they are a tasty treat once in a rare while.  🙂  These are not suitable until you have reached the high-carb fruits level of the Atkins carb reintroduction ladder, nearer to maintenance.  These are too high carb for most Keto followers, but those at goal weight might indulge.  Totally not suitable for Primal-Paleo folks.

More delicious low-carb recipes can be at your fingertips with your very own set of Jennifer Eloff and friends’ best-selling cookbooks LOW CARBING AMONG FRIENDS. She has collaborated with famous low-carb Chef George Stella and several other talented cooks to bring you a wealth of delicious recipes you are going to want to try. Several of my own creations appear in each of the 5 volumes! Order your set TODAY! (also available individually) from Amazon or our direct order site: http://amongfriends.us/order.php

DISCLAIMER: By personal choice, I do not accept payment for this book promotion nor for the inclusion of my recipes therein. I do

INGREDIENTS:

1 recipe my Banana Muffin batter

1 ripe banana, mashed

2 T. natural peanut butter (I use Laura Scudder)

DIRECTIONS:  Preheat oven to 350º.  Lightly grease a non-stick Twinkie® pan (or use a regular muffin pan if you don’t have a Twinkie® pan).  Make the recipe of banana muffin batter in a medium bowl.  Stir until smooth.  Spoon into the 12 slots of the pan equally (will be quite full as they don’t rise much).  Bake at 350º for about 22-25 minutes.  I’m still learning to use a new oven in a new house so these came out a little browner than I like, but the oven performed pretty well for me.  Remove when firm to the touch and cool off.  Slice in half and set aside.  Stir the mashed whole banana and peanut butter together until well-blended.  Makes 3/4 c. filling or exactly 12 tablespoons.  Fill each “Twinkie”® with 1 T. of the filling, spreading somewhat evenly.  You can, if you prefer, just “frost” the Twinkies® on the tops if this is easier.  🙂  ENJOY!

NUTRITIONAL INFO:  Makes 12, each contains:

244.7 calories

19.76 g  fat

13.15 g  carbs, 4.29 g  fiber, 8.86 g  NET CARBS

6.83 g  protein

Einkorn Banana Cake

4-Serving Einkorn Banana Cake

This is quick and delicious.  I cut into 4 thick chunks, but you can cut carbs on this cake cutting it into 5 servings that are more like standard slices.  This cake is incredibly smooth in texture.  I’m really, really liking the smooth texture my Einkorn Bake Mix brings to my baked goods with only a slight increase in carbs.  Like Bisquick®, it is a complete mix with leavening and fat inclused.  I use palm shortening in it which has an even longer shelf life than coconut oil.  I consider the slight carb increase on my Einkorn recipes as respectable, since there is some real wheat flour in it, although healthier ancient, unmodified Einkorn wheat.  This cake is not too sweet and is very moist.  It is not suitable until you are in Atkins Pre-Maintenance or Maintenance as it has real banana and Einkorn wheat flour, so it is slightly higher in carbs than most of my cakes.  This cake will only fit into a Keto diet if you can fit the carbs in your daily limit.

Baked in 5 x 7″ dish

INGREDIENTS:

1 cup my Einkorn Bake Mix

2 large eggs

¼ c. erythritol (or other sweetener to equal ¼ c. sugar)

Tiny sprinkle of stevia pwder

2 T. heavy cream

2/3 medium banana, mashed

DIRECTIONS:  Preheat oven to 350º.  Grease a 5 x 7 baking dish.  In a medium mixing bowl, mash the banana (you are using only 2/3 of the banana to cut down carbs).  Add eggs, sweetener and cream and beat them smooth with the banana.   Dip up 1 cup of my bake mix and with a whisk, beat the batter until smooth.  With a rubber spatula, scrape the batter into your greased dish.  Pop into 350º oven and bake for 20-25 minutes or until it passes a clean/dry toothpick test in the middle or springs back when touched at center.  Remove and cool a few minutes before attempting to slice and eat.

NUTRITIONAL INFO:    Makes 4 servings, each contains:

230 calories

18.2 g  fat

12.75 g  carbs, 2.80 g  fiber, 9.95 g  NET CARBS

9.2 g  protein

106 mg sodium

NOTE——Serving this in 5 slices will reduce calories to 184, 14.5g fat, 10.2g carbs, 2.24g fiber, 7.96g NET CARBS, 7.3g protein and 84 mg sodium

Einkorn Cranberry Walnut Cake

This little snack or breakfast coffeecake is delicious.  I was looking at clafouti recipes today and one for a cherry clafouti caught my eye.  I decided that since I have never cared for the eggy, wetness of clafouti, I’d try it as a straight cake instead and toss in some walnuts for good measure. Good decision!  It came out GREAT!  I used cranberries I had previously frozen in the bag, but you could use fresh as well, or sugar-free dried berries if you make your own.

This recipe isn’t suitable until you reach the nuts and berries rung of the Atkins Phase 2 OWL carb ladder.

INGREDIENTS:

1 c. my Einkorn Bake Mix (or use a lower-carb bake mix for lower carbs)

1/3 c. heavy cream

3 large eggs, beaten

3/4 c. erythritol sweetener

Dash of stevia (I used 1/8 tsp. KAL stevia)

1 c. chopped fresh or frozen cranberries

½ c. walnuts, coarsely chopped

DIRECTIONS:   Preheat oven to 350º.  Grease a baking pie plate or quiche dish with coconut oil and set aside.  Chop the berries and walnuts coarsely (I did so in my food processor pulsing a few times).  Add the bake mix and sweeteners and stir/pulse until blended.  Add the eggs and cream and pulse 1-2 more times to mix well into a chunky batter.  Scrape batter into prepared dish, spreading evenly.  Pop into 350º oven for 35-40 minutes or until center passes a toothpick test.   Slice into 6 servings and serve warm with coffee or cool and add a dollop of sweetened whipped cream when serving if you like.

NUTRITIONAL INFO:   Makes 6 servings, each contains (not including whipped cream):

264 cals, 23g fat, 9.25g carbs, 3.01g fiber, 6.24g NET CARBS  (lower with other low-carb bake mix), 9.81g  protein, 97 mg sodium

Einkorn Apricot-Cherry-Brazil Nut Bread

Einkorn Apricot-Cherry-Brazil Nut Bread

To give credit where it is due, this basic sweet bread batter was inspired by a Basic Quick Bread recipe at Sugar Free Low Carb Recipes website.   I added vanilla, sweetener, baking powder and glucomannan powder and I believe the smooth texture is now perfect.  The texture of this batter is quite nice and very moist.  No crumbling!  You can vary the fruit, berries and nuts in this but you will have to recalculate the carbs for any changes.  This recipe is suitable once you get to  Atkins Phase 2 OWL or farther.  If you require gluten-free, you will have to omit the Einkorn and sub in the same amount of “oat flour” ground from 100% certified gluten-free oats.

More delicious low-carb recipes can be at your fingertips with your very own set of Jennifer Eloff and friends’ best-selling cookbooks LOW CARBING AMONG FRIENDS.  She has collaborated with famous low-carb Chef George Stella and several other talented cooks to bring you a wealth of delicious recipes you are going to want to try.  Even a few of my recipes are in each of the 5 volumes! Order your set TODAY! (also available individually) from Amazon or: http://amongfriends.us/order.php

DISCLAIMER: I am not paid for this book promotion nor for the inclusion of my recipes therein.  I do so merely because they are GREAT cookbooks any low-carb cook would be proud to add to their cookbook collection.

INGREDIENTS:

Slight rise in 8″x5″ loaf pan.

1/3 c. coconut flour

1/3 c. almond flour

1/3 c. Einkorn flour

¼ tsp. sea salt

1 T. glucomannan powder

1½ tsp. baking powder

Stevia equivalent for ½ c. sugar (I used ¼ c. Steviva, a blend of erithritol & stevia)

1 stick (1/2 c.) unsalted butter, melted

1 tsp. vanilla

8 large eggs, beaten

½ c. chopped dried apricots

½ c. unsweetened dried cherries, chopped (I dehydrate my own)

½ c. chopped brazil nuts.

DIRECTIONS:  Preheat oven to 350º.  Grease a loaf pan.  I use a standard aluminum loaf pan.  I can get fourteen approximately ½”slices out of the loaf.  Mix dry ingredients in a medium mixing bowl. Melt butter and add to bowl.  Also add vanilla and the eggs and beat until you have a smooth batter.  Use an electric mixer if necessary, but I did not find I needed to do that.  Fold in your desired fruit, nuts or flavorings and stir well.   Spoon batter into greased pan, level with a spoon and bake at 350º for 40-45 minutes or until a toothpick stuck into center comes out slightly damp (this cake is THAT moist), but clean of any batter.  Cool a bit, slice into fourteen ½” slices (or to lower carbs, cut into 16 slices for 6.23 net carbs per slice).

NUTRITIONAL INFO:  Makes 14 servings, each contains: (numbers are specific for apricots, cherries and brazil nuts.  Recalculate for other additives).  Cutting into 16 slices reduces count to 6.23 g. net carbs.

122.3 calories

8.59 g  fat

8.9 g  carbs, 1.96 g  fiber, 6.94 g  NET CARBS

5.64 g  protein

124 mg sodium

Shortcake Cups

Shortcake Cups

Who doesn’t like shortcake in the summer time?  These 3½” tasty yellow cake cups are quick and have a lovely flavor.  Not to sweet, either.  You should use all golden flax meal for the lightest color.  These can be eaten as is, for a lovely plain single serving cake or topped with your favorite berries or sliced fruit and covered with sweetened whipped cream.  My favorites are strawberries, banana and peach.  These are not suitable until the grains rung of OWL.  Only use fruit whose carb count you can fit into your daily limits.  These are fairly large cups, so you might want to slice laterally into two “rings” for those that want a smaller portion.  These should freeze nicely for up to a month.

More delicious low-carb recipes can be at your fingertips with your very own set of Jennifer Eloff and friends’ best-selling cookbooks LOW CARBING AMONG FRIENDS.  She has collaborated with famous low-carb Chef George Stella and several other talented cooks to bring you a wealth of delicious recipes you are going to want to try.  Even a few of my recipes are in her cookbooks! Order your 5-volume set TODAY! (available individually) from Amazon or: http://amongfriends.us/order.php

DISCLAIMER: I do not get paid for this book promotion or for the inclusion of my recipes therein.  I do so merely because they are GREAT cookbooks any low-carb cook would be proud to add to their cookbook collection

INGREDIENTS:

½ c. Jen Eloff’s Gluten Free Bake Mix

¼ + 2 T. Carbquik bake mix (substitute more of Jen Eloff’s Bake Mix for gluten-free version)

¼ c. golden flax meal

2/3 c. granular Splenda or erythritol (or sweetener of your choice)

2 tsp. baking powder

Dash salt

4 eggs, beaten

2 tsp. melted butter

2 tsp. vanilla

DIRECTIONS:  Spray or lightly oil a shortcake pan, or 4 large muffin cups or 4 individual cake pans and set aside.  Preheat oven to 350º.  Measure dry ingredients into a medium mixing bowl.  In a smaller bowl, beat the eggs with the melted butter and vanilla.  Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and beat the batter well with a spoon.    Pour batter evenly into the four pan slots or muffin cups.  The cups will be about 1/2 full.  Place individual pans onto a small baking sheet and pop into a 350º oven for about 20 minutes or until firm in the center.  As ovens vary, check them at 15 minutes.  Partially cool before attempting to remove from pans.   I used a Chicago Metallic shortcake pan, but as I can’t find it on their website, they may not make this particular pan anymore.  Some other bakeware manufacturer might make something similar, however.  See photo of my pan below:

NUTRITIONAL INFO:    Makes 4 large cakes, each contains:

Shortcake Pan (you can use mini cake pans, large muffin cups or mini bundt pans)

188 calories

15.35 g  fat

16.55 g  carbs, 10.6 g  fiber, 5.95 g  NET CARBS (only 2.9 NC if you slice laterally and just eat half.)

11.25 g  protein

481 mg sodium

Einkorn Cinnamon-Pecan Coffeecake

Einkorn Cinnamon-Pecan Coffeecake

This quick little microwave coffeecake made with my new Einkorn Bake Mix was delicious.  We were amazed at how filling 1 slice (1/8 cake) was!  Even my coffeecake hound husband only had half a second slice.  This had a very nice, soft, slightly spongy texture.  It was moist and flavorful; sweet enough,  without being too cloyingly sweet.

This recipe is not suitable until the grains rung of the Atkins carb reintroduction ladder.  It is suitable for Keto diets if you can fit the carbs in your daily limits.  This would not be acceptable for Primal-Paleo on multiple levels.

BATTER INGREDIENTS: 

2 c. my Einkorn Bake Mix (you’re on your own with substitutions in this mix)

4 large eggs, beaten

¼ c. Davinci vanilla sugar-free syrup (or sweetener to =1/4 c. sugar + 1/4 c. water + splash vanilla)

2 T. erythritol (or 2 pkts stevia)

 

TOPPING INGREDIENTS:

¼ c. pecans or other nuts

2 T. erythritol (or 2 pkts. stevia or Splenda)

1 tsp. cinnamon

2 T. cold butter

DIRECTIONS:  I find this mix doesn’t bake as well (less rise) in conventional ovens as it cooks in a microwave, though not sure why.  But if you insist, or don’t have a MW, bake in oven at 350º for about 20-30 minutes. I forewarn it does not rise as well cooked in a conventional oven.  I hope to figure out exactly why that happens. I used a 7x7x2″ vegetable dish, but you could use an 8×8″ square baking dish, or any shaped dish that will hold about 4 c. batter. Oil the dish.

Pulse or blend topping ingredients in processor or blender or with fork in a small bowl and set aside. In another bowl, beat the eggs, Davinci syrup, erythritol until well-blended.  Add in the bake mix and stir until well blended.  Pour 1/3-1/2 the batter in the baking dish.  Crumble half the topping on the batter evenly.  Pour remaining batter evenly on top and crumble remaining topping on top.  Microwave on HI for 4½ minutes.  Check, if no longer wet in center, it’s done. May take 30 seconds longer in some microwaves.   Run knife around edges and tip upside down on serving plate or cutting board.  Cut into 8 portions and enjoy warm.

NUTRITIONAL INFO:   Makes 8 servings, each contains:

257 calories

22 g  fat

9.05 g  carbs, 2.81 g  fiber, 6.24 g  NET CARBS

9.22 g  protein

123 mg sodium

 

 

 

Einkorn Individual Vanilla Cake

Shown left = 1 recipe.  Shown right= ½ additional recipe for  interior view.

This little vanilla cake is very light, spongy, smooth and tasty.  It is good eaten alone, or sliced laterally, would make a GREAT cake for Strawberry Shortcake or Peach Shortcake.  It uses my new bake mix.  The cakes above were baked in a microwave.  I couldn’t recommend baking this cake in a conventional oven as the muffin I baked in the oven in a 3¼” ramekin rose half as much and was hard on the surface and dense in texture.  So this cake seems to prefer being microwaved for best results.  This recipe is not suitable until the nuts and seeds rung of the Atkins carb ladder.  It is acceptable for Keto diets if you can fit the carbs into your daily limits.  This is not suitable for Primal-Paleo.

INGREDIENTS:

½ c. my Einkorn Bake Mix

1 large egg, beaten

3 T. DaVinci sugar-free vanilla syrup (or 2 T. cream + 1/4 tsp. vanilla + 1 pkt. stevia)

DIRECTIONS:  Beat egg in a 4″ x 6″ ramekin (or two 3″ ramekins).  Add syrup and beat again.   Place dish in microwave and cook on HI for 1 minute or until top is no longer wet.  You can also bake this cake conventionally in a well-greased, wax paper or parchment lined dish at 350º for about 15-20 minutes until the center springs back when touched.   Cool a few minutes.  Run a knife around the edges to loosen and tip out.   Peel off wax-parchment paper from bottom.  Cut in half and serve.

NUTRITIONAL INFO:   Makes one 6″ oval cake (cut in half for 2 servings).  Each serving contains:

203 calories, 16.6 g  fat, 8.45 g  carbs, 2.3 g  fiber, 6.15 g  NET CARBS, 8.85 g  protein, 125 mg sodium

Individual “Irish” Chocolate Cake

Individual “Irish” Chocolate Cake

Today I offer my readers a delicious, quick dessert to top off that corned beef and cabbage on St. Patrick’s Day.  Tasty and quite easy, too!  The cake goes together in minutes, microwaves in 1 minute and the icing is just as easy.  And boy, oh, boy, is this icing ever tasty!  This cake is moist and has just the right amount of whiskey flavor.

I normally bake this cake for 1 minute in a glass dish in the microwave.  But when I want to use a very large, metal shamrock cookie cutter, I bake it in the regular oven (15 min 350º), using foil to form a “bottom” for the cookie cutter.  I would recommend baking this either as 4 cupcakes or as I usually do other times of the year, in a 5″ square or round baking dish.  You could also use two small “mini-cake pans.  If doing cupcakes, fill them evenly, which will be about 3/4 full.  Don’t worry, this batter doesn’t rise too much during baking.

This recipe is not suitable until Phase 2  of Atkins.  Those on other Ketogenic diets may get bumped out of ketosis consuming alcohol, but there is very little in this, so that might not happen.   Of course, you should omit the booze if in the first 2 weeks Induction phase.

More delicious low-carb recipes can be at your fingertips with your very own set of Jennifer Eloff and friends’ best-selling cookbooks LOW CARBING AMONG FRIENDS. She has collaborated with famous low-carb Chef George Stella and several other talented cooks to bring you a wealth of delicious recipes you are going to want to try. Even a few of my recipes are in each of the 5 volumes! Order your set TODAY! (also available individually) from Amazon or: http://amongfriends.us/order.php

CAKE INGREDIENTS:

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1 T. butter, melted

4 pkts. stevia (I use Sweet Leaf)

¼ c. erythritol

2 large eggs, beaten

1 T. Irish Whiskey (I used Powers)

¼ c. cocoa powder, sifted

1½ tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. glucomannan (konjac) powder

1 tsp. oat fiber

CAKE DIRECTIONS:   Spray or grease your dish(s) or pan(s) with coconut oil or oil of your choosing.  Melt the butter and place in a medium glass bowl.   Add the stevia, erythritol and stir well.  Next beat in the two eggs.  Add the vanilla and Irish Whiskey and stir again.   Sift the cocoa on top and measure the remaining dry ingredients in next.  Stir gently to incorporate the dry into the wet ingredients.  Beat the batter with a spoon until it is smooth.    Pour into greased glass or ceramic pan(s) and bake for 1 minute on HI.   If using metal pans or conventional oven, bake at 350º about 13-15 minutes or until dry to the touch in the center.  Remove, cool completely and ice.

FROSTING INGREDIENTS:  

1 oz. cream cheese, softened

1 T. softened butter

2 tsp. Irish Whiskey (I used Powers)

¼ tsp. vanilla

2 T. plain whey protein powder (I use NOW brand)

2 pkts. stevia

3 T. powdered erythritol (I just powder it in my food processor)

FROSTING DIRECTIONS:  Soften the butter and cream cheese in a small bowl.  Add the protein, whiskey and vanilla.   Stir well until smooth.  Begin adding the sweeteners slowly, tasting as you go and STOP when it’s sweet enough for you, or add more if needed.  Everybody is different on sweetness preferences.    You can use food coloring to make your frosting green if you like (about 13-15 drops).  Frost the cooled cake(s) and serve at once or chill and then cover with plastic wrap if you must hold them over.

NUTRITIONAL INFO:    Makes 2 large servings, each contains:

316 calories, 23 g  fat, 11.2 g  carbs, 5.1 g  fiber, 6.1 g NET CARBS, 13.5 g  protein, 434 mg sodium

Chocolate Tea Cakes

Chocolate Tea Cakes

These rich chocolate cake-like cookies are not too sweet yet they still satisfy your desire for chocolate and that sweet tooth.  They have a mere .82 net carbs per tea cake.  I used this pan to make these and although the picture is deceiving, the slots are only ½” deep, so they only hold about 2 T. batter at best.   I suppose you could also use a whoopie pie pan, but I’m not sure how many you will get from this amount of batter. I originally bought the braided cookie pan with the intention of using it to mold sugar cookies.  But it makes nice little cakes for toddlers hands or special occasion dessert trays.  This recipe is a tweaked version of the 3-minute Flourless Chocolate Cake recipe that is all over the internet. I’ve added 3 ingredients that I think give it better flavor, texture and structure than the original recipe.  This recipe is suitable for all phases of Atkins and the rare indulgence won’t hurt someone on a Keto diet if you can fit the carbs into your daily numbers.  This recipe is not suitable for Paleo-Primal due to the oat fiber.

I have also cut this recipe in half and baked it in my microwave on HI for 1 minute for a quick 2-serving chocolate cake.  When I do this, I melt about 10-12 sugar-free chocolate chips on top while still hot and spread it thinly on the surface. Mmmm……a very good, fast chocolate fix.  🙂

I know the amount of sweetener in these sounds like a lot, but they are not very sweet and it is always difficult to get chocolate desserts adequately sweet, in my honest opinion.

More delicious low-carb recipes can be at your fingertips with your very own set of Jennifer Eloff and friends’ best-selling cookbooks LOW CARBING AMONG FRIENDS.  She has collaborated with famous low-carb Chef George Stella and several other talented chefs to bring you a wealth of delicious recipes you are going to want to try.  Even a few of my recipes are in her cookbooks! Order your 5-volume set TODAY! (available individually) from Amazon or: http://amongfriends.us/order.php

DISCLAIMER: I do not get paid for this book promotion or for the inclusion of my recipes therein.  I do so merely because they are GREAT cookbooks any low-carb cook would be proud to add to their cookbook collection

INGREDIENTS:

1 T. butter, melted

2 eggs, beaten

1 tsp. vanilla extract

¼ c. erythritol

4 pkts. stevia (I use Sweet Leaf)

1 tsp. oat fiber

1 tsp. glucomannan

1½ tsp. baking powder

¼ c. cocoa

1 T. powdered erythritol for sprinkling on top (optional)

DIRECTIONS:  Preheat oven to 350º.  Spray or lightly oil your pan.  Measure out all the dry ingredients onto a paper plate or in a small bowl and stir.  Beat the eggs with a fork in a medium bowl, add the butter and vanilla and stir well.  Slowly pour the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients.  Beat the batter with a spoon or rubber spatula until smooth.  The glucomannan will make the batter appear a little thick and sticky, but that is normal.  Either carefully spoon the batter evenly into the greased 12 pan slots or you can do like I did and fill a ziploc bag with the batter, cut a tiny hole in one corner and pipe the batter into the pan slots.  I’m glad I did, as I’d have made a mess trying to spoon it into the slots.  The slots will hold about 2½ T. batter each.  I had exactly enough batter to fill the 12 slots 3/4 full.  Pop the pan into your preheated oven and bake for about 8-10 minutes or until dry and slightly firm to the touch on top.  Cool completely and sprinkle with powdered erythritol if desired.

NUTRITIONAL INFO:   Makes 12 tea cakes, each contains:

28.5 calories

1.95 g  fat

1.68 g  carbs, .76 g  fiber, .82 g  NET CARBS

1.39 g  protein

57 mg sodium

19 mg potassium

10% phosphorous, <10% all other macronutrients

Cinnamon-Pecan Coffeecake

Click to enlarge

I made a cinnamon cake today that is very tasty.  It is textured much like a pound cake, dense.  I’m baking much less these days, but hubby begged me for something sweet for breakfast tomorrow.  I mixed most of the cinnamon into the batter of this cake, but next time I think I’m going to put most of it into the nut topping and only a little into the cake, so the cake will be lighter in color.  Directions have been changed to reflect this slight change.   This cake is not suitable until the nuts and seeds rung of the Atkins Phase 2 OWL carb ladder.   I would not be suitable for Primal or Paleo.  Hubby really likes this one, and not just for breakfast.  He enjoyed a piece after lunch today!

More delicious low-carb recipes can be at your fingertips with your very own set of Jennifer Eloff and friends’ best-selling cookbooks LOW CARBING AMONG FRIENDS.  She has collaborated with famous low-carb Chef George Stella and several other talented chefs to bring you a wealth of delicious recipes you are going to want to try.  Even a few of my recipes are in her cookbooks! Order your 5-volume set TODAY! (available individually) from Amazon or: http://amongfriends.us/order.php

DISCLAIMER: I do not get paid for this book promotion or for the inclusion of my recipes therein.  I do so merely because they are GREAT cookbooks any low-carb cook would be proud to add to their cookbook collection

INGREDIENTS:

6 large eggs

4 T. melted butter or coconut oil

2/3 c. erythritol

¼ c. Splenda or other sweetener of your choice to equal ¼ c. sugar

1 pkt. stevia or 1/16 tsp. stevia extract

2½ c. almond flour

½ tsp. cinnamon

1 tsp. glucomannan powder

1 T. oat fiber (optional)

TOPPING:   4 T. erythritol, 20 pecan halves (chopped), 2 T. melted butter, and 3½ tsp. cinnamon

DIRECTIONS:   Preheat oven to 350º.  Lightly grease either a springform pan (what I used) or a very deep, 9″ round cake pan with melted butter or coconut oil.  Mix topping together in a small bowl and set aside.  In a medium mixing bowl, measure out and stir together the almond flour, glucomannan, and oat fiber.  In another medium mixing bowl, beat the eggs, erythritol, splenda and stevia with an electric mixer until light and fluffy.  Add 4 T. melted butter and blend together.  Immediately pour the egg mixture onto the dry ingredients and gently fold the two mixtures together using a rubber spatula.  Try not to overwork the batter or the eggs will deflate. When the mixtures are well-incorporated, pour the batter into the greased cake pan.  Sprinkle topping evenly on top and pop into 350º oven.  Bake for about 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick stuck into the center comes out dry.  Serve for breakfast warm with butter on top, or cold.  Store leftovers in the refrigerator.

NUTRITIONAL INFO:  Makes 10 servings, each contains:

286 calories

26 g  fat

8.37 g  carbs, 4.78 g  fiber, 3.59 g  NET CARBS  (4.48 net carbs if cut into 8 servings)

10.1 g  protein

53 mg sodium

50 mg potassium

14% RDA Vitamin B12, 23% iron, 13% manganese, 12% riboflavin, 16% selenium

Tarte Tatin

Holidays always remind me of desserts my mother loved to serve at this time of year.  The well-known French apple Tarte Tatin is one of those.  My low-carb version has a much thinner cake layer than is typical of this famous dessert.  My husband and I really liked this conversion.  I serve mine with a dollop of whipped cream on top.  I apologize for the photo quality, but this picture was taken with my very first digital camera, in the evening when natural light just isn’t there.  I’m going to have to bake this again and get a prettier picture next time.  But the photo can’t take away the fact that this recipe is absolutely delicious!  If you decide to give this one a go, you’ll be glad you did!

VARIATIONS:  Although Tarte tatin is only made with apples, this basic concept can be made with strawberries or raspberries and carbs will go down.  Pear or peach slices also do well in this but carbs will go up with those choices.

This recipe is not suitable until the higher carb fruit rung of the Atkins Phase 2 OWL carb re-introduction ladder, as you approach Maintenance.  This dessert would be acceptable for a Paleo-Primal liefstyle provided you substituted REAL honey for the sugar-free honey and subbed in REAL maple syrup for the Cary’s sugar-free maple syrup called for below.

INGREDIENTS:

For the Apple filling:

4 T. total unsalted butter or ghee

11 oz. apple, peeled and sliced thin (I used 1 large JonaGold)

½ tsp. cinnamon

¼ tsp. nutmeg

2 T. sugar-free maple syrup (I used Cary’s)

¼ tsp. grated lemon zest

For the bottom Cake Layer:

½ c. almond butter

2 T. coconut milk

2 eggs, beaten

1 tsp. vanilla extract

4 T. sugar-free honey (I buy at Walmart)

½ tsp. baking powder

¼ c. almond flour

1 T. coconut flour

¼ glucomannan powder (for best texture)

DIRECTIONS:  Grease bottom and sides of a non-stick tarte pan with 1 T. of the butter and set aside.  Melt remaining 3 T. of the butter in a non-stick skillet.  Add cinnamon, nutmeg to the skillet and stir.  Add sliced apples and saute them for 3-4 minutes until apples begin to soften.  Turn off heat. Using a fork or small tongs, remove apples and layer them in the bottom of the tart pan.  You should have enough apple slices for a single layer of apples in a standard tart pan.  with the help of a spatula or heat-proof rubber spatula, scrape out and drizzle any buttery juices left in the skillet over the apples.  You don’t want to wast any of that rich flavor.  Grate lemon zest over the apples and finally drizzle the maple syrup over the apples.

Now to make the cake.  Preheat oven to 350º.  In a medium bowl, measure out the almond butter.  Add the coconut milk, imitation honey and stir with a rubber spatula until fairly smooth. Add the vanilla and beaten eggs.  Beat a minute or two to achieve a smooth liquid batter.  Measure the almond flour on top, then the coconut flour and finally the baking powder.  Beat with the spatula until smooth.  Evenly pour the cake batter over the apples, gently coaxing it out to the edges of the pan.    Pop into 350º preheated oven for about 20 minutes.  This does not rise very much and it will be completely dry to the touch in the center when done. Toothpick test will come out clean at the center.  Remove tart from the oven and cool for awhile.  While still a little warm, invert your serving plate over the tart pan or pie plate and using two hands, holding tightly, flip tart pan and serving plate over and the tart should fall neatly onto the serving plate.  Gently re-place any apples that may have stuck to the pan.  Cut into 8 slices and serve with sweetened whipped cream if desired.

NUTRITIONAL INFO:   Makes 8 servings each contains:  (does not including any whipped cream topping)

235 calories, 19.5 g  fat, 11.6 g  carbs, 2.76 g  fiber, 8.94 g NET CARBS, 5.1 g  protein, 125 mg sodium