Raspberry & Lime Buckwheat Pancakes

Raspberry & Lime Buckwheat Pancakes

Apple & Raspberry Buckwheat Pancakes

 

The inspiration for these Raspberry & Lime Buckwheat Pancakes came from a recipe I posted couple of weeks ago for these Apple & Cinnamon Donut Pancakes, which was the first fully vegan pancake recipe I’ve posted on Swoon Food.

I called them donut pancakes becasue they were so thick and fluffy, with an amazing melt-in-your-mouth cake-like texture, they reminded me of cake donuts!

They turned out so well that it got me really excited for all the new flavours of vegan pancakes I could now create.

So for these next vegan pancakes I wanted to create a recipe that didn’t require any egg substitutes such as flax eggs or apple sauce, but with an equally soft and fluffy texture as the apple & cinnamon donut pancakes. Possible? 

 

 

Apple & Raspberry Buckwheat Pancakes

 

I also happened to have to a jar of Raglan Coconut Yoghurt’s raspberry & lime coconut yoghurt in my fridge and with a lime tree laden with new season limes which were just begging to be made into pancakes together!

If you haven’t tried the raspberry and lime combo yet, it’s a must! The zestiness of lime combines with the tanginess of fresh raspberries so well, it’s almost as if they were always meant to be eaten together.

I also added some frozen raspberries to the pancake mix to ensure both flavours really came through. Frozen raspberries do make these pancakes a little trickier to flip, but if you break up the raspberries before mixing them in, they’re less likely to cause the pancakes to stick to the pan.

 

 

Apple & Raspberry Buckwheat Pancakes

 

Serve these raspberry & lime buckwheat pancakes hot with a drizzle of maple syrup, a dollop of your favourite coconut yoghurt and a sprinkling of freeze dried raspberries if you’re feeling fancy.

Most of the time these pancakes barely make it to the plate long enough to add toppings…they’re just too good straight from the pan!

If you do happen to be left with leftovers, these pancakes keep well in the fridge for a couple of days so that’s breakfast and snacks sorted. And if you make a double batch a great tip is to put half in the freezer and your future self will thank you later!

When you make these Raspberry & Lime Buckwheat Pancakes, let me know!

Leave a comment below and tell me what you think, and be sure to tag your pictures #swoonfood on Instagram or facebook.

Enjoy!

 

RASPBERRY & LIME BUCKWHEAT PANCAKES

Makes: 18-20 small pancakes
Prep time: 20 minutes Cook time: 30 minutes

Dry Ingredients
150g buckwheat flour
50g coconut sugar
10g coconut flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
pinch salt

Wet Ingredients
120g Raglan raspberry & lime coconut yoghurt (or any fruit flavoured youghurt of your choice)
80g almond butter (or nut/seed butter of your choice)
2 Tbsp coconut oil, melted
150g plant milk
zest & juice of 1 lime
1 cup fresh or frozen raspberries

*extra coconut oil for cooking

Topping Suggestions:
pure maple syrup
Raglan raspberry & lime coconut yoghurt
fresh and/or freeze dried raspberries

To make the pancakes:

Combine all the dry ingredients in a medium bowl and stir well to combine.
Combine all the wet ingredients (except the raspberries) in a second bowl and use a hand whisk to combine.
Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir to combine.
The mix should be quick thick which creates a nice thick pancake. If it’s too thick that it won’t come off a spoon, add a little more milk, or if you prefer flatter pancakes add extra milk accordingly.
Add the raspberries, if using frozen break them up into smaller pieces so they don’t stick to the pan.

To cook the pancakes:

Heat a spoonful of coconut oil in a heavy based fry pan over medium low heat.
When the pan in hot add spoonfuls of pancake mix and shape into round circles.
When you see bubbles appearing all over, flip the pancakes to cook the other side adding more coconut oil as you need it.
Keep an eye on your pan heat, if it gets too hot the pancakes will burn quickly becasue of the berries.

To serve the pancakes:

Pile the warm pancakes up on a plate, drizzle with pure maple syrup and top with coconut yoghurt, fresh and/or freeze dried raspberries.

 

Apple & Raspberry Buckwheat Pancakes

 

Apple Cinnamon Pancakes

Apple Cinnamon Pancakes

Apple & Cinnamon Donut Pancakes

 

I was looking over my pancake recipes the other day and realised I still hadn’t posted a fully vegan and gluten free pancake recipe!

My two favourite pancake recipes to date have been these Cinnamon Bun Pancakes, which are super fluffy, donut-like pancakes with swirls of cinnamon and a sticky bun glaze. And these Spiced Carrot Cake Pancakes which are similar, but lower in sugar as they’re sweetened with carrots.

To create a fully vegan gluten free pancake recipe I used these two recipes as a base. I swapped the eggs for a combination of stewed apples (or applesauce) and nut butter, made a few little tweaks here and there, and the result is these Apple & Cinnamon Donut Pancakes!

 

Apple & Cinnamon Donut Pancakes

 

Why donut pancakes?

Because the texture reminds me of those amazing cake donuts that have a beautifully thick, fluffy texture with hints of nutmeg and cinnamon. The bonus about these pancakes of course, is that they’re much lower in sugar than your average donut as they’re sweetened with apple sauce, yoghurt and a little coconut sugar.

Buckwheat flour gives them lightness, while coconut flour helps them hold their shape. Using these two flours also means as well as being gluten free, these apple and cinnamon donut pancakes are also grain free.

Serve these pancakes hot straight from the pan with a drizzle of maple syrup and dusting of cinnamon, or for a low sugar option a dollop of your favourite coconut yoghurt.

These pancakes keep well in the fridge for a couple of days so that’s breakfast and snacks sorted, and if you make a double batch stick half in the freezer and your future self will be thanking you later!

 

Apple & Cinnamon Donut Pancakes

 

If you make these Apple & Cinnamon Donut Pancakes, let me know!

Leave a comment below and tell me what you think, and be sure to tag your pictures #swoonfood on Instagram or facebook.

Enjoy!

 

Apple & Cinnamon Donut Pancakes

Makes: 18-20 small pancakes
Prep time: 20 minutes Cook time: 30 minutes

Dry Ingredients
150g buckwheat flour
50g coconut sugar
10g coconut flour
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
pinch salt

Wet Ingredients
100g stewed apple (or apple sauce)
75g coconut yoghurt
50g almond butter (or nut/seed butter of your choice)
2 Tbsp coconut oil, melted
2 Tbsp rice syrup or pure maple syrup
150g nut milk or drinking coconut milk

*extra coconut oil for cooking

Topping Suggestions:
pure maple syrup
cinnamon
coconut yoghurt
fresh berries or pomegranate seeds

To make the pancakes:

Combine all the dry ingredients in a medium bowl and stir well to combine.
Combine all the wet ingredients in a second bowl and use a hand whisk to combine.
Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir to combine.
The mix should be quick thick which creates a nice thick pancake. If it’s so thick it won’t come off a spoon, add a little more milk, or if you prefer flatter pancakes add extra milk accordingly.

To cook the pancakes:

Heat a spoonful of coconut oil in a heavy based fry pan over medium low heat.
When the pan in hot add spoonfuls of pancake mix and shape into round circles.
When you see bubbles appearing all over, flip the pancakes to cook the other side adding more coconut oil as you need it.
Keep an eye on your pan heat, if it gets too hot the pancakes will burn quickly.

To serve the pancakes:

Pile the warm pancakes up on a plate, drizzle with pure maple syrup and top with berries, pomegranate seeds and cinnamon.

 

Apple & Cinnamon Donut Pancakes Apple & Cinnamon Donut Pancakes

Apple & Cinnamon Donut Pancakes

Hot Cross Buffins (Vegan/Gluten Free)

Hot Cross Buffins (Vegan/Gluten Free)

Hot Cross Buffins

 

Easter is just around the corner and one of my favourite things about this time of year is hot cross buns!

There’s nothing quite like the smell of a hot cross bun warming in the oven. Aromas of cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice mixed with sweet sultanas fill the kitchen, hinting at what’s to come.

The perfect hot cross bun hot cross bun doesn’t need to be heated for long. It only needs 5 minutes in a hot oven so that it comes out ever so slightly crispy around the edges, with insides just warm enough to melt a slice of butter.

That is, if you eat butter. And gluten. And refined sugar.

Ironically I don’t eat any of the above any more, which means the mouthwatering hot cross bun smell is as far as my Easter bun enjoyment went – until now!

I’ve yet to come across a gluten free hot cross bun that’s also dairy free/vegan, AND doesn’t feel like you’re eating a heavy rock cake. So I decided this was the year to make my own.

Lately I’ve been experimenting with different combinations of gluten free flours, and in particular, trying to find a completely grain free combination that works nicely in baking. What I can tell you so far is it’s not as easy as you might think!

After a few failed attempts at making a completely grain free, vegan hot cross bun minus the yeast, I decided a hot cross muffin would be much easier and way more delicious.

We’re in week 2 of the COVID-19 lockdown here in NZ, so my husband has been working from home and very kindly took on the role of chief hot cross bun taste tester 😉

When I explained what he was taste testing “a hot cross bun crossed with a muffin” he said “oh you mean a buffin?!”and of course the name stuck. A quick google search confirmed my suspicion that we were not the first by any means to come up with this name, but it describes them prefectly.

 

Hot Cross Buffins

 

This hot cross buffun recipe is so simple you might be tempted to question whether it will work as well as I claim, but I can assure you it will! Simply mix all the ingredients together, pour into a muffin pan, pipe some crosses over the top and bake. 

These hot cross buffins are completely gluten, grain, dairy and refined sugar free, plant based and vegan. The only thing they’re not free of is nuts. They contain both almond flour (ground almonds) and almond butter.

You could substitute the ground almonds for something of similar texture like oat flour, and the almond butter for another type of nut or seed butter, but the almond combination I’ve shared in the recipe below really does work the best so I can’t guarantee any substitution results.

 

Hot Cross Buffins

 

Eat these hot cross buffins straight out of the oven while still warm with a slice of your favourite “butter” or spread.

They’re equally delicious at room tempearture, and when stored overnight in a sealed container they get a little sticky and remiscent of sticky date puddings.

I’ve yet to try toasting them but suspect their delicate crumb might be a little too fine for a toaster. However you can definitely heat them up in an oven to get the same toasted hot cross bun effect.

 

Hot Cross Buffins

 

If you make these Hot Cross Buffins, let me know!

Leave a comment below, and be sure to tag your pictures #swoonfood on Instagram or facebook. Enjoy!

Hot Cross Buffins (Vegan/Gluten Free)

Makes: 12

Prep time: 15 minutes  Cook time: 20-25 minutes

Dry ingredients:
160g ground almonds (almond meal)
50g buckwheat flour
30g coconut sugar
100g sultanas
2 Tbsp mixed spice
2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp pink Himalayan salt
zest of 1 lemon or orange (optional)

Wet ingredients:
120g rice syrup or pure maple syrup
130g almond butter
220g coconut milk

Crosses 
2 tsp coconut flour
2 Tbsp coconut milk

Preheat the oven to 180ºC fan bake. Either lightly grease a standard 12 hole muffin pan with coconut oil, line with paper muffin cases, or use a non stick silicone muffin mould.

Make the cross mix by combing the ingredients, stir well and set aside.

Combine all the dry ingredients in a mixing bowl and stir well until evenly combined.

Make a well in the middle, add all the wet ingredients and stir until evenly combined.

Spoon the mixture evenly into your prepared muffin pan.

Give your cross mixture a final stir then either place in a small piping bag or a small ziplock bag and cut the corner. Pipe crosses onto the buffins.

Place pan into the centre of the oven to bake for approximately 20 to 25 minutes (this may vary according to your oven).

The buffins are ready when they bounce back to a light touch, a knife inserted into the centre comes out clean and the tops turn a light golden colour.

After removing the muffins from the oven allow them to cool in the pan to prevent sinking.

Serve the buffins warm with a slice of “butter” or our favourite spread.

Store any leftover buffins in an airtight container at room temperature where they’ll will keep for up to 5 days, or in the freezer for up to 1 month.

 

Hot Cross Buffins

Immune Boosting Pink Pitaya Smoothie

Immune Boosting Pink Pitaya Smoothie

Immune Boosting Pink Pitaya Smoothie

 

When it comes to smoothies I’m team green all the way, and preferably with as little fruit as possible. This hemp seed & kale green smoothie is the perfect example. The only fruit it contains is lemon, yet it has a beautiful mellow flavour and is still one of my all time favourites.

But every now and then I get inspired to create something different and it’s usually something much more indulgent like this super creamy hot cross bun smoothie, or this spicy warm apple pie smoothie.

Recently I saw some spectacular looking pink dragon fruit in our local grocery store and knew I had to make a smoothie with it.

 

Immune Boosting Pink Dragon Fruit Smoothie

 

Aside from being one of the prettiest fruits around, dragon fruit (or pitaya) are packed with so many amazing goodies.

They’re a source of prebiotics which boost the good bacteria in your gut, and they’re abundant in antioxidants, particularly vitamin C, which supports your immune system and is amazing for your skin.

Dragon fruit are high in fibre which is great for digestion and helps balance blood sugar. They’re a good source of iron and magnesium, and pink fleshed dragon fruit is particularly high in betalains which are responsible for the pink pigment and can help reduce LDL cholesterol.

Makes you want to eat dragon fruit every day right?! Luckily for those that don’t have access to the fresh version, you can also buy it in dried form as pitaya powder.

 

Immune Boosting Pink Pitaya Smoothie

 

Given all the COVID-19 craziness going on at the moment, what better time to fill your body with as many of natures immune boosting goodies as possible. So I decided to create a supercharged, immune boosting smoothie with pink pitaya.

To keep your smoothies looking beautiful it’s best to stick to ingredients with a similar colour palette. I also like to keep my smoothies on the low sugar side which means choosing low fructose fruit. Raspberries and blueberries fit the bill perfectly and blend beautifully with pink pitaya. Also, by using frozen berries you can create a lovely thick texture.

Lastly I added fresh turmeric and ginger root for their amazing anti-inflammatory properties, and a little unsweetened coconut yoghurt for creaminess and probiotics.

 

Immune Boosting Pink Pitaya Smoothie

 

If you’d like to turn this immune boosting pink pitaya smoothie into a more filling meal you could add a spoonful of hemp seeds or hemp protein, the seeds being the milder flavour choice for those who like their berry smoothies to remain tasting like berries.

You could also add a spoonful of your favourite nut or seed butter, and if you’re a green fanatic like me you could also sneak in a handful of spinach leaves for some extra antioxidants.

 

Immune Boosting Pink Pitaya Smoothie

When you make this Immune Boosting Pink Pitaya Smoothie let me know!

Leave a comment below, and be sure to tag your pictures #swoonfood on Instagram or Facebook.

Looking for even more smoothie inspiration? 

Check out Swoon Food’s drinks recipe section, download my free Inspired Smoothies ebook, or join my free 5 Day Green Smoothie Challenge.

Immune Boosting Pink Pitaya Smoothie

Makes: 1 large smoothie
Prep time: 5 minute

1 cup frozen raspberries
1/2 cup frozen blueberries
1/2 fresh pink pitaya or 1 tsp pink pitaya powder
1/4 cup unsweetened coconut yoghurt (I’m loving Coyo vanilla)
2 cm fresh ginger root, peeled if not organic
2 cm fresh turmeric root, peeled if not organic
+ a little water to get the blender going

Place all the ingredients into a blender. Note, if using a fresh pitaya (dragon fruit) cut it in half, scoop the flesh out and discard the skin.

Blend on high speed until smooth and then pour into a serving glass.

Notes: 

Consistency: If you like your smoothie extra thick only add a tiny bit of water to get the blender going, and for a more liquid smoothie be generous with the water.

Lemon: If you like your smoothies tangy, add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice, or if you’re really keen add a whole peeled lemon. Lemon is a great source of vitamin C and is also very cleansing for the liver.

Extra protein: Want to turn your smoothie into a meal? Simply add a spoonful of your favourite nut or seed butter, or a spoonful of hemp powder or seeds. Note, hemp seeds have a much more neutral/mild flavour than hemp powder.

Greens: If you want to sneak in some extra greens by all means add a handful of fresh spinach leaves. Just don’t go too crazy or you’ll lose the pretty pink colour and end up with a murky brown.

Storage: If you won’t be drinking this smoothie straight away, store it in a sealed jar in the fridge for up to 2 days.

 

Pink Pitaya (Dragon Fruit)

Maple Cinnamon Popcorn

Maple Cinnamon Popcorn

Maple Cinnamon Popcorn

 

This deliciously moreish maple cinnamon popcorn was inspired by Serious Food Co.’s maple cinnamon popcorn that’s only available once a year at Christmas time.

There’s something about the combination of pure maple syrup and cinnamon that’s SO mouthwateringly good, whenever I see one of their reindeer marked bags I can never resist putting it in my shopping basket.

This isn’t surprising given as I’m a huge cinnamon fan from way back and am often guilty of adding WAY too much when baking. Aside from it’s exotic sweet flavour, cinnamon has some pretty impressive health benefits too which makes it even more appealing in my book.

Cinnamon is jam packed with antioxidants that have potent anti-inflammatory properties. It can lower blood sugar levels, reduce heart disease risk factors, help fight bacterial and fungal infections, and may also have beneficial effects on neurodegenerative diseases and cancer.

It’s important to note however, that not all cinnamon is created equal and one of the varieties can be quite harmful in large doses.

There are two main types of cinnamon called Ceylon i.e. “true” cinnamon and Cassia. Most of the cinnamon found in supermarkets is the cheaper Cassia variety.

Unfortunately, the Cassia variety contains significant amounts of a compound called coumarin that’s believed to be quite harmful in large doses, wheras Ceylon only has a negligible amount of it. Ceylon cinnamon also has a milder, sweeter taste and smell, and is much better suited to sweet dishes and baking.

 

 

Maple Cinnamon Popcorn

 

Alas, it’s now March (already?!) and Serious Food Co.’s coveted maple cinnamon popcorn is nowhere to be found.

So with all things maple & cinnamon on my mind, rather than wait another year for it to grace the supermarket shelves again I took matters into my own hands and created a Swoon Food version.

My aim was to create a completely plant based, gluten and refined sugar free maple cinnamon popcorn using as little sweetener as possible.

Obviously popcorn itself is a simple carb so naturally it contains a reasonable amount of simple sugars. But by using pure maple syrup as the sole unrefined sweetener, you can create slightly better nutritional value as opposed to using a refined sugar which has had all it’s natural nutrients (vitamins and minerals) stripped from it.

This maple cinnamon popcorn is naturally dairy and gluten free, entirely plant based, and perhaps best of all it’s SUPER quick and easy to make!

 

Maple Cinnamon Popcorn

 

Sold? Already got your popcorn pot out?! Fabulous.

Let me know when you make this maple cinnamon popcorn by leaving a comment down below, and be sure to tag your pictures #swoonfood on Instagram or facebook. Enjoy!

Maple Cinnamon Popcorn

Makes: 1 large bowl/ 2 oven trays
Prep time: 10 minutes  Cook time: 10 minutes

1/3 cup popping corn
3 Tbsp coconut oil

Maple Cinnamon Glaze
3 Tbsp pure maple syrup
1 Tbsp coconut oil
2 tsp Ceylon cinnamon
1/4 tsp pink Himalayan salt

Heat 3 Tbsp coconut oil in a large pot with a lid over medium high heat.

Once melted, add a couple of corn kernels and wait for them to pop. When they have all popped, add 1/3 cup of popping corn to the oil.

Place the lid on the pot and shake to coat evenly. Remove pot from heat for 30 seconds then return to heat and cook for 2 to 4 minutes, gently shaking the pot until the popping slows.

Transfer the popcorn to a large mixing bowl.

Preheat the oven to 180ºC fan bake and line two baking trays.

Place all the glaze ingredients into a small pan and stir over low heat until melted.

Pour the maple cinnamon glaze over the popcorn and use a spatula to fold it through.

Spread the coated popcorn over the two baking trays and place into the oven for 5 minutes, or until the glaze starts to bubble and turns golden.

Remove the popcorn from the oven and allow to cool – the glaze will harden as it cools.

Store your maple cinnamon corn in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.

 

For more cinnamon recipes check out these Feijoa & Cinnamon Muffins, Hot Cross Bun Smoothie or these Cinnamon Bun Pancakes.

 

Maple Cinnamon Popcorn

Maple Cinnamon Pecan Balls

Maple Cinnamon Pecan Balls

Maple Cinnamon Pecan Balls

 

I created these Maple Cinnamon Pecan Balls at the same time as these Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Balls.  My aim was to create a healthy sweet treat that tasted like a treat and not just another healthy bliss ball, and both recipes totally fit that bill!

I considered posting the recipes together, but they’re both so good in their own right it seemed only fitting to give them their own posts, so here we are.

These Maple Cinnamon Pecan Balls have a rich, almost gingerbread-like flavour thanks to the cinnamon and pure maple syrup. The pecans add a slightly savoury element, and coconut and cashews add some creaminess and bring it all together nicely.

 

 Maple Cinnamon Pecan Balls

 

These little treat balls can be whipped up in under 20 minutes minutes, all you need is a food processor and some measuring cups.

Once you’ve blended everything together, simply roll the raw dough into balls and chill until firm. You can skip the chilling step if you really can’t wait, but the dough for these fragrant little balls is pretty soft so chilling is a good idea.

These maple pecan bliss balls are completely raw, dairy, gluten, grain and refined sugar free. They’re also plant based/vegan and full of nutritious whole food ingredients with a generous dose of fibre and protein to balance out the (unrefined) sugars present.

You can eat these beautiful balls as a snack, before or after a workout, for dessert, with a cup of chai, or as a topping on your favourite breakfast bowl!

 

 Maple Cinnamon Pecan Balls

 

When you make these Cinnamon Maple Pecan Balls let me know!

Leave a comment below, and be sure to tag your pictures#swoonfood on Instagram or Facebook. Enjoy!

 

Maple cinnamon Pecan Balls

Makes: approximately 20
Prep time: 20 minute  Chill time: 20 minutes

1 cup pecans
1 1/2 cups cashews
2/3 cup desiccated coconut
3 Tbsp pure maple syrup
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla extract or 1/4 tsp vanilla powder
1/2 tsp pink Himalayan salt

 

Place the pecans and cashews into a food processor and pulse until you have crumbs.

Add the remaining ingredients and pulse until the mixture is evenly combined and comes together – it should look like a ball of cookie dough.

Roll spoonfuls of mixture into bite size small balls then place in the fridge to chill and firm up for 20 minutes.

Store these maple cinnamon pecan balls in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 4 weeks, or in the freezer for up to 3 months.

 

Maple Cinnamon Pecan Balls

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