Cinnamon Spiced Apple Seeded Loaf (Dairy-Free & No Added Sugar)
A delicious cinnamon-spiced apple loaf topped with seeds, that has no added sugar and it’s dairy-free too!
Are you looking for sweet treats without the guilt?
When the weather gets cooler all I really want is a nice moist yummy sweet treat. But I also want it to make me feel good, nourish my body and energize me for the day.
You see, a little while back I was faced with the following issue:
I went for my yearly medical check and it came out that I had slightly high blood sugar.
Even with eating healthy!
The reality is that most of the time, processed sugar is added to so many products (even “healthy” ones like granola or yogurt) that you don’t realize how much you are actually consuming until you start to check the labels.
An excess in blood sugar can be pretty damaging to your health in the long run, so I started to look for alternatives.
Here are benefits that avoiding added processed sugar can have:
Lose belly fat
Cut cravings
Feel more energized
Lower your risk of type 2 diabetes
Better heart health
More focus
Decrease risk for tooth decay
Less bloating
Improved skin
Better sleep
You can see why avoiding added sugar is one of the best things you can do for your health.
The best part is that now there are so many great alternatives to sugar that you don’t have to miss out.
This is where the inspiration for this Sugar-Free, Dairy-Free Cinnamon Spiced Apple Seed Loaf came from. A delicious loaf that makes your house smell like a bakery with cinnamon and apple notes that are irresistible.
It has no added sugar, it’s made with spelt flour (which is easier to digest than wheat) and it is packed with the goodness from a variety of seeds. And it’s dairy-free too!
If you want to learn more about my top tips for reducing sugar cravings, check this post:
6 Ways to Reduce Sugar Cravings
Nutrition Tips:
Before we dive into the recipe (which by the way is a super easy and sugar-free recipe to make), here are some nutrition tips on the benefits of some of the ingredients that I used:
Spelt flour
Spelt, is an ancient grain that has a mild, nutty flavor that is much more difficult to process than wheat. It requires dehulling and dehusking; however, the glume that surrounds the spelt kernels helps protect and retain nutrients. That said, spelt's added health benefits mean it's worth it.
Spelt is a good source of dietary fiber, protein (which it contains more of than common wheat), and vitamins and minerals.
It can be a great alternative to wheat. It provides several essential nutrients, such as iron, magnesium, and zinc. Consuming spelt and other whole grains may improve heart health, aid digestion, reduce the risk of diabetes, and help people achieve or maintain a healthy weight.
It does contain gluten, so if you are sensitive to gluten or celiac you can substitute it for gluten free flour in the recipe.
Coconut yogurt
Avoiding dairy can help decrease inflammation in the body. Choose a coconut yogurt that is thick, made with simple ingredients you can pronounce, no added sugar and has added probiotics for all the digestion and gut health benefits.
(My favorite at the moment is Culina Yogurt)
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
A key element of the Mediterranean diet, extra virgin olive oil can boost your heart health, lower your risk of stroke and is an amazing anti-inflammatory preventing chronic illness in the long run when consumed regularly as part of a healthy diet.
Seeds (sunflower, chia, linseeds (flaxseeds))
Sunflower seeds
Sunflower seeds may help lower blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar as they contain vitamin E, magnesium, protein, linoleic fatty acids and several plant compounds. You can add them to salads, trail mix or have them as a snack.
Chia seeds
Chia seeds are members of the mint family. Ancient seeds once cultivated by the Aztecs, they grow most readily in Mexico and the U.S. Southwest. An ounce of chia seeds (about 2 tablespoons) contains 138 calories, 10 grams of fiber, 9 grams of fat and 5 grams of protein, as well as 17 percent of your daily calcium needs, 12 percent of your iron and 23 percent of your magnesium.
They are loaded with antioxidants, fiber, quality protein and omega-3 fatty acids (which are super important for brain health). I love adding them to smoothies, yogurt bowls, chia pudding and in this case to this amazing banana bread for an extra dose of nutrients.
Flaxseeds
Flaxseeds are a good source of many nutrients including omega-3, lignans and fiber. These nutrients provide us with heart health benefits, lower risk of stroke and due to the lignin content which provide powerful antioxidant and estrogen properties may help in preventing some cancers. And with so much fiber it helps to keep regular vowel movements and digestive health.
(It’s better to get whole flaxseeds and grind them fresh as all these benefits are better absorbed this way). For this loaf I kept them whole as I wanted to keep the crunch factor of the topping.
Monk fruit
Monk fruit is a small, green gourd that resembles a melon. It’s grown in Southeast Asia. The fruit was first used by Buddhist monks in the 13th century, hence the fruit’s unusual name.
Fresh monk fruit doesn’t store well and isn’t appealing. Monk fruit is usually dried and used to make medicinal teas. Monk fruit sweeteners are made from the fruit’s extract. They may be blended with dextrose or other ingredients to balance sweetness.
Monk fruit extract is 150 to 200 times sweeter than sugar. The extract contains zero calories, zero carbohydrates, zero sodium, and zero fat. This makes it a popular sweetener alternative. Unlike some artificial sweeteners, there’s no evidence to date showing that monk fruit has negative side effects
Cinnamon Spiced Apple Seeded Loaf (Dairy Free and No Added Sugar)
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup (60g) almond flour (ground almonds)
- 1/2 cup Monk fruit "sugar" for baking
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp ground pumpkin pie spice (or you can use nutmeg instead)
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup (280g) thick natural coconut yogurt
- 1/2 cup (125ml) extra virgin olive oil
- 2 (350g) Granny Smith apples, grated
- 1 1/2 cups (210g) wholemeal spelt flour, sifted (you can use gluten free flour instead)
- 8 fresh dates (120g), pitted and roughly chopped
- Seeded topping
- 1 Tbsp sunflower seeds
- 1 Tbsp chia seeds
- 1 Tbsp flaxseeds
- 1/4 cup (40 g) almonds, roughly chopped
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325°F (160°C).
- Place the almond flour, monk fruit sugar, baking powder, spices, eggs, yogurt, oil, apple, flour and dates in a large bowl and stir to combine.
- Pour into a lightly greased 7 1/2 in x 4 1/2 in (11cm x 19cm) loaf tin lined with non-stick baking paper
Notes:
You can use Natural Greek Style Yogurt instead of Coconut Yogurt if you are OK with Dairy
Gluten-free flour can be used instead of Spelt flour