‘Ello everybody and welcome to this week’s tasty recipe blog post. Recently, I’ve been feeling very inspired to make healthy treats because 1) I love all things sweet and 2) experimenting in the kitchen is one of my favorite hobbies. So, this week I bring you three of my favorite sweet (and healthy) treats that you can make in under 10 minutes when the sweet craving strikes. 

If you all have any recipes that you would like to see “healthi-fied” please let me know down below or on Instagram because I would love the challenge :)

Chocolate Blackberry Bites

This recipe is so simple yet it feels so decadent that I had to include it on here. For the chocolate, I would recommend using anything above 70% as there are more health benefits and it really brings out the richness of the blackberries. 

Ingredients:

• 75g dark chocolate, broken up into small pieces to melt faster

• 250g blackberries (2 pints), washed and dried

• 1 T butter or ghee

Directions:

1. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside. 

2. Melt the dark chocolate in a double boiler or microwave with the butter. Be careful not to burn the chocolate. Once it’s about 80% melted, take it off the heat and stir until it’s silky smooth. 

3. Dip each blackberry in the dark chocolate and set on the previously lined baking tray. You may need to melt the chocolate a bit more if it begins to harden during the dipping process. 

4. Place the baking tray in the freezer for a minimum of 15 minutes before enjoying :)

Recipe note:

These bites can be stored in the freezer in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks. When you take them out of the freezer, make sure to let them sit for 10 minutes to soften before eating. 

Cinnamon Banana Pancakes

While pancakes are typically associated with breakfast I think that anything sweet can be enjoyed as dessert too :) Enter: cinnamon banana pancakes. This recipe calls for a very ripe banana (think spotty and mostly brown) because this makes it even sweeter without having to add a bunch of extra sugar. I’ve listed some of my favorite toppings down below but feel free to top your stack with whatever your heart desires.

Ingredients:

• 1 very ripe banana

• 1 whole egg

• 1/2 tsp cinnamon

Directions:

1. Mash the banana in a bowl with a fork. Whisk in the egg and cinnamon until a batter-like consistency is formed. 

2. Heat a non-sick skillet on medium high for one minute. The pan should be really hot before you start cooking the pancakes. 

3. Pour a third of the batter into the center of the pan and turn the heat down to medium. If you like your pancakes a bit fluffier you can put a lid on top. Let it cook for about 2-3 minutes or until little bubbles start to form. Be careful when you flip it as it’s quite delicate. Cook on the other side for another 2 minutes or until it’s golden brown.

4. Repeat step 3 until the rest of the batter is gone. 

5. Top with pumpkin seeds, honey, shredded coconut or fresh berries and enjoy!

Recipe note:

These proportions yield 2 medium sized pancakes or 3 mini pancakes. 

Chocolate Chia Pudding

This chocolate chia pudding is simple and serves as a great base for so many flavors. As I am sticking with the theme of threes here I didn’t include any sweetener in the must-have ingredients, though if you’d like it a bit sweeter feel free to use sweetened vanilla almond milk or add a tablespoon of honey. I’ve listed my preferred toppings below though you can add whatever you have on hand :)

Ingredients:

• 1 cup almond milk (250 ml)

• 4 T chia seeds

• 1 heaped T cacao powder

Directions:

1. Mix the chia seeds and cacao powder together in a sealable container. Pour in the almond milk and mix until well combined.

2. Refrigerate the chia mixture for minimum one hour or up to overnight. You may have to stir it periodically to make sure that the chia seeds continue to evenly soak up the liquid and to avoid any clumps.

3. When you’re ready to eat, top the pudding with fresh berries, slivered almonds, chocolate chips or shredded coconut. Enjoy!

What do you all think of these desserts? Could you see integrating any of them into your weekly routine? Or are you a bigger fan of the savory snacks? If you all would like to see 3 healthy savory snacks as an alternative to these please let me know and I’ll see what I can come up with :)

I had a really good time putting these recipes together and will be posting a Youtube video this Thursday going over each one so make sure to check that out to see what each one looks like as a final product.

Thanks for stopping by and until next week!

xoxo,

Alexandra