How do you say I Love You?
For me, I love being in the kitchen and I so much enjoy making something healthy yet delicious for someone special. Its my labor of love.
I Love You.
Brilliant Earth, a company which sells ethically sourced diamonds and engagement rings, is currently hosting a Create A Little Love Campaign for Valentine’s Day. For the campaign, creative pictures with the word love will be featured. I decided to participate with this picture of the the word LOVE spelled out in healthy dessert form, of course.
As Valentine’s Day arrives, I couldn’t think of a better treat to share with you all. I love pancakes, and I love muffins. So I thought, why not make a light, fluffy, pancake-like muffin? Mmmm.
And of course, it had to be in a rich [yet healthy], chocolate way, since it is Valentine’s Day! After getting some pure Cacao Powder, I knew I wanted to use it in these [Paleo] muffins.
What better way to say I love you than with a superfood? Yep, Cacao is known to be a superfood that has many benefits. I’m sure you’ve heard there are benefits in dark chocolate, but cacao nibs or powder is even better! Cacao nibs are cacao beans that have been roasted, separated from their husks, and broken into smaller pieces. And then of course Cacao Powder is just nibs ground up!
Cacao Nibs/Powder Benefits
1) One of the best sources of magnesium with 272 mg per 100g. It’s important for muscle and nerve functioning.
2) Fiber packed: one ounce has 9 grams!
3) Full of iron: needed for red blood cell production
4) Antioxidant-filled: even more so than dark chocolate, especially when eating in its raw state. Antioxidants absorb free radicals that can cause damage in your body
5) Puts you in a good mood: just like dark chocolate, it releases certain neurotransmitters that trigger emotions—including good ones like euphoria
6) Contains Phenylethylamine (PEA): Something our bodies also produce naturally, PEA causes our pulse to quick which increases alertness and focus
7) Contains Anandamide: the “bliss molecule” which is a lipid that has the same molecular shape as the active ingredient in marijuana, THC
8) Contains Theobromine:a stimulant that dilates the blood vessels just like caffeine, which is why cacao or chocolate can affect us just like caffeine does (and not safe for dogs!).
And that is why Cacao Powder is a great food to be consuming weekly. The same great taste of cocoa powder, but high in nutrients and antioxidants. Whether you use it by making these delicious pancake muffins, or simply just mixing it into yogurt, oatmeal, or a smoothie, it certainly is a way to say I Love You (and gives us those love emotions as well!).
Light and fluffy like pancakes, yet moist and slightly sweet like muffins, these are a great breakfast option! And being Paleo, these muffins are free of any grains, gluten, dairy, or processed sweeteners!
Top it with healthy Paleo Frosting blended with strawberries like I did for a great, [pink] paleo treat!
Mmmm. Will you be making these for someone to say I love you?
And guess what? You can even make a mini loaf along with some mini muffins like I did instead of making all muffins. Perfection.
Until next time,
xoxo, Sarah Grace
- ¼ cup Coconut Flour
- 1/4 cup Tapioca Starch
- 3 tablespoons Kevala [url href=”http://astore.amazon.com/frefitnhea-20?node=1&page=3″ target=”_blank” title=”amazon store”]Cacao Powder[/url]
- 1 tablespoon Psyllium Husk
- 1 teaspoon Instant Coffee
- 1 teaspoon Baking Powder
- ½ teaspoon Baking Soda
- 1/4 cup Raw Stevia Leaf (or any other type of sugar if not minding to keep it paleo)
- ¼ cup Kevala [url href=”http://astore.amazon.com/frefitnhea-20?node=1&page=3″ target=”_blank”]Honey[/url] (+2 tablespoons if wanting a sweeter muffin)
- ½ cup Egg Whites
- ½ cup lite Coconut Milk
- 1 medium Banana,very ripe
- Dash of Sea Salt
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Place banana in a small microwaveable bowl and place in microwave for 1 minute to “caramelize”
- In a large bowl, combine all dry ingredients.
- Add all wet ingredients to bowl with banana and mix well.
- Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and mix until incorporated well, but don’t overmix
- Pour into mini muffin trays and bake for 10-12 minutes (makes about 24 mini muffins or 12 mini muffins+1 small loaf)
- Remove and top with my [url href=”https://freshfitnhealthy.com/2014/01/healthy-frosting-paleo/” title=”Healthy Frosting [Paleo]”]Paleo Frosting[/url] if desired, blended with strawberries for the pink color if desired