Coffee Cake

Here is a healthier dessert recipe. While there's no such thing as a healthy dessert, dessert made with clean, real ingredients instead of refined sugars, margarine, or processed, packaged box mixes is a much better alternative. Unfortunately, I've found that a lot of these desserts don't taste right. They have that "healthy" or dry or bland taste. I've been trying lots of different recipes since I have a crazy sweet tooth! This one was delicious!



1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
3/4 cup natural sweetener (we use coconut palm sugar. It tastes like brown sugar, can be used in baking equal to the measurement they list for sugar, low carb, unrefined, and is low on the GI index)
1/2 cup coconut oil
2 Tbsp cocoa powder
3/4 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp baking powder
dash of salt
1/2 cup nuts (if desired. Look below for a recipe for making candied nuts)
1 cup plain yogurt

In a large bowl, combine the flour and sugar; cut in the coconut oil until crumbly. Add cocoa, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder, nutmeg, and salt; mix well. Make a well in the center; pour in the yogurt and stir until moistened. Transfer to a greased 8 x8 baking pan and sprinkle with nuts. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes.
 
Candied Nuts

1 egg white
1Tbsp water
1 pound nuts (I used walnuts)
1/3 cup sweetener (I used 100% maple syrup for this one)
pinch of salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla

Beat egg white and water until stiff and fluffy. Fold in the sweetener, salt, cinnamon and vanilla. Add nuts and toss to coat. Spread out on a greased cookie sheet and bake at 250 degrees for 1 hour, rotating every 15 minutes.