Healthy Christmas Cake Recipes

The Link Between Holiday Desserts and Gut Health

Holiday desserts are festive treats and are usually very sweet. Indulging too much in these sugary delights can lead to gut imbalances. 

• The harmful bacteria in your gut feed on these excess sugars and multiply in number, leading to inflammation. 
• There is also a chance for your blood sugar levels to spike.

Moreover, have you felt sluggish after having a heavy meal? 

This is because of the excessive fats and refined oils that slow down your digestion. Holiday desserts are also high in fats and oils and cause indigestion, bloating and post-meal lethargy if consumed in excess.

What if you can replace these excessive sugars and fats with something healthier? 

By using fibre and nutrient-rich ingredients that support your gut health, you can make this year’s Christmas cake more delicious and healthier.

Here are some healthy Christmas cake recipes for you to try out!

Recipe 1: Almond Flour Christmas Cake with Ginger and Cinnamon

Here’s a tasty and healthy Christmas cake recipe for you to try out.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups almond flour
• ¼ cup coconut flour
• 3 eggs
• 1 tsp lemon zest
• 1 tsp orange zest
• 1 tsp freshly ground ginger
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
• ⅓ cup coconut sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp baking soda
• ¼ tsp salt
• ¼ cup melted coconut oil
• ½ cup unsweetened applesauce
• ½ cup chopped nuts (walnuts, cashews, hazelnuts, pecans)
• ½ cup chopped dried fruits (raisins, dates, plums, cherries)

Instructions:

• Set your oven to 350°F (175°C). 
• Grease your cake pan or use parchment paper.
• Mix together almond flour, coconut flour, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, lemon and orange zest, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
• In another bowl, mix together eggs, coconut sugar, vanilla extract, coconut oil and applesauce.
• Combine the dry ingredients with the wet ingredients.
• Then add in all the fruits and nuts you like.
• Pour the batter into the cake pan. Bake for 30-35 minutes.
• Once the cake has cooled down completely, slice, serve and enjoy!

Health Benefits:

• The main ingredient is almond flour, which is a rich source of fibre. It slows down the release of glucose and helps you feel full, reducing the chances of overeating. 
• Spices like ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg boost digestion and reduce inflammation.
• Coconut sugar has a lower glycemic index when compared to refined sugar and prevents a spike in your blood sugar levels. (Glycemic index is a ranking of how quickly a food raises blood glucose levels).

Recipe 2: Oatmeal and Apple Christmas Cake

Here’s another healthy recipe with added probiotics.

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ cups rolled oats 
• 1 cup hot water
• 2 eggs
• ½ cup yoghurt
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• ¼ cup melted butter
• One apple, chopped
• 1 cup whole blueberries
• ⅓ cup coconut sugar
• 1 tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp baking soda
• ¼ tsp ground cinnamon
• ¼ tsp salt
• ½ cup chopped nuts (hazelnuts, walnuts, cashews)

Instructions:

• Heat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
• Grease your cake pan or line it with parchment paper.
• Grind the rolled oats into a coarse powder.
• In a bowl, soak the oats in hot water for 5 minutes.
• Add eggs, yoghurt, vanilla extract, butter, chopped apple, blueberries, coconut sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and chopped nuts and mix well.
• Bake for 50 minutes.
• Slice and serve this delicious cake once it has cooled down.

Health Benefits:

• Oats are a rich source of soluble fibre, which nourishes the good gut bacteria and aids in digestion.
• Yoghurt contains probiotics and introduces good microbes into your gut, enhancing your gut microbiome.
• Coconut sugar is a healthier option than refined sugar because of its low glycemic index, preventing a spike in blood sugar levels.

Recipe 3: Coconut Flour and Pumpkin Christmas Cake

Let us now try out a Christmas cake recipe using coconut flour and pumpkin.

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ cup coconut flour  
• ¼ tsp ground cinnamon
• ¼ tsp ground nutmeg 
• ½ tsp ground ginger
• 1 tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp baking soda
• ½ cup pumpkin puree
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 3 eggs
• ½ cup melted butter
• ¼ tsp salt
• ½ cup maple syrup
• ¼ cup shredded coconut 
• ½ cup chopped dried fruits (dates, raisins)
• ½ cup chopped nuts (walnuts, cashews, pecans)

Instructions:

• Heat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
• In a bowl, mix together the wet ingredients like butter, eggs, maple syrup, vanilla extract and pumpkin puree.
• In another bowl, mix the dry ingredients like coconut flour, ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder and salt.
• Combine the wet and dry ingredients, and add chopped fruits and nuts.
• Grease your cake pan and coat it with shredded coconut.
• Pour in the batter and bake for 35-40 minutes.
• Allow it to cool down completely before serving.

Health Benefits:

• The high fibre content of coconut flour helps with digestion and supports gut health.
• Pumpkin is a nutritional powerhouse, rich in antioxidants yet low in calories.
• The high fibre content in pumpkin promotes better digestion, improves the gut microbiome and eases bowel movements.

Recipe 4: Fruit and Nut Chocolate Cake (No Added Sugar)

How about a healthy fruit cake with no added sugar? Give this recipe a try!

Ingredients:

• 1 cup pitted dates
• ½ cup hot water
• 2 bananas
• ¼ cup melted butter
• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp vanilla extract
• ½ glass milk
• ½ cup chopped nuts (walnuts, almonds, hazelnuts)
• ¼ tsp ground cinnamon
• ¼ tsp salt

Instructions:

• Heat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
• Soak the dates in hot water for 10 minutes and filter it.
• Blend the soaked dates and bananas to a smooth paste.
• Add melted butter to this paste and mix well. 
• To this, add whole wheat flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, vanilla extract, cinnamon and salt. 
• Combine it by gradually adding milk.
• Add in the chopped nuts.
• Grease your cake pan and place parchment paper.
• Pour the mixture into the pan and bake for 35-40 minutes.
• Let the cake cool down completely before serving.

Health Benefits:

• Dates and bananas provide natural sweetness and replace refined sugar, reducing sugar load and aiding in better digestion.
• Whole wheat flour and nuts are rich in nutrition and fibre, which keeps your gut healthy and maintains a balanced gut microbiome.
• Flavanol, found in cocoa powder, is an antioxidant that reduces inflammation and improves insulin sensitivity.

Precautions When Making Gut-Friendly Christmas Cakes

Are you planning to try out one of these tasty and healthy recipes this Christmas? Its deliciousness might make you want to have more and more. But remember, excess of everything is bad. Here are some precautions to make a gut-friendly Christmas cake that everyone can relish.

• Portion Size: Even when prepared using healthy ingredients, cakes are high in calories. You can absolutely enjoy your Christmas cake, but keep in mind that too much of it can be too heavy for digestion.
• Limit Sweeteners: Even though healthy cake recipes make use of natural sweeteners like coconut sugar, maple syrup, bananas, and applesauce, it is always better to use these in moderation. This will help support your blood sugar levels and keep it steady.
• Avoid Heavy Toppings: Traditional Christmas cakes are decorated with rich and sugary toppings. You can make your cake healthier by using simple toppings like a sprinkle of cinnamon, chopped nuts and fruits, fresh berries or shredded coconut.

Possible Side Effects of Traditional Christmas Cakes on Gut and Metabolic Health

Traditional Christmas cakes are yummy, but is it good for your gut? The high amounts of sugars, fats, processed ingredients, artificial flavours and preservatives make it tougher to digest and is not the healthiest choice.

Here are some side effects a traditional Christmas cake can have on your body:

• Weakened Digestion: The high amounts of sugars and fats in a traditional Christmas cake can make it difficult to digest. It can lead to symptoms of indigestion like bloating, constipation, and abdominal pain.
• Sugar Rush: Traditional cakes make use of refined sugars, which are not healthy for your gut. It causes a rapid increase in your blood sugar levels, followed by a sudden decrease sometime later, which causes you to feel lethargic and sluggish. Excessive sugars also throw the gut microbiome off balance and act as a food source for the bad bacteria in your gut.
• Inflammation and Fatigue: Processed flours used in traditional Christmas cake recipes, like all-purpose flour and cake flour, are highly refined and contain little to no fibre. It also uses additives like emulsifiers and preservatives to make it softer and last longer. These unhealthy ingredients can result in sluggish metabolism and cause inflammation of the gut and fatigue.

Serving Suggestions for Optimal Digestion and Enjoyment

Following healthy recipes is a good start, but do you want to make your Christmas cake even more gut-friendly? Here are some suggestions for you.

• Herbal Tea: A sip of herbal tea after indulging in the cake can support your digestion. Herbs like cumin, fennel, peppermint or ginger can be used to prepare teas.
• Protein Source: Once you’ve had a piece of cake, you can balance it with a protein source like yoghurt. Proteins slow down the absorption of carbohydrates and sugars into your blood and help stabilise blood sugar.
• Mindful Eating:  Remember to eat your slice of cake with pleasure, savouring the flavour in every bite. Mindful eating eases the digestive process and keeps your gut healthy.

A Final Note

In this blog, we have seen the benefits of choosing gut-friendly ingredients for your Christmas cake and how it helps support digestion and metabolic health.

This Christmas, the best gift you can give yourself is good health. We invite you to try these delicious and healthy Christmas cake recipes to enjoy a healthy holiday season!