Decadent Yet Healthy ─ Top 10 Nutritious Cake Recipes

Can cake be good for you? Eating cake and staying healthy at the same time can be done. Making and buying healthy cakes is easier than you may think.

If you don’t want to make a cake yourself, ensure you order your cake from a quality baker offering a range of nutritious cakes.

Let’s take a look at nutritious cake recipes and tips for adding healthy ingredients to your baking.

Low Sugar Cakes

Sugar does not add any nutritious value to cakes. Instead of using sugar, explore some of the ways you make your cake naturally sweet.

For instance, coconut is an excellent alternative to sugar. It blends well into most cake mixes and has a slightly sweet taste.

If you are not a lover of coconut, try replacing sugar with apple sauce or mashed bananas. When you want to add flavour and sweetness, try baking with mango chutney.

The ratio for replacing sugar with fruit is 1:1.

1. Lemon Blackberry Cake

 

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• 240g of pastry flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp baking soda (bicarbonate of soda)
• ½ tsp salt
• Zest of one large lemom
• 15g coconut oil – melted and allowed to cool
• 2 egg whites
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 60g plain non-fat Greek yogurt
• 100m agave or shredded coconut
• 50ml freshly squeezed lemon juice (about 1 very large)
• ¼ cup (60mL) non-fat milk
• 300g of fresh blackberries

Mix all of the ingredients apart from the blackberries. Pour into a 20 cm cake pan. It works best in a pan where the bottom is removable. Put the raspberries on top and bake in a 180C oven for 40 minutes.

2. Healthy Chocolate Brownies

• 220g dark cooking chocolate – break into pieces and melt
• 4 eggs
• 50ml vegetable oil
• 120g soft brown sugar or apple sauce
• 2 tsp almond extract
• 80g plain flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• pinch salt

These brownies are super easy to make. Mix the ingredients together, spoon into a 20cm tin and bake for 20-25 minutes in a 180C oven.

Chocolate – Is it Good For You?

Milk chocolate is rich in sugar and does not provide any nutritious value to cakes. Instead, you should replace it with dark unsweetened chocolate made from at least 70% solids.

Dark chocolate is packed with antioxidants helping to support your immune system.

Our healthy chocolate brownies are great for lunch boxes or enjoyed with homemade ice cream after a meal.

3. Fig, Nut and Seed Cake Recipe

This recipe is great for when you are going hiking and need an energy boost.

• 400ml hot strong black tea
• 100g clean dried figs sliced thinly
• 150g sultanas
• 60g porridge oats
• 200g self-raising wholemeal flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 100g mixed nuts plus 75g for topping
• 1 tbsp linseed
• 1 tbsp quinoa seed plus 2 tsp to sprinkle
• 25g pumpkin seeds
• 1 egg

Once mixed, transfer the mixture to a 1kg loaf tin. Bake in a 170C oven for one hour. After one hour, take the cake out, cover it with foil and return to the oven for another 15 minutes.

Tastes great toasted.

4. Low-Fat Berry Cheesecake

For the crust:

• 150g pitted dates
• 150g cashews
• ⅛ teaspoon salt

For the cheesecake:

• 200g cream cheese
• 150g Greek yoghurt, plain
• 75g cup honey
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• ⅛ teaspoon salt

Make the crust by placing it in a food processor. If your dates are dry, you may want to add some water and oil for mixing. Divide the mixture equally in 6 small bowls and press down. Do the same with the cream cheese mixture. Put the bowls in the fridge for at least 2 hours. When you remove them, you can top the cheesecake with your favorite berries or fruit.

5. Chocolate Cake For the Family

• 250g all-purpose flour or gluten-free, if necessary
• 150 granulated sweetener of choice or apple sauce
• 50g cup cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 150ml water

Mix the ingredients together and transfer to a 20cm cake tin. Bake in a 180C oven for 30 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean.

6. Morrocan Cardamom Cake

• 100 ml fruity extra virgin olive oil
• 300g of all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon sale
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon ground cardamom
• 150 grams of sugar or sugar replacement
• 3 large eggs
• Grated zest of two oranges
• 100ml of almond milk

Mix the ingredients well for slightly longer than usual. Place in a 20cm cake dish and bake in a 180C oven for between 40 – 45 minutes. Check the cake after 30 minutes to see if it is ready. Slightly dry cake but you can add more liquid if you like.

7. Healthy Carrot Pan Cake

 

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You need a 20 x 30cm pan for this cake. It is also best blended by hand using a ladle.

• 350g whole wheat flour or gluten-free flour
• 1 tbsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 3 ½ tsp ground cinnamon
• ¾ tsp ground nutmeg
• ½ tsp salt
• 2 tbsp coconut oil, melted and cooled slightly
• 4 large egg whites, room temperature
• 4 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 ½ tsp liquid stevia
• 75mL pure maple syrup
• 160g plain nonfat Greek yogurt
• 240ml non-fat milk
• 350g freshly grated medium carrots

Once mixed, spoon the mixture into the pan. Bake in a 180C oven for between 30 – 40 minutes. A topping of cream cheese mixed with coconut makes the cake taste extra nice.

8. Ricotta Lemon Cake

• 220g Ricotta Cheese
• 3 large Eggs
• 96g Granulated Erythritol
• 56g melted Coconut Oil
• 2 tbsp Lemon Juice
• 2 tbs lemon Zest
• 1 tsp Vanilla Paste
• 180g Wheat Pastry Flour
• 2 tsp Baking Powder
• ½ tsp Salt

You can use two small loaf tins for this recipe or a large one. Place in a 180C oven and bake in between 30 – 40 minutes. Remember to blend ingredients well to make sure the ricotta cheese folds into the mixture.

9. Healthy Apple Cake

• 350 g of apples cut into small dice with skin
• 200g of almond flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 60ml fruity extra virgin olive oil
• 60ml raw honey
• Zest of one orange
• 1 teaspoon vanilla paste
• 2 eggs
• Walnuts or flaked almonds to garnish

Blend the ingredients together, set the oven to 180C and bake in a 20cm baking tin for 30 to 40 minutes. Once cool, top the cake with flaked almonds or nuts.

10. Reduced Sugar Millefoglie

For layers:

• 3 puff pastry sheets
• 300g assorted berries

The Filling:

• 300ml full-fat milk
• 100g sugar
• 6 egg yolks
• 50g corn starch
• Vanilla to taste

Remember to bake each puff pastry sheet individually in a 180C oven. Each sheet takes about 10 minutes. Allow the sheets to cool before you start blending the cream mixture together. At first, whisk the egg yolks and sugar together. Add it to the other ingredients slowly and then whisk until the filling is firm.

Final Thoughts

If you are not in the mood for making a healthy cake, you can order your cake. Most bakeries let you choose options. Vegan alternatives are popular at Brunetti Oro base in Melbourne, and so are gluten-free alternatives.