Hello folks, hope this finds you well this Monday! I have two recipes to share with you today. Both come from my friend Tami and are what I deem share-worthy! Also included below is a coupon code from the kind folks at Kelapo who sell fantastic coconut oil and other coconut oil products!
Whole Wheat Pumpkin Bread
In the past I’ve had a hard time getting great results when I bake exclusively with whole wheat flour. It’s usually a challenge to get a smooth texture, as the whole wheat flour tends to be a little more “gritty”, turning out sorta dense baked goods. Well this recipe is certainly the exception!
As I mentioned above, the folks at Kelapo have set up a promo code for y’all to use! Use code “FTOW20” (case sensitive) and you will receive 20% off your order valid through 11/10/11. They also have a great page dedicated to recipes with coconut oil.
Now, back to that pumpkin bread… it’s delicious by itself, but it may be even better when topped with Maple Cinnamon Cream Cheese.
I got the idea when I saw Marla frost a cake with cream cheese sweetened with maple syrup. I couldn’t whip some up fast enough to spread on the pumpkin bread. This is what I came up with:
Maple Cinnamon Cream Cheese Spread
8 ounces of cream cheese {softened to room temperature}
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
a couple drops of vanilla
3 Tablespoons real maple syrup {or more to your liking}
Whip cream cheese with mixer until smooth. Mix in cinnamon, vanilla, and maple syrup. {You can add more maple syrup but my opinion is 3 T is just right sweetness-wise.} Refrigerate until set and the best part is it’s always spreadable even straight from the fridge.
Next up…
Health Nut Brownies {aka Paleo}
This is my new “go-to” brownie recipe. It’s officially a “paleo/caveman” recipe, but I think “health nut” sounds more timeless and fitting since the main ingredient is almond butter. Just in case the paleo trend dies, I’m hoping my “health nut” brownies won’t die with it! Again, this recipe is from my friend Tami and they are delicious… no one can tell they’re flourless!
16 oz of almond butter {this is about a jar + 1/3 of jar, I use creamy
2 eggs
1 cup honey {don’t scrimp}
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 of a 3.5 ounce dark chocolate bar {I use 70% cocoa}, chopped
Preheat oven to 350.
Using mixer blend almond butter, eggs, & honey. Add in cocoa powder, salt, & baking soda. Fold in chopped dark chocolate. Spread into a greased {glass has best results} 9×13 pan & bake for 20 to 25 minutes. Let cool before cutting.
Just to be sure we’re clear… this brownie recipe calls for no sugar and no flour. Until you try it, you’re gonna have to believe me that they taste divine!
And since they’re healthy, I like to serve them warm with chocolate coconut milk ice cream {which you can even find at Walmart now!}
Enjoy!!
Ruthiey
October 17, 2011 at 5:05 pmThose brownies look amazing, but I’m seriously in the mood for some of that pumpkin bread with maple syrup cream cheese. Wow. 🙂 Great pictures, too.
Mary Beth
October 17, 2011 at 5:20 pmHi, Darby! You might try White Whole Wheat flour next time. It’s still 100% Whole Wheat, but it has a lighter texture. Apparently it is an ‘albino’ type of wheat so the color is lighter but it has all the health benefits of whole wheat. King Arthur makes it, as does Trader Joe’s. These recipes both look great!!
mary beth
October 17, 2011 at 5:25 pmThank you again for posting healthy recipes that look delicious. Will be trying these soon! Could you do a post explaining “Paleo”?
Joy
October 17, 2011 at 6:11 pmOh my goodness, these both look amazing!!! And, I’m thinking I need to get my hands on some coconut oil. 🙂
Lynn
October 17, 2011 at 7:16 pmWhole wheat pastry flour is something to try as well; helps things from being too dense I’ve found.
And coconut ice cream? Nothing will pack on the pounds quicker than that stuff!!! For real.
Sarah
October 17, 2011 at 7:39 pmI’ll be using the maple syrup cream cheese recipe this weekend for a party–thanks! But I make my whole wheat pumpkin bread with canola oil instead, since coconut oil is full of trans fats which are not heart healthy. Why does everyone think it’s healthier? I picked the brain of a friend of mine who is a nutritionist and she frowned on coconut oil too. I’ve seen a lot of people online talk as though coconut oil is the healthiest option for baking though, and I’m just curious what’s behind it, do you know?
Love your blog! And I made your curried chicken salad all summer, btw, thanks!
Ashley
October 17, 2011 at 7:40 pmI’ve been wanting ti try the paleo brownies and I will attempt them soon after reading this post. Since you love the coconut chocolate ice cream, I must recommend the coconut almond ice cream bars, it’s like a frozen almond joy. They are so divine.
Sarah
October 17, 2011 at 7:41 pmoops! my website in my above link is wrong. it’s wordpress not blogspot! ha ha, hope you are having a nice evening!
Emily
October 17, 2011 at 7:49 pmOooohhh! I’ve been looking for a pumpkin bread recipe that calls for whole wheat flour and comes out moist! Yay King Arthur whole wheat flour! Yay moist pumpkin bread! Thanks so much!
JWK
October 17, 2011 at 7:56 pmThese both look DELICIOUS!!! Can’t wait to try them!!
Elizabeth L
October 17, 2011 at 7:57 pmYum! These look delish! I love recipes with better-for-you ingredients, thank you! Hope you don’t mind if I pin these. 🙂
Sarah, I think its because Coconut oil, like olive oil, is plant based and natural. Canola oil, while its better than veg oil, is still essentially a man-made concoction, which also uses corn, an incredibly genetically-modified product.
Darby
October 17, 2011 at 8:19 pmI always use virgin coconut oil…& the good news is the virgin stuff is completely free of trans fats!
Christine
October 17, 2011 at 9:34 pm@Marybeth- In Alabama, there are no Trader Joes! *Gasp* Life is tough here in the south 😉
Darby,
I really can’t believe that those brownies turned out the way that they did. I will be trying them. They look delicious! I saw a recipe that I thought you’d like. I LOVE IT! So does our 2 year old! Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal. Budget Bytes is the blog and you can search the recipe. Cold, it is just like Pumpkin Pie. So you can eat pie for breakfast!!!
Shelly Powers
October 17, 2011 at 9:50 pmI am go glad you are back blogging! It makes me smile when I see an update from you in my reader! The brownies and pumpkin bread both look delish… Wish I lived next door and could enjoy both over a cup of coffee on your pier with you! 🙂
Steph Duford
October 17, 2011 at 10:01 pmI love that you posted a Paleo recipe! Very awesome! I have been strict Paleo for 2 years now and will never turn back with how good my body feels and performs. Are you going to start converting yourself and family into Paleo?
Jessica
October 17, 2011 at 11:39 pmOMG! These recipes look delicious! I know what is on my cooking ‘to do’ list this week! Thank you!
AnnE
October 17, 2011 at 11:56 pmI am obsessed with all things pumpkin this fall. Thanks for sharing the recipes…both look like they would go great with my dunkin donuts pumpkin coffee! Pumpkin treats are totally justified for breakfast right!?! 🙂 have a great one. Love your blog!
Cherish @ Southern Soul Mates
October 18, 2011 at 8:10 amLooks divine!!! Thank you so much for sharing!! xoxo
Melissa
October 18, 2011 at 8:29 amWow both of those sound and look delicious. I must give them a try, bonus they are somewhat healthy.
Jess
October 18, 2011 at 9:38 amthanks so much for these recipes! they look great! what type of food changes did you make? i’m super eager to hear! i’m trying to transition some, and need advice/help!!!
Taylor
October 18, 2011 at 9:47 amlove pumpkin bread! a few weeks ago I made some and it tasted like I put wayyyyy too much baking soda in it..bleh!
Melanie
October 18, 2011 at 12:57 pmYum!!! I MUST find the time to try the pumpkin bread!
Kaite @ NoodleandBoof
October 18, 2011 at 3:01 pmYUM! I made a pumpkin bread last week that turned out wonderfully! Perfect for fall.
julie P
October 18, 2011 at 3:33 pmYum! Can’t wait to try the brownies.
kim
October 18, 2011 at 7:30 pmThis looks amazing – I can’t wait to try it!
alima
October 18, 2011 at 8:55 pmjust had to clarify that paleo is not a “trend.” people have been eating this way since the paleolithic era, hence the name.
Anna @ The Paper Road Blog
October 18, 2011 at 9:35 pmThese all look fantastic…thanks for posting a GF recipe!
Britta
October 18, 2011 at 10:31 pmYum Yum! I am excited to try these and thank you for sharing recipes that are healthy focused. Not sure if you have tried the cookbook – What the Bible Says About Healthy Living Cookbook but it is great place to start.
Denise
October 18, 2011 at 11:03 pmDarby,
So etiquette tells you to never try a new recipe when you have people over for dinner. Because the question always looms, “What if it turns out horribly?” After reading your post this morning, I have had Pumpkin Bread on the brain all day. We were invited for over to a friend’s house for dinner, and of course, I thought, “Yes! I’ll make the Pumpkin Bread!”. And immediately wondered how it would turn out. But I knew it would be great, and of course, it was amazing! Super moist and yummy, and I even made your cream cheese frosting. Oh my goodness! I’ll make the brownies this weekend… 🙂 Thanks for sharing! Yum, yum!
Meredith
October 19, 2011 at 7:42 pmI made your brownies today and they were REALLY good. My husband also liked them and he is a tough customer! Thanks for sharing these!
Meredith
Maren
October 19, 2011 at 8:00 pmthese brownies are in the oven right now!
claire
October 19, 2011 at 8:15 pmhi,
i am always looking to incorporate whole wheat into recipes and i love baking with pumpkin and coconut oil. this is a fabulous recipe. just pulled two loaves out of the oven. thank you for sharing it!
Misha
October 19, 2011 at 9:11 pmOoh, I have to say that the pumpkin bread made my tummy growl. I am so making that…
Amy
October 19, 2011 at 9:55 pmMade the brownies tonight with high hopes. At 20 minutes, they were very jiggly. At 25 minutes, still didn’t look done. At 30 minutes, smelled burnt chocolate. Do you test with a toothpick? Or is this one of those recipes where you take out the brownies a little underdone? I also used “squirt it yourself” (my daughter’s term) almond butter at Whole Foods, probably not as smooth as jarred smooth almond butter.
Deanne @ Delighted
October 20, 2011 at 3:17 pmThis all sounds divine. What a great idea, too, for the maple cinnamon cream cheese! Great to have other recipes that use coconut oil; I bought a large container when I made your recipe for the Peanut Butter Crispies and loved it!
liz@carpeseason
October 22, 2011 at 6:18 pmYum! that cream cheese spread looks fantastic. I’m just dreaming of other things I can put this on…like on a spoon headed straight to my mouth. I’m also excited to share the brownie recipe with my sister, who just recently found she is allergic to gluten. Thanks!
patty
October 23, 2011 at 2:14 pmok, girlie!! i was first here through my friend edie, who adores you. yesterday, i ran into someone who mentioned that she loved your blog…so i popped by again… {love the photos from your recent trip} but paleo brownies? i just stocked my paleo pantry and committed to creating a paleo brownie recipe. you’ve just saved me beau-coup time and money!! :)) thanks so much for the recipes-can’t wait to try!
Margaret
October 23, 2011 at 6:17 pmYUM! I also have a hard time baking with whole wheat flour. I have a whole wheat banana bread recipe that i’ve tweaked and re-tweaked and it’s finally perfect–I use low fat vanilla yogurt instead of oil and the bread always comes out so moist.
Melia
October 25, 2011 at 12:05 amI also wanted to suggest whole wheat pastry flour. I’m not an expert baker so I’m not sure it would work as a swap in any recipe but it is divine in these muffins:
https://www.skinnytaste.com/2011/04/whole-wheat-blueberry-muffins.html
Kristin
October 25, 2011 at 3:14 pmI was just thinking about making some paleo brownies last night as I was putting all my coconut flours and whatnot into pretty glass jars. Now, I’m really inspired! And, my freezer is stocked with Turtle Mtn goodness. Try their coconut almond chip if you haven’t yet… it’s my fave. 🙂
nicole
October 25, 2011 at 7:07 pmHi Darby,
I have the brownies in the oven RIGHT NOW! I know they are going to be decadent because I licked the beater and the spatula!! I’d like to post the recipe on my blog, if that’s o.k? I will link back of course so they can try your other scrumptious recipes! Thank you!
Olio!
Heidi Rew
October 27, 2011 at 12:35 pmI was seduced by your pictures of that delicious looking pumpkin bread! Ordered my coconut oil right away & as soon as I could tear the box open…I began mixing up the pumpkin bread recipe. Just made it last night & it is sooo good! Thank you for sharing this recipe. I even whipped the maple cream cheese spread & it didn’t disappoint either! Thank you for sharing this! Can’t wait to try the brownies!
Rebecca Evans
October 28, 2011 at 7:52 amI can’t wait to try these recipes. I am just coming off of the HCG diet which was almost a detox diet for me. I lost 17 lbs but I feel so much better being off of sugar, caffeine, etc for the last month. I am looking for recipes like these that use more “real” food. Can you point me in the direction of where you find some of your healthy recipes like these? While on the maintenence phase, my doctor recommends using coconut oil, dark cocoa, almond butter and continue the with lean proteins, fresh vegs,fruits. No sugars or whites. Thanks for your inspiration and advice!!
Sandy Toe
October 29, 2011 at 2:20 pmYour cream cheese with maple sounds divine.
sandy toe
Mari
November 11, 2011 at 1:12 pmThanks for the recipes!!! Where is the best place to buy almond butter?
Cate
November 23, 2011 at 6:31 amSo glad to have come across your blog! I have a wee question: would melted butter work in place of the coconut oil for your pumpkin bread recipe?
Anagha Comar
July 13, 2013 at 9:27 amYou are so hilarious!!! I have become obsessed with your website and I
spend most of my work hours reading all your archives.
And I signed up JUST to post comments. I wish I had found
you sooner, and I wish you updated as much as you
used to! You must be constantly busy now though because you’re so famous!!