The Ingredients
175g Xylitol
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp glycerine
175g gluten free flour
1.5 tsp gluten free baking powder
1 tsp xanthan gum
130ml unsweetened soya milk
130ml sunflower oil
50g Xylitol plain chocolate
Half a punnet of blueberries
Makes 6 large miffins or 12 cupcakes
The Equipment
The usual spoons and forks
Weighing scales
Large mixing bowl
Sieve
Measuring jug
Blender
Muffin cases
Muffin tray
The Method
Preheat the oven to 180oC (GM4) and 6 muffin cases in the muffin tray.
Break up the chocolate into squares
Combine the flour, baking powder, xanthan gum; sieve and mix together in the large mixing bowl.
In the measuring jug mix together the soya milk and oil.
Next place the Xylitol, eggs, vanilla and glycerine into the blender and whizz until well mixed.
Then add all mixtures into the large mixing bowl and whisk by hand until well mixed and the large lumps have disappeared.
Add the fresh blueberries and mix slow until evenly spread throughout the cake mixture.
Half fill muffin cases with the blueberry cake mixture.
Then add two squares of chocolate into the middle the mixture (this is the surprise bit!).
And then place the rest of the mixture in the muffin case covering the chocolate.
Once the mixture is evenly distributed in the muffin cases, place the muffin tray in the oven for about 25 minutes.
Once baked and well risen remove from the oven and allow them to cool.
These muffins are good to eat while still warm and the chocolate is a gooey surprise, but just as good to each when completely cool and the chocolate has become solid again - giving the middle of the muffin an unexpected texture and crunch :)
I thought that after a long holiday hiatus, the most appropriate post would be about having no time to bake!
I recent experimenting as given fruit to a new favourite snack which is delicious and takes no time at all to make.
Quick Snack
Nut-Jam Rice Cakes
The Ingredients:
(Unsalted) Rice Cakes
Sugarless Jam
Vegan Cream Cheese
Peanut butter
The Method:
Just spread a layer of each on the rice cake - the combination is amazing! I personal favourite is cream cheese, peanut butter, then jam.
There are some sugarless jams out there at are very tasty. Recently I have been buying St Dalfour from Wholefood Market: the raspberry jam is particularly good.
I have learnt to always read the label and have found some very nice peanut butters that have no added sugar, two brands I have found are Whole Earth (my favourite) and Biona.
As for the cream cheese, a while ago I made my own, which is pretty easy to do and the recipe can be found on the mothers day cupcake post, minus the sugar, of course :) Or the Lactofree Vegan Cream Cheese is exactly the same as normal cream cheese, although it probably has sugar in it.
Where To Buy Cake
In london so far I have found two bakeries that lovingly produce and sell fresh gluten, dairy and sugar free cakes.
Ruby Tuesdays Bakery @ Greenwich Maret: try the banana & choc chip or chocolate and fresh fruit loafs.
The Happy Kitchen @ The Bakery in Arch 402 in London Fields - I can vouch for the Raspberry Bakewell Muffins - soooo good. If these are anything to go by, it is indeed a happy kitchen!
Dependings on where you are sometimes cakes and other yummy gluten, diary and sugar free products can be found in The Wholefood Market or Planet Orangic. It is my experience that smaller chains and independent shop/fooderies are better at providing for those of us on restricted diets compared with the major supermarkets. And taking your business to these independent places is no bad thing!
I will be back with my own recipes next week... :)
