A Slice of Heaven: Tender Chai Olive Oil Cake That's Surprisingly Healthy

Chai Olive Oil Cake| *Gluten Free, Refined Sugar Free

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Olive oil cake

Olive oil cake

Olive oil cake

Alright friends, preheat your oven and delight your senses with this comforting Chai Olive Oil Cake. Each tender bite of this soft, dense cake melts in your mouth, and has the perfect balance of chai spices. Cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cardamom infuse the cake with cozy flavors reminiscent of a the holidays. This wholesome cake is naturally sweetened and uses alternative flours (almond and oat), aligning with your health goals without sacrificing an ounce of flavor. This cake is perfect on its own, but if you wanna get crazy and jazz it up I highly recommend adding a cinnamon crumble on top! This is the perfect recipe to enjoy with your loved ones this season and satisfy all the sweet cravings of the season

TOOLS YOU'LL NEED FOR THIS OLIVE OIL CAKE

• 1 large mixing bowl

• 1 small mixing bowl

• Whisk

• Silicone spatula

• Measuring cups

• Parchment paper

• Cake pan or 9x9 baking dish

OLIVE OIL CAKE INGREDIENTS

• Maple syrup

• Coconut sugar

• Olive oil

• Eggs

• Yogurt

• Vanilla extract

• Almond flour

• Oat flour

• Sea salt

• Cinnamon

• Ginger

• Cardamom

• Nutmeg

• Baking powder

Why Do These Ingredients Matter? Understanding the Purpose of Healthy Ingredients in This Olive Oil Cake Recipe...

Maple Syrup

Pure maple syrup is a fantastic natural alternative sweetener in baked goods! It contains antioxidants and minerals, as opposed to refined table sugars. Maple syrup also ranks lower on the glycemic index, helping to keep a more stable blood sugar level as opposed to the quick energy release, spike and crash of refined sugars.

Note: make sure you are getting pure maple syrup. The ONLY ingredient on the list should be maple syrup!!

Coconut Sugar

Another lower glycemic sweetener! Crafted from the sap of coconut trees, this sugar contains vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. As it has a similar texture and caramel-y flavors, coconut sugar makes a delicious swap for brown sugar and other conventional sweeteners in baked goods.

Olive Oil

This flavorful oil, made by pressing olives, provides numerous health benefits. One major benefit of olive oil is its ability to lower LDL or "bad" cholesterol. In addition to lowering cholesterol, olive oil helps reduce inflammation throughout the body. Consuming olive oil regularly can help conditions linked to chronic inflammation like heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, and even depression.

Just make sure you're reading the labels and choosing wisely to get all of these benefits. Many brands dilute their oils with cheaper, refined varieties, yet still advertise as "extra virgin." Flip the bottle around and read the ingredients list. Look for official certification seals to ensure you're getting the real deal. A little bit of research will go a long way in ensuring that you are buying a quality extra virgin olive oil to boost your health.

Yogurt

Greek yogurt has emerged as a nutritional superstar in recent years due to its numerous health benefits. It provides probiotics that promote gut health and the live active cultures may enhance immune function and reduce inflammation as well. Greek yogurt is also an excellent source of calcium and vitamin B12, which support bone health and energy levels.

Greek yogurt's high protein content also helps satisfy hunger and provides lasting energy.

It's a great addition into baked goods to enhance their nutritional profiles, but it also makes cakes more moist and tender!

Almond Flour

Almond flour is one of my go-to alternative flours. This finely ground powder provides a sweet, nutty flavor that can elevate your baked goods. It also provides some health perks.

First, almond flour is low-carb. With fewer carbs and sugars than regular flour, almond flour helps stabilize blood sugar. This makes it a diabetic's dream and an ideal fit for low-carb diets.

Almond flour also provides prebiotic fiber that feeds the friendly bacteria in your gut. A healthy gut microbiome has been linked to improved immunity, heart health, and digestive function. Additionally, the vitamin E, magnesium, and other nutrients in almond flour promote heart health. Studies show almond flour can lower "bad" LDL cholesterol and improve insulin sensitivity (which is important for diabetics and non-diabetics).

And for those avoiding gluten, almond flour offers a tasty gluten-free solution. Since it's naturally free of gluten and grains, almond flour allows those with celiac disease or gluten intolerance to enjoy delicious baked treats.

Oat Flour

This wholesome alternative brings a powerhouse of nutrition to your baked goods. While white flour is stripped of its nutrients, oat flour provides fiber, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. Its soluble fiber nourishes your gut microbiome, promoting healthy digestion. Beyond digestive health, oat flour delivers vital heart benefits by lowering cholesterol and blood pressure. It can also help regulate blood sugar, keeping your energy levels steady. Oat flour can even help with weight management thanks to its satiating fiber and protein.

Note: To keep it gluten free, I always make sure to buy gluten free oat flour. You can also buy gluten free rolled oats, put them in a blender and make the oat flour yourself.

CHAI OLIVE OIL CAKE RECIPE

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup maple syrup

• 1/4 cup coconut sugar

• 1 cup olive oil

• 3 eggs

• 1 cup yogurt

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

• 1 1/2 cups almond flour

• 1 cup oat flour

• 1/2 tsp sea salt

• 1 tbsp cinnamon

• 2 tsp ginger

• 2 tsp cardamom

• 1/2 tsp nutmeg

• 2 tsp baking powder

Steps:

1. Preheat oven to 350.

2. In a small bowl, whisk together maple syrup, coconut sugar, olive oil, eggs, yogurt, and vanilla extract. Set aside.

3. In a separate bowl, whisk together almond flour, oat flour, salt, cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, nutmeg and baking powder.

4. Mix together wet and dry ingredients. Refrigerate dough for 10 minutes.

5. Line either a cake pan or a 9x9 pan with parchment paper and fill with your batter.

6. Bake for 30-40 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.

7. Let set for at least 10 minutes before removing from the pan and dig in!!

Suggested Option: Top with my cinnamon crumble for an extra crunch!

Olive Oil Cake Recipe

CINNAMON CRUMBLE RECIPE

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup coconut oil, melted

• 1/4 cup coconut sugar

• 1/2 tbsp cinnamon

• 1/4 tsp sea salt

• 1 1/2 cups oat flour

Steps:

1. Mix all ingredients into a bowl and crumble it on top of your batter before putting your cake in the oven! (You can bake this uncovered all the way through and the top will not burn :) )

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