It’s okay if the one thing you’re most excited about this Thanksgiving is the dessert. No one can blame you! With the holiday coming up very soon, it’s time to start planning the perfect family meals. It can be hard to eat healthy and enjoy your meal at the same time. Good thing there are some delicious, low-calorie treats with health benefits. Here is my favorite!
Pumpkin Pie Cupcakes
https://mywholefoodlife.com/2014/09/07/paleo-pumpkin-pie-cupcakes/
These pumpkin pie cupcakes definitely don’t look healthy but believe it or not, they contain no flour and no refined sugars. They are also dairy free, egg free and vegan!
Ingredients:
- 1 can of pumpkin or 1 1/2 cups pumpkin puree
- 2 very ripe bananas
- 1/2 cup coconut sugar
- 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp ginger
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
For the whip topping
- 1 can full-fat coconut milk
- 2 T maple syrup
- 1 tsp vanilla beans
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350.
- In a food processor, combine all the cupcake ingredients and blend until smooth.
- Spoon the mixture into lined muffin pans.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes.
- Let these cool completely before removing from the muffin liners.
- To make the whip topping, open up your can of coconut milk that has been in the fridge overnight. Place in a mixing bowl with the vanilla and maple syrup. Use the whipping attachment and whip the coconut into a cream. Scoop a little on top of each muffin.
The flavor in this dessert comes from a variety of spices and healthy natural ingredients. Pumpkin is very important to the taste of the cupcake and your health. Eating pumpkin is good for your heart because of the fiber, potassium and vitamin C content. Pumpkin is also loaded with nutrients that are great for your skin. The Vitamin A in pumpkin is involved in skin protection for the sun’s UVB rays and protects against sunburns.
The bananas in this recipe are rich in a mineral called potassium. Potassium helps with the functioning of muscles and nerve cells. There is also a lot of protein and dietary fiber in bananas. The high vitamin B6 content in bananas helps protect against type 2 diabetes and aid in weight loss.
Coconut sugar is a great substitute for refined sugar. It contains a fiber called inulin which slows glucose absorption. It is lower on the glycemic index than table sugar. Glycemic index ranks carbohydrate foods on the basis of how they affect blood sugar. Coconut sugar also helps lower cholesterol.
Cinnamon is one of the very delicious spices in this recipe. It helps lower blood sugar levels and treat diabetes. Also, it helps regulate high cholesterol and treat heart disease. Cinnamon can fight bacteria and have antioxidant effects.
Ginger is another spice in this recipe. It helps relieve nausea, loss of appetite and pain. It also helps reduce cholesterol in your body. This, in turn, reduces the risk of blood clotting and helps maintain healthy blood sugar levels.
Nutmeg has several benefits. It helps digestion by helping with the secretion of digestive enzymes. Nutmeg stimulates nerves in the brain and can lift your mood. In times of stress, it can help lower blood pressure. Nutmeg’s essential oils have antibacterial properties so it helps in removing bacteria in your mouth that cause bad breath.
Don’t miss out on this delicious dessert. Have fun making it and impress your friends this Thanksgiving. Make sure to let them know how many health benefits come with it!