My favourite Sunday afternoons are spent on the sofa under a blanket with a big mug of fresh coffee and a treat. This afternoon I created this deliciously gooey gluten-free loaf, it tastes a little like a raw brownie but with a really nutty taste. Because it’s filled with oats, nuts and seeds you only need a slither for an instant
healthy sweet-treat fix. This plant-based treat is also good for your heart and will help to balance your blood sugar levels, read on to find out why….
10 minutes preparation/ 1 hour in the freezer to set.
You’ll need a food processor to make this.
- 100g oats
- 50g milled linseed
- 150g dates
- Half a cup of nut butter
- Quarter of a cup of grated coconut (a little extra for topping)
- 1 tablespoon raw cacao
- 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
- 70g raisins
- 40g brazil nuts
- 100ml almond milk
- Coconut oil for the tin
Pour the oats, linseed and dates in the food processor and mix. If the dates you are using feel quite tough you might want to soak them first in warm water for 15 minutes or so first.
Once the dates are broken up within the mixture add the nut butter (I used peanut), coconut, raw cacao and poppy seeds and continue to whizz. This should start to bring the mixture together nicely.
Add the raisins and brazil nuts along with the almond milk. Pulse the mixture in the processor so that the raisins and brazil nuts still have some of their form – this will give the loaf a really nice texture.
The mixture should now be sticky.
Prepare a loaf tin by greasing it with coconut oil and spoon in the mixture. Pat in down and make sure it is smooth on top. Top with more grated coconut.
Pop it in the freezer for one hour to set.
Instead of popping into a tin you can also roll the mixture into bite size balls and roll in coconut. You’ll still need to pop them in the freezer to set.
Store the loaf in the fridge.
Nourish
Eat for enjoyment, eat to nourish. Here’s a little bit of information about why these ingredients are so super….
Brazil nuts
Our diets can lack the mineral selenium – this is combated by the addition of brazil nuts which are full to the brim with it. 1-2 brazil nuts a day can provide us with our daily intake. Selenium is a youthful mineral which helps to protect our bodies from diseases of aging. They’re also full of antioxidants and calcium.
Linseed (also known as flaxseed)
These little seeds help to lower unhealthy cholesterol due to their fibrous nature, balancing blood sugar levels and acting as a hunger suppressant. I always pop a tablespoon or two in my juices or smoothies to add some substance, especially in the mornings after a workout.
Oats
Like linseed oats are also known for suppressing hunger and helping the body to naturally lower bad unhealthy cholesterol while blood sugar levels balanced. Oats are one of the best grains to support a healthy heart, arteries and overall cardiovascular system.
I hope you enjoy them and let me know what you think 🙂
Enjoy the rest of your weekend,
Hx