Lemon-Blueberry Pudding Cake – TAFC Makes Pies and Desserts

The first post in a series highlighting my newest book, The Allergy-Free Cook Makes Pies and Desserts, brings you the Lemon-Blueberry Pudding Cake. Just like all of my other recipes, it’s free of gluten, dairy, eggs, and soy, but also legumes, nuts, peanuts, seeds and yeast.

Cara, who I’ve worked with at Chickpea Magazine, is hosting a giveaway, alongside a review and recipe, at the magazine’s blog, Hipster Food.

Check it out here: Lemon-Blueberry Pudding Cake.

You can also check out the Winter 2014 issue of Chickpea Magazine, which includes a my piece on The Humble Amazing Potato, along with four recipes, and perfecting potato chips and french fries. She’s giving away a copy of that, too.

Photography c/o Cara.

Maple-Glazed Pumpkin-Pear Bundt with Crumble Topping

A perfect-for-brunch pumpkin cake with a crunchy crumble topping and a sweet maple glaze. If you don’t have pears on hand, try fresh cranberries, apples, or your other favourite fall fruits.

Maple Glazed Pumpkin Pear Bundt with Crumble Topping3

Maple-Glazed Pumpkin-Pear Bundt with Crumble Topping

For the crumble topping:
3/4 cup sorghum flour
1/2 cup unrefined cane sugar
1/4 cup tapioca flour
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon fine sea or Himalayan salt
6 tablespoons vegan buttery spread (such as Earth Balance), melted

For the cake:
1 cup sorghum flour
3/4 cup teff flour
7 tablespoons tapioca flour, divided
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/4 teaspoons ground ginger
3/4 teaspoon xanthan gum
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
6 tablespoons coconut oil, melted
1 cup unrefined cane sugar
1/4 cup nondairy milk
2 tablespoons ground flaxseed
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups mashed pumpkin
2 cups finely chopped ripe pears
2 tablespoons cider vinegar

For the glaze:
1/2 cup icing sugar, sifted
1 tablespoon dark maple syrup (if you don’t have dark, you may want to add the extract)
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon nondairy milk, plus more as needed
1/2 teaspoon maple extract (optional)
Pinch fine sea or Himalayan salt

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly oil a 10-inch (12 cup) bundt pan. Dust with sorghum flour, tapping out excess.

To make the crumble, put the sorghum flour, sugar, tapioca flour, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and salt in a medium bowl. Whisk well to combine. Add the vegan buttery spread, stirring to mix. Use your fingers to press the crumble mixture into small clumps. Refrigerate until needed.

To make the cake, put the sorghum flour, teff flour, 6 tablespoons of the tapioca flour, the cinnamon, baking powder, ginger, xanthan gum, baking soda, salt, and nutmeg in a medium bowl. Whisk well to combine.

Put the coconut oil, sugar, nondairy milk, ground flaxseed, and vanilla extract in a large bowl or bowl of a stand mixer. Using a hand mixer or the stand mixer, beat on high speed until emulsified, about 1 minute. Add the pumpkin. Beat well to combine. Add the flour mixture. Beat on medium speed until just combined.

Put the pears in a bowl. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of tapioca flour. Toss to combine. Add the pear mixture to the cake batter, along with the cider vinegar. Stir to combine. Scrape the mixture into the prepared pan, spreading evenly.

Remove the crumble topping from the fridge. Top the batter with the crumble in an even layer, pressing down slightly. Bake for 60 to 70 minutes, until a skewer inserted into the cake comes out clean. Let cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then put a plate over pan and turn it over to remove it. Carefully invert the cake onto a second plate so the crumble topping is facing up. Cool completely before glazing.

To make the glaze, put the icing sugar, maple syrup, vanilla extract, nondairy milk, maple extract (if using), and salt in a bowl. Mix well to combine, adding more milk if necessary to create a drizzly consistency. Pour overtop of the crumble. Let stand about 20 minutes to set before serving.

Strawberry Almond Chocolate Chip Biscotti

This is the first time I’ve used fresh fruit (other than applesauce) in biscotti, and, the infusion of strawberry flavor is so, so good. Cooking down the strawberries to a thick, jam-like mixture worked perfectly, and it is always a good match for toasted almonds and sweet chocolate chips.

strawberry chocolate chip almond biscotti

Strawberry Almond Chocolate Chip Biscotti

1 cup chopped strawberries
1 tablespoon water
1 tablespoon ground flaxseed
3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons sorghum flour
1/2 cup arrowroot flour
1/4 cup quinoa flour
1 teaspoon xanthan gum
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teapsoon fine sea or Himalayan salt
1/2 cup unrefined sugar
2 tablespoons coconut oil, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup toasted almonds
1/4 cup mini chocolate chips

Put the strawberries and water in a small saucepan, bring to medium heat, then cook, mashing with a fork as they get soft, for about 20 minutes. The mixture should be thick like jam. Transfer the mixture to a small food processor or blender and puree until smooth. You want 1/2 cup (120mL) total. If it is more than 1/2 cup, continue cooking on medium heat until 1/2 cup is reached. Stir in the flaxseed and let cool to room temperature.

Preheat the oven to 325F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Put the sorghum flour, arrowroot flour, quinoa flour, xanthan gum, baking powder, and salt in a small bowl. Whisk until combined. Put the sugar, coconut oil, and vanilla extract in a stand mixer. Beat until smooth and well combined. Add the strawberry mixture. Beat until combined. Turn the mixer to low speed. Gradually add the flour mixture to the sugar mixture, beating until well mixed. The dough will be stiff. Use your hands to knead in the almonds and chocolate chips.

Transfer the dough to the baking sheet. Using lightly floured hands, form it into two logs, each about 8 x 3-inches. Bake for 25 minutes, until firm to the touch but not hard. Let cool on the baking sheet for 10 minutes.

Decrease the oven to 300F. Cut each log into 3/4-inch slices using a sharp knife—do not saw. Remove the parchment paper from the baking sheet. Put the slices on one side, cut-side down, and bake for 10 minutes. Turn the slices onto the other side and bake for 5 to 10 minutes, until toasted and firm. Transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely. The biscotti will continue to harden after they have cooled.