Chai Spiced Cupcakes

Spice up this holiday season by making these chai spiced cupcakes for dessert! The combination of cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, cardamom, and ginger in this recipe is a great way to get antioxidants in your system, improve your digestion, and reduce inflammation throughout the body. Cashews are known to reduce the risk of diabetes, boost the immune system, and promote the development of Red Blood Cells (which play an important role in oxygen delivery throughout the body). Using cassava flour over regular processed flour for this dessert is a great option as it is naturally gluten-free, paleo-friendly, and is a great source of Vitamin C! Maple syrup will sweeten this treat and provide you with a number of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

 Cupcakes

• 1 cup cassava flour

• 3 tbsp coconut flour

• ½ cup almond or cashew butter

• ¼ cup organic maple syrup

• ⅓ cup coconut sugar

• ¾ cup coconut milk

• 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

• 1 tsp baking soda

• ¼ tsp sea salt

• 3 tsp cinnamon

• ¼ tsp nutmeg

• ¼ tsp cloves

• 1 tsp cardamom

• 1 tsp ginger

Frosting

• 1 ¾ cup cashews, raw and soaked 3-4 hours

• ½ cup coconut cream + 2 tbsp

• 3 tbsp coconut oil, melted

• 1 tbsp lemon juice

• 3 tbsp maple syrup

• 2 tsp vanilla extract

• ¾ tsp cinnamon

• ½ tsp cardamom

• ½ tsp ginger

• ¼ tsp nutmeg

• ¼ tsp cloves

• ½ tsp sea salt

Instructions:

1) Preheat oven to 350F and line a cupcake pan with paper liners.

2) In a large bowl, combine maple syrup, coconut sugar, coconut milk, apple cider vinegar, almond butter, and vanilla. Melt over stove-top until completely smooth.

3) Once smooth, remove from heat and add in dry ingredients. Whisk to combine well.

4) Using a cookie scooper or spoon, scoop batter into paper liners.

5) Place in oven and bake for around 25 minutes.

6) While cupcakes are baking, add cashews to a blender or food processor along with remaining ingredients. Blend on high until smooth. Add in more coconut cream if necessary.

7) Transfer frosting into a container and chill for 2-3 hours so that it becomes thick.

8) Once 2-3 hours have passed, frost cooled cupcakes and add additional spices on top if desired. Enjoy!

Paleo Potato Skins

Try making these paleo potato skins for your next get together with friends and family! Russet potatoes are known to be a natural source of folate, are full of Vitamin C, and are rich in fiber. They are also an excellent source of Vitamins B1, B3, and B6. Mushrooms are great for your heart, increase the absorption of iron, and aid in weight loss. Bell peppers are rich in fiber, antioxidants, and Vitamin A. Adding in onion to this recipe will help reduce inflammation throughout the body, improve immunity, and lower triglycerides. If desired, pair with your favorite paleo-friendly sauce and enjoy!

Ingredients:

• 4 medium russet potatoes

• 5-6 slices of bacon

• 2 medium onions, sliced

• ¼ cup mushrooms, sliced

• ½ red bell pepper, sliced

• ¼ cup paleo-friendly cheese (see Miss Alexa’s approved dairy-free products here: https://www.missalexanutrition.com/fermented-foods)

• 2 ½ tbsp coconut oil

• Freshly chopped cilantro (for garnish)

• Dash of sea salt

Instructions:

1) Preheat oven to 400F and line baking sheet with parchment paper.

2) Melt 1 tbsp of coconut oil and coat each potato. Sprinkle each potato with sea salt.

3) Bake potatoes in the oven for 60 minutes until soft on the inside.

4) While the potatoes bake, heat skillet over medium-low heat and add 1 tbsp of coconut oil to melt. Add in onions, mushrooms, and bell pepper. Sprinkle with sea salt and stir gently for 25 minutes. Once cooked all the way, remove from heat and set aside.

5) In a separate skillet, cook bacon over medium heat. Once crisp and fully cooked, remove and combine with cooked vegetables.

6) Once potatoes are done, let them sit until fully cooled. Cut each in half and scoop out the inside, leaving a thin layer on the inside of each skin.

7) Coat each potato skin with remaining ½ tbsp of melted coconut oil and a sprinkle of sea salt. Place face up on baking sheet and bake for 4-5 minutes. Flip them face down and bake for another 4-5 minutes.

8) Remove from oven and turn on broiler. Fill each potato skin with bacon and vegetable mixture and top each with paleo-friendly cheese. Next, place potato skins under the broiler for 1-2 minutes or until crisp.

9) Remove from heat, garnish with cilantro, and serve immediately. Enjoy!

Paleo Pumpkin Bread

 Make this flavorful paleo pumpkin bread as your next fall treat! Pumpkin is an excellent source of Vitamin A, fiber, zinc, and potassium. Almond flour and tapioca flour are great alternatives to regular flour and are also gluten-free and paleo friendly! Full fat coconut milk boosts immunity, aids in digestion, and helps control cholesterol levels. Cinnamon helps reduce blood pressure, balances blood sugar levels, and is rich in manganese, fiber, and iron. Sprinkle on chopped pecans if desired and enjoy!

Ingredients:

• 1 cup pumpkin puree

• 1 ¾ cups blanched almond flour

• ¼ cup tapioca flour

• 1 tbsp coconut flour

• 1 tsp baking soda

• 3 eggs

• ⅓ cup full fat coconut milk

• ¼ cup maple syrup

• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract

• 1 tbsp pumpkin pie spice

• ½ tsp ground cinnamon

• ½ tsp sea salt

• ¼ cup pecans, chopped

 Instructions:

1) Preheat oven to 350F and line a loaf pan with parchment paper.

2) Combine pumpkin puree, eggs, coconut milk, maple syrup, and vanilla extract in a large bowl.

3) In a separate bowl, combine almond four, tapioca flour, coconut flour, baking soda, pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon, and sea salt.

4) Combine wet and dry ingredients and add in pecans to mixture.

5) Transfer batter into pan and bake for 60 minutes.

6) Take out of oven and let cool for 8-10 minutes before removing from pan. Slice and enjoy!

Paleo Cinnamon Rolls

Try making these delicious paleo cinnamon rolls for breakfast! Using arrowroot or tapioca flour for this recipe is a great alternative to regular flour as they are both gluten-free and low in calories. Psyllium husk powder is known to reduce blood sugar levels, aid in digestion, and reduce cholesterol levels. Coconut oil helps improve bone health, strengthens the immune system, and promotes healthy digestion. Cinnamon assists with weight management, reduces the risk of cancer, and is considered the powerhouse of antioxidants. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

 Cinnamon roll dough:

• ¾ cup almond flour

• 1 ½ cup + 2 tbsp arrowroot or tapioca flour

• 2 tbsp psyllium husk powder

• ¼ cup coconut oil, melted

• 2 eggs

• 1 tbsp baking powder

• ½ tsp cinnamon

• 2 tbsp maple syrup

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

 Filling:

• ⅓ cup coconut oil, melted

• 2 tbsp cinnamon

• ⅓ cup + 1 tbsp coconut sugar

 Glaze:

• ½ cup coconut butter

• Almond milk (amount needed will vary)

Instructions:

1) Preheat oven to 350F and grease muffin tin with coconut oil.

2) Combine arrowroot/tapioca flour, almond flour, psyllium husk, baking powder, and cinnamon in a mixing bowl.

3) In separate bowl, combine coconut oil, maple syrup, eggs, and vanilla extract.

4) Combine wet and dry ingredients together. Add 1 tbsp of warm water to dough and mix well. Let dough sit for 10 minutes.

5) Combine all ingredients for filling.

6) Place large piece of parchment paper on flat surface and add 1-2 tbsp arrowroot flour on top of it.

7) Add dough to paper and roll out dough with rolling pin into a large rectangle. Dough should be around ½ inch thick.

8) Spread filling mixture over dough evenly.

9) Next, roll dough into a log and cut into 9-10 pieces. Add each piece to a muffin hole and bake for 20 minutes.

10) While cinnamon rolls are baking, melt the coconut butter and mix in a splash of almond milk. Continue to add a splash of almond milk and melt until it becomes a glaze.

11) Remove cinnamon rolls from oven and drizzle glaze on top. Enjoy!