Healthy and Christmas cakes usually do not go hand in hand. Most Christmas cakes are laced with cream, fondants, sugar and syrups, and artificial flavours, but here, we make healthy possible for you!

What makes it so healthy? The recipe replaces traditional white refined flours that make up most store-purchased cakes with healthier options that are devoid of refined sugar, has quality oil that is fit for high heat baking, and of course, will be made with lots of love and thought, often lacking in commercial bakes.

Christmas and December are favourite times of the year. There is a certain kind of warmth and magic in it. It is a great month for reflections, setting new intentions, hopes, enjoying the holiday season, family get-togethers, and spending cosy time with your loved ones.

Make this festive season even more special by baking these seasonal goodies at home with the best of ingredients and add them to that December vibe!

Plum Cake

**This recipe contains eggs

Serves: 4

Baking time: 45-60 mins with close monitoring

Ingredients:

• Almond flour – 1 cup
• Eggs – 3 medium
• Organic jaggery – 1/2 cup
• Coconut oil – 1/4 cup
• Pure vanilla extract – 2 teaspoons
• Flax powder beaten with 3 tbsp water – 1 tbsp
• Sea salt – 1/4 teaspoon

For plum layer

• Whole plums depending on personal taste – 5-10
• Organic jaggery – 1 tablespoon
• Coconut oil – 1 teaspoon
• Pinch of sea salt

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2. Line a cake pan with parchment paper.
3. Combine all of the ingredients for the cake batter in a medium-size mixing bowl.
4. Whip the batter until smooth with the beater, or until it is evenly combined.
5. Cut the desired amount of plums into halves.
6. Remember the more plums added to the cake, the more liquid there will be.
7. If you add more than 4-5 plums, the cake will be a lot moister.
8. Grease the parchment paper-lined cake pans with 1 teaspoon coconut oil.
9. Then, lay the plum halves into the bottom of the cake pan.

• Drizzle the plums with 1 tablespoon jaggery powder and a sprinkle of sea salt.
• Pour the cake batter over the plums and bake the cake at 350 degrees for 60 minutes or until golden brown.

Tea Cake

Serves: 4

Baking time: 20-30 mins

Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp flax beaten with 3 tbsp water till a gluey mixture is formed
• Coconut oil – 2 tbsp
• Organic jaggery powder- 1/2 cup
• Vanilla extract – 1 teaspoon
• Almond flour – 1½ cup
• Sattu flour – 2 tbsp
• Cinnamon – 1 tsp
• 2 tsp of chia seeds beaten with water till a gluey mixture is formed
• Coconut milk – 1/2 cup
• Salt – 1/2 tsp

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 180º Celsius.
2. In a bowl, add the coconut oil, vanilla extract, jaggery powder, chia seeds, and the flax, and whisk them together.
3. Then, add the almond flour, sattu flour, cinnamon, and salt, and mix it well.
4. Then, add the coconut milk, and stir until smooth.
5. Pour the batter into a square cake tin that is lined with baking paper.
6. Bake for 20-25 minutes.

Notes:

• Plums are rich in antioxidants and fibre.
• They aid in easy digestion and help boost the immune system.
• One can replace almond flour with a mix of ragi and sattu flour too.
• One can replace the eggs with mashed banana.
• Garnish with raisins, nuts, and toasted sesame and pumpkin seeds of choice.
• Even if you do not have a specific baking mixer aid, you can use a simple beater.

These cakes are best enjoyed with a cup of hot chocolate! Check these 4 Types of Hot Chocolate Recipe.