Healthy Breakfast Recipes - Chocolate Covered Katie

Protein Donuts

Katie Higgins — Wed, 14 May 2025 21:30:53 +0000

These protein donuts are soft, fluffy, and packed with over 15 grams of protein each!

The best protein donuts

For those of us who love donuts but want to be healthy, this is the perfect recipe.

Imagine an entire batch of sweet, bakery style pastries hot from the oven.

And they are full of protein at the same time!

Plus, unlike many similar recipes, this one bakes up in under 10 minutes and requires no cake or pancake mix.

This truly is the best protein donut recipe you will ever try.

Also try this popular Protein Cheesecake

Why you’ll love this recipe

Baked instead of fried. In fact, there’s no oil required at all.

Packed with nutrition. Along with their high protein content, the healthy donuts can also be low calorie, low fat, cholesterol free, and refined sugar free.

Delicious chocolate flavor. If you want the taste of a Dunkin Donuts glazed chocolate donut in a protein filled breakfast or post workout snack, this recipe grants your wish!

High protein donuts recipe video

Protein donut flavors

Peanut Butter Cup: Follow the recipe below, and dip each baked donut in melted chocolate. Drizzle with peanut butter.

Cookies and Cream: Stir a handful of crushed OREO cookies in with the dry ingredients. Or add them as a garnish after icing with cream cheese frosting.

Chocolate Hazelnut: Instead of nut butter, use store bought or Homemade Nutella, and finish with chopped roasted hazelnuts.

Berry: Use blueberry or strawberry yogurt in the batter. Decorate with strawberry frosting or fruit jam and fresh berries.

Vanilla Protein Donuts: Increase the flour to one cup, and omit the cocoa powder. Choose a non chocolate protein powder, such as vanilla, chai, coffee, or birthday cake batter. Top with sprinkles or a basic powdered sugar glaze.

Apple Cider: Follow the vanilla variation above, substituting apple juice or cider for the water. Add a fourth teaspoon of ground cinnamon with the dry ingredients.

Key ingredients

Chocolate protein powder – Use a protein powder you already know that you like. This can be whey, casein, or soy or pea protein for vegan donuts.

Cocoa powder – Look for high quality unsweetened cocoa powder. As a fun alternative, you can swap an equal amount of hot cocoa mix.

Flour – I like whole grain spelt flour, because it is lighter than whole wheat flour, with a similar amount of fiber and slightly more protein. White all purpose flour, oat flour, and Bob’s Red Mill gluten free all purpose flour work as well.

For best results, stay away from almond flour or coconut flour. I include a low carb keto donut option in the recipe box below.

Nut butter – Try almond butter or cashew butter for a neutral flavor or peanut butter if you’re a chocolate peanut butter fan. Sunflower butter, tahini, and softened coconut oil are great nut free options.

Yogurt – I use dairy free Greek yogurt here for even more protein. Mashed banana or pumpkin puree also work.

Sweetener – The donuts are naturally sweetened with either pure maple syrup or honey. If you’d like to substitute sugar, add water as needed to form a dough.

How to make chocolate protein donuts

Step One: Start by greasing a donut pan, or a mini muffin pan for donut holes. Set this pan aside, and preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Step Two: Whisk the dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl, then stir in wet ingredients until just evenly mixed.

Step Three: Smooth the batter into the prepared pan. It should yield six traditional size donuts. Bake on the center rack of the oven for eight minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a donut comes out mostly clean.

Step Four: Let the donuts cool fully before carefully going around the sides of each with a knife and popping out of the pan. The cooling step is very important, because it keeps the pastries from breaking apart.

Step Five: Add frosting, glaze, or toppings of choice, and enjoy. For optimal freshness, store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to five days. Or freeze in an airtight container for up to three months.

For chocolate covered protein donuts, melt 2 oz chocolate chips in a bowl. Dip each donut in the chocolate sauce.

Protein Donuts

These protein donuts are soft, fluffy, easy to make, and packed with over 15 grams of protein!

Course Breakfast

Cuisine American

Keyword chocolate, donuts, peanut butter, protein, protein powder, yogurt

Cook Time 8

Total Time 8

Servings donuts

Calories 200kcal

Ingredients

3/4 cup flour (or try these Keto Donuts) (90g)
1/4 cup chocolate protein powder (30g)
2 tbsp cocoa powder (10g)
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup peanut butter (or any nut or seed butter) (120g)
1/3 cup water (80g)
1/4 cup yogurt or mashed banana (60g)
1/4 cup pure maple syrup or honey (60g)
Optional toppings (see above)

Instructions

Grease a donut pan (or a mini muffin pan for donut holes). Preheat the oven to 350 F. Whisk all dry ingredients well, then stir in wet to form a batter. Smooth into the prepared pan. Bake for 8 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a donut comes out mostly clean. Let fully cool before carefully going around the sides of the protein donuts with a knife and popping onto a plate. Add frosting or toppings as desired, and enjoy!
View Nutrition Facts

Video

Notes

Looking for more protein? Make Protein Banana Bread.

Nutrition

10 High Protein Breakfast Options

Protein Waffles

Cake Batter Protein Shake

Protein Bars

Blueberry Protein Muffins

Vegan Protein Pancakes

Chocolate Overnight Oats

Protein Hot Chocolate

Protein Fluff

Tofu Scramble

2 Ingredient Bagels

The post Protein Donuts appeared first on Chocolate Covered Katie.

Keto Donuts

Katie Higgins — Wed, 23 Apr 2025 19:12:34 +0000

These soft baked keto donuts are light, fluffy, and deliciously cakey, and the recipe calls for just 5 ingredients!

Sugar free keto donuts

Unlike many other keto donut recipes, this one requires no coconut flour, no oil for frying, and no eggs or cottage cheese.

Plus, you can easily customize the base to create unlimited different flavors, including cinnamon, chocolate, pumpkin spice, and glazed donuts!

Forget about Dunkin Donuts and Krispy Kreme. With a classic donut shop taste and perfect pillow texture, these truly are the best keto donuts you will ever try.

Also try this Keto Cheesecake

Ingredients

To make the sugar free donuts, you need almond flour, yogurt, baking powder, a pinch of salt, and powdered sweetener of choice.

Almond flour – Both natural and blanched almond flour work, as does fine almond meal for flourless donuts.

Look for almond flour in the flour or natural foods aisle of many regular grocery stores, Trader Joe’s, Target, or Whole Foods.

For a nut free option, whip up a batch of Baked Cinnamon Sugar Donuts.

Yogurt – Go with a thick, full fat yogurt for best results. I like Kite Hill Greek yogurt, which is low carb, high protein, and dairy free.

Sweetener – Choose your favorite powdered sweetener option, such as erythritol or a monk fruit, allulose, or stevia baking blend.

If you are not counting carbs, powdered sugar works as well.

Optional toppings – Decorate your bakery style donuts with rainbow sprinkles, shredded coconut, chopped nuts, or mini chocolate chips.

Or try one of the frosting options listed directly below.

Keto donut flavors

Glazed: Whisk half a cup of powdered sweetener with a tablespoon of water and a few drops pure vanilla extract. Add more water for a thinner icing.

Chocolate Frosted: Top each baked donut with Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting or with low carb, keto friendly Homemade Nutella.

Cinnamon Sugar Free: Combine two tablespoons ground cinnamon with half a cup granulated sweetener to make your own keto cinnamon sugar coating.

Maple: Stir two drops of maple extract into the yogurt before combining it with the almond flour. Or add a drop of maple extract to your frosting of choice.

Strawberry: Replace one tablespoon yogurt with finely diced strawberries. Use the glaze recipe above, swapping strawberry jam for the water.

Powdered: This one is easy. Dip cooled donuts into powdered erythritol or your favorite low carb powdered sugar alternative.

The recipe was adapted from these 2 Ingredient Bagels

Recipe video

Watch the step by step low carb donut video above.

How to make keto donuts

The recipe makes six small donuts, or you may double all ingredients for a larger yield.

Step One: Gather your ingredients, and preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. If using an optional donut pan, grease it with coconut oil or a fat free spray.

Step Two: Combine the almond flour, baking powder, salt, and powdered no sugar sweetener in a medium mixing bowl. Stir very well to evenly incorporate all ingredients.

Step Three: Stir in the yogurt to form a thick dough. Slowly add a little more flour or yogurt if your batter is too wet or too dry.

Step Four: Form traditional donut shapes or donut holes with your hands, or press the dough into a large or mini donut pan if you prefer.

Step Five: Bake in the donut pan or on a cookie sheet for ten minutes. Then remove the low carb donuts from the oven and let cool.

Keto air fryer donuts

For those who wish to air fry the donuts instead of heating up an oven, you are in luck.

After shaping donut holes or mini donuts, preheat your air fryer machine to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Place the unbaked dough pieces on a well greased air fryer tray, then cook for five to eight minutes or until baked to your liking.

Removed the air fried donuts from the heat and let cool, then cover in frosting or glaze of choice.

Still craving donuts? Make Baked Apple Cider Donuts

Are keto donuts healthy?

Just one donut gives you close to 10 grams of protein and 3 grams of fiber.

Unlike traditional donuts, they are low calorie and low in cholesterol, with little saturated fat, no sugar added, and only 1 gram net carbs each.

Depending on the specific ingredients and brands you choose, the donuts can be gluten free, egg free, paleo, oil free, and vegan.

As with all desserts, these should be enjoyed in moderation as part of a balanced diet.

Keto Donuts

This easy keto donuts recipe is light, fluffy, and deliciously cakey, with just 5 ingredients and no sugar added!

Course Breakfast

Cuisine American

Keyword almond flour, donuts, keto, low carb, sugar free

Cook Time 10

Total Time 10

Servings donuts

Calories 130kcal

Ingredients

1 1/4 cup almond flour
1/4 cup yogurt
1 tsp baking powder
3 tbsp powdered sweetener of choice
1/8 tsp salt
optional toppings (see above)

Instructions

*The recipe yields six small donuts. Feel free to double or triple all ingredients for a larger yield. If you want air fryer donuts, see instructions above.
To make keto donuts, first preheat the oven to 350 F. If using an optional mini donut pan, grease it well. Stir dry ingredients in a large bowl, then stir in the yogurt. Only if your batter is too wet or too dry, slowly add more flour or yogurt as needed. Form donut holes or shapes with your hands, or press the dough into the donut pan. Bake 10 minutes, then remove and let cool. Add toppings of choice, and enjoy!
View Nutrition Facts

Video

Notes

Readers also really love these low carb, sugar free Keto Brownies.

Nutrition

More Keto Baked Goods

Keto Peanut Butter Cookies

Keto Blueberry Muffins

Protein Brownies

Keto Pumpkin Bread

Keto Lemon Bars

Coconut Flour Cookies

Keto Cobbler

The post Keto Donuts appeared first on Chocolate Covered Katie.

Nutella Banana Bread

Katie Higgins — Wed, 16 Apr 2025 21:23:44 +0000

With a rich chocolate hazelnut swirl in each delicious bite, this Nutella banana bread recipe is possibly the best banana bread you will ever taste!

Nutella banana bread

This recipe brings me straight back to childhood, where a thick layer of chocolate Nutella over sliced bananas was one of my favorite lunchbox sandwiches.

For everyone who loves all things Nutella as much as I do, today’s Nutella banana bread is for you.

Enjoy it for breakfast, brunch, snack, or dessert.

Or maybe even dinner??

Plus leftovers freeze well, so you can always keep a few slices on hand for whenever you’re craving the comforting goodness of chocolate, hazelnuts, and banana.

Also make 3 ingredient Banana Oatmeal Cookies

Nutella banana bread recipe video

Watch the step by step video above.

Chocolate hazelnut banana bread ingredients

The recipe calls for mashed banana, ground cinnamon, chocolate hazelnut spread, sweetener, flour, salt, baking soda, baking powder, oil or water, pure vanilla extract, and optional chocolate chips.

Bananas – You want to use bananas with brown spots or fully brown skins, because this means they are ripe.

Or instantly ripen bananas by placing them unpeeled on a parchment lined baking sheet. Turn the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit and bake in the non preheated oven about ten minutes or until the peels turn black. Let cool before peeling.

Frozen bananas work well too. Just be sure to thaw them fully.

Nutella – Create the beautiful chocolate swirls in this banana loaf with either jarred or homemade Nutella.

Vegans should be easily able to find multiple brands of dairy free chocolate hazelnut spreads at grocery stores including Target, Safeway, and Whole Foods.

Not a hazelnut fan? Go with chocolate peanut butter or almond butter instead.

Flour – I’ve successfully made this recipe with all purpose white flour, whole grain spelt flour, oat flour, and Bob’s Red Mill gluten free mix.

While whole wheat flour technically works, it will yield a denser and somewhat tough bread. Please do not use coconut flour or almond flour.

For low carb, try this Almond Flour Banana Bread.

Sweetener – You need just half a cup of pure maple syrup, honey, or agave.

Or substitute regular sugar or a granulated sugar free substitute and add additional water as needed to form a batter.

Oil or water – If using oil, go with a neutral option like vegetable or melted coconut oil. For low fat and oil free banana bread, swap out the oil for water.

A third cup of sour cream, high protein Greek yogurt, or applesauce also work as replacements for the oil.

Garnishes – I love adding a handful of mini dark chocolate chips or toasted hazelnuts to the top of the Nutella loaf for fancy presentation and a fun crunchy texture.

Adapted from Healthy Banana Bread and Chocolate Banana Bread

How to make Nutella banana bread

Start by preheating the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Grease a nine by five inch loaf pan, then set this pan aside while you prepare the bread.

In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and optional cinnamon. Stir well to evenly mix everything together.

Stir in the mashed banana, maple syrup, oil or water, and pure vanilla extract to form a thick banana bread batter.

Spread half the batter into the prepared loaf pan with a spatula. Then swirl about a fourth cup of chocolate hazelnut spread or Nutella on top with a spoon or chopstick.

Smooth all remaining batter over the chocolate. Finally, swirl in the rest of the Nutella to create a beautiful chocolate marbled look.

Optionally sprinkle on a handful of mini chocolate chips or finely chopped hazelnuts.

Baking the quick bread

Place the loaf pan on the center rack of the preheated oven, and bake for 45 minutes.

Test for doneness. A toothpick inserted deep into the center of the baked good should come out mostly clean.

Let cool fully on the counter before slicing and serving. If you can wait, the bold Nutella flavor and springy texture are even better the next day!

Storage tips

After cooling, loosely cover the Nutella bread with cloth or paper towels and store either on the counter or in the refrigerator overnight.

This step allows excess moisture to escape without weighing the loaf down.

Any leftovers after a day should be covered and refrigerated four to five days for optimum freshness.

Or slice leftover banana bread and freeze individual slices in an airtight container for up to three months. Thaw and reheat in the microwave or in a pan on the stove top before serving.

Serving Nutella banana bread

Thanks to the sweetness from the chocolate spread and bananas, this recipe is wonderful on its own, with no frosting required.

It is also lovely spread with cream cheese or cashew or Coconut Butter.

Enjoy the slices cold, or toast them in a frying pan or toaster oven.

At under 100 calories per slice, the bread is healthy enough to serve instead of muffins at breakfast.

Yet it is also just as decadent as a chocolate cake for dessert!

Nutella Banana Bread

With rich chocolate hazelnut swirled into each bite, this Nutella banana bread recipe is possibly the best banana bread you will ever taste!

Course Breakfast, Dessert, Snack

Cuisine American

Keyword banana, banana bread, chocolate, nutella

Cook Time 45

Total Time 45

Servings – 16 slices

Calories 90kcal

Ingredients

2 cups flour (spelt, white or oat, or try this Keto Chocolate Bread)
1 tsp baking soda
3/4 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon (optional)
2 cups mashed banana
1/2 cup pure maple syrup or honey or agave
1/3 cup oil or water
2 tsp pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup Nutella or Homemade Nutella
3 tbsp mini chocolate chips (optional)

Instructions

To make Nutella banana bread, preheat the oven to 350 F. Grease a 9×5 inch loaf pan, and set it aside. Whisk dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl, then stir in all remaining ingredients except Nutella to form a batter. Spread half the batter into the loaf pan. Swirl about a fourth cup of Nutella on top, then cover with the remaining batter. Finally, swirl the rest of the Nutella into the top with a spoon. Garnish with mini chocolate chips or chopped hazelnuts if desired. Bake on the center rack of the oven for 45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out mostly clean. Let cool. If you can wait, the taste and texture are even better the next day!
View Nutrition Facts

Video

Notes

Readers also love this Protein Banana Bread.

Nutrition

More Nutella Desserts

Pistachio Nutella

Nutella Crescent Rolls

Homemade Ferrero Rocher

Banana Muffins

Vegan Pop Tarts

Energy Balls

The post Nutella Banana Bread appeared first on Chocolate Covered Katie.

Vegan Danish

Katie Higgins — Sun, 23 Mar 2025 21:38:42 +0000

With rich cream cheese filling in each delicious bite, this homemade vegan Danish recipe is perfect for breakfast, brunch, or dessert!

Easy vegan cream cheese Danish

Baking your own Danish pastries at home may sound intimidating, but this five ingredient recipe makes the entire process so easy.

And the best part? You can turn the base into any flavor you choose, and all of the flavors are completely vegan.

Whip up a batch for Sunday family breakfast, or serve them to guests at your next brunch party or book club.

From strawberry cream, to lemon, to blueberry or dairy free Nutella, once you get the basics down, the flavor possibilities are endless.

Leftover dough? Make Sopapilla Cheesecake Bars

Vegan Danish flavors

Plain: Double the cream cheese filling recipe below, and omit the pie filling. It tastes like cheesecake in the form of a pastry!

Vegan blueberry Danish: Swap out the cherry pie filling for blueberry pie filling. Or add apples and a sprinkle of ground cinnamon to create apple Danishes.

Chocolate: Just before serving, drizzle the dairy free Danish with melted plant based chocolate chips or sprinkle mini dark chocolate chips on top.

Nutella: Instead of pie filling, use half a cup of Homemade Nutella or another vegan chocolate hazelnut spread. Garnish with powdered sugar after baking.

Cinnamon roll: Double the cream cheese filling, leave out the cherries, and stir a half teaspoon of cinnamon in with the cream cheese. Whisk half a cup of powdered sugar with a fourth teaspoon cinnamon and one tablespoon dairy free milk to make a glaze.

Strawberry cream cheese: Add diced strawberries to the tops instead of pie filling.

Banana: Use an equal amount of ripe mashed banana instead of the blueberries or cherry filling.

Pumpkin pie: Combine half a cup of pumpkin puree with three tablespoons of brown sugar and a pinch each of cinnamon and pumpkin pie spice. Use as a replacement for the pie filling.

Raspberry: Substitute raspberry jam for the fruit. You can also try plum, orange, blackberry, grape, or apricot jam. Add different flavors of jelly to the Danishes and give your guests a selection from which to choose.

Lemon: Use lemon jam or an equal amount of Vegan Lemon Curd.

Step by step recipe video

Above – watch how to make the vegan Danish from scratch.

Ingredients

You need just five ingredients for these simple vegan pastries.

Vegan cream cheese – Use your favorite packaged nondairy cream cheese, such as Violife, Kite Hill, Trader Joe’s vegan, or Tofutti.

If you wish to experiment with different fillings, such as vegan custard or coconut cream, be sure to leave a comment and let us know how it goes.

Sugar – The recipe calls for just a fourth cup of sugar, which is much less than many other traditional or vegan Danish recipes.

Options that work include regular white sugar, unrefined coconut sugar, pure maple syrup, or xylitol for sugar free Danish.

Crescent roll dough – You can use homemade or store bought crescent rolls.

Most brands of plain refrigerated crescent rolls are accidentally vegan, including Pillsbury, Trader Joe’s, Immaculate Baking Company, and Annie’s. Some generic grocery store brands, like Giant, Aldi, Wegmans, Walmart, and Safeway, are also vegan.

To create healthy Danish with no hydrogenated oil or artificial flavors, choose Immaculate Baking or Annie’s.

For keto or gluten free options, make your own homemade dough and use just the filling recipe below.

Lemon juice – This ingredient imparts an extra cheesy tang. If you do not have any on hand, you can omit the lemon juice. A fourth teaspoon of pure vanilla extract for flavor is also optional.

Pie filling – For fruit filled Danish, you need half a cup of canned or homemade pie filling. I chose to use both blueberry and cherry.

As mentioned earlier, you can substitute another fruit, such as apple pie filling. Or double the cream cheese filling and leave out the fruit filling.

Pure maple syrup – To create a shiny golden vegan egg wash without eggs and add sweetness to the rolls, brush each pastry with agave or pure maple syrup before baking in the oven.

Can you use homemade pastry dough?

I chose crescent roll dough because I wanted a quick and easy recipe that even novice bakers can follow.

If you prefer a more traditional recipe, go with one of the many classic vegan Danish recipes available online or in vegan cookbooks.

Especially for those adhering to a gluten free or keto lifestyle, you can absolutely make your own dough from scratch and still use the filling recipe and flavor ideas I’ve provided in this post.

The same goes for readers wishing to substitute puff pastry or sourdough. You may use any store bought or homemade pastry dough. Just change the baking time as needed.

How to make the best vegan Danish

Start by gathering all of your ingredients.

To whip up the vegan cream cheese filling, blend the cream cheese, sugar, lemon juice, and optional vanilla extract until smooth.

I recommend using a food processor, a stand mixer, or hand beaters for the smoothest results. However, you can technically do this step by hand if you let the cream cheese come to room temperature first and employ a lot of arm strength and patience.

If you are making your own berry pie filling, prepare it at this time as well.

When ready to bake the Danish, preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Open the crescent roll containers but do not unroll them.

Instead, slice widthwise with a sharp knife into six sections per container.

Press the dough with a spoon and clean hands to create a well in each center. You want the wells to be as deep and wide as you can get them, to allow room for all the filling.

Brush the surface area of each roll with pure maple syrup or agave. This step adds sweetness to the actual dough to compliment the sweet fillings.

Place about a tablespoon of vegan cream cheese in each well. Save extra cream cheese for drizzling on top after baking.

Finally, spoon a few teaspoons of pie filling over the cream cheese.

Place the dairy free Danish pastries on a greased baking pan or an oven safe tray lined with parchment paper or a silicone mat.

Bake on the preheated oven’s center rack for eighteen minutes.

Carefully remove from the oven and let cool.

Garnish with remaining cream cheese icing before transferring to individual plates to enjoy for breakfast or dessert.

Tips for storing leftovers

Keep leftover Danish in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to five days, and reheat in the microwave or on the stove top before serving.

You may also freeze this recipe in an airtight container if you do not mind that freezing may result in a somewhat icy cream cheese and fruit filling texture.

It is fine to leave the dairy free and egg free Danish on the counter for a few hours at room temperature, such as when serving at a party or to overnight guests.

When cut into twelve servings, each filled vegan pastry is under 200 calories.

Fancy vegan Danish

For the ultimate breakfast or brunch addition that guests will talk about for months, turn your basic Danish into cute heart shaped pastries.

Either form the unbaked dough into heart shapes with your hands, or use large heart cookie cutters to cut out hearts before making a well in each heart’s center for filling.

Hearts are a fun choice for Valentine’s Day or a girls brunch or sleepover party. And the same method works with other shapes as well.

Try bunny cookie cutters for Easter, pumpkins for Halloween, turkey shapes for Thanksgiving, and Christmas trees or snowflakes in the winter.

This recipe was inspired by my Vegan Cinnamon Rolls and Vegan Pop Tarts.

Vegan Danish

With rich cream cheese filling in each delicious bite, this easy homemade vegan Danish recipe is perfect for breakfast, brunch, or dessert!

Course Breakfast

Cuisine Danish

Keyword blueberry, cherry, cream cheese

Cook Time 18

Total Time 18

Servings Danish

Calories 180kcal

Ingredients

2 tubes crescent rolls
4 oz vegan cream cheese
1/4 cup sugar or xylitol
1/2 tbsp lemon juice
1/4 tsp pure vanilla extract (optional)
1/2 cup Homemade Cherry Pie Filling or store bought pie filling
1/3 cup pure maple syrup or agave

Instructions

First make the filling by blending the cream cheese, sugar, lemon juice, and optional vanilla until smooth. I recommend using a food processor or beaters for smoothest results. If making homemade pie filling, prepare it now as well. Preheat the oven to 350 F, and open the crescent roll containers. Slice widthwise into twelve sections. Press wells into the centers of each section. Make the wells as deep as you can, to allow room for more filling. Brush the surface of the rolls with agave, then place about a tablespoon of cream cheese filling into each well. Top with a few teaspoons of pie filling. Bake on a lined or greased tray for 18 minutes. Let cool. Drizzle remaining cream cheese icing on top of the vegan Danish. Enjoy for breakfast or dessert.
View Nutrition Facts

Video

Notes

Readers also love these ultra fudgy Vegan Brownies.

Nutrition

Dairy free breakfast ideas

Chocolate Overnight Oats

Applesauce Muffins

Vegan Pancakes

Baked Apple Cider Donuts

Blueberry Banana Bread

Vegan French Toast

Oatmeal Muffins

The post Vegan Danish appeared first on Chocolate Covered Katie.

Vegan Irish Soda Bread

Katie Higgins — Sun, 02 Mar 2025 13:22:30 +0000

This soft and sweet vegan Irish soda bread recipe tastes exactly like my grandma’s Irish soda bread, with no eggs or dairy!

Traditional vegan Irish soda bread

When you grow up in an Irish family, St. Patrick’s Day is always a big event.

Every year on March 17th, my grandmother and mother would spend all morning in the kitchen, preparing a feast of corned beef and cabbage, roasted potatoes, carrots, and Irish soda bread.

Upon giving up eggs and dairy in high school, I discovered my grandmother’s Irish soda bread recipe was happily easy to veganize.

I simply used dairy free milk and swapped the eggs for applesauce.

The resulting vegan Irish soda bread is just as moist and delicious as the original, and it’s perfect for breakfast, snack, or dessert!

Also try this vegan Cranberry Orange Bread

What is Irish soda bread?

Originating in Ireland, soda bread is a quick bread that employs baking soda as the leavening agent instead of yeast.

Traditional Irish soda bread calls for flour, eggs, baking soda, salt, buttermilk, and often raisins or currants.

The rustic texture falls somewhere between a quick bread and a soft scone.

This vegan version uses most of the same basic ingredients, meaning the taste and texture are almost identical to those of classic Irish soda bread recipes.

I may be biased, but I am convinced that this is the best vegan Irish soda bread recipe you will ever try!

Dairy free Irish soda bread ingredients

Flour – You can use all purpose white flour, whole grain spelt flour, whole wheat flour, or a combination.

For gluten free soda bread, opt for loosely packed all purpose gluten free flour.

Do not go with almond flour or coconut flour here, because the results may turn out dry and crumbly.

Raisins – While not required, I love including raisins or currants.

If you omit them, I recommend doubling the sugar in the recipe to make up for the difference in sweetness.

Or substitute chopped dried dates, figs, or another dried fruit of choice.

Sugar – Use white sugar or packed coconut sugar for a refined sugar free option.

Xylitol works for Irish soda bread with no sugar added.

I have not tried liquid sweeteners like pure maple syrup or agave, so I cannot vouch for the texture of a loaf made with either of these options.

Plant based yogurt – As a high protein vegan alternative to buttermilk, I like nondairy yogurt. Coconut yogurt, soy yogurt, or almond yogurt all work.

Vegan sour cream is a great option here as well.

Dairy free milk – Choose any plant based milk in your refrigerator, including soy milk, almond milk, coconut milk, or oat milk.

Applesauce – My family’s original recipe calls for two eggs. To make a vegan Irish soda loaf, I use sweetened or unsweetened applesauce instead.

Baking soda – This is an important ingredient in yeast free quick breads, because it acts as a leavening agent and adds a slight tang.

Caraway seeds – Add caraway seeds for a fun texture and hint of licorice flavor.

If you cannot find caraway seeds, omit them or replace with fennel seeds.

Other ingredients – To make this homemade vegan bread, you also need baking powder, salt, and vegetable, olive, or coconut oil.

Irish soda bread with no oil

You may replace the oil with an equal amount of melted vegan butter.

Or substitute two additional tablespoons of dairy free yogurt, mashed banana, or applesauce instead. The texture of this low fat loaf is more dense and spongy.

I would not serve the oil free version to guests at a fancy brunch party. However, those who are used to fat free baked goods should not mind.

Recipe variations

Cranberry Orange: Replace the raisins with dried cranberries. Stir in the zest of one orange, and swap a third cup of the nondairy milk for orange juice.

Banana Bread: For Irish soda banana bread, add a sprinkle of ground cinnamon and replace all of the applesauce and half of the yogurt with ripe mashed banana.

Cheddar: Stir half a cup of shredded vegan cheese in with the dry ingredients. You can also stir in a handful of fresh chopped chives or nutritional yeast.

Herb: To create a wonderful savory Irish soda bread with herbs, add a teaspoon or two of dried rosemary, thyme, sage, oregano, or a combination of these or other herbs.

Vegan Irish soda muffins: You may halve all of the ingredients in the recipe below and bake in a greased muffin tin for fifteen minutes or until cooked through.

Vegan soda bread recipe video

Above, watch the step by step video showing how to make the Irish quick bread.

How to make vegan Irish soda bread

Begin by preheating the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease a nine inch round baking pan well, and set this pan aside.

Add the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, caraway seeds, and raisins or currants to a large mixing bowl. Stir very well.

Now add the vegan milk and yogurt, applesauce, and oil. Stir until just evenly mixed. To ensure the best texture, do not overmix.

Spread the batter into the prepared baking pan. Use a spoon or spatula to smooth out the top of the loaf.

Place the pan on the center rack of the oven, and bake for forty minutes or until lightly golden brown in color. A toothpick inserted into the center of the vegan loaf should come out mostly clean.

Slice and enjoy hot, topped with vegan butter. Or cover leftovers loosely with a cloth towel for up to four days.

You may also freeze leftover slices in an airtight covered container for up to three months. Place a sheet of parchment paper in between layers of bread so they do not stick together. Thaw before serving.

Vegan Irish Soda Bread

This soft vegan Irish soda bread recipe tastes just like my grandma's Irish soda bread, with no eggs or dairy!

Course Breakfast

Cuisine Ireland

Keyword raisins, vegan

Cook Time 40

Total Time 40

Servings slices

Calories 70kcal

Ingredients

3 cups flour
1 1/2 cups raisins or currants
1/4 cup sugar
1 tbsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
3/4 tsp caraway seeds
1 cup nondairy milk of choice
3/4 cup plant based yogurt
1/3 cup applesauce
2 tbsp oil

Instructions

To make vegan Irish soda bread, first preheat the oven to 350 F, and grease a 9 inch round pan well. Stir all dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Add liquid ingredients, and stir until just evenly combined. Do not overmix. Spread the batter into the prepared pan, smoothing the top with a spoon. Bake on the center rack of the oven for 40 minutes or until lightly brown.
View Nutrition Facts

Video

Notes

Readers also love this vegan holiday favorite Healthy Shamrock Shake.

Nutrition

Easy Vegan Bread Recipes

Chocolate Banana Bread

Chocolate Zucchini Bread

The post Vegan Irish Soda Bread appeared first on Chocolate Covered Katie.

Blueberry Protein Muffins

Katie Higgins — Sun, 19 Jan 2025 22:31:43 +0000

This healthy blueberry protein muffins recipe is moist, fluffy, and full of blueberry flavor. It will quickly become a favorite high protein breakfast!

Fluffy blueberry protein muffins

These muffins are something special.

Just one gives you eight grams protein, or over 35 grams of protein for under 220 calories total!

Talk about an easy high protein recipe.

They taste like classic soft and fluffy bakery blueberry muffins, and you will completely forget each is packed with protein and nutrition at the same time.

Want even more protein? Try a Cake Batter Protein Shake

Health benefits

Low calorie and very low in saturated fat, the muffins make a great protein packed breakfast, healthy dessert, or post workout snack.

Each protein muffin also provides iron, fiber, potassium, and antioxidants thanks to the superfood blueberries.

Depending on the specific ingredients and brands you use, they come with options to be dairy free, gluten free, egg free, added sugar free, oil free, low fat, and vegan.

Pack them into a work or school lunch box, or serve as part of a filling breakfast. I like the muffins before a run, and my sister will eat one after a bike ride or spin class.

Also make these Vegan Protein Pancakes

Blueberry protein muffin recipe video

Watch the step by step video above.

Ingredients

You will need blueberries, flour, protein powder, yogurt or banana, optional oil or almond butter, water, pure vanilla extract, salt, baking soda, baking powder, sugar, and ground cinnamon.

Blueberries – The muffin recipe calls for one cup of blueberries, plus more for garnishing the tops if you wish.

You may use fresh blueberries or frozen blueberries. Be sure to thaw the berries fully and wipe away any ice crystals if going with frozen berries.

Or substitute fresh raspberries, blackberries, or diced cherries, apples, or strawberries for some of the blueberries.

Protein powder – I dislike the aftertaste present in many sweetened and flavored protein powders, so I like to use unsweetened unflavored pea protein powder.

You may use brown rice protein, soy protein, whey protein, or casein in flavors that compliment blueberry, like cinnamon roll or vanilla bean.

The most important part is to go with a protein powder you already know you enjoy.

No protein powder on hand? Try these Healthy Blueberry Muffins.

Yogurt or applesauce – The recipe requires half a cup of mashed banana or your favorite regular, plant based, or Greek yogurt.

As a fun flavor variation, swap the plain for raspberry or strawberry yogurt.

Or if you want lemon blueberry protein muffins, buy lemon yogurt and stir in the zest of one lemon as well.

Sugar – This can be traditional brown or white sugar, unrefined coconut sugar, or sugar free granulated erythritol or xylitol.

Substituting honey or pure maple syrup yields dense and gummy muffins that do not rise as much. However, some commenters still like the results. So the choice is yours.

Flour – Options that work well include whole grain spelt flour, all purpose white flour, or some brands of gluten free flour blends.

You may use oat flour for blueberry oatmeal muffins. And the recipe box below includes a keto option made with almond flour.

Use leftover berries to make a Blueberry Crisp

How to make the best blueberry protein muffins

Start by preheating the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Grease a muffin pan or mini muffin pans well with vegetable or coconut oil or fat free spray. Then set this pan aside while you prepare the muffin mix.

If using almond butter, gently warm it until easily stirrable. In a large bowl, whisk the water, yogurt or mashed banana, optional oil or nut butter, and vanilla extract.

Add the flour, protein powder, sugar, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.

Stir everything together until just evenly combined. To avoid a tough texture after baking, do not over stir the batter.

Carefully stir in the blueberries. If you stir too forcefully, the berries may break and turn the batter purple. The pastries will still be delicious!

Using a large cookie scoop or a spoon, divide the batter evenly among the greased tins. Place the muffin pan on the center rack of the preheated oven.

Bake for nineteen minutes. Check for doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center of a muffin. The toothpick should come out mostly clean.

Allow to cool before going around the sides with a knife and popping out the muffins.

These muffins can sit out on the counter, loosely covered in towels, for up to a day. They taste even better, with a fluffier texture, the second day.

If you have leftovers after this time, it is best to store them in a covered container in the refrigerator or freezer due to the perishable ingredients.

Baking tips and tricks

If you prefer to make jumbo blueberry protein muffins, simply use a jumbo muffin pan instead of a regular one. You may need to increase the baking time by a few minutes.

I recommend greased pans instead of muffin liners because this ensures the muffins will not stick to the sides. As a bonus, it is more environmentally friendly.

For those who like the popular Kodiak blueberry muffin mix (or similar high protein muffin mixes), you can save time by stirring the dry ingredients in advance. Store your homemade muffin mix in an airtight bag or container until ready to use.

If you want even more protein per muffin, replace some or all of the water in the recipe with egg whites or vegan liquid egg replacer.

A couple of readers mentioned successfully swapping half of the yogurt with cottage cheese. If you experiment with this or any other variations of my blueberry protein muffin recipe, be sure to write in and let the rest of us know how it goes!

The recipe was adapted from my Protein Muffins and these Apple Pie Protein Muffins.

Blueberry Protein Muffins

This healthy blueberry protein muffins recipe is packed with delicious blueberry flavor. It will quickly become a favorite high protein breakfast!

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Keyword blueberry, cinnamon, protein, protein powder, yogurt

Cook Time 19

Total Time 19

Servings muffins

Calories 54kcal

Ingredients

1/2 cup yogurt or applesauce
1/2 cup water
3 tbsp oil or almond butter or additional water
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup flour (Or try these Keto Blueberry Muffins)
2/3 cup protein powder
1/3 cup sugar or xylitol
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 cup blueberries (plus more for the tops if desired)

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350 F. Grease a muffin tin well. In a large bowl, whisk all wet ingredients (not blueberries). Stir in remaining ingredients except berries until just evenly mixed. Now very carefully stir in the blueberries. Use a large cookie scoop or a spoon to portion the batter into nine muffin tins. If desired, press a few extra blueberries into the top of each muffin. Bake on the center rack of the oven for 19 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out mostly clean. Let cool before going around the sides of the blueberry protein muffins with a knife and popping them out of the tins. You can store them loosely covered on the counter overnight. I recommend refrigerating after a day for freshness. These muffins taste even better the next day.
View Nutrition Facts

Video

Notes

Readers also love this nutrition packed Protein Banana Bread.

Nutrition

High Protein Breakfast Ideas

The post Blueberry Protein Muffins appeared first on Chocolate Covered Katie.

Breakfast Granola Cups

Katie Higgins — Sun, 05 Jan 2025 15:25:01 +0000

These healthy breakfast granola cups call for just six ingredients, and you can fill them with fruit, yogurt, or anything you wish!

Oatmeal breakfast granola cups

If you are looking for a fun and healthy snack or breakfast for the entire family, vegan granola cups are the perfect choice.

Just look at how cute they are!

The recipe is packed with whole grains and fiber. And it’s super easy to customize, so you can try out different flavors each morning to suit your cravings.

Chocolate chip, apple cinnamon, banana bread, and pumpkin pie are just a few of the unlimited options you can choose to create.

Breakfast will never be boring again.

Readers also love this Protein Banana Bread

Healthy granola cup filling ideas

These fancy breakfast cups are one of my go-to recipes for brunch parties.

Serve them with a bowl of Greek yogurt or vegan yogurt, fresh mint leaves, and an array of berries, and let guests assemble their own.

Or make them up ahead of time and fill the cups with Lemon Mousse, mashed banana, chocolate pudding, Strawberry Mousse, or coconut whipped cream.

They are also great for dessert. Fill each with Brownie Batter Dip or Oreo Fluff or Pumpkin Dip, or with no bake Peanut Butter Mousse.

Garnish with shaved dark chocolate, raw cacao nibs, shredded coconut, fresh blueberries, blackberries, and sliced mango, or mini chocolate chips.

Step by step recipe video

Above, watch the full recipe video.

Ingredients

With just a few basic ingredients, these oatmeal cups are surprisingly easy to make.

Oats – Old fashioned rolled oats make up the base of the recipe. You may substitute quick oats or instant oats if you prefer.

For gluten free granola cups, use certified gluten free oats or replace them for an equal amount of rolled quinoa flakes.

Applesauce – Use sweetened or unsweetened applesauce. Or change up the flavor by swapping it for mashed banana or sweet potato, canned pumpkin, or yogurt instead.

Cinnamon – Half a teaspoon of ground cinnamon adds flavor depth and natural sweetness without extra sugar.

I also sometimes like to add a tiny pinch of ground cardamom, or ginger. If you do not have any cinnamon or spices on hand, you may leave them out.

Sweetener – The recipe works with either honey or agave. Pure maple syrup will yield more crumbly results but still tastes great.

You might be able to replace the liquid sweetener with sugar free powdered stevia or erythritol if you increase the applesauce to make up for the decreased moisture. I have never tried a version without sugar, so let me know if you experiment.

Pinch of salt – Adding a little salt compliments the sweet oats and heightens the flavor. While I recommend following the recipe to the letter the first time, you may be fine leaving the salt out if you are accustomed to low sodium baked goods.

Vanilla extract – As with the cinnamon, this ingredient can be omitted without a change in texture or structure of the oat cups. I include it to achieve the best flavor.

Protein breakfast granola cups

While two mini granola cups already provide over five grams of protein, you can easily boost the protein content even more.

Simply exchange the applesauce for a fourth cup of softened almond butter or peanut butter. Replace two tablespoons of the oats with one tablespoon of your favorite protein powder.

This new high protein breakfast recipe gives you thirteen grams of protein for two granola cups or over six grams each!

Sprinkle a handful of chia seeds in with the dry ingredients and garnish with hemp seeds for even more protein, fiber, antioxidants, omega-3s, iron, and calcium.

How to make breakfast granola cups

Begin by greasing a muffin tin or a mini muffin tin very well. Set this pan aside.

In a medium mixing bowl, whisk the applesauce, agave, and pure vanilla extract until evenly combined.

Add the rolled oats, salt, and cinnamon to the bowl, and stir well.

Use a spoon to portion the batter into the prepared muffin cups. Press up the sides as firmly as you can, either with a small bowl, a spoon, or your hands.

Preheat the oven to 330 degrees Fahrenheit.

Bake the healthy granola cups on the oven’s center rack for twelve minutes, then carefully remove the muffin pan.

Let the cups cool for ten minutes or longer before carefully going around the sides with a knife and popping them out of the tins. This step helps the granola cups to firm up and be less likely to crumble.

Fill with yogurt and fruit for breakfast or Homemade Nutella and raspberries for a healthy snack or dessert.

Store leftovers in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to a week. Or freeze in an airtight container for up to three months. Thaw fully before serving and enjoying.

Note: The recipe makes six servings. If you are feeding a family or meal prepping for the week, you can easily double all of the ingredients to yield a dozen.

Breakfast Granola Cups

These customizable healthy breakfast granola cups are easy to make and so delicious!

Course Breakfast

Cuisine American

Keyword granola

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 12

Total Time 22

Servings granola cups

Calories 90kcal

Ingredients

1/4 cup applesauce or mashed banana
1/4 cup honey or agave
1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
1 1/4 cup rolled oats
yogurt or fresh fruit

Instructions

*If you are feeding a family or meal prepping for the week, simply double all of the ingredients to yield a dozen.
To make the breakfast granola cups, first grease a muffin tin or mini muffin tin. Set aside. Whisk together the first three ingredients in a bowl. Then stir in all remaining ingredients until evenly mixed. Portion the batter into six muffin cups, pressing up the sides as firmly as you can. Preheat the oven to 330 F. Bake the granola cups for 12 minutes, take out and press the sides into the muffin tins again with a spoon. To prevent crumbling, let sit 10 minutes before attempting to remove from the tins. These can also be frozen and thawed, if desired.
View Nutrition Facts

Video

Notes

Also be sure to try these quick and healthy Oatmeal Muffins.

Nutrition

Easy healthy breakfast ideas

Protein Waffles

Applesauce Muffins

Tiramisu Overnight Oats

The post Breakfast Granola Cups appeared first on Chocolate Covered Katie.

Apple Cinnamon Rolls

Katie Higgins — Sun, 29 Dec 2024 22:16:12 +0000

These frosted homemade apple cinnamon rolls are soft, sweet, fluffy, and delicious for breakfast or dessert!

Easy apple cinnamon rolls

Imagine a warm, gooey Cinnabon stuffed with apple pie filling in each irresistible bite.

I made a batch of these cream cheese frosted apple rolls for my family over the holidays, and they were a huge hit.

The cinnamon rolls are surprisingly healthy, at just 100 calories each!

And the best part of the recipe is how surprisingly easy it is to make, with just seven ingredients and no yeast proofing required.

Also try these Baked Apple Cider Donuts

Ingredients

The apple cinnamon roll recipe calls for diced apples, ground cinnamon, sweetener of choice, raisins, salt, optional butter or oil, and pizza dough.

Apples – You need a cup of finely diced apples, and these can be from almost any variety of apple. Remove the peels if you wish, or leave them on for more fiber.

I like Fuji, Pink Lady, Granny Smith, or Gala apples. The only type I recommend against is Red Delicious, because they tend to turn mushy when baked.

Cinnamon – Add a full tablespoon of high quality ground cinnamon to the filling for that classic spicy cinnamon flavor.

If you want to spice things up (literally), feel free to also throw in a pinch each of ground ginger, nutmeg, allspice, and cloves.

Raisins – A third cup of raisins gives depth of flavor and additional sweetness to the buns without extra sugar.

For those who are not raisin fans, you may leave them out and increase the sugar by three tablespoons. Or substitute the raisins for a similar dried fruit, such as sweetened cranberries or chopped dried figs or dates.

Sugar – You can use traditional white sugar, brown sugar, or unrefined coconut sugar.

If you want apple rolls with no sugar added, swap out the sugar for an equal amount of xylitol or a granulated stevia baking blend or monk fruit erythritol blend.

Using pure maple syrup or honey will yield sticky unbaked rolls that are incredibly messy and difficult to roll up. So I recommend against these sweeteners here.

Caramels – Easily turn the recipe into caramel apple rolls by stirring a handful of diced caramels into the filling.

Other ingredients – Optional butter adds richness to the flavor. You can substitute applesauce or even mashed banana for fat free rolls.

For dairy free and vegan apple cinnamon rolls, use plant based butter or softened (not melted) coconut oil.

A little salt balances the sweetness of the apples. And I like to add a handful of walnuts or pecans for a fun crunchy texture.

Leftover apples? Make an Applesauce Cake

What type of dough?

My favorite time saving cinnamon roll baking trick is to buy premade bread dough or pizza dough at the store.

Look for white or whole wheat packaged pizza dough in the refrigerated section of many grocery stores, including Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, and Safeway.

Tip: Your local pizza place also often sells premade dough. While vegans should always check the ingredients to make sure, this dough is often egg free and plant based.

For gluten free apple cinnamon buns, look for Wholly Wholesome gluten free dough or make your own from scratch.

If you cannot find pizza dough, try adding the apple filling to puff pastry or crescent roll dough instead. The results are not quite cinnamon rolls, but they are still tasty!

Apple cinnamon roll recipe video

Watch the full recipe video – above.

The recipe was adapted from my Easy Cinnamon Rolls and these Vegan Cinnamon Rolls.

How to make apple pie cinnamon rolls

Start by finely dicing your apples, discarding the cores and seeds.

Using a rolling pin and a clean floured surface, roll the dough out into a thin rectangle.

If the dough is sticking to the rolling pin, add just a little more flour (any flour works here, including coconut flour).

Continue to roll until the rectangle is under a fourth of an inch thick.

Gather your remaining ingredients. The butter or coconut oil should be similar in texture to creamy peanut butter. You want it softened, not rock hard or liquid.

Combine the apples, raisins, butter or applesauce, cinnamon, salt, sugar, and optional walnuts in a medium mixing bowl. This will be your cinnamon apple roll filling.

Spread the cinnamon filling evenly on top of the dough. Then use a sharp knife to carefully cut into long strips. Roll each strip up as tightly as you can.

Arrange the apple pastries in a greased baking pan.

Now preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Once preheated, place the pan on the center rack and bake for twenty minutes or until the dough is fully cooked and the natural sugars in the apples have browned and caramelized.

Gently pull apart the rolls with your hands or a knife. Frost with your favorite cinnamon roll glaze, store bought Pillsbury vanilla frosting, or the cream cheese frosting below.

Homemade cream cheese frosting

Here is my favorite basic cinnamon roll icing recipe, which can be both vegan and sugar free if you wish.

First bring 8 ounces each of cream cheese or plant based cream cheese and butter or vegan butter to room temperature.

In a stand mixer, or with hand beaters and a deep bowl, beat with 2 cups of powdered sugar or powdered erythritol and 1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract.

Continue mixing until you achieve a thick frosting texture. If too thick, slowly add a little milk of choice or water as needed to thin it out.

Swirl the cream cheese frosting onto hot or cold cinnamon rolls, and enjoy!

Use extra icing to top a Vanilla Mug Cake

Apple Cinnamon Rolls

These homemade apple cinnamon rolls are soft, sweet, fluffy, and delicious for breakfast or dessert!

Course Breakfast, Dessert

Cuisine American

Keyword apple, cinnamon, cinnamon roll

Cook Time 20

Total Time 20

Servings apple cinnamon rolls

Calories 100kcal

Ingredients

16 oz pizza dough (see above for options)
1 cup finely diced apples
1/3 cup raisins
3 tbsp butter or coconut oil or applesauce
6 tbsp sugar or granulated sweetener
1 tbsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
1 handful walnuts (optional)

Instructions

To make apple cinnamon rolls, start by rolling out the dough on a floured surface. Any flour is fine here. If the dough is too sticky, slowly add a little more flour. Roll out the rectangle as thin as you can. It should be under a fourth of an inch thick. Start with softened (not melted) butter or oil. Combine it with the diced apples, raisins, sugar, cinnamon, salt, and optional walnuts. Spread this filling evenly over the rolled out dough. Cut into thin, long strips. Roll up tightly, and arrange the unbaked cinnamon buns in a greased baking pan. Preheat the oven to 400 F. Bake 20 minutes or until fully cooked with caramelized apples and sugar. If you wish to ice the apple pastries, I've included my favorite cream cheese frosting recipe above.
View Nutrition Facts

Video

Notes

Readers also really love this cinnamon swirled Apple Bread.

Nutrition

More Comfort Food Breakfast Recipes

Applesauce Muffins

2 Ingredient Bagels

Baked Cinnamon Sugar Donuts

Chocolate Overnight Oats

Blueberry Baked Oatmeal

Vegan Hot Chocolate

Oatmeal Muffins

The post Apple Cinnamon Rolls appeared first on Chocolate Covered Katie.

Cranberry Orange Bread

Katie Higgins — Tue, 26 Nov 2024 20:30:43 +0000

Soft, moist, and bursting with sweet cranberries, this holiday cranberry orange bread recipe will instantly brighten your breakfast table!

The best cranberry orange bread

If you are looking for a delicious recipe to serve guests during the holidays, this delicately sweet and juicy cranberry bread is the perfect festive choice.

It is also wonderful for Thanksgiving or Christmas morning.

The incredible recipe packs in a full two cups of fresh cranberries, which is almost double the amount called for in most classic cranberry orange bread recipes!

Frosted with a simple orange glaze, it tastes like eating cranberry pound cake for breakfast and is pretty much impossible to resist.

Guests also love this Crustless Pumpkin Pie

Cranberry orange bread recipe video

Watch the step by step video, above.

Healthy cranberry orange cake loaf

The cranberry loaf can absolutely hold its own against any traditional cranberry orange cake recipes with twice the amount of fat and sugar.

In a blind taste test, five out of six of my friends chose this version as their favorite, without having any idea it was healthier and vegan.

I sent the recipe to my mom over the weekend so she could make it for a winter party. She reported back that all her guests were asking for the recipe!

If you are a fan of the Krusteaz cranberry orange quick bread, or if you always get excited about the cranberry sauce at Thanksgiving dinner, you will absolutely fall in love with this homemade cranberry orange bread.

Also make this Chocolate Banana Bread

Cranberry orange bread ingredients

Here is what you need: cranberries, orange juice, orange zest, flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, pure vanilla extract, salt, oil, and optional nuts.

Unlike many other cranberry bread recipes, this one calls for no yeast, no sour cream or sourdough, and no cranberry juice or honey.

The recipe works with white all purpose flour, whole grain spelt flour, or oat flour.

I have not tried whole wheat flour, almond flour, or pastry flour. Feel free to experiment with other flours, and be sure to report back if you do.

I do not recommend using coconut flour, because your loaf will turn out dry and crumbly due to the absorbent nature of coconut flour.

Unsweetened cranberries have a tartness that perfectly compliments the sweet orange in this bread. And including orange juice enables you to lower the oil and added sugar considerably, while adding extra flavor and moisture at the same time.

For a lovely cranberry nut bread, I often stir a handful of finely chopped walnuts or pecans into the batter before baking.

Be sure to include the orange zest. It adds so much flavor to the recipe.

While I cannot personally vouch for the taste and texture of the cranberry dessert if subbing mashed banana or applesauce for oil, multiple readers have written in to say they tried substituting applesauce for the fat and liked the results.

Popular this week: Applesauce Muffins

Fresh, dried, or frozen cranberries?

The recipe works with either frozen or fresh cranberries.

Costco, Target, Safeway, Wegmans, and Whole foods all sell cranberries. For the healthiest option, look for cranberries without any sugar listed in the ingredients. Good brands include Cape Cod Select, Trader Joes, Dole, and Ocean Spray.

You can use dried cranberries if other varieties are not available. The cranberry loaf will just not be as dark pink and colorful. Add a little extra orange juice if needed to make up for the difference in moisture.

Another option if you cannot find cranberries to buy at the grocery store is to substitute chopped fresh or frozen cherries. Or try blueberries to make a delightful and healthy blueberry orange bread.

Is the recipe gluten free, keto, or vegan?

For vegan cranberry bread with no eggs, simply omit the optional egg or use flax egg. Choose oil or a plant based butter. The recipe is already naturally dairy free.

You can use certified gluten free oat flour for a gluten free cranberry orange bread. Some all purpose gluten free flours may also work if you wish to experiment.

To make a keto cranberry loaf, follow this recipe for Keto Lemon Bread. Substitute orange juice and orange zest for the lemon, and add a handful of chopped cranberries.

How to make cranberry orange bread

Gather your ingredients, and preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Grease a standard nine by five inch loaf pan, and line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper. This will enable you to easily remove the finished loaf later.

Stir the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and baking soda in a large mixing bowl. Add all remaining ingredients except the cranberries, and stir to form a batter.

Gently stir in the cranberries, then smooth the mixture into the prepared loaf pan with a spoon or spatula.

Place the baking pan on the oven’s center rack. Bake for fifty minutes or until the bread has risen and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out mostly clean.

Let cool, then frost if desired. If waiting is an option, the taste and texture of this easy cranberry orange bread are even better the next day!

*You can also turn this loaf into cranberry orange mini loaves or muffins. Baked at 350 degrees for twenty minutes, the recipe will yield a dozen cranberry orange muffins.

Making cranberry bread using gram measurements

If you prefer to use a food scale instead of measuring cups, for better accuracy and easy clean up, use the measurements below.

You will need 240 grams each of flour, orange juice, and of cranberries, 150 grams of sugar, 10 grams each of orange zest and vanilla extract, and 36 grams of oil or butter.

Also be sure to add the other ingredients not measured in cups or grams.

Still craving cranberries? Make Vegan Cranberry Bliss Bars

Tips for storing leftovers

The cranberry orange loaf can be left out on the counter overnight, loosely covered with a cloth or paper towels. This allows excess moisture to escape so the bread does not become gummy.

After a day, I like to store leftovers in the refrigerator in a covered container (leaving a tiny opening at the top), for optimal freshness. The bread will last for four to five days.

Or slice leftover cranberry orange bread and freeze in an airtight container for up to three months. Sandwich a layer of parchment or wax paper in between each slice so they do not stick together in the freezer.

Thaw frozen slices in the fridge overnight or in a microwave, oven, or toaster oven. Enjoy on a morning when you need a quick breakfast that encompasses the best flavors of the holiday season.

Orange glaze icing options

You can make a simple orange glaze icing by combining 1/4 cup of powdered sugar with 1 teaspoon of orange juice and an optional sprinkle of orange zest.

Or frost the cranberry orange cake with melted coconut butter or your favorite store bought or homemade cream cheese frosting. A little orange zest can be stirred into these two frosting options as well, with no need to measure.

It is also fine to skip the icing completely. Try spreading butter, jam, coconut butter, or almond butter on individual cranberry orange bread slices.

More Easy Quick Bread Recipes

Apple Bread

Healthy Banana Bread

Chocolate Zucchini Bread

Keto Pumpkin Bread

Almond Flour Banana Bread

Vegan Lemon Bread

Cranberry Orange Bread

This classic cranberry orange bread recipe will brighten your holiday breakfast table.

Course Breakfast, Dessert

Cuisine American

Keyword bread, cranberry, orange

Cook Time 50

Total Time 50

Servings – 12 slices

Calories 153kcal

Ingredients

2 cups flour spelt or all purpose flour work well (gluten free and keto options are listed above)
3/4 cup sugar or unrefined coconut sugar
2 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries (chopped)
1 cup orange juice
3 tbsp oil or butter (see note below about a fat free option)
2 tsp pure vanilla extract
1 tbsp orange zest (zest of 2 small oranges)
1 egg or flax egg, or 2 tbsp additional orange juice
optional handful chopped walnuts or pecans

Instructions

To make the cranberry orange bread, preheat the oven to 350 F. Grease a 9×5 loaf pan, and line the bottom with parchment. In a large bowl, stir first five ingredients. Stir in all remaining to form a batter. Pour into the loaf pan. Bake on the oven center rack for 50 minutes, or until bread has risen and a toothpick comes out mostly clean. Let cool completely. If you can wait, the taste and texture are so much better the next day! Leftovers can be sliced and frozen if desired. My favorite way to eat this bread is glazed with coconut butter. The glaze in the photos is 1/4 cup powdered sugar mixed with 1 tsp orange juice, which is also delicious.
*The orange zest is important for best flavor. I can't vouch for the taste if subbing applesauce for oil, but multiple readers have said they liked the results of subbing applesauce for the oil, so feel free to experiment.
View Nutrition Facts

Video

Notes

Readers also love these holiday favorite Snowball Cookies.

Nutrition

Homemade Holiday Recipes

Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies

Sopapilla Cheesecake Bars

Sweet Potato Brownies

The post Cranberry Orange Bread appeared first on Chocolate Covered Katie.

Easy Cinnamon Rolls

Katie Higgins — Sat, 23 Nov 2024 13:24:53 +0000

Here’s how to make the softest, sweetest easy cinnamon rolls at home with just four ingredients and no yeast required!

The best easy cinnamon roll recipe

These magical cinnamon rolls take just 30 minutes to prepare, from start to finish.

And unlike many other cinnamon roll recipes, this one needs no sitting overnight or waiting hours for the dough to rise.

They turn out just as soft, gooey, and delicious as classic homemade cinnamon rolls from scratch, without all the work!

If you love the sweet taste and fluffy texture of cinnamon rolls but not the time and effort it usually takes to bake them, this is the recipe for you.

Also try this easy Chocolate Mug Cake

Quick and easy cinnamon rolls

Discover the best of both worlds with this simple cinnamon roll recipe.

The lightening fast method allows you to skip the yeast and proofing steps entirely.

And the taste and texture will make guests feel like the sticky sweet pastries came straight from your local Cinnabon!

They are great for serving to a crowd, a hungry family, or overnight guests.

While the oven is hot, make Chocolate Banana Bread

Step by step recipe video

Watch the easy cinnamon roll recipe video, above

Ingredients for easy cinnamon rolls

So what is the trick to making cinnamon rolls with just four ingredients?

It’s actually pizza dough!

You know the pizza dough they sell in the refrigerated section of stores like Whole Foods, Trader Joes, and Wegmans? This same dough can easily be used in place of homemade dough for cinnamon rolls.

Regular or whole wheat pizza dough both work here. And pizza dough is often vegan as well, although vegans should always check the ingredients to be sure.

Or you can make your own dough at home and freeze it for a rushed morning or rainy day. I like this basic Vegan Pizza Recipe.

I even had success when making the rolls with store bought Wholly Wholesome gluten free pizza dough.

This does not necessarily mean every packaged or homemade gluten free pizza dough recipe will work. But it proves it is possible to make gluten free cinnamon rolls using the easy pizza dough trick.

I have not tried the easy cinnamon bun recipe with an almond flour pizza dough and do not currently have a keto cinnamon roll recipe on the blog (maybe I should make one?). However, you can definitely add cinnamon to the batter of these Keto Muffins and ice them with cream cheese frosting for a fantastic and easy low carb cinnamon roll without yeast.

No one should be left out of the cinnamon roll fun.

All you need in addition to the pizza dough are softened butter or coconut oil, sugar or a sugar free alternative, and one tablespoon of ground cinnamon.

If you want to make them fat free, substitute the oil for applesauce, mashed banana, or canned pumpkin puree.

Still craving cinnamon? Try these Baked Apple Cider Donuts

Easy homemade icing recipes

You have many options here, so choose your favorite.

Cream Cheese Frosting: Beat room temperature 8 ounces of cream cheese or vegan cream cheese with 4 ounces of butter, 2 cups of powdered sugar, and 1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract. Add a little milk of choice as needed to thin out the icing.

Basic Cinnamon Roll Glaze: Mix 1 1/2 cups of powdered sugar or sugar free powdered sugar with 2-4 tablespoons milk of choice. Whisk the ingredients to form a glaze. Drizzle generously over the rolls with a spoon.

Nutella Cinnamon Rolls: Instead of icing, top with Homemade Nutella or any chocolate hazelnut or peanut butter spread.

Other Easy Frosting Ideas: Feel free to frost the buns with store bought frosting or melted almond butter or Coconut Butter (my personal favorite).

Or leave the cinnamon pastries plain, for a healthy breakfast with a similar sweetness to that of a muffin.

Use leftover frosting on this Apple Bread

The quick cinnamon bun secret

This is my favorite baking hack for super easy cinnamon rolls:

Cut slices before rolling up the dough.

After spreading the filling on top of the rectangular pastry dough, cut it into slices before rolling up each bun. This way, you will not need to worry about all the cinnamon bun filling oozing out and getting all over the counter and your hands.

Once you try cutting traditional cinnamon rolls this way, you will never go back to the thread or floss method, because this one simple change makes the entire cinnamon roll baking process so much easier.

Plus it is much less messy and easier to clean up at the end.

How to make easy cinnamon rolls

Start by rolling the dough out on a floured surface. Any flour works here.

If it is too sticky to roll out without sticking to the rolling pin, just add more flour of choice to the dough, a few teaspoons at a time.

Roll the dough very thinly. If you wish to be exact, it should measure about just under one fourth of an inch in height.

Then spread the softened butter or applesauce, sugar, and ground cinnamon on top.

Carefully cut long strips of dough with a sharp knife. Roll each strip up as tightly as possible, and arrange the unbaked cinnamon buns in a greased baking dish.

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

Place the baking dish on the center rack of the preheated oven. Bake for twenty minutes, then carefully remove the pan from the oven using pot holders.

Frost the cinnamon rolls using either your favorite icing or one of the homemade cinnamon roll frosting recipes written out above.

Once they are fully cooled, cover the pan with saran wrap or aluminum foil. Or transfer the rolls to a covered container. Store in the refrigerator for up to a week, and reheat in the microwave or on the stove top before serving.

If you want to freeze leftovers for instant cinnamon rolls on a rainy day, place them in an airtight container with a sheet of parchment between layers of the rolls to prevent them from sticking together. Thaw fully before enjoying for breakfast or dessert.

Recipe adapted from my Vegan Cinnamon Rolls and Carrot Cake Cinnamon Rolls.

Easy Cinnamon Rolls

Here's how to make the softest, sweetest easy cinnamon rolls at home with just four ingredients!

Course Breakfast, Dessert

Cuisine American

Keyword cinnamon, cinnamon roll, easy

Cook Time 20

Total Time 20

Servings – 13 cinnamon rolls

Calories 150kcal

Ingredients

16 oz pizza dough
2 tbsp butter or coconut oil, or applesauce for low fat
3 tbsp sugar or granulated sugar free substitute
1 tbsp ground cinnamon

Instructions

See the post notes above for what types of pizza dough will work. To make the easy cinnamon rolls, first roll out the dough on a floured surface (any flour works, even coconut flour). If dough is too sticky to roll, just add more flour of choice a little at a time. Roll very thinly (just under 1/4 inch is perfect). Spread remaining ingredients on top. Cut long strips, then roll each up as tightly as possible. Put in a greased baking pan. Preheat oven to 400 F. Bake 20 minutes. Frosting recipes are listed above. If you try the recipe, be sure to review or rate it below!
View Nutrition Facts

Video

Notes

Readers also like these easy 4 ingredient Snowball Cookies.

Nutrition

More Easy Breakfast Recipes

Blueberry Banana Bread

Or this popular Healthy Banana Bread

Easy Frappuccino Recipe

Protein Bars

Overnight Oats

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