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Hello all baking enthusiasts! Professionally, I’m an actress, but while I’m ‘resting’ I’m a ‘home baker’ (a term methinks Nigella would be happy with!) I also have my own blog (bakingbright.com) which has a mixture of ‘indulgent’ recipes and ‘lighter’ bakes. Here, however, I want to concentrate on the ‘healthier’/alternative baking. I’m no baking professional, (however you want to class that…) and I often find some recipes overly complicated or with ingredients that I cant pronounce, let alone find in my local shop. (If I had time to travel for specific luxurious ingredients, I would, but we’re all busy these days..or occasionally lazy… #FirstWorldProblems) This became more evident when I wanted to bake myself healthy, find a healthier alternative, cut down on sugar/white flour/butter, however, I often couldn’t find (or afford!) these healthy alternative ingredients. So I thought I’d make my own recipes with ingredients that were readily available. (Well, they are in the London borough of Southwark anyway….) I hope you enjoy, Now, go scoff! X Twitter: @RachBright
Website: www.BakingBright.com
Healthy Alternative Peanut Butter, Banana & Oat Muffins. Free from dairy, gluten, flour and sugar but still oh so scrummy! I thought it was about time I did a very healthy post (I’ve got a family wedding this weekend and didn’t want to be bloated in my new, slightly tighter…
I have no qualms in expressing my LOVE for granola. I’d have it for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks if I allowed myself to. I’ve made this Vegan Chocolate Orange Granola to satisfy my needs but also my purse. Good quality vegan granola can be an absolute fortune, which I…
This is my “lighter” banana bread. I LOVE banana bread but I’ve come to realise that banana bread is a little like marmite. If you hate it, this recipe probably isn’t meant for you, as I’ve even put whole bits of undisguised banana in it (although my banana hating friend…
Gluten and Dairy Free Apple & Almond Cake My gorgeous friend Nellie has recently been told that she has to try and go gluten and dairy free (as have an increased number of others it seems). When she told me, she seemed a little overwhelmed, so I thought I’d make…
Ingredients for Chocolate Orange Easter Cake for the chocolate orange cake 360g self raising flour 100g cocoa (sifted) 300g unsalted butter 360g golden caster sugar 4 medium eggs (preferably room temperature) 2 tsp orange extract (optional*) 240ml whole milk 2 large oranges (zest and 80ml of the juice) * I…
I have an unhealthy obsession with all things “coconut”. So until this love affair ends, of which I hope it never does, I’m afraid you will be bombarded with statements such as, ‘scatter some desiccated coconut on top’, ‘if you have any coconut milk, use that instead’ OR ‘there’s never…
By BakingBright Healthy Halloween Baking – Pumpkin & Maple Syrup Loaf (no butter, no refined sugar, wholemeal) Time for some healthy Halloween baking but also something that is still scrummy. This is a waste not, want not sort of bake. So many of us buy a pumpkin, carve a spooky…
Ingredients for Pistachio, Almond and Lime Muffins 100g pistachios 120g (gluten free) flour 50g ground almonds 1 tsp baking powder (gf) 175g unsalted butter (room temperature) 175g caster sugar 2 medium eggs 1/2 tsp almond extract 2 limes (juice and zest of both) 25ml almond milk (or whatever milk you…
Ingredients For Strawberry Cream Cheese Muffins for the muffins 100g unsalted butter 220g caster sugar 2 medium eggs 1 tsp vanilla extract 220g self raising flour 125ml whole milk 100g fresh strawberries (roughly chopped) for the cream cheese layer 180g full fat cream cheese 1 egg yolk 3 tbsp caster…
Ingredients for Earl Grey Shortbread 6 teabags of Earl Grey Tea 360g plain flour (+ a little extra for dusting) 1/2 tsp salt 250g unsalted butter (room temperature) 125g caster sugar (+ 1tbsp for dusting) makes about 26 Earl Grey ShortBread slices line/grease at least 2 baking sheets 1) Cut…
Ingredients for Peanut Butter and Banana Oat Slices 150g oats (gluten free if you are!) 1 tsp baking powder 1/4 tsp salt 2 tsp goud cinnamon 2 medium ripe bananas (or 3 small ones) – mashed with the back of a fork 170g smooth peanut butter 100g maple syrup 1…
Ingredients for Sweet Potato & Cottage Cheese Pancakes 250g cooked sweet potato (about 2 medium ones) 60g cottage cheese 1 medium egg 2 egg whites 40g (gluten free) oats 15ml milk (any milk of your choice) oil/coconut oil spray optional for topping maple syrup bacon yogurt seasonal fruits makes about…
Banana and oat protein pancakes Ingredients for Banana and Oat Protein Pancakes 2 medium bananas (sliced) 3 egg whites 1 medium egg 2 tsp ground cinnamon 60g banana flavoured protein (I used Fortified) 100g oats (gluten free if desired) 35ml milk (soy/almond/dairy) coconut oil spray (or an oil spray of your…
Layered Christmas Cake Ingredients for Layered Christmas Celebration Cake Sponge Layer – oh so moist! (With a hint of coconut) 60g unsalted butter 220g self raising flour 220g caster sugar 1 tsp baking powder 180ml coconut milk (or whole milk) 2 medium eggs 1 tsp vanilla extract Chocolate Layer 120g…
Ingredients for Stained Glass Cookies 110g unsalted butter 65g icing sugar 1 medium egg 3 tsp vanilla extract (almond/coconut if you prefer the taste!) 220g plain flour (plus a little extra for dusting/rolling) 12-15 boiled, coloured sweets Cookie Cutters – same shape in two different sizes 2-3 WELL greased/lined baking…
TRADITIONAL BONFIRE NIGHT PARKIN – WHOLEMEAL Traditional Bonfire Night Parkin is a customary bake from Lancashire to celebrate/commiserate (however you want to look at it) Guy Fawkes’ failed attempt at blowing up the houses of parliament – Guy Fawkes was from Lancashire. It’s traditionally eaten on the 5th Nov while…
Ingredients for Halloween Biscuits – Scrummy Spiders 110g unsalted butter 65g icing sugar 1 medium egg 2 tsp vanilla extract (almond/coconut if you prefer the taste!) 220g plain flour (plus a little extra for dusting/rolling) 60g dark chocolate for melting (or a black icing gel pen) a mixture of giant…
Ingredients for Homemade HobNobs 140g Wholemeal Flour (plus extra for dusting) 60g oats 1 tsp baking powder 50g caster sugar 90g unsalted butter (at room temperature and cubed) 2-3 tbsp milk (any sort) 100g chocolate (of your choice) A 2 1/2 inch round cookie cutter (or top of a glass…
RASPBERRY AND HONEY OAT BARS (GLUTEN FREE, DAIRY FREE) Ingredients 200g gluten free oats 50g gluten free corn flakes 60g honey (or maple/date syrup if vegan) 75g milk (any kind, almond, soy, coconut, dairy) 50g oil (I used 20g coconut and 30g sunflower, but either is fine) 1/2 tsp vanilla…
Ingredients for Banana, Date & Dark Chocolate Chip Squares 200g dates (pitted/stoned) 50ml boiling water 4 small or 3 medium bananas (ripe and mashed with the back of a fork) 100g coconut oil 500g gluten free oats 100g dark chocolate chips a little maple syrup/date syrup/honey* for drizzling *honey only…
Vegan Raspberry and Dark Chocolate Spelt Loaf Ingredients 2 tbsp chia seeds 6 tbsp water 150g self raising flour 120g spelt flour 1 tsp baking powder 100g caster sugar 60g maple/date/golden syrup 65g sunflower oil 150ml almond/oat/rice soy milk 150g fresh raspberries 100g dark chocolate (at least 70% – check…
My first week back from my 9 month tour and I’m back in my own kitchen. *Cue happy sigh* To get back into the ‘baking swing of things’, I (finally) decided on this Carrot, Ginger and Nut Loaf – Gluten Free. Why I hear you say? Loaves. Loaves are my…
It would NOT be Christmas without Gingerbread. Fact. As I (..and my family and other half) get through a ton of them, I wanted to make them with a slightly ‘healthier’ twist. So were born my Wholemeal and Spelt Gingerbread Men. If I’m being really honest, I can promise you…
Christmas Scones With Brandy Butter Oh Christmas scones. Beautiful lovely Christmas Scones. If you’re a follower of my blog you might remember how much I love a scone. So as its Christmas, I thought I’d make a ‘Christmas’ scone, but one that I wouldn’t feel so bad eating, hence the…
HALLOWEEN MARBLE LOAF Ingredients for Halloween Marble Loaf 270g plain flour 30g cocoa 2 tsp baking powder 200g unsalted butter (room tempreature) 160g caster sugar 45g honey (plus a tbsp for drizzling) 3 medium eggs 100ml whole milk 2 tsp vanilla extract orange & black food colouring (a few…
These Apple and Almond Quinoa Porridge pots were born out of boredom. I LOVE oats, porridge and cereal, but wanted to switch breakfast up a bit. I didn’t want to break too much from the norm, just a slight variation and quinoa seemed to fit! Quinoa is pretty spesh –…
Gluten Free Raspberry & Walnut Cake Ingredients 120g gluten free flour 80g gluten free oats (or gf oat flour) 1 tsp gluten free baking powder 180g unsalted butter (room temperature) 190g caster sugar 2 medium eggs (at room temperature) 1 tsp vanilla essence 90ml whole milk 200g fresh raspberries 75g…
Usually my baking creations are invented because of an impending event or request, but these Vegan Choco Krispies were born out of lust. A purely selfish bake – I wanted chocolate, I wanted coconut oil, I wanted something crunchy but fudgey and I didn’t want to feel too bad about…
Dairy Free Tropical Fruit Loaf by BakingBright Myself and my other half have given up a few indulgent treats for Lent, so I wanted to make something that will satisfy our sweet tooth, but, also something that we would actually look forward to eating too! I asked him what sort…
Pistachio Power Balls by BakingBright I love snacking. One of my fellow cast members on the tour I am on calls me a little rabbit – always in the corner munching on something (leave your dirty jokes at the door please…!). ‘Healthy’ snacking can be challenging sometimes, so here is…
