STICKY DATE CAKE WITH SALTED TOFFEE SAUCE

I can't believe it's already Christmas and this year is coming to a close.  I'm spending time in rainy California with family, tons of christmas cookies and holiday music.  This sticky date cake will be a beloved new addition to our usual Christmas morning cinnamon rolls (gf, of course), hot chocolate and quiche.  These cakes couldn't be more festive if they tried, and I hope they bring some much needed cheer to your holiday gatherings.

STICKY DATE CAKE WITH SALTED TOFFEE SAUCE (Gluten-free) Makes 10 mini bundts

Date Cake:

• 1 1/2 cup chopped medjool dates 
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 cup boiling water
• 1/2 cup coconut oil, liquified
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons maple syrup
• 3 mandarins, zested + 2 tablespoons juice
• 1 cup almond flour
• 1/2 cup oat flour
• 1/2 cup arrowroot or tapioca flour
• 1/3 cup coconut or brown sugar
• 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon cardamom
• 1 teaspoon sea salt

Salted Toffee Sauce (Adapted from Nigella)

• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 2 tablespoon maple syrup
• 3/4 stick butter, cubed
• 2/3 cup heavy cream
• 3/4 teaspoon flaky sea salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease a mini bundt pan with coconut oil and set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, add chopped dates, baking soda and boiling water.  Let mixture sit for about 10 minutes to soften.

Once dates have soften, using a masher or fork, mash the mixture until dates have broken down and sauce is thick, smooth-ish paste.  Then, stir in coconut oil, vanilla, maple, and mandarin juice + zest.  

In a separate mixing bowl, whisk together almond, oat, and arrowroot flour with sugar, spices and salt.  Then, mix flour mixture into wet ingredients, a little at a time, until all dry ingredients are incorporated.  Stir until well combined, then evenly divide among mini bundt cakes (filling until 3/4 full).  Bake for 15-17 minutes or until edges are firm and cake bounces ever-so-slightly back.  Set aside to fully cool in the pan before trying to remove.  

To make toffee sauce: Put sugar, maple, and butter in a saucepan and slowly bring to a boil.  Once sugar and butter have dissolved, let simmer/bubble for 3-4 minutes, then whisk in the heavy cream (carefully, it will bubble up).  Mix in sea salt.  Then, cook mixture over medium heat until thick, glossy and golden brown.  Remove from heat.  Store in a clean mason jar.  

To serve: Top date cakes with warm toffee sauce.  Serve immediately!  Also, would be great with a dollop of creme fraiche or ice cream ;) 

BUCKWHEAT APPLE GALETTES WITH CARDAMOM CRUMBLE (Gluten-free)

In the Summer months, when the markets are bursting with tomatoes, corn, strawberries and the like, I can't imagine eating anything but the brightest, most Summery produce. I cant imagine wanting to turn my oven on to warm the apartment, to crave eating heavy squashes and Winter soups.  But then you wake up, and it's October. The last Indian summer has subsided and the heat is officially on in the building. You put on boots again, and try to re-remember how to dress for 58 degrees. Before you've even thought about the transition, it happens and all of a sudden you're there.  

So, now it's late October. I am appropriately eating soup, baking to warm the apartment and wearing boots. The heat is on in the apartment and I've started to layer successfully for the correct temperature (still rusty, though).  I can't imagine eating salads of cucumbers and dill, I'm craving hearty things, broths, anything warm.  Apple season is winding down, but I'm trying to do as much as possible with them until all we've got is citrus for the dark, Winter months.  

Apples are that fruit to me that I would never say is my favorite, but I eat one at least everyday, sometimes two.  I crave them consistently and so look forward to honeycrisp season (and apple season in general) where the varieties are overflowing.  Apples symbolize those first signs of Fall, that lead us from melon and currants to warm, baked apple desserts.  

And then just like that, before you've even thought about the transition, it will be the dead of Winter.  And all of a sudden you'll be there. 

BUCKWHEAT APPLE GALETTES WITH CARDAMOM CRUMBLE (Gluten-free) Makes 4 Mini Galettes

Crust:

• 1/2 cup buckwheat flour
• 1/4 cup almond meal
• 1/4 cup millet flour
• 1/4 cup tapioca or arrowroot flour
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon xanthum gum
• 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, chilled and cubed
• 2-4 tablespoons ice water
• 1 egg, whisked, for wash

Crumble:

• 1/4 cup rolled oats
• 2 tablespoons almond meal
• 1/4 cup chopped walnuts
• 3/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
• 2 tablespoons maple syrup
• 1-2 tablespoons unsalted butter, chilled + cubed
• Pinch of salt

Filling:

• 2 medium honey crisp apples, sliced thin
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon maple syrup
• Coconut sugar, to top

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

For crust:  Add first seven ingredients to a food processor.  Pulse to mix dry ingredients well.  The add cubed butter, pulsing until butter is evenly mixed.  Then, drizzle in ice water - pulsing as you go - until dough comes together and away from the edge.  Form dough into a disk, dust with tapioca flour and wrap in plastic wrap.  Chill for 30 min - 1 hour.

For crumble:  In a small mixing bowl add all ingredients, using your hands mix together well - breaking up butter cubes with your fingers - until the dough starts to look like oatmeal cookie batter.  Set aside.

For filling:  Slice apples thinly and add to a small mixing bowl.  Toss gently with cinnamon and maple syrup until all apples are coated.  Set aside.

To assemble galettes:  Once dough has chilled, remove from fridge and let sit at room temp for 10-15 minutes.  “Flour” a surface with tapioca flour.  Divide the dough by four equal parts.  Roll out each portion evenly to approx. 6-7 inches or so.  Assemble apples overtop, leaving t least once inch all around to fold.  Fold over crust working each edge at a time.  Brush crust with egg wash, then sprinkle coconut sugar overtop apples and crust.  Top with cardamom crumble and add to a parchment lined baking sheet.  Continue until all galettes are assembled - I made 4 galettes, but feel free to make them whichever size you like, but note the baking time will change.

Bake for 15-20 minutes or until crust is golden browned and “dry” to the touch.  Set aside to cool for 10-15 minutes.  Serve immediately!

STRAWBERRY BUCKWHEAT PORRIDGE WITH COCOA CRUMBLES (GLUTEN-FREE)

With this new Summer heat, there’s no way I’m turning on my oven, not to mention the stove.  These days, it’s mostly salads, smoothies & cold-temp meals (even when the AC is blasting).  That’s part of why I love this porridge so much.  It’s the Summer version of your morning oatmeal, with a crunchy, chocolate-y topping you'll want to make and put on everything.

Strawberry Buckwheat Porridge with Cocoa Crumbles (Serves 4) Gluten-free + DAIRY-FREE

• 1 cup buckwheat groats
• 1/2 cup almond milk
• 1 frozen banana*
• 2 cups fresh strawberries, chopped
• 2-3 tablespoons maple syrup
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract or 1 vanilla bean, seeded
• 1/2 teaspoon cardamom
• 1 orange, juiced
• 1/2 lemon, juiced
• Fresh strawberries, to serve

Cocoa Crumbles:

• 1 tablespoon coconut oil
• 2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup
• 1/3 cup gluten-free oats
• 2 teaspoons cocoa powder
• 1/3 cup raw sunflower seeds
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• Pinch of sea salt

In a mixing bowl, add buckwheat and cover with filtered water.  Set aside for at least 6 hours or overnight. (Make sure to freeze a banana now, if you don’t already have one ready). 

In a small saucepan, heat coconut oil and honey over medium low heat.  Then, add oats, cocoa powder, sunflower seeds, vanilla and a pinch of sea salt .  Cook, stirring often, until mixture thickens and becomes “sticky”.  Lay out mixture on a baking sheet to cool.

In the morning, rinse buckwheat well & drain , then add to a blender with almond milk.  On high speed, blend until smooth and creamy.  Then add, frozen banana, strawberries, maple, vanilla, cardamom & citrus.  Blend until well combined.

Then, divide between 4 ramekins.  Top with fresh sliced strawberries & cooled cocoa crumbles.  For extra sweetness, add a drizzle of maple over top.  Serve immediately!