I've been a bit of a baking machine lately. I went to Instagram and saw that I'm not the only one, this quarantine low-carb baking thing is a trend. I've seen it referred to as “quaran-baking” and I'm totally on board.
Like all baking, quarantine baking is very calming, which is great for these strange and stressful times. I love the peacefulness that comes over me when I gather my ingredients, then go about measuring and mixing. Preparing the pan is like a Zen meditation. On top of that, when I pop a batch of healthy Keto Brownies in the oven, I feel like I've accomplished a small something, which brightens my day.
What about health? If we're going to bake up a storm, we might as well do it the healthy low-carb way. That's where my easy quarantine baking recipes come in. Gluten-free, dairy-free, and refined sugar-free, they're also super satisfying (my husband can attest to that) and won't leave you with weight gain or the dreaded high-carb hangover.
A nurse friend told me that in her ER, they refer to weight put on during this time as the “COVID 19.” You know, like the “freshman 15,” those extra pounds students put on their first year of college. Thankfully, we can avoid that with my healthy quarantine desserts below.
This Cinnamon Coffee Cake recipe is a fan-favorite. There are over 400 comments from readers raving about this incredible low-carb coffee cake. Here's a comment from one of my favorite readers, Camille:
Dear Elana, I literally NEVER write reviews on blogs, but your recipes, especially this one, are so fantastic, I am compelled to let everyone know about my enthusiasm. I am a classically-trained professional cook…a culinary school classmate turned me on to your recipes…I found your coffee cake recipe a few months ago and have varied it with different toppings and fillings and it ALWAYS works.
As I sit here typing this, I am waiting for a liquor delivery so that I can experiment with one of Camille's variations of this cake. She made it with amaretto and blackberries. My younger son, who is more of a berry guy, than a chocoholic, can't wait for me to test this recipe for you, and him. Stay tuned.
My Paleo Orange Cake recipe is another fan-favorite that loads of you seem to be making right now. With only 6 healthy ingredients in the entire recipe –oranges, almond flour, eggs, honey, salt, and baking soda– it's a cinch to make. This is good because even though we are in quarantine and may have a bit of time on our hands, we certainly don't want to spend all day in the kitchen.
One reader left a comment with the idea of adding cocoa powder to the recipe. That would change it quite substantially, but I think an easy variation would be either smothering it in my Vegan Chocolate Frosting or experimenting with chocolate chips. Which one will you do?
Oh, banana bread, how I love thee. With over 500 comments, this Paleo Banana Bread recipe is an Elana's Pantry classic that you love too. And why not? We could all use more banana bread in our lives right now.
The most challenging aspect of making this bread is finding ripe bananas in our house. My boys love bananas and they go fast around here. So I have to hide some in my office to ripen for this amazing bread before my little monkeys eat them. Though these monkeys are hardly little anymore. They're 20 and 21 and my baby towers over me at 6 feet 4 inches.
During these quaran-times, I've been thinking about creating a Chocolate Banana Bread recipe since my husband and older son are chocolate fiends. Hmm. What do you think about that?
Made with 8 ingredients total, my Keto Brownies recipe is a fantastic low-carb dessert. This is key during quarantine when we're loading up on chocolate, and also trying to stay fit and healthy.
Allow me to briefly digress, if you're looking for a healthy 🍫 dark chocolate quarantine snack, check out my post called, The Best Low Carb Chocolate Bars. Insider tip? My favorite is Theo 85% Organic Dark Chocolate and I snack on a couple of squares every day. Quarantine snacks can be decadent and healthy too.
Who doesn't want to satisfy their quarantine cravings and stay on a healthy diet? My no-fuss, sugar-free, flourless brownie recipe is a family favorite that my husband and older son devour. All you need to make Keto Brownies is macadamia nuts, baker’s chocolate, eggs, coconut oil, erythritol, stevia, salt, and baking soda. If any of those ingredients don't fit your diet, I have eight other brownie recipes that I've perfected to meet the needs of every special diet on the planet. Check out my list of Brownies Recipes, there's something for everyone.
The other day, a reader called me the “Almond Flour Whisperer.” While that may be true, I know that plenty of you follow a Nut-Free Diet. That's why I created this Nut-Free Paleo Carrot Cake recipe for you with a stunningly fluffy dairy-free Topping.
An awesome reader named Lorraine said, “I'm so happy to have found you, I'm almost in tears, happy tears. Never thought I could eat carrot cake without guilt.” Another reader simply said, “AMAZING CAKE.”
Quarantine low-carb baking is where it's at in my house. Sometimes I make existing recipes from the blog and my cookbooks, my favorite right now is Paleo Cooking from Elana’s Pantry, other times I create and test new recipes for you.
Last week I worked on a new brownie recipe for you, and this week I'm working on that blackberry amaretto coffee cake. Each time I create a new recipe I test it over and over again so that my recipes work for you every single time. What's on your quaran-baking wish list? What recipe do you need right now? Leave a comment and let me know.
Comments
18 responses to “Quarantine Low-Carb Baking”
Hi Elana….I love your recipes and have 3 or your books. I am just wondering if you might consider posting alternative sweetners to using honey and agave to make them Keto?
Thanks.
Peggy, thanks for your comment and suggestion, that is a great idea. I would need to go back and re-test each recipe a few times since I haven’t yet found a blanket sub that works across the board without adjustments. For now your best bet is to start with my Keto Brownies :-)
I have gained 7-8 lbs during this time. Yes, I got off track with my diet and am working to get back on! I was looking for the coconut bar with chocolate bits in it. I couldn’t find it so I made brownies. I subsituted the honey for stevia.
Nancy, thanks for your comment, many are experiencing the same with all this quaranbaking.
Hi Elana, Your recipes have been so helpful since my husband and I went gluten free 6 years ago. thank-you! Your quarantine recipes are some of my tried and true, love them.
Any new coconut flour recipes coming soon? Almond flour is hard to get and expensive where I live.
Karen, thanks for your sweet comment –I’m so happy to help! Here’s a link to all of my coconut flour recipes for you:
https://elanaspantry.com/recipes/?diet-type=&recipe-type=&ingredients=coconut-flour
Let me know what you decide to make!
Elana
I love your recipes so much! I even asked for and received 2 of your cookbooks for Christmas last year! I wondered if there is a way to make gluten free sourdough bread? I have made sourdough bread from the same starter I received 34 years ago. My family loves it, but I would like to make it healthier than it presently is.
Cheri, thanks for your wonderful comment! Which two of my books did you get for Christmas? I will add that to my list of recipe requests. Take good care :-)
I think I have all the ingredients to try the carrrot cake! Yum!
I have been making WAY too many chocolate chip cookies (paleo of course) and I think my kiddos will find this a nice treat! Thank you!
You’re welcome Sabrina!
I made your flax bread recipe yesterday which I have made a dozen times. Lately I have been adding 1/4 cup or so of maple syrup and it turns out like cake. Requires a little longer baking time. Another of your recipes I frequently make is spinach salad with avocado dressing.
Elle, that sounds delicious! Stay safe.
I did a FaceTime baking session with my friend (I was skeptical but it was actually really cool—highly recommend trying it!), we made the cranberry orange scones, and used chocolate instead of white chocolate. I had the Lilly’s Dark Chocolate chips which use stevia sweetener and my friend had cacao nibs. And I added some flax seed meal to mine. At the end it was crazy to see how different they came out (likely due to our ovens), so we got a science experiment out of it as well. At the end of our call we chatted and ate a scone (or two) with a cup of tea. We both ended up baking them again during the following week, and in mine I halved my chocolate chips and replaced with cacao nibs, and I gotta say my original sweeter version was what I was needing right now.
Mini, love hearing about this FaceTime baking session / science experiment. Thanks for being on this healing path with me and sharing your lovely story :-)
I love your recipes! Your banana bread recipe is one of my favorites and I make it often. I always add either chocolate chips or craisins to it. So yummy!!
Lissy, those additions sound fantastic!
Elana,
Just last night I made your Chocolate Chip Banana Cake recipe from your Almond Flour cookbook. Oh, so good! I am quarantined with my mom and we both love to cook and love your recipes. We are getting through this by trying at least one new recipe a week and working together. Both of us are very lucky, are jobs allow us to work from home, so we spend the majority of our day in separate rooms working away, then come together in the evening to cook. We thank you for everything, your recipes, your willingness to share your pain and your experiences. Your recipes appear on our table often, holidays would not be the same without your ideas. I have yet to try your Cinnamon Coffee Cake that may be next. :)
Thank you,
Ellie
Ellie, thanks for your kind and thoughtful comment. I’m so sorry we’re all quarantined, but happy that I can provide inspiration to you and your mother while you’re at home. Please stay safe and keep me posted on how you’re doing :-)
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