How are you dear people? Are you getting excited for Christmas? We have only few days left to finish decorating our homes, bake all the cookies and cakes we were planning to, buy and wrap all the presents and do (or not!) other million little things that we wanted to do. 🙂
But at the end of the day, it really doesn’t matter if our house is perfectly decorated and if we baked ALL the cookies we were planning to, what matters the most is to spend time with our loved ones, our family or friends, be happy for little but the most important things, put a smile on someone’s face and do some good. In my family we always help somebody in need this time of the year and it’s such a beautiful thing to do, donate to a charity, personally give a little present or financial help to somebody who needs it, spread some love, warmth and positivity. Of course we all love cookies and presents but we should also always remember those who are not fortunate as we are, it’s such an important part of Christmas…
I am spending these few days in my sunny Dubrovnik and than going for Christmas at my sister’s where all the family will gather so there will be a lot of us and the house will be full! And I still have to bake cookies for at least 10 people so for the next two days I will be busy in the kitchen but I will find some time for a walk or a coffee with friends. 🙂 But before I get too busy to post, I wanted to share one more festive recipe with you that you can use for Christmas or New Year!
This cranberry pound cake is so delicious, it has a lovely orange aroma and beautiful coconut frosting that you’ll want to eat with a spoon until there is none left! I wanted to make a frosting that is dairy-free and this one is amazing, besides that it’s delicious, it also makes the cake looking all nice and Christmassy. However I have to point out that this frosting looks the best the same day it’s made, after that it still tastes delicious but its colour changes slightly and it doesn’t remain as white as the first day. So I would recommend making it on the day you want to serve it to your family or guests.
- 1 and ½ cup spelt flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- pinch of salt
- ½ cup coconut oil, melted
- ¾ cup maple syrup (or agave)
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 2 tsp orange zest (organic)
- 1 cup cranberries (fresh or dried)
- For frosting (adapted fromtexanerin.com)
- 1 full-fat coconut milk (canned), only cream from top of the can
- ½ cup yogurt (I used bio soya)
- 3 tbsp coconut oil, melted
- 3 tbsp maple syrup (or agave)
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- Extra cranberries and powdered sugar (or xylitol) for decoration
- Note: 1 cup = 250 ml
- Before making the frosting, put out the can of coconut milk and yogurt from the fridge 10-15 min before so they are not very cold.
- Start by preparing the frosting. Before making the frosting, put out the can of coconut milk and yogurt from the fridge 10-15 min before so they are not very cold. In a mixing bowl beat coconut cream (using an electric mixer) for few minutes until fluffy. Add yogurt, melted coconut oil, maple syrup and vanilla and beat until well combined. Put it in the fridge for about 1 hour.
- Preheat oven to 175 C / 350 F. Grease the bread loaf pan and line it with baking paper.
- In a large bowl combine flour, baking powder and salt.
- In another bowl mix melted coconut oil with maple syrup, add beaten eggs, vanilla, cinnamon, orange zest and stir to combine.
- Add flour mixture into wet mixture.
- Add cranberries and stir gently.
- Pour the batter into prepared loaf pan. Bake for about 55 min or until tester comes out clean.
- Cool it well before removing from the loaf pan. Set aside.
- When the cake is cooled, spread the coconut frosting on top of the cake and decorate it with remaining cranberries.
- Dust with powdered sugar (or xylitol) for decoration.
- Note: Frosting on cake looks best the same day it’s made, after that it’s still delicious but it becomes slightly yellowish. If serving to guests, I recommend making the frosting the same day.
In case I don’t get to post anything else till the end of the month (and year!), I wanted to say a big THANK YOU to all of who are following me here on the blog and on my Facebook page and Instagram, your support and kindness means so much to me and I appreciate every single one of you who follow my work, try out my recipes and encourage me to continue doing what I love! <3 I wish you with all my heart lots of love, peace, health, smiles, joy, great food and great company! Have a peaceful and Merry Christmas with your loved ones and Happy New 2017! 🙂
*Thank you so much for being here, that makes me so happy! You can also follow my Travelling oven on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest, as well as subscribe to receive new blog posts via email.
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