I mean seriously?!

How?!

When did that happen?!

Well according to the calendar I guess it happened 18 days ago but still . . . where has this year gone?!

October . . . already?!

I just can’t seem to wrap my head around it?!

And I’m not really sure how I feel about it?!

I mean Christmas is my all time fave but I’m having some mixed emotions because this time of year is when we usually take our annual Swanston Family Vaycay to our beloved home away from home, Denver, Colorado.

And as excited as I am to dig in and get all kinds of festive fun happening up in here I’m having a hard time because my heart is aching for fall. Cool crisp mornings, fresh mountain air and pumpkin spiced everything!!!!!

There is something truly magical about that humble looking, ombre’ beige, spice blend that not only tastes all kinds of incredible but it truly makes my heart all kinds of happy.

The smell alone has me feeling all of those warm, fuzzy Christmas-y feels!

Now, here in Australia for some reason we haven’t yet discovered the joy that is well, pumpkin spiced anything so what’s a girl to do when her heart aches for fall, and pumpkin spiced everything yet sadly there is no vaycay or pumpkin spiced anything on the cards?! Or is it in the cards!? Either way, it ain’t happening!

So what’s a girl to do?!

She gets creative in the kitchen and comes up with her own deliciously simple, quick and easy, healthy homemade {sugar free} pumpkin spice mix that’s what!

Problem, solved.

Well apart from the whole vacation thing but let’s not get into that!

Today’s recipe is one that is super quick and easy to prepare made with just a handful of ingredients that I bet you have tucked away in the back of your spice cabinet, ready and waiting, simply begging to be transformed into one purely magical, heart-warming spice blend.

Ahhh I love this spice mix so, SO much – it really is like a little jar of happiness.

Don’t you just love the way food, both taste and smell, has the ability to magically transport you to another time and another place and bring back the most incredible memories and feelings that are so strong, it’s as though you could almost reach out and hug them?!

Well that’s what this spice mix does for me?!

One smell and I am whisked away to my beloved home away from home, enjoying quality time with my nearest and dearest, holding a steaming cup of perfectly spiced coffee in my hands, feeling the cool crisp mountain air on the back of my neck as I gaze fondly at the most miraculous looking snow capped mountains you ever did see.

This healthy, homemade pumpkin spice mix brings together all those familiar, nostalgic tastes and smells that come to mind when I think of Christmas (and Thanksgiving and well just all things fall for my American friends).

Cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, allspice and a pinch of cardamon – it’s chai spice meets gingerbread spice. . . doesn’t it just make you feel all warm and fuzzy even just reading that combination of spices all together in one delicious little sentence?!

The smell alone is enough to transport me to another time and another place where the air is crisp, the mountains are capped with snow and everything just seems to sparkle.

Wanna come?!

You totally can and I’d love to have you along for the ride

All you have to do is throw together a handful of spices and you’re ready to go!

Once you have your healthy, homemade pumpkin spice mix ready, your kitchen smells like heaven and you’re feeling all of those warm and fuzzy Christmas-type feels you’re on your way.

Simply add a pinch to your morning coffee or your post workout smoothie.

Stir some into your yogurt and have for a yummy twist on a much loved, quick & easy, iconic snack!

Bake yourself a sweet potato, slather it in almond butter and sprinkle over a little of your pumpkin spice mix and have yourself one seriously tasty snack – trust me on this, just try it! You can thank me later

Or, you could add a heaping teaspoon to this {sugar free – paleo} maple vanilla banana bread, or these muffins, or these cookies, or this deliciously simple, perfectly roasted pumpkin for a sweet twist on a savory side dish . . .

All natural, quick and easy, deliciously simple, healthy, homemade, pumpkin spice mix . . .

A little jar of heaven scented happiness to call your very own;

From my heart to yours, enjoy xo

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Question of the day –

What’s your favorite, warm and fuzzy food related, holiday flavor, scent or memory?

Feel free to share recipes, or links recipes in the comments below or on the Facebook page and please for the love of all that is good in this world when you do make your healthy, homemade pumpkin spice mix (or any of the recipes you find on this blog of mine) go ahead and snap a pic and share it either on the Facebook page, or tag me on twitter or Instagram. Sharing is caring remember.

Do it, do it You know you want to

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The post Healthy, Homemade Pumpkin Spice Mix first appeared on Better with Cake.

Well, apart from opening gifts on Christmas morning !

Calendars are marked, count downs are set  and on December 1st – the pestering requests begin.

I know, I know this recipe is a little more work than I usually like to do as there is some dough chilling and rolling involved ( no pre-baking though ) which is probably one reason that I only make them once a year but hear me when I say, apart from a little exercise in patience they are super, super easy to make and 100% worth it.

Subtly sweet, deliciously buttery, light, crisp pastry stuffed with a jammy, sweet, perfectly spiced fruit filling that truly is incredible!

I like to make a batch on Christmas Eve, ready to enjoy with our little lady, after dinner, while we read the night before Christmas before tucking her in to bed (and my marathon wrapping session begins) and of course we make sure we have enough to leave out for Santa.

Serve them simply as they are, add a dusting of powdered sugar and a nice cold class of milk, a nice cup of tea, coffee, hot chocolate or warm beverage of choice.

Add a dollop of cream, custard and/or ice cream – or a combination of all three, after all, it is Christmas.

Super simple, super delicious, healthy, homemade fruit mince pies.

Gluten Free Dairy Free Grain Free Nut Free Refined Sugar Free Paleo Friendly

Such a fun little family tradition and I would love nothing more than to have you join us.

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Question of the day –

What’s your fave holiday tradition?

Feel free to share recipes, or links to your fave recipes in the comments below or on the Facebook page and please for the love of all that is good in this world when you do make your healthy, homemade fruit mince pies (or any of the recipes you find on this blog of mine) go ahead and snap a pic and share it either on the Facebook page, or tag me on twitter or Instagram. Sharing is caring remember.

Do it, do it You know you want to

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The post Healthy, Homemade Fruit Mince Pies {Gluten Free – Grain Free – Nut Free – Refined Sugar Free – Paleo Friendly} first appeared on Better with Cake.

You didn’t think I was going to let the big day arrive without us having ourselves some kind of festive coffee did you?

You know I love me a good cup of coffee!

I more than love it!

I need it. Kinda like I need air . . . I just do not function well without it.

Plus I really do just enjoy it.

Everything about it.

The taste.

The smell.

MMmmMM so good!

Sometimes I go to bed early just to coffee time can hurry up and get here already!

Anyways enough about my obsession infatuation love of coffee and on with today’s recipe.

Today we are making ourselves an all natural ice cold, thick, creamy, espresso infused, gingerbread spiced latte.

In the midst of a last minute Christmas shopping frenzy I found myself feeling a little hot and botherd and kinda scroogie. I was frustrated and hungry but still had so much to get done!

I really wanted to just stop, breathe and grab a nice cup of coffee and a gingerbread cookie to re-group. Which I totally should have done.

Instead, I decided to grab myself a gingerbread latte in the hope that it would satisfy my cookie/coffee craving . . . I also hoped caffeine hit and some heart and soul warming holiday flavours might help to lift my spirits and fuel the final leg of my shopping trip . . .

Boy was I wrong!

The coffee was weak and instead of holiday, gingerbread spices all I got was a overly syrupy, sickly sweet, sugar hit that didn’t taste like gingerbread at all. So not cool!

I was hot, bothered and in a serious sugar crash, so not what you want when you’re trying to finish all important Christmas errands. Or anytime for that matter!

But never fear, today’s iced gingerbread latte is everything I hoped for and more!

It will totally satisfy that coffee/cookie craving and won’t leave you feeling hot and bother nursing a post sugar crash.

Promise.

Espresso is brewed as strong as you like then served on ice. Yum!

To get our holiday/gingerbread flavours we simply add in some frozen banana, a splash of vanilla and a drizzle of maple syrup which provide those deep, caramel/molasses undertones. Lastly we throw in our of spices – ground cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and cardamom which really bring home that classic gingerbread flavour combination.

Ice cold, subtly sweet, espresso infused latte blended with the perfect hum of holiday spices.

Yes, yes, just yes!

Not only is our iced gingerbread latte all kinds of festive and delicious, it also happens to be all natural and, because we use unsweetened vanilla almond milk and coconut yoghurt in our base it also makes this baby vegan, dairy free and paleo friendly!

Everybody wins!

It’s the perfect, holiday inspired way to get your coffee on, on Christmas day.

Or the perfect way to take a little quiet time out and get your milk and cookie on if you find yourself feeling a little hot, bothered and, dare I say, a little scroogie in amongst all the fast and furious festivities.

Oh and if you are planning to get a cheeky pre-christmas workout in you could throw in a scoop of vanilla (or even chocolate) protein powder in for a holiday inspired post workout shake.

And seeings as it’s Christmas and all . . .

I’m not saying that you should (except I kinda sorta am) add a little whipped cream (or coconut cream) . . .

some shaved dark chocolate and some festive sprinkles . . . just because you can!

I don’t know about you but this all natural, subtly sweet, gingerbread spiced, espresso infused iced latte has the holiday spirit (and my name) written all over it.

Make it. Drink it. Love, love, love it

Iced Gingerbread Latte {Vegan, Dairy Free & Paleo Friendly}
Makes 1 very large or 2 small ice cold, creamy, dreamy gingerbread spiced, espresso infused super smoothies

Ingredients –

3/4 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk (or milk of choice)

1/4 cup of coconut yoghurt (or regular/Greek style yoghurt)

1 shot of espresso, cooled (can sub for 1 tsp of instant espresso dissolved in 1-2 Tablespoons of hot water)

1/2 an overripe banana (preferably pre-frozen)

1-2 Tablespoon of maple syrup depending on your desired level of sweetness (FYI – I used 1 Tbsp)

1 teaspoons of vanilla extract

1/8 teaspoon of ground cinnamon

1/8 teaspoon of ground ginger

A pinch teaspoon of nutmeg

A pinch teaspoon of cardamom

1/2-1 cup of ice depending on how icy you like your smoothies

Optional – 

Festive sprinkles, shaved dark chocolate and whipped cream/coconut cream for serving

Method –

1 – Place all smoothie ingredients into a blender and process until smooth and creamy.

2 – To serve, pour directly into your mouth a chilled glass of mason jar, top with whipped cream/coconut cream, shaved dark chocolate and sprinkles if using watch the world fall into blissful silence.

Enjoy xoxo
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Question of the day –

Coffee or tea? Hot or iced? 

The post Iced Gingerbread Latte {Vegan, Dairy Free & Paleo Friendly} first appeared on Better with Cake.

Ok so, a few days ago I posted a pic of this “recipe in the making” on Instagram and you guys went cah-razy demanding requesting the recipe asap. I figured I would do you a solid and skip the snapshots this week and give you a bonus recipe instead.

What can I say, your wish is my command

So, without further ado, allow me to share with you holiday flavour (or should I say ingredient) number 5 – Cranberries!

Succulent, sweet, tart, tangy, plump, juicy, chewy little cranberries.

It’s just not Christmas without cranberries if you ask me.

Today we are using some festive little dried cranberries to make ourselves some all natural, secretly healthy, dark and delicious, 3 ingredient – cranberry and pistachio dark chocolate bark.

If you are looking for a last minute gift idea or an extra addition to your snack/dessert table then I got you covered my friend.

Even if you have all gifts and treats covered you should still go ahead and make this chocolate bark because let’s be honest, ain’t no such thing as to much chocolate now is there?!

And if you really, truly are done with all your holiday preparations you should come and help me finish mine?! What do you mean, no thank you?! Are you sure?!? I can pay you in chocolate?!

Fine, suit yourself I’m not going to beg but, maybe this will change your mind . . .

Decadent, rich and deliciously smooth dark chocolate is melted down and spread into one cool, crisp, wafer thin layer then sprinkled with some chopped dried cranberries and pistachios (along with some festive looking sprinkles) before being cut (or broken) into delicious little shards.

So simple, so delicious and seriously festive!

You know you want in on this . . .

Not only is today’s recipe simple, delicious and all kinds of festive it also happens to be all natural, made with just 3 simple, real food ingredients that I bet you have on hand already.

You know what makes it even better, if that’s possible?!

The fact that it comes together in less than 10 mins!

All you have to do is melt down your chocolate, add your sprinkles then pop it into the fridge or freezer to set! Talk about winning!

It also happens to be paleo friendly and you could easily make it vegan or dairy free depending on the type of chocolate chips you use. Something for everybody –  love, love, love it!

Yes, Em I hear you saying – “this cranberry and pistachio dark chocolate bark is incredibly festive looking, all natural made with just 3 simple ingredients as well as being super quick and easy to prepare but, how does it taste” . . .

In a word – ah-maze-zing!!!!!!!

When you bite into your cranberry and pistachio dark chocolate bark first up you get a crisp, cool crack of decadent, rich, indulgently smooth and seriously creamy dark chocolate, which is quickly followed by a slightly salty crunch thanks to our pretty little pistachios and then there’s a slightly tart, juicy burst of chewy sweetness from our cranberries.

It’s the perfect, divine little salty/sweet combination and we are very (V-E-R-Y) much in love!

All natural, secretly healthy, clean eating, cranberry and pistachio dark chocolate bark . . .

It comes together in a matter of minutes, made with just 3 simple, real food ingredients . . .

It’s also something you can get the kids involved in, my little lady had the best time stealing, I mean sprinkling the cranberries and pistachios onto the melted chocolate which she thought was just “so, so deliciously beautiful”. What can I say, she is her mothers daughter alright. It really is the little things isn’t it

So not only is this cranberry and pistachio dark chocolate bark deliciously simple to make (and eat) its also something you can feel good about making, eating and sharing with the ones you love . . .

Tried, tested and little lady approved

Just look at that face . . .

It’s the gift that keeps on giving

Make it. Eat it. Love, love, love it

Cranberry and Pistachio Dark Chocolate Bark

Ingredients –

3/4 cup of dark chocolate

1/8 cup pistachios, roughly chopped

1/8 cup of dried cranberries, roughly chopped

Festive sprinkles – optional (<— but not really )

Method –

1 – Line a rimmed baking sheet with baking/parchment paper (or a silpat mat if you have one) and set aside

2 – Melt your chocolate by your preferred method. I like to place my chocolate onto a small plate or bowl and sit it over a pot of gently simmering water, stirring occasionally until nice and melted.

3 – Carefully pour your deliciously melted chocolate onto your prepared baking sheet. Use the back of a spoon or spatula to smooth out the chocolate into one deliciously thin layer.

4 – Sprinkle over your chopped cranberries, pistachios and sprinkles (if using) then pop the tray into the fridge (or freezer) to set.

5 – Once set, using a sharp knife cut your decadent and festive sheet of cranberry, pistachio covered dreamy dark chocolate bark into deliciously jaggerd little shards.

6 – Store in the fridge in an airtight container, or even joust a ziplock bag.

Enjoy xoxo
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Question of the day –

What is your all time favourite Christmas treat?

The post Cranberry and Pistachio Dark Chocolate Bark first appeared on Better with Cake.