dessert

This delicious crumble cake makes a perfect afternoon tea treat or dessert served warm with homemade custard. Rhubarb is a great source of dietary fibre and has a natural laxative effect so it is beneficial for digestive health and to improve bowel regularity and bloating. Rhubarb also contains calcium and vitamin K, which are both important for bone health.

Beetroot may seem like an unusual ingredient in these brownies but it adds a lovely sweetness to the brownies as well as keeping them really moist. Trust me when I say you definitely can’t taste the beetroot in this brownie!

Seasonal fruits cooked in spice are a favourite in our home and this recipe is on high rotation throughout the winter months. Adding a fat such as coconut oil as well as cinnamon to the apples not only gives delicious flavour but slows the release of sugar from the fruit into the bloodstream and helps to keep your energy levels balanced.

This cake is a nourishing take on the more traditional fruity and chocolate cake recipes we all know and love. I’ve swapped grain-based flours for nutrient dense almonds and made the cake deliciously rich with dark chocolate and seasonal winter pears.

This pie contains a really lovely combination of flavours. The tartness of the apple combined with the beautifully balanced aromatic spices and buttery pastry is heavenly.

This not-too-sweet pie has a slight caramel quality to it and is delicious served at room temperature or straight from the fridge. With a delicious walnut crust inspired by Hetty McKinnon, it is a nourishing, nutrient-packed riff on the traditional American sweet potato pie. If you can find some nutmeg to grate yourself, use it — it makes all the difference.

Tahini is a good source of beneficial polyunsaturated fats that help improve brain function and memory. Tahini is also a rich source of magnesium for strong bones and reduced risk of osteoporosis, which makes it beneficial for balancing blood sugar levels.

Discover some of the delicious creations you can make with Barker’s New Zealand.

This recipe works well in a larger cake tin, too, such as a loaf tin. Just cook it for 10 minutes longer.

As a mum and nutritionist, I’m always trying to find more nourishing ways to create the family favourites — especially when it comes to cookies! For this delicious recipe, I’ve swapped traditional ingredients such as butter and flour for tahini and almond meal. The combination not only delivers high-quality essential fatty acids and fibre but keeps tummies satisfied for much longer, too. An absolute winner for all the family.

For as long as I can remember there has been a healthy version of icy poles in my life. My mum used to make them with fresh juice for us as kids and when I started my own family I decided they’d be a tradition I’d continue. Kids and adults love an icy pole treat and it’s lovely to know that they can be enjoyed with good-quality nutrition. I’ve supercharged these delicious icy poles with essential fats and calcium from tahini, fibre and sweetness from bananas and a kick of cinnamon to balance blood sugar levels, too.

I’ve been making versions of these biscuits since the kids were little. The original recipe is inspired by Jude Blereau. They are a great everyday biscuit sweetened with maple syrup and lend themselves to any sort of flavouring — ginger, chocolate, cardamom. I have used star anise here as I love the little aniseed hit.