You walk in the door after hawt-yoga and something draws you towards the kitchen. There’s a warm, welcoming scent wafting gently through the air … buttery with nutty, caramelized undertones. WHY would anyone be BAKING right now when you’re on a 3-month clean eating “journey?” How rude! Unless this baked-good is magically grain free, refined sugar free and protein packed … any chance, any at all?
It’s true my friends … decadent dessert, blissful breakfast and sublime snack dreams do come true—especially when I’m the one on a 3-month clean eating “cruise.” I created this Brown Butter Crunch Cake-Bread to satisfy any type of comfort food craving I might be having over these 90 days and beyond as the Third Coast Kitchen 2022 says good-bye to 95% of all refined sugar in our recipes.
WHY IT’S HEALTHIER
- Grain free & paleo friendly made with Bob’s Red Mill Paleo Baking Flour
- Refined sugar free using only small amounts of coconut sugar and maple syrup
- Protein rich from eggs, nuts, and seeds
- Covers your macros: carbohydrates, fat, protein
Now only one question remains: Is it CAKE or is it BREAD? I guess that all depends on when you pop it and how you top it. Either way, you’re going to LOP IT! (Can we go with LOP IT? Nothing else rhymed with “top it” 🤷♀️ thanks. #LOPit)
Brown Butter Crunch Cake-Bread {Paleo friendly, refined sugar free}
Buttery, nutty, and just slightly sweet, this easy to make healthier cake-bread is protein packed and perfect for breakfast, snacks, or dessert! Top it with nut butter, honey and sea salt for a sweet treat or goat cheese for a savory snack.
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup salted butter
- 1 cup + 3 Tablespoons Bob's Red Mill Paleo Baking Flour **I've only tried this recipe with Bob's Paleo flour, which is a blend of gluten free grain free flours.**
- 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon **I use ceylon cinnamon**
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt or sea salt
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 3 Tablespoons coconut sugar **use date sugar or brown sugar if preferred**
- 2 Tablespoons maple syrup **use agave or honey of preferred**
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract **technically optional, but awesome**
- 2 eggs **preferably at room temperature – QUICK TRICK: place in cup of hot water for 3 minutes**
- 1/2 cup plant-based milk of choice **use moo milk if preferred**
For Crunch Topping
- 2 Tablespoons uncooked buckwheat groats **use quinoa if preferred**
- 2 Tablespoons sunflower seeds, shelled **use chopped nuts or pumpkin seeds if preferred**
- 1 Tablespoons coconut sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher or sea salt
Instructions
Prep
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Preheat oven to 350° F with rack in center position
Brown the butter
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Cut the butter into 4 even squares. Place the butter into a small saucepan or frying pan over medium heat, stirring often until melted. Continue stirring butter often over medium heat until white foamy bubbles begin to form. REDUCE heat TO LOW to prevent burning and continue to stir the melted butter, just until it turns golden and gives off the deliciously rich, warm, nutty scent that only brown butter can. This process takes about 3-5 minutes. Remove from heat and pour into a small bowl to stop the cooking. Set aside to let cool for at least 10 minutes.
Mix Dry
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In medium mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Whisk until everything is evenly combined. Set aside.
Mix Wet
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In the bowl of your standing mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (or using a medium bowl with handheld electric mixer or whisk) on medium speed, mix together brown butter and coconut sugar until well combined. Add maple syrup and vanilla. Mix on medium until well combined, scraping down sides as needed. Add eggs and mix on medium to medium-high until fully combined. Finally, with mixer on low, slowly add milk to batter, then increase speed to medium and mix until fully combined.
Mix Dry + Wet
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Add paleo flour mixture to batter and mix on medium speed until just combined, scrapping down side of bowl as needed. Over mixing can result in tough cake-bread.
Top & Bake
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In small bowl, mix together all topping ingredients: buckwheat groats, sunflower seeds, coconut sugar, cinnamon and salt.
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Pour batter into oiled or lined loaf pan and spread evenly with spatula. This batter will only fill about 1/4 of the pan. This cake-bread keeps a low profile 😉 Sprinkled crunchy seed topping evenly over the batter. Bake in the middle of the center rack for 30 minutes, or until golden and a toothpick inserted into the center come out clean. Let cool for about 10 minutes before slicing.
Storage
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Store this cake-bread tightly covered or in an airtight container for 3 to 5 days or refrigerate for up to a week.
Topping Ideas
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This brown Butter Crunch Cake-Bread is grand solo, but also loves toppings, both savory and sweet. Try a smear of nut butter, drizzle of honey and sprinkle of sea salt or top with goat cheese and raisins. If you want to spread some homemade jam on their and add a few chocolate chips or sprinkles, I'm not judging.
