A gorgeous Blueberry Lemon Mousse Cake with Scented Geranium Flowers sets the tone for Clean Cakes, the first book by pastry chef Henrietta Inman. This is one book that you can judge by its cover! What follows is a must-have collection of 75 whole food dessert recipes for anyone trying to reduce or eliminate gluten, dairy or refined sugar from their diet.
Trained as a traditional pastry chef, Henrietta Inman decided to apply her knowledge to create cake recipes free from refined ingredients. Based in Suffolk, she not only does baking demonstrations but also runs cookery classes.
It is hard not to be inspired by Henrietta’s enthusiasm for clean baking:
In my new pâtisserie, instead of refined polished grains, you will find wholegrain flours and wholegrains; instead of refined caster sugar, you will find raw Suffolk honey, sticky dates and organic coconut sugar; instead of hydrogenated fats and oils, you will find extra virgin Sicilian olive oil, bottled in the UK, extra virgin cold-pressed rapeseed oil and raw butter from Suffolk and organic virgin coconut oil. Therefore ‘clean’ is a simple description of the minimally processed real food ingredients I use in my new pâtisserie. ‘Clean’ also encapsulates my approach to sourcing all my ingredients in consideration of our planet – in season, organic whenever possible, locally or sustainably sourced.
The first part of Clean Cakes is a detailed section on alternatives to dairy, sugar and gluten alongside some useful lists of natural flavour enhancers and ingredients to stock up on. To make the most of the health benefits from nuts, seeds and grains, Henrietta also explains how to soak and activate / dehydrate. Foundation recipes such as basic nut butters, nut creams, nut milks, basic pastry, jams and apple purée are also included.
What follows is a beautifully photographed collection of vegetarian and vegan recipes ranging from spectacular cakes, muffins, breads, biscuits, brownies, tarts, chocolates, treats etc.. alongside some delightful raw desserts.
With some innovative flavour combinations, Clean Cakes makes no compromise on taste. Expect pure guilt-free indulgence, both sweet and savoury! Cakes and recipes to serve without hesitation to your next dinner party or family gathering.
Some of the recipes that caught my tastebuds include the Coconut Rose Cake with Whipped Vanilla Coconut Cream (p48), Polenta Muffins with Spinach, Sun-dried Tomatoes and Olives (71), Go-to Wholegrain Gluten-Free Bread (p82), Hemp Seed Crackers (p100), Five Grain Omega Mix Granola Bars (p109), Adzuki Bean Brazil Nut Fudge (p165) and the Chocolate, Banana and Passion Fruit Raw Pie with Sticky Toffee Sauce (p147).
And of course there is also the amazing, spectacular Courgette, Basil, Lime and Pistachio Cake with Avocado Lime Cream and Raspberry Jam which Henrietta is very kindly sharing with us. What better send off to the courgette season 🙂 .
If like me, you love cakes and enjoy baking, then Clean Cakes is an essential cookbook to have in your kitchen. A true testament to healthy living without compromise.
Clean Cakes is available to buy from Amazon as well as other independent bookshops.
You can find out more about Clean Cakes and Henrietta Inman at www.henriettainman.com .
Notice: Thanks to Quarto Publishing and Henrietta Inman for sending a complimentary copy of this book. I was not paid to review this book, all opinions and thoughts are my own.
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