My Gut Healthy Pear & Strawberry Sharlotka 😋
Switching up my afternoon snack for something that actually loves my gut back?? This pear & strawberry sharlotka is basically a hug for your microbiome. I swapped out the traditional flour for cassava (which is a prebiotic powerhouse!) and used anti-inflammatory fats to keep the brain fog away. It’s light, spongey, and free of refined sugar. Who knew gut health could taste this good?
Ingredients 🛒:
The Fruit:
• 1 large overripe pear: Cored and diced into 1/2-inch chunks.
• 1 cup fresh strawberries, quartered
• 1 tsp tapioca starch: (To coat the berries).
Dry Ingredients:
• 1 cup cassava flour
• 1 cup super-fine almond flour
• 1/4 cup tapioca starch
• 3 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
The Wet Ingredients:
• 4 large eggs, separated into whites and yolks.
• 1/2 cup xylitol:
• 1/2 cup maple syrup
• 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1/4 cup almond milk:
• 2 tbsp vanilla extract
Topping:
• 2 tbsp coconut sugar
• 1 tsp cinnamon
Instructions 👩🍳:
1️⃣ Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9-inch round pan with olive oil. Line the bottom with parchment paper.
2️⃣ Toss the pear, strawberries, lemon zest, and 1 tsp tapioca starch in a bowl. Set aside.
3️⃣ In a clean, dry bowl, whisk the egg whites until they reach stiff peaks. Set aside.
4️⃣ In a large bowl, beat the egg yolks with the xylitol and maple until the mixture is pale and thick (about 3 minutes).
5️⃣ Slowly drizzle in the olive oil while whisking constantly. Stir in the vanilla and the milk.
6️⃣ Whisk the dry mix ingredients together, then fold them into the yolk base.
7️⃣ Gently fold 75% of the fruit into the batter. Then, gently fold in the whipped egg whites in three batches using a spatula. Do not overmix!
8️⃣ Pour batter into the pan. Scatter the remaining 25% of fruit on top and sprinkle with the cinnamon and coconut sugar mix.
9️⃣ Bake for 50–55 minutes. If it browns too quickly at the 35-minute mark, tent loosely with foil.
1️⃣0️⃣Turn off the oven and crack the door for 5 minutes. Remove and let cool in the pan for at least 20 minutes before lifting it out. Enjoy!
Chef’s Tip 💡:
For easy cake removal, you can create parchment handles. Cut a long strip of parchment paper about 2 inches wide. Lay it across the greased pan so the ends hang over the edges like handles. Place your parchment circle on top of that strip. After the cake has cooled for 20 minutes, you can gently lift the entire cake out of the pan using those handles without having to flip it upside down!
🍵 Tea pairings for a healthy boost:
• White tea with rose – This high-antioxidant, minimally processed tea offers delicate floral notes that complement strawberry and pear without masking their flavor!
• Fresh ginger & turmeric tea – This potent anti-inflammatory duo provides a spicy "zing" that cuts through the richness of almond flour and olive oil.
• Tulsi (Holy Basil) tea – An adaptogenic tea that manages stress while providing peppery, clove like undertones that pair perfectly with cinnamon and baked pear.
• Rooibos (Red Bush) tea – This caffeine free, mineral rich option has a natural vanilla sweetness that pairs perfectly with the cake’s honey and vanilla profile.
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