Paleo Spiced Pear Cake
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Today felt like winter. Snow was falling all afternoon and it just smelled cold outside. Daylight Savings has really made the evenings seem dark. It’s that time of year when 6pm rolls around and I feel like I should be in bed. I’ve been trying to get up early to walk the dog. It feels so good to start my day with fresh air and quiet, but getting myself out of bed when it’s cold and dark takes some serious effort. Doesn’t it just seem like we should all get extra sleep in the winter? Couldn’t we all shorten the work day during these months so everyone could sleep in and lay under their warm covers for awhile every day? Since this seems unlikely, I’m really trying to make healthy choices for myself. I know I need to be active, eat well, and get out and see friends even though my body keeps trying to convince me to stay home, eat chips, and watch the Netflix Hallmark-style Christmas movies every night. (Have you watched them? They’re so great.). In an effort to grow, I’ve been reading a lot about the Enneagram lately. Check it out if you’re not familiar. The Enneagram is a personality assessment that is highly research based, extremely thorough, and insightful. It’s not a “Which Disney Princess Are You” online quiz or anything like that. Many books have been written that give helpful insight into how to use your Enneagram results. So, anyway, I am a Type 9 on the Enneagram: “The Peacemaker.” As I read about Type 9, I’m learning ways to challenge myself to grow. One of the most helpful pieces is recognizing how I respond to conflict and how that is perceived by my husband, a Type 1. I know, it sounds a little cheesy when I talk about the numbers. But it is amazing how accurate and insightful this can be. Uncovering unseen things about yourself and the people you love is such a gift for those relationships. Nines are also prone to sloth. Which is probably why I have known for so long that I need to stay active and eat well to feel fully healthy. All people do, of course, but it seems to impact my whole self on a deeper level. So that is something I’m working through as winter approaches. Dog walks are a start. And eating well is huge. I don’t eat desserts very often. When I do make them, I prefer to make them Paleo. This cake is so delicious, no one would even notice it is grain free. It would probably be delicious with ice cream if you so desire.
Paleo Spiced Pear Cake
45 min
Makes 9x9 pan
Ingredients:
1 egg
3/4 cup full fat coconut milk
1/2 c maple syrup
1 t vanilla
1/4 c olive oil
1/2 t allspice
1/2 t cinnamon
1/4 t ground clove
1/2 t cinnamon
1 t baking soda
3 1/2 c almond flour
1 c chopped pears
Directions:
Heat oven to 350 F
In medium bowl, whisk egg and add in coconut milk and maple syrup. Stir together.
Add the olive oil and vanilla and continue to stir thoroughly.
In a separate medium bowl, stir together the spices, salt, baking soda, and almond flour.
Pour the dry mixture into the wet mixture and stir together.
Add the pears and stir until evenly distributed.
Pour batter into greased 9x9” pan.
Bake for 40 minutes, or until knife inserted comes out clean.
Let cool in pan before serving.
