Baking

This low-fat vegan cake is incredibly delicious served warm from the oven and topped with a cool lemon tofu crème. Using fresh ginger makes a great difference in its taste. I prefer this cake without the nuts and raisins, but others enjoy the texture and sweetness they add. Either way, this flavorful cake is sure to become a favorite of yours

This dense moist and delicious cake was a favorite at my restaurant, Sprouts. In scaling down the recipe (which made lots of cakes), I got down to these measurements. You’ll have a little batter left over for cupcakes. It’s great to freeze them for when the cake is all gone.

The texture of this cake is that of angel food cake, but made with whole grains, it has more substance than the white version.

This is a special vegan cake that’s an impressive dessert for dinner guests. The custard and fruit make a delightful topping that’s fat-free and looks like you toiled for hours over it.

A most flavorful flourless cake that’s airy light in texture but rich and intense in taste.

You have to have a great carrot cake recipe to go to now and again. This one fits the bill—supermoist and loaded with goodies. Cut back on the fat even further by trying the Fat-Free Vanilla Yogurt Frosting (page 107) on this cake.

I think this is my favorite chocolate dessert. It has all my favorites: it’s chocolate, it’s warm, and it’s great with ice cream. The combination of dense, not-too-sweet chocolate cake with tangy raspberry sauce and creamy cool ice cream can’t be beaten. Use an excellent quality chocolate since it’s the main event here.

You’ll go to this recipe again and again when you want a classic chocolate cake.

The hardest recipe for me to develop was a really light yellow cake that was still nutritious, moist, and delicious. Well, here it is, and it’s gluten-free to boot. Without the food coloring, the frosting will be a pale lavender color.

One of my favorite grains to eat is quinoa. It contains all the amino acids required to make a complete protein. Plus, it’s high in fiber. In baking, though, the flour can be tricky to work with due to its distinctive flavor. Not in this recipe. The quinoa is no match for the rich chocolate flavor and aroma in this superprotein cupcake that’s moist and fudgy. P.S.: They’re gluten-free and low-fat, too.

These are my all-time favorite bars; I just love dates and nuts together. These bars have a crumbly texture with a creamy date center enhanced by raspberry juice.

I’m not a fan of commercial protein bars. In my opinion, they’re too sweet, more like candy than food. But I do love the idea of portable snacks packed with nutrition. So I decided to make my own and fill them with lots of protein, fiber, and a mild sweetness derived from agave nectar and dried fruit. All my gym buddies love them. They’re a great on-the-go snack or even breakfast in a pinch. Substitute almond butter for the peanut butter to change it up a bit.

This is a whole grain, sugar-free version of a classic sponge cake. It’s light, contains no butter or oil, and freezes wonderfully. You can make the pastry cream up to 3 days in advance.

Chocolate and raspberry are a match made in heaven. Sweet and decadent, these bars are perfect with coffee or espresso.

Bananas are the surprise ingredient in these yummy, coconutty treats. Substitute cashews or pecans for the walnuts for some great flavor variations.

The key to really moist, fudgy brownies is not to overmix the batter. For extra decadence, lightly frost them with softened chocolate ganache (page 108) and sprinkle with extra toasted nuts on top. These treats are for serious chocolate lovers.

Pecan pie is usually off-limits to me: it’s full of corn syrup, which nutritionally speaking is a recipe for disaster. These Pecan Pie Squares, served warm, have the same rich, nutty taste with a fraction of the fat and no refined sugars.

I love all things lemon. The barley and oat flours used in this recipe create a nutty crust that complements the tart, soufflélike topping—perfect with a cup of green tea.

I created this cookie recipe as a way to sneak some veggies into my daughter Sofia’s diet when she went through the “I’m not eating any vegetables” stage. She loved them then and still adores them, zucchini and all. These moist, soft cookies are low-fat, high fiber, and a perfect not-too-sweet treat. They also freeze well.

For variety, substitute prunes for the apricots in these fat-free (and guilt-free) bars. Sweet and chewy, they make a nice lunch box treat.