Healthy options at a Cake Show? Yes!!

When I was invited to attend the Cake and Bake Show last weekend at Excel Exhibition Centre in London, I admit I was a little hesitant. Not because it didn't look great (it did!), but because does a health and fitness blogger at a cake show really match up?

However, fear not, as even the Cake and Bake Show had healthy options on offer. Gluten free, no added sugar, all natural – you name it. And here it my pick of the best…..


Beloved Dates

Beloved Dates Natural Fruit Hearts

When its championed by the infamous Deliciously Ella in her recipes, you know it’s gotta be good – and Beloved Dates did not disappoint! Following the success of their signature product – an 100% date Nectar syrup, full of natural goodness from handpicked dates, rich in natural minerals, vitamins and antioxidants, great an alternative to sugars for baking, cooking and pouring – they have now widened their product portfolio including Date and Berry bars, a nutritious Date Muesli and, the newest addition to the range, Date Hearts. Made from 100% dates and cold pressed to retain all the benefits of the whole fruit, they are like little caramel sweeties yet with no added sugar! A delicious, healthy and nutritious alternative to satisfy your sweet tooth cravings!

If you fancy giving your baking a healthy edge with Beloved Dates, why not try out Deliciously Ella’s Date and Pecan loaf recipe by visiting the website here.

Delicious Alchemy

Deliciously gooey, squidy and chocolaty- indulgence of the day!

Getting festive with Christmas Cake Mix

Gluten free magic is their motto, and I have to agree! At the show sampling their Gluten Free Brownie Mix, Gingerbread Man Mix, Oaty Cookie Mix and new Christmas Fruit Cake Mix, I was in heaven with the delicious gluten free and dairy treats on offer. I say treats, because whilst they are slightly heathier alternatives, they are still very high in refined sugar – so to be enjoyed on occasion – but great for anyone following a free from diet, as they honestly taste just as good, if not better, to the real thing.

Vanilla Sponge - soft, sweet and oh so tasty!

But it’s not all sweet treats, Delicious Alchemy also offer a range of healthy bread mixes and breakfast products. The new Wonderful Nutty Granola – a blissful mix of almonds, hazelnuts, raisins and gluten free oat clusters – will start your day in the best way possible. I also absolutely LOVE the Rice Flake Porridge as a great alternative to my daily porridge. Sometimes it’s nice to mix it up a little!

More nutritious yet equally delicious Wonderful Nutty Granola

Trimbake

Trimbake Goodies

Yes, these guys popping up again! You may remember them from my previous post (New Foodie Finds), and I was delighted to see they are still going strong, now having launched new cake mixes – free from gluten, refined sugar and reduced in fat. My favourite by far, however, still has to be their Fat & Sugar replacer – a fat free pouch made from organic fruit and vegetables, which can easily be added to cakes, bakes and puddings, replacing butter/oil/sugar with a much healthier, slower release, full of fiber, blend.

Fat and Sugar Replacement

Easy Baking Mix

Pure Maple

Pure Maple - simply 100% Canadian Maple Syrup

A family of British Canadians, recently moving to the UK from Canada and being shocked with our lack of real maple syrup, Pure Maple decided to create their own 100% Pure Canadian Maple Syrup to bring to the British market. Unlike many other syrup brands Pure Maple is free of colourings, artificial flavours and isn’t diluted with cane sugar or corn syrup – infact, the  100% Canadian Maple Syrup only has one ingredient in it, nothing added or taken away. With just a quarter cup containing 100% of your daily value of manganese (needed to maintain strong, healthy bones), 37% of your daily Vitamin B12 (protecting your cells and giving you energy), and 38% of your daily antioxidants, whilst it should of course still be enjoyed in moderation, it certainly trumps over refined cane sugar any day! Moreover, it tastes even better- the judges at the Good Taste Awards reported “not too sweet, it’s creamy but light with hints of caramel, vanilla and nuts”, and subsequently put in their Top 50 of 2016!

Can even be used for baking!

Cookie Crumbles

Wholemeal flour - wow! 

And my final best find HAS to be the awesome brand Cookie Crumbles. Born out of the founders passion, Carola Weymouth believed everyone should be able to experience the joys of home baking in a healthy and easy manner, and wanted to bring a product to the market that would combine the finest, natural ingredients to allow you to make home-baked treats with perfect results every time. Aside from how easy the packs are– you literally just mix, bake and enjoy – what really made this brand stand out for me was their use of whole meal flour. With the brightly coloured packaging and fun ethos clearly aiming the product at children, it’s a great way to sneak more fibre and vitamins into their diet without them even knowing! Not only that, but it tastes just as good for us adults to have a nibble too :P

Who wouldn't want to shop here?!

Such cute gifts, they won't even know it's good for them!

So, hopefully from the products above I have shown you that you can indeed bake cakes FULL of nutritional value, vitamins, minerals and fibre, just by making a few easy substitutions.

I’d highly recommend the Cake and Bake Show – whether you’re into healthy treats or all for the sugary sweetness, with baking and decorating classrooms, competitions, and a range of talks and demonstrations, there really was something for everyone!

And a great goodie bag to take home!!