COME winter, many of us start using our slow cooker more than our trusty air fryer – it’s perfect for cosy casseroles and slow-cook Sundays.
But have you ever tried baking a cake in your slow cooker?
Bestselling authors Kate and Kay Allinson, AKA Pinch of Nom, have a new cookbook out – Pinch Of Nom Slow Cooker (Bluebird) – filled with health-conscious recipes for your slow cooker, including a heap of delicious desserts.
You’ll also discover some of their tips for lowering calories, such as using low-fat ingredient options like almond milk, and how to make your own healthier crumble topping.
Each of the three desserts we’ve chosen below practically cook themselves, they are so easy to make.
And the result is always a gooey, gorgeous pud perfect for cosy season.
Self-saucing Gingerbread Pudding
Serves: 8
Prep time: 10
Cooking time: 2-2.5 hrs on high, or 4-4.5 hrs on low
Cals: 273
Carbs: 49g
Ingredients
*100g reduced-fat spread, plus a little extra for greasing
*250g self-raising flour
*40g caster sugar
*40g granulated sweetener
*3 medium eggs
*150ml skimmed milk
*1tbsp low-calorie caramel-flavoured syrup
*1tsp vanilla extract
*1tsp ground cinnamon
*ltbsp ground ginger
For the topping:
*500ml boiling water
*40g granulated sweetener
*30g light brown sugar
*3tbsp low-calorie caramel-flavoured syrup
*1/2tbsp ground ginger
Method
1. Grease the slow-cooker pot with a little bit of the reduced-fat spread.
2. Add the flour, spread, sugar, sweetener, eggs, milk, syrup, vanilla, cinnamon and ginger to a mixing bowl.
3. Whisk together with an electric whisk for about 2 minutes until combined, light and creamy. Pour into the pot of the slow cooker and roughly smooth the top.
4. In a jug, combine the boiling water, sweetener, sugar, syrup and ginger. Mix until the sugar has dissolved, then pour over the cake batter in the slow cooker.
5. Cover with the lid and cook on high for 2 hours, or on low for 4 hours.
6. The cake should be firm and set on the top. If it isn’t, re-cover and cook for a further 30 minutes, then serve.
Apple And Blueberry Crumble
Serves: 6
Prep time: 15 mins
Cooking time: 3 hrs 15 mins on high
Cals: 159
Carbs: 26g
Ingredients
*3 Bramley apples, peeled, cored and chopped
*350g frozen blueberries
*3tbsp granulated sweetener
*1tsp ground cinnamon
For the topping:
*100g self-raising flour
*1tbsp granulated sweetener
*1tsp ground cinnamon
*50g lighter butter (or reduced-fat spread)
Method:
1. Place the apples, blueberries, sweetener and cinnamon in the slow-cooker pot and stir well. Cover and cook on high for 1 hour.
2. While the fruit cooks, make the topping. Place the flour, sweetener and cinnamon into a bowl. Add the butter and rub into the flour until it resembles coarse breadcrumbs.
3. After an hour, sprinkle the topping over the fruit. Take a clean tea towel and place over the top of the pot, then place the lid on top of the tea towel. This will help absorb moisture and prevent the crumble becoming too soggy. Cook for a further 2 hours.
4. After this time, turn the temperature setting to low. Remove the lid and tea towel and allow to cook for a final 30 minutes to dry out the top of the crumble. Serve!
Banana And Biscoff Rice Pudding
Serves: 4
Prep time: 10 mins
Cooking time: 5 hrs on Low
Cals: 248
Carbs: 41g
Ingredients
*100g pudding rice
*1L unsweetened almond milk
*1tsp vanilla extract
*1/2tsp ground nutmeg
*2tbsp granulated sweetener
To serve:
*40g Biscoff spread
*2 bananas, sliced
*2 Biscoff biscuits
Method
1. Place the pudding rice, almond milk, vanilla extract, nutmeg and sweetener in the slow-cooker pot. Cover and cook on low for 5 hours until the rice pudding is thick and creamy.
2. Stir in the Biscoff spread, then spoon into four bowls, top with the banana slices and crumble the biscuits over the top. Serve.
What food do you need for a healthy diet?
IF you want to have good health, a good way to start is from your diet.
The Eatwell Guide shows that to have a healthy, balanced diet, people should try to:
- eat at least 5 portions of a variety of fruit and vegetables every day
- base meals on higher fibre starchy foods like potatoes, bread, rice or pasta
- have some dairy or dairy alternatives (such as soya drinks)
- eat some beans, pulses, fish, eggs, meat and other protein
- choose unsaturated oils and spreads, and eat them in small amounts
- drink plenty of fluids (at least 6 to 8 glasses a day)
Source: NHS
