Healthy Holme's 5 Must-Have Items for the Home Baker

Written by Isabella Berkoff

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Posted on November 14 2023

Stephanie Niemis of Healthy Holme is a holistic nutritionist, mother of three and cookbook author that creates easy, gluten-free recipes the whole family will love! From comforting year-round recipes like her Oat M!lk Chocolate S'mores Skillet to her more festive treats like Frog Birthday Cakes and Earth Day Cake Bites, it's hard not to fall in love with her sweet creations. So naturally, we want to know what her favorite kitchen staples are - read on to find out!

 

1.) Chocolate

Image of healthy chocolate pecan pie

Pictured: Stephanie's healthier take on a classic pecan pie, featuring wholesome ingredient swaps and our Santander 85% Luker Chocolate.

No kitchen is complete without chocolate! From simple recipes like Birds Nests for Easter to more complicated ones like Stephanie's Healthy Chocolate Pecan Pie, high quality chocolate is a baking staple that any pastry chef or home baker should have on hand.

Whether you're drizzling melted chocolate on top of cookies, filling hot cocoa bombs, or incorporating chocolate into your next healthy pie recipe, our selection of fine chocolate products are up to the task. 

Stephanie's Take: Stephanie loves all chocolate, but her favorites are the SantanderHuila, and Tumaco 85% from Luker Chocolate. "The chocolate discs melt perfectly to drizzle over dessert. They are an easy way to make a dessert look fancier! I also chop them up and mix them into cookie batter for the ultimate, melty chocolate chunks in my cookies!"

Stephanie's Chocolatey Recipes:

 

2.) Natural Colorants

Image of Rose frosted Cupcakes with Natural Colorant from PurColour

Pictured: Stephanie's Mother's Day Cupcake Roses, topped with naturally colored cream cheese frosting using our PurColour Purple and Scarlet colorants.

Colorants are a super fun way to add a pop of color to celebratory cakes and everyday treats - particularly when you can feel great about the ingredients, too. PurColour's dry colorants are all-natural, made with ingredients like fruit, vegetables and minerals (the green comes from Spirulina!). Bonus? They're also super easy to use. Simply add your choice of color to buttercream or frosting and stir!

Stephanie's Take: "The colorants are incredibly vibrant and you only need a teaspoon or two to turn white icing into something colorful and beautiful! I love that the colorants are made using natural ingredients instead of artificial dyes."

    Learn more about PurColour's natural colorants here.

    Check out some of Stephanie's colorful sweet creations:

     

    3.) Roasted Cocoa Nibs

    Image of gluten-free granola bars

    Pictured: Roasted Cocoa Nibs gives Stephanie's Healthy Homemade Gluten-Free Granola Bars a chocolatey flavor and satisfying crunchy texture without the added sugar.

    Ever want chocolate, but trying to go easy on the sugar? Luker Chocolate's Roasted Cocoa Nibs are there for you (and your cravings). Made with 100% Fino de Aroma cacao, these fermented and roasted nibs guarantee high standards in quality, flavor, and aroma. You'll get that chocolatey fix, but without the sugar rush. Win, win!

    Stephanie's Take: "Cocoa nibs are full of antioxidants and completely sugar-free. They add a great crunch and the chocolate flavor without the sugar! I love mixing them into yogurt, granola bars, smoothies and more!"

    Try incorporating them into these gluten-free Healthy Homemade Granola Bars for a perfect on-the-go snack!

       

      4.) Sprinkles & Crystal Sugar

      Image of earth cake bites with blue and green crystal sugar

      Pictured: Earth Cake Bites topped with PurColour's green and blue Crystal Sugar.

      If you're searching for a way to add instant color and shine naturally to your sweet creations, look no further. PurColour's selection of glittery, eye-catching Crystal Sugars can be used on pastries, cakes, or confections. Their products contain no artificial ingredients, additives, or preservatives and are always gluten, dairy, and nut-free!

      The ever-popular Natural Rainbow Sprinkles are a health-conscious way to add a pop of color to confections as well, with colors coming from natural sources like vegetable juice, turmeric, and beta-carotene.

      Image of paleo chocolate cake with natural rainbow sprinkles

      Pictured: Stephanie's Paleo Chocolate Cake with chocolate icing and Natural Rainbow Sprinkles.

      Stephanie's Take: "Sprinkles and crystal sugars make desserts so fun and festive! I love that these have no artificial dyes in them!"

      Stephanie's Recipes with Sugar Toppings:

      Earth Cake Bites

      Crystal Sugar Christmas Trees

      Birthday Cake Inspiration 

       

      5.) Pure Vanilla Extract

      Image of paleo gingerbread cookies

      Pictured: Stephanie's Paleo Gingerbread Cookies sweetened with our Pure Madagascar Vanilla Extract. Just as yummy as traditional gingerbread!

      Sweet, creamy flavor with velvety after-tones, our Pure Madagascar Vanilla Extract is perfect for cooking and baking both sweet and savory recipes. A staple for all sorts of festive cookies!

      Stephanie's Take:  "This pure vanilla extract is an ingredient in so many of my recipes! It adds a delicious flavor!"

       Check out some of Stephanie's recipes using our Pure Vanilla Extract:

       

      Ready to get baking?

      With these ideas, we bet you’re inspired and ready to start tackling some new recipes! Show us what you make by tagging us on social media @ifiprovisions with #PastryatHome on Facebook and Instagram. Also, be sure to check out our Pinterest for sweet inspiration, recipes, and more! 

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