Looking for an easy and delicious dessert you can make at home? This banana ‘cream’ pie will not disappoint!

Normally a huge fan of dark chocolate, I acquired a major aversion to anything chocolate during my first trimester. It was really, really strange….even the sight of it in my kitchen made me nauseous. As my nausea finally disappeared around 16 weeks, my chocolate cravings slowly returned.

As someone who loves baking, I’m always looking for ways to include more Fertility Superfoods into my daily diet. I love this recipe because it contains a mixture of whole grains, healthy fats from the nuts, unrefined sugars and fresh fruit. Should you have any dietary restrictions this recipe is naturally gluten-free and vegan.

Fertility Friendly Dessert

Banana ‘Cream’ Pie

CRUST

  •   3/4 cup gluten-free rolled oats
  •   3/4 cup raw almonds or cashews
  •   1 tsp cinnamon
  •   1/4 tsp sea salt
  •   2 tbsp organic honey or maple syrup
  •   1/4 cup melted coconut oil

Date Caramel

  • 1 1/2 cups loosely packed pitted Medjool dates
  • ¼ cup natural almond butter
  • 1 tsp fresh lemon juice
  • Pinch of sea salt

Cream Filling

  •   2 tbsp cornstarch
  •   3 tbsp coconut sugar or brown sugar
  •   1 1/2 cups unsweetened plain nut milk (almond, cashew, macadamia)
  •   1 tsp pure vanilla extract

Topping

  •   1 diced ripe banana
  •   ¼ cup melted dark chocolate

Directions

  1.         Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and line a 9-inch pie pan with parchment paper.
  2.         Add the oats, almonds, spices, honey and coconut oil to the food processer and blend to a fine meal.
  3.         Transfer mixture to pie pan spread evenly, pressing down firmly and up the sides. Poke a few holes in the base of the crust and bake for 12-14 minutes until lightly browned.
  4.         Prepare cream filling by adding cornstarch and sugar to a saucepan and slowly whisk in almond milk.
  5.         Place over medium heat and cook until bubbling. Reduce heat to low and whisk frequently for 5-10 more minutes until the filling starts to thicken. Remove from heat and let cool. Place in the fridge for a few hours, or overnight, to set firmly.
  6.         If dates appear dry, place them in a small bowl and cover with warm water for 5-10 minutes. Drain and prepare the date caramel by combining the dates, almond butter, lemon juice and salt in the food processor. Blend until smooth ball forms.
  7.         Prepare the layers- Spread data caramel evenly over top of cooled pie crust. Top with cream filling, freshly sliced banana and a drizzle of dark chocolate.
  8.         Enjoy! Cover any remaining leftovers and store them in the fridge for a few days.

Adapted from Oh She Glows and Minimalist Baker

 

Can I eat dessert while trying to conceive?

Absolutely! I don’t believe in following strict diet regimens or calorie counting for anyone, but especially not when trying to conceive. Fertility treatments are INCREDIBLY stressful. Endless mornings of blood draws and transvaginal ultrasounds, injections, appointments and frustration. The last thing you need is another stressor in your life.

Other than very specific health conditions (i.e. celiac disease) there is very little evidence for removing specific food groups from your diet. What I do advocate for is increasing your consumption of whole foods. This means more cooking at home, and less packaged foods or take-put that contains ingredients your grandma wouldn’t recognize. I personally love baking and I could not imagine a life without chocolate. Finding healthy ways to indulge, while limiting excess sugars and unhealthy fats, such as trans fats in packaged pastries, is important.