Healthy cake

 Healthy Eating with Desserts: Healthy 9-Ingredient Fanouropita

Brief Introduction

Who says healthy eating can't include sweet treats? This reinvented traditional Greek Fanouropita brings you all the rich flavors of orange and warm spices without any refined sugar or butter!

Origin of the Name "Fanouropita"

• Etymology: Named after Saint Phanourios (Άγιος Φανούριος), whose feast day is August 27th.

• Meaning: Derived from the Greek verb «φανερώνω» (fanerono), meaning "to reveal" or "to bring to light."

• The Tradition: Because of his name, Saint Phanourios is considered the patron saint for finding lost items, health, or guidance. People traditionally bake this cake so the Saint will "reveal" what they are searching for.

🛒 Recipe Ingredients (For a 28 cm / 11" Pan - 12 Servings)

• 375 g Flour (185 g whole wheat + 190 g all-purpose flour for lightness)

• 105 ml Extra Virgin Olive Oil

• 270 ml Fresh Orange Juice

• 90 g Honey

• 120 g Raisins (60 g dark Corinthian raisins + 60 g golden Sultanas)

• 75 g Walnuts (chopped)

• 1½ tsp Ground Cinnamon & ¾ tsp Ground Cloves

• 2¼ tsp Baking Powder

• Zest of 1 large organic orange

👩‍🍳 Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Preparation: Preheat your oven to 170°C (340°F) . Soak raisins in orange juice for 10 minutes, then drain well. Grease a 28 cm (11") baking pan with olive oil  or line with parchment paper.

2. Wet Ingredients & Aromatics: In a large bowl, whisk together the olive oil, orange juice, and honey until smooth. Add cinnamon, cloves, and orange zest.

3. Dry Ingredients: Sift the flours with baking powder and gradually fold them into the wet mixture using a spatula just until combined.

4. Nuts & Raisins: Toss the drained raisins and chopped walnuts with 1 tablespoon of flour (to prevent them from sinking) and fold gently into the batter.

5. Bake: Spread the batter into the pan, smooth the top, and bake for 45–50 minutes (until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean).

6. Cooling: Remove from the oven immediately, let it rest for 15 minutes, and optionally dust with powdered sugar once fully cooled.

📊 Nutritional Facts

Nutrient	Per 100g	Per Serving (1/12)
Calories	~280 kcal	~230 kcal
Carbohydrates	40 g	33 g
Natural Sugars	18 g	15 g
Dietary Fiber	4.2 g	3.5 g
Total Fat	11 g	9 g
Saturated Fat	1.5 g	1.2 g
Protein	5 g	4 g

Comments & Nutritional Highlights

🍊 Health Benefit: Boost Your "Good" Cholesterol (HDL)

• Extra Virgin Olive Oil & Walnuts: Packed with monounsaturated fatty acids and Omega-3s. Replacing saturated fats (like butter) with healthy plant-based fats helps increase HDL ("good") cholesterol levels, which acts like a cleanup crew clearing plaque from your arteries.

• Low Saturated Fat: Contains only 1.2g of saturated fat per serving!

• High in Dietary Fiber: Whole wheat flour, raisins, and walnuts deliver 3.5g of fiber per slice, slowing down sugar absorption and keeping energy levels steady.