This week is definitely a week of firsts. First run at -4F. First time I hit a weight I haven’t seen since 2020. Running at that low of a temperature is borderline insane. Losing weight has been something that has required patience. It has also happened by using some better tools. I have been using the Pump app from Arnold Schwarzenegger since late summer and that has helped me break through any plateaus I was having. Considering I wanted a personal trainer, but could not afford one, this app has been wonderful. Less than $100 a year for one of the best personal trainers in the world, that was a no brainer. I wish this was sponsored, but in this case, it’s not. Just my honest review.

This week’s recipe is from Southern Living for New Neighbor Cake. I picked this recipe because it has a glorious pecan pie like topping. I also like it because it’s not difficult to make. My time has been at a premium lately, so prefer something not complicated.

Here are the original stats:

Here’s what I changed:

• I replaced the butter in the cake with unsweetened applesauce to reduce the saturated fat and calories
• I replaced the all purpose flour with coconut and almond flours to reduce the carbs.
• I swapped out the buttermilk for coconut milk and vinegar to remove the dairy.
• I replaced the sour cream with a plant-based variety to remove the dairy.
• I replaced all of the sugars with their sweetener equivalents to reduce the carbs.
• I replaced the heavy cream with a plant-based variety to remove the dairy.
• I increased the servings from 8 to 12 to lower the calories.

Here are the final stats:

Here is the final recipe:

Neighbor Cake

Serves 12

For the Cake

• Baking spray
• 1 cup and 2 tablespoons almond flour
• 6 tablespoons coconut flour
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 tsp. kosher salt
• 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 3/4 cup firmly-packed light brown sweetener
• 1/4 cup granulated sweetener
• 1 large egg, at room temperature
• 3/4 cup unsweetened coconut milk
• 1 tablespoon vinegar
• 1/4 cup plant based sour cream, at room temperature
• 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

For the Topping

• 1/2 cup firmly-packed light brown sweetener
• 1/8 tsp. kosher salt
• 1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 3/4 cup chopped pecans
• 3 Tbsp. unsalted butter, melted
• 2 Tbsp. plant based heavy cream

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9-inch springform pan with baking spray, and line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper. You can also use a cake pan with 2 inch sides or an 8×8 square pan.
2. Mix the coconut milk and vinegar to make sour milk. Set aside.
3. Whisk the flours, baking soda, and kosher salt together in a medium bowl; set aside.
4. Using a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the applesauce, brown sweetener, and granulated sweetener together on medium speed until combined. Add the egg and beat until well combined.
5. Add the sour milk, sour cream, and vanilla to the batter and mix until combined, scraping down the sides and bottom of the bowl as needed to ensure all ingredients are fully mixed together.
6. Add the dry ingredients all at once and, using a rubber spatula, fold into the batter just until combined and there are no more pockets of flour remaining.
7. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth into an even layer. Bake in the center of the oven for 30 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. When the cake has about 10 minutes left in the oven, prepare the pecan topping.
8. Stir the brown sweetener, kosher salt, cinnamon, and chopped pecans together in a medium bowl. Add the melted butter and heavy cream and stir to combine.
9. After 30 minutes, remove the cake from the oven and spoon the pecan mixture in dollops over the surface of the cake. Gently spread the pecan mixture into an even layer (the hot cake should warm the pecan mixture, making it more easily spreadable). Return the cake to the oven and bake for an additional 10 minutes.
10. Allow the cake to cool in the pan for 20 minutes. Carefully run an offset spatula or butter knife along the edges of the pan to help release any pecan topping that might be sticking before removing the sides of the springform pan. Allow to cool completely before serving.