It’s summertime, and you are probably thinking about skipping dessert. For the sake of both your mental and physical health, you probably shouldn’t do that. In the past, if you were dieting, you were told that you shouldn’t have any sweets at all.  Actually, a few bites of dark chocolate can reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease. Chocolate rich in dark cocoa packs a high concentration of flavonoids, an antioxidant with huge anti-inflammatory and immune system benefits. In a study of Swedish men aged 45 to 79, those who ate 10 grams of dark chocolate per day (or about one square) were 17 percent less likely to suffer from a stroke than those who did not eat it regularly.  Look for the kind containing 65 to 70 percent cocoa or more.

Science has shown that when you enforce rules and restrictions on a specific food, you naturally crave it more.  This can make you binge when you start eating sweets. Focus more on portion control; avoid the entire pie or devouring four or five cookies in one sitting. Small amounts of any dessert will be enough to satisfy your cravings, and it has been proven that just a small amount will do the trick. Try to put the box of cookies or ice cream back in the pantry or freezer, so you are not tempted to eat everything at once.

If you do feel like indulging, try to make your own sweet delicacies at home, when you can use substitutes like coconut milk, nut butter, avocado or applesauce. By doing this, you will be just as happy, I promise you, and the desserts will be healthier than the store-bought variety. Practice makes perfect, so do not be intimidated by the baking process. Sure, there will be a few disasters, but the process will teach you to be an excellent baker.

This dessert is so simple, yet the final product will make you look like a sophisticated baker. The delicious batter is the perfect crust for the delicately sweet cherries. The almonds add another depth of flavor and crunch. This one should be on your “must try” list, or you will be missing one delicious savory and sweet treat. 

This recipe is adapted from Southerncastiron and will serve 6 to 8 people who will swoon over this delicious treat.

Ingredients for Cherry-Almond Skillet Cake:

½ cup butter, softened
¾ cup sugar
1 large egg
1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon salt
⅔ cup whole buttermilk
1 cup frozen dark cherries (I used fresh ones and pitted them)
¼ cup chopped almonds

Preheat oven to 350°.

In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar with a mixer at medium speed until creamy, 2 to 3 minutes, stopping occasionally to scrape sides of bowl.

Add egg, beating until combined.

In a small bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

Gradually add flour mixture to butter mixture alternately with buttermilk, beginning and ending with flour mixture, beating just until combined after each addition.

Pour batter into a 10-inch cast-iron skillet.

Sprinkle cherries and almonds onto batter.

Bake until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean, 30 to 35 minutes.

Let cool for minutes; serve warm.

It’s that simple!

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