I first had Castagnaccio during my visit at the Swiss Mountain Clinic. This chestnut cake can be found in the rural areas of Italy, and is common in Tuscany during the Autumn season. However, I like to enjoy this year round, as it’s simple to make and an easy way to add hormone-balancing seeds to your diet.
For my version of this classic recipe, the center of the cake stays silky and slightly chewy while the outside bakes golden brown. This is because of full-fat coconut milk, ghee and honey combining for a sweet and custard-like batter.
Ginger and vanilla extract create a warm spice flavor and aroma. Fresh ginger bakes seamlessly into the cake leaving behind subtle spiced notes.
What is Chestnut Flour?
Chestnut flour is made of finely ground dried chestnuts with the skins removed. The flour is light and airy with a more distinct nutty flavor and aroma than almond flour. Note: This specialty flour hasn’t made its way onto supermarket shelves as readily as almond flour, so purchase it online in advance.
Adding Seeds for Balance
To finish the cake off, sesame seeds and pumpkin seed kernels are added to the top. They add crunchy texture to the silky smooth cake, and help support hormone balance, too.
- Pumpkin seed kernels are a rich source of omega-3’s which may help reduce symptoms of PMS like bloating, headache and depression.
- Sesame seeds are an excellent source of zinc and selenium. Zinc is found to increase progesterone production. Too low or fluctuations in progesterone may lead to PMS symptoms.
To learn more about how to balance your hormones with supplements (and which to take), you can download our FREE Supplement Guide here.
- 1 cup unsweetened full-fat coconut milk, at room temperature
- ½ cup raw honey
- ¼ cup ghee, melted
- 2 tablespoon fresh ginger, peeled and minced
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups chestnut flour, plus more for dusting
- 1 teaspoon aluminum-free baking powder
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- 2 tablespoon raw pumpkin kernels
- 2 teaspoon sesame seeds
- Preheat oven to 325ºF. Line a 7-inch round cake pan with parchment paper and grease sides with ½ tsp of ghee.
- Stir together melted ghee, honey, ginger, coconut milk and vanilla extract in a medium mixing bowl until honey is well incorporated. In a separate medium mixing bowl, stir together chestnut flour, baking powder and sea salt. Gradually stir wet ingredients into dry.
- Pour into prepared pan and spread evenly with a spatula. Sprinkle sesame seeds and pumpkin seed kernels on cake. Bake on center rack in oven for 35-40 minutes, until center is set and edges are golden brown.
- Cool cake in pan for 10 minutes. Invert cake onto a cooling rack. Cool for 20 minutes longer. Dust with chestnut flour and cut into 8 slices.
In my cookbook, Cooking For Hormone Balance, you’ll find over 125 easy, delicious recipes to nourish your body and balance your hormones without calorie restriction or deprivation.
All of the recipes are based on 20 hormone-supporting superfoods and 20 hormone-supporting super herbs—with modifications for Paleo, Paleo for Autoimmunity (AIP), anti-Candida, and low-FODMAP diets.
You can get a copy of the cookbook here.
would like to purchase your progesterone drops. can’t find purchasing info anywhere.
Here you go! https://hormonebalancenutritionals.com/collections/single-products/products/progest-pure
Healthy regards, HB Team
progesterone drops?! cool. i’m taking compounded sublingual. are these drops safer and how much should be taken?
i’m trying recipe with tigernut because that’s what i have from a recipe from wonderful Yasmina. RIP. both are fine and taste sweet/nutty. I’ll let you know how it turns out.
Is the coconut milk canned or the refrigerated type that is used in this recipe?
Same question for me–although perhaps the results wouldn’t be quite the same since Magdalena says chestnut flour is very fine and the skins have been removed. Meanwhile, hazelnut and almond flours are coarser and include the skins so the cake might not be a smooth and tender.
Hey Rebecca,
This recipe calls for full-fat coconut milk which is thicker in consistency.
Healthy regards,
HB Team
Hi, thanks for the interesting recipe! I wonder if this can be made with walnut / hazelnut flour instead, as I’m not a big fan of chestnuts and I have those on hand?
Hi can you tell if possible which brand did you got for the flour,thanks
Do you have the nutritional facts for this cake? I have to eat low carb, so need the carb count.
Also, I’d like to try your cook book “Cooking for Hormone Health”. Are there low carb recipes in there? And do you include the nutrition facts for each recipe? Thanks
Hi Lisa, we do not have the nutritional facts for any of the free recipes, however they are all free from: Gluten, Dairy, Soy, Corn, Eggs, and Nightshade Vegetables. They are highly anti-inflammatory and low in sugar based on the elimination diet.
The cookbook recipes are separated into different therapeutic diets such as AIP, LOW FODMAP, anti-candida and the elimination diet.
If you are following a specific diet other than what I mentioned, then we suggest adjusting the recipes to fit your needs. Magdalena teaches to listen to your body and add more protein or use more or less oil, as an example, if that is what your body requires.
~ Jeanne HB Team
Hi Maggie, I did a quick google search and found some places where you can buy chestnut flour:
Nuts.com .
Hoosier Hill Farm receives rave reviews on Amazon.com and is half the price on the farm’s website.
Allen Creek Farm in Washington state sells all things chestnuts, including chestnut flour, at chestnutsonline.com.
I hope this helps!
~ Jeanne HB Team
thanks, yes ill get from Nuts.com,i like that comp[any thanks for your response
Hey Ral,
Give it a try and let us know how it turns out!
Healthy regards,
HB Team
Can coconut oil
be substituted for ghee
Hi Pa,
We haven’t tried that yet in the HB kitchen. If you try it, please let us know how it goes for you. ~HB Team
Just received this recipe in my inbox. I am excited to try this out. I wonder if one can make chestnut flour from real chestnuts? I still happen to have some around from Christmas. Will have to look into this matter. Thank You very much
Hi Maria, sure can! Please let us know how you like this recipe:)
~ Jeanne HB Team
Looks yummy!
What would be a good substitute for coconut milk? Rice milk or hemp milk? I am unfortunately allergic to coconut (and dairy/nuts).
Hey Isa,
I think whatever you prefer will work just fine. Rice, hemp, oat and whatever you like. 🙂
Healthy Regards,
HB Team
Thanks For Sharing this Amazing Recipe. My Family Loved It. I will be sharing this Recipe with my Friends. Hope They will like it.
great cake! but 2 tablespoons of fresh ginger is way too much. Next time I’ll add just 1 teaspoon of ginger, it’s more than enough.
I absolutely love this recipe. so simple, so delicious, healthy/ All the ingredients blend beautifully together. I love the ginger. Just amazing. Thank you for sharing