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Guide to Preventing Migraines  ( Home | Diet | Foods | Recipes )

Dessert Recipes for Migraine Sufferers


Are you looking for dessert recipes that are suitable for migraine sufferers? We've put together a collection of tempting dessert recipes that use some of the best ingredients for people prone to migraine headaches.

If this is your first visit to healwithfood.org's Nutrition Guide to Fighting Migraines, you may also want to check out the section Anti-Migraine Diet Tips and the page Best Foods for Preventing Migraines.

Carrot Muffins

Yields 12 muffins

These divine muffins are gluten-free and therefore suitable for people whose migraines are triggered by an exposure to gluten. These muffins also contain magnesium, which has been shown to reduce headaches, and antioxidant nutrients which can give you a real health boost.

Ingredients
1 egg
1 cup rice milk
4 tbsp canola oil
2 cups quinoa flour or other gluten-free flour
1 tsp guar gum
1 tbsp flaxseed meal
3 1/2 tsp gluten-free baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 cup organic carrots, grated


Directions
  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C, gas mark 6)
  • Beat together egg, rice milk, and canola oil. Combine dry ingredients in a separate bowl.
  • Add liquid ingredients to dry ingredients and mix until just blended (do not over-mix). Fold in grated carrots and raisins.
  • Fill 12 paper muffin cups with batter (about two thirds full). Bake for 20 minutes.

Chocolate-Free "Chocolate Pudding"

Even if your migraine headaches are triggered by chocolate, you can still enjoy the lovely texture and mellow sweetness of a "chocolate" pudding — as long as it's made with carob like this one! Carob flour, made from the pots of the carob tree, boasts a sweet, cocoa-like flavor but is free from phenylethylamine, a chemical that naturally occurs in chocolate and that has been shown to trigger migraine headaches in some people. The millet featured in this pudding provides a valuable source of magnesium. Note: This recipe is not suitable for those whose migraine attacks are linked to tyramine intolerance.

Ingredients
3/4 cup water
1/3 cup dates, chopped
1/8 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp vanilla
2 tbsp carob powder
1 1/3 cups hot cooked millet

Directions
  • Mix water and dates in a food processor, and process until smooth. Transfer to a saucepan and bring to a boil.
  • Remove from heat, and add rest of ingredients.
  • Blend until smooth. Chill and serve.

Quinoa Crepes with Applesauce

10-12 crepes

These quinoa crepes are gluten-free and thus great for those whose migraines are triggered by an exposure to gluten. Furthermore, quinoa is a good source of magnesium which has been shown to reduce headaches. Magnesium's ability to ease migraines is believed to be linked to the mineral's role in stabilizing blood vessel walls. The activity of serotonin receptors and other migraine-related receptors and neurotransmitters can also be affected by changes in magnesium levels.

Ingredients
1 1/2 quinoa flour
1/2 cup tapioca flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
2 cup carbonated water
3 tbsp canola oil
3 cups unswtnd, organic apple sauce
Cinnamon, to taste

Directions
  • In a medium bowl, mix together quinoa flour, tapioca flour, baking soda, and cinnamon. Add water and oil and whisk until well combined.
  • Preheat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add a few drops of canola oil.
  • For first crepe, pour about 1/3 cup of batter into skillet, rotating skillet quickly until bottom is evenly coated. Cook crepe on medium high heat until bottom is light brown. Flip over and briefly cook other side.
  • Repeat previous step until batter is gone. Serve with apple sauce.

Apple Slices with Cinnamon

Serves 1

A migraine attack or a headache can be triggered by a sudden drop in blood sugar levels. This can be avoided by eating foods with a low glycemic index (GI) rating like this one.

Ingredients
1 medium apple, cored and sliced
1/4 tsp cinnamon, ground

Directions

Place apple slices on a small serving plate. Sprinkle with cinnamon and serve immediately.


Fantastic Fiber Muffins

Some people report that they experience headaches when they are constipated. This dessert combines wheat bran with whole wheat flour and apples to create a delicious treat that helps you reach your fiber quota and thus prevent constipation. Note: This recipe is not suitable for those whose migraine attacks are linked to gluten intolerance.

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups wheat bran
1 cup nonfat milk (or milk substitute)
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 egg
2/3 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup organic apples, washed, cored, chopped


Directions
  • Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C, gas mark 5).
  • Combine wheat bran and milk, and let stand for 15 minutes.
  • In a large bowl, whisk together apple sauce, egg, and brown sugar. Stir in bran mixture and mix well.
  • In a small bowl, combine all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Stir into bran mixture and mix until just blended (do not over-mix). Fold in chopped apples.
  • Fill prepared muffin cups with batter (about two thirds full). Bake for about 15-20 minutes.

Buckwheat Pancakes with Bananas

Serves 2

All key ingredients in this dessert – buckwheat, bananas, and brown rice syrup – are considered hypoallergenic, which means that they are among the foods that are least likely to cause allergic reactions in humans. This is great news for people who suffer from migraine headaches since an estimated 90% of all migraines are directly linked to allergies or sensitivities to certain foods or food additives.

Ingredients
1 cup buckwheat flour
1 Tbsp brown sugar
2 Tbsp potato starch
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder
1 cup rice milk
2 Tbsp canola oil
Vegetable cooking spray, for frying
2 large bananas, sliced
Brown rice syrup, to serve

Directions
  • Combine dry ingredients in a medium bowl. Add rice milk and canola oil, and whisk until well combined. If batter seems very thick, you may want add a little extra rice milk or water.
  • Preheat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Spray with vegetable cooking spray.
  • With a ladle, pour batter to the size you prefer. Even out batter on skillet with back of a spoon. Cook pancake on medium high heat for a few minutes until bubbles appear. Flip over and continue frying until cooked (a properly cooked pancake appears dense and not sticky when cut in the middle).
  • Repeat previous step until batter is gone.
  • Serve pancakes with banana slices and brown rice syrup.

Want More Anti-Migraine Recipes?

For more recipes that can help you prevent and alleviate migraine headaches, visit the main recipe directory of the Guide to Preventing Migraines.