Yes, It’s Possible to Make a Lemon Blueberry Cake That’s Anti-Inflammatory and Filled with Fiber—Here’s How - Well+Good

There’s nothing better than having your cake and eating it, too—especially when it comes to sweet and tart lemon blueberry cake filled with anti-inflammatory and fiber-rich ingredients.

By now, you might know how fascinated we are by the Blue Zones, aka the five regions in the world that are home to the longest-living people. In these zones (Okinawa, Japan; Sardinia, Italy; Nicoya, Costa Rica; Ikaria, Greece, and Loma Linda, California), people live well into their 100s with minimal health concerns. While the longevity of the folks living in the Blue Zones is related to a multitude of lifestyle habits—moving throughout the day, maintaining meaningful relationships, and so on—it certainly has something to do with their eating habits, too.

For starters, people living in the Blue Zones follow a mostly plant-based diet packed with anti-inflammatory foods, including fresh fruits and vegetables, beans, whole grains, and healthy fats like olive oil—all of which are linked to longevity. And to our pleasant surprise, two of our favorite ingredients—hello, lemons and blueberries—are right in there. While eating fruit-filled baked goods is not exactly linked to fighting inflammation or boosting your gut health in the way that eating fresh produce is, why not use this little nugget of intel as inspiration to start baking some nutrient-rich lemon blueberry cake recipes?

Here, five delicious, fruit-filled baked goods that’ll satisfy your sweet tooth while providing your body with anti-inflammatory benefits and heart-healthy fiber.

Health benefits of lemons and blueberries

One of the simplest ways to combat inflammation is by consuming antioxidant-rich foods like blueberries and lemons. The high amounts of antioxidants in these foods help neutralize free radicals in the body, which can stave off cognitive decline, prevent cancer, and lower one's risk of cardiovascular disease. Lemons are also loaded with vitamin C that can help boost your immune system and skin health. Meanwhile, blueberries are a super source of anthocyanins, another powerful antioxidant linked to longevity, as well as heart and brain health. Plus, they have prebiotic fiber (the gut’s BFF) that aids with digestion and promotes a well-balanced microbiome.

5 anti-inflammatory lemon blueberry cake recipes

blueberry lemon cake — Photo: Ambitious Kitchen

1. Lemon Blueberry Zucchini Cake

This delicious lemon blueberry zucchini cake by Ambitious Kitchen packs a one-two-and-three punch in every bite. It’s made with a trifecta of healthy ingredients (lemons, zucchini, and blueberries) loaded with fiber to help you meet your daily gut-healthy needs. Not to mention, the recipe is gluten-free, made with a mix of oat and almond flour that adds even more fiber and protein to every bite. And as if this recipe were lacking at all in the flavor department, it’s sweetened with a touch of honey and garnished with luscious homemade lemon frosting. Better call dibs on licking the frosting bowl, stat.

Get the recipe: Lemon Blueberry Zucchini Cake with Lemon Frosting

2. Blueberry Lemon Yogurt Cake

Few things are more disappointing than a slice of super dry cake that requires a chugging a whole glass of milk to wash down the crumbs stuck in your throat. Good news is that you’ll never have to worry about encountering this problem with this blueberry lemon yogurt cake by Cookie and Kate. It’s made with a few moisture-guaranteeing ingredients like heart-healthy olive oil and yogurt to ensure every bite is perfectly rich, decadent, and, yes, very moist.

Get the recipe: Blueberry Lemon Yogurt Cake

3. Lemon Blueberry Coffee Cake

If you can’t make it through the Starbucks drive-thru line without ordering a coffee cake to pair with your grande go-to latte order, same. So, how about this lemon blueberry coffee cake recipe by Erin Lives Whole that can be enjoyed with a hot cup of joe for breakfast, lunch, or really any time of the day? It has a super crunchy crumble made with almond flour, coconut sugar, lemon zest, and coconut oil, which is the perfect combination for this sweet topping. Yum.

Get the recipe: Healthy Lemon Blueberry Coffee Cake

4. Lemon Blueberry Bread

Honestly, it’s hard to say we’ve ever met a loaf of bread we didn’t like. However, this lemon blueberry bread recipe by Gimme Delicious will be one you absolutely love. It’s fluffy, moist, and super flavorful and is made with no sugar or butter. Plus, they shared five alternative ways to tweak the recipe, like how to make it vegan, gluten-free, or delicious muffins for enjoying on the go. And, TBH, although it’s called a “bread” recipe, it’s basically a cake in disguise... and we’re here for it.

Get the recipe: Healthy Lemon Blueberry Bread

5. Vegan Lemon Blueberry Cake

For a super tangy and rich dessert, This Healthy Kitchen shares how to make a quick and easy DIY vegan buttermilk using soy milk and lemons for this delicious cake recipe. Plus, the plant-based dish is sweetened with applesauce which is one of the best foods to eat to ease your digestion when it feels out of sorts.

Get the recipe: Vegan Lemon Blueberry Cake

Learn more about blueberries, aka the small but mighty fruit: