Tag Archives: chocolate

Unbaked “cake/brownie”

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The other night, my 4-year old and I made these unbaked “cake/brownies” out of dates, raisins, mixed nuts, shredded coconut, cacao, and vanilla extract.  It is nutty, chocolatey, and chewy, like a chocolate caramel with a sort of nutty “brownie-fudge” consistency.  These are the type of desserts I make at home because it is so easy, delicious, filling, and not to mention a lot healthier than the traditional cake/brownie.  My daughter LOVES these!  And, they are perfect for me when I am craving chocolate!

I have different versions of this recipe; “Raw Vegan Chocolate Balls”, “Snow Balls”, and “Brownie with Icing”.  But, I wasn’t in the mood to make “balls” or “icing”, so I just flattened the chocolate mixture out on a little glass container, placed it in the fridge for a few hours, and then cut it into “cake/brownie” bites.  You can definitely get creative with these and add whatever you want (dried cherries, semi-sweet/dairy-free chocolate chips, etc).  It is fun to experiment!

Here are the links to the different recipes:

Chef AJ’s “Wicked Fudge Sauce”

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Last month, my friend Tara made this delicious dessert for me and a couple of our other friends.  She used Chef AJ’s “Wicked Fudge Sauce” recipe from the book, “Unprocessed: How to achieve vibrant health and your ideal weight”.  And, ever since she made it, I haven’t stopped thinking about it.  So, I made it myself the other day!  It is delicious and so satisfying, not to mention healthy.  This recipe is on page 75 in her book.  But, if you don’t have this book, you can click on the image below if you want to check it out.

With Chef AJ’s permission, I am providing you this super easy recipe from her book!

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup of raw almond butter
  • 1/2 cup of date syrup (a blend of dates and filtered water….the recipe is also in the book)
  • 1/2 cup of raw cacao powder or carob powder
  • 1/2 cup of unsweetened non-dairy milk

….And, I just sprinkled a tad bit of coconut on top (optional).

Directions:  Throw everything in a blender or food processor and blend.  If you want to make the sauce thinner, add a little bit more non-dairy milk.

Serve with vegan cookies, bananas, apples, strawberries, etc.

Enjoy!

Here are some of the health benefits of almonds: 

  • High in protein.
  • May help lower cholesterol.
  • May help prevent cancer.
  • Reduce risk of heart attack.

Easy VEGAN Chocolate “Ice Cream” (without an ice cream maker)

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This is the kind of ice cream we have in our house.  All natural, hormone-free, low sugar, and healthy!

 

I have posted easy “ice cream” recipes in the past, but I just wanted to remind you again how awesome and delicious this stuff is!  It is simple and quick!  It takes me 5 to 10 minutes to make this stuff.

It is the best guilt-free chocolate “ice cream”! Made from fruits, cacao,and peanut butter…and a little bit of almond extract.

It is creamy, delicious, and so satisfying!

Ingredients:

-frozen bananas (3 or 4)
-frozen blueberries (about 1 cup)
-1 tsp almond extract
-pitted dates (5)
-1/3 cup of peanut butter
-2 tablespoons of cacao powder
-a few tablespoons of cacao nibs or vegan chocolate chips (optional)
Note: if you find that it is too thick, just add a bit more frozen fruit.  If you want to make it sweeter, you can add more dates, stevia, or agave.  Adjust to your preference….

Directions:
1. throw everything in the VITAMIX or high-powered blender.
2. Blend and serve
3. Top it off with more fruit, shredded coconuts, hemp seeds, vegan cookies, crushed peanuts,  etc.

I usually make a couple of batches to freeze.  Before I serve, I let it thaw for about 5 to 10 minutes.
Enjoy!

Raw Vegan Chocolate Figgy Pie with Pecans

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I have been craving something chocolaty lately, so I decided to experiment with the ingredients in my fridge and pantry.  I love doing that!  So, I soaked some nuts the night before and made a delicious and healthy dessert that is packed with nutritious ingredients the next day.  It was so easy to make that my daughter (4 years old) was able to help me make it.  After my daughter tried it, she says, “Mommy, this is the best pie I have ever tasted!  I love you so much!”  LOL  It was too cute.

Enjoy!

Ingredients for crust:

  • 1 and 2/3 cup of raw pecans (if you don’t have “raw”, just use unsalted pecans)
  • 1 cup of pitted medjool dates
  • 12 dried figs (stems removed)
  • 2 tablespoons of cold pressed coconut oil
  • 1 teaspoon of vanilla
  • 2 tablespoons of raw cacao (note: if you don’t have “raw”, you can use regular cacao powder)
  • pinch of sea salt
  • 1 tablespoon of shredded coconut to sprinkle on the pan

Here are the figs I used:

Ingredients for the Filling:

  • 2 cups of raw cashews (soaked over night in filtered water)
  • 1 and 1/3 cup of filtered water
  • 4 tablespoons of cold pressed coconut oil
  • 4 tablespoons of raw agave (I don’t like my desserts too sweet, so taste it to see if it is sweet enough for you, if not, add a little more agave)
  • 1 tablespoon of vanilla
  • 2 tablespoons of raw cacao powder
  • 2 dried figs (stems removed)
  • 1/2 teaspoon of soy lecithin granules

Directions for Crust:

  1. Throw all ingredients in the food processor (except for the shredded coconut) and blend for a few minutes.
  2. Sprinkle shredded coconut on the bottom of your pie pan.  This is so the crust doesn’t stick to the pan.
  3. Press the crust blend onto your pie pan.

Directions for Filling:

  1. Throw all “filling” ingredients into your blender.  I used my Vitamix.
  2. Blend for a few minutes until it is smooth.
  3. Pour blend onto pie crust.
  4. Decorate with more pecans.
  5. Freeze for a few hours.
  6. Serve.

Avocado German Chocolate Cake Pudding

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I have been making a lot of fruit “ice creams” and puddings lately.  They can be so addictive!

Today, I decided to make this German chocolate cake pudding because I wanted to use some of the pecans I just purchased.  I just love chocolate with pecans and coconut.  And, my daughter ate this up with a huge bowl of strawberries.

It is healthy, creamy, chocolatey, and a bit coco-nutty.

Avocados are not just for guacamole anymore! ;)

Check out these other sweet avocado recipes on my blog:

Ingredients:

  • 2 avocados (ripe)
  • 2 frozen bananas (ripe)
  • 2/3 cup of frozen blueberries
  • 2 teaspoons of vanilla
  • 9 pitted medjool dates
  • 3 tablespoons of unsweetened shredded coconut
  • 4 tablespoons of raw cacao (chocolate powder)
  • 1/4 cup of finely chopped pecans

Note: if you want to keep this “raw”, just use raw pecans and un-toasted coconut.  But today, I cooked the pecans in my wok greased with a little bit of coconut oil and TINY pinch of of celtic sea salt.

Directions:

  1. Place all ingredients in your Vitamix (except for the pecans).
  2. Blend it all together until smooth (no lumps).
  3. Pour the pudding into a bowl.
  4. Mix in your pecans.
  5. Serve and enjoy!

Chocolate Avocado Green Smoothie (Raw)

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Here is another healthy smoothie idea.  Instead of using the traditional banana to create a rich and smooth texture for the smoothie, today I used an avocado instead.  Both are delicious, but the avocado makes it a bit thicker, which I like, but if you are not a fan of thick smoothies, just add more coconut water and ice.

Ingredients:

(serves 3 to 4 people)

  • 1 avocado
  • 3 to 4 cups of kale
  • 1 cup of mixed fruit (I used one peeled and seeded orange and 1/2 cup of mixed berries: black berries, blueberries, and raspberries.)
  • 1.5 to 2 cups of coconut water
  • 4 tablespoons of raw cacao powder
  • 4 tablespoons of hemp seeds
  • 1 large carrot (optional)
  • 5 dates (pitted)
  • 1/2 to 2/3 cup of ice

Directions:

Place all ingredients in your vitamix blender and blend until you have no lumps.

Decadent Dark Chocolate Almond Pudding (RAW)

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If you are a fan of chocolate, you will LOVE this pudding!

My daughter and I have been into puddings lately and I try to create different flavors every time.  Yesterday, I made chocolate avocado mint and it was delightful!  Today, I made this rich and decadent chocolate pudding.  It is sweet, smooth, chocolaty, delicious, and much healthier than your average pudding in a box!  Also, it only took me 5 minutes to make it!

Ingredients (for one serving):

  • 1 ripe organic banana
  • 1/4 cup of frozen blueberries
  • 3 to 3.5 tablespoons of organic raw cacao powder
  • 2 tablespoons of RAW almond butter
  • 1 tablespoon of all natural and organic vanilla
  • 6 to 7 PITTED medjool dates
  • 3 to 4 tablespoons of coconut water (if you don’t have this, just use filtered water)
  • Topping: organic unsweetened shredded coconut.

Directions:

  1. Place all ingredients in your Vitamix.  (Note: you can try using a regular blender or food processor, but I am not sure how smooth it would be…but I am sure it would still be pretty delicious)
  2. Blend together for a minute until the pudding is smooth (no lumps).
  3. Top it off with shredded coconut.
  4. Serve and enjoy!

Click here for more info on a VITAMIX BLENDER

Vegan, Chocolate, and Coconut Mini Doughnuts

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My 3-year-old has been curious about doughnuts after she saw watched a television show she saw on PBS.  I noticed that every time we drive by a doughnut place, she would ask about the doughnuts.  She wanted to know what they were, how they were made, how they tasted like, and if they were vegan.   Then, I explain to her that doughnuts are mostly made up of flour and sugar, then deep-fried, and then dipped into more sugar.  And, that it is most likely not vegan.  She asked enough times a couple of weeks ago, that it made me want to buy a doughnut maker!  And, this is the one I got.

…..I have to say, it is pretty cool!

Click here or the picture for more info.

I have never made doughnuts before, and unfortunately, there was only one recipe for doughnuts in the user’s manual.  That recipe required the use of butter,eggs,  sugar, and more butter.  Not my ideal recipe, but it was still better than an average doughnut hat you buy at the doughnut shop because it is “baked”.

So, I decided to alter the recipe a bit to make it more “my style”.   And, like I said, this was my first time making doughnuts, so I wasn’t really sure on how they were going to turn out.  I wanted to “healthify” it the best that I could, so it is not as sweet and greasy.  Surprisingly, they turned out very good!  My family and I really liked the outcome!  It is chocolaty, coconutty, and delicious!  I hope you guys enjoy it as well!

Also, I have to add that my daughter had a blast helping me make them!

Ingredients:

  • 1.5 cups of unbleached, organic, all-purpose flour
  • 1.5 cups of NON-DAIRY milk
  • 6 pitted medjool dates
  • 1 egg-replacer (Ener-G)
  • 5 tablespoons of coconut oil
  • 4 tablespoons of organic cacao powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon of salt
  • 5 tablespoons of unsweetened organic shredded coconuts
  • 1 tablespoon of organic sucanat sugar.
  • 1/4 cup of maple syrup

Directions:

  1. Mix egg-replacer and set aside (follow instructions on package).
  2. Blend milk and dates in a blender or food processor until smooth (consistency of runny yogurt).
  3. In a large bowl, pour flour, cinnamon, salt, and cacao powder and mix.
  4. In another bowl, mix coconut oil (make sure it is not in solid form), with milk/date mixture, and egg-replacer.  When it is thoroughly mixed together, add it to the dry ingredients.
  5. Mix it well.
  6. Spoon into doughnut maker.
  7. Close and “bake” for 2-3 minutes.
  8. In a regular-sized bowl, mix shredded coconut with sucanat sugar.
  9. Put your maple syrup in another regular-sized bowl.
  10. First, dip your cooked doughnuts into the maple syrup and then dip it into the shredded coconut and sucanat mixture.  Note: I only dipped the top of the doughnuts, but if you want it a little bit sweeter, you can dip the whole thing in maple syrup and then roll it into the shredded coconut.
  11. Serve with espresso, cappuccino, coffee, hot chocolate, or with just plain non-dairy milk!
  12. Enjoy!

Raw Chocolate Beta Packed Soft “Cookies”

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Ingredients:

  • 1.5 cups of carrot pulp
  • 1/2 cup of goji berries
  • 3 tablespoons of raw agave
  • 4 pitted medjool dates
  • 2 tablespoons of cold pressed coconut oil
  • 3 tablespoons raw cacao powder
  • 3 tablespoons of sesame seeds
  • 1/4 cup of raw almonds (soaked overnight) …optional
  • 1 banana
  • 2 tablespoons of raw wheat germ (optional)
  • 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract
  • 3 tablespoons of ground flax seeds (optional)

Carrots and goji berries pack a lot of beta carotene.  This is a super healthy snack that my daughter and I love.  I don’t make or buy a lot of “real” cookies because most of them contain so much unnecessary sugar that I don’t want my family and myself to be consuming.  But, I don’t feel bad about giving my three year old these “cookies” because they are healthy!  You have some grains, protein, minerals, and lots of antioxidants/vitamins (vitamin A, iron,  Omega 3s, Vitamin C, folic acid, etc).

I make these “cookies” a lot and there are so many different variations.    You can adjust the sweetness by adding more dates or raw agave.  To give it a little more tang, you can even add dried cherries.  You can even add raisins, dried figs, macadamia nuts, hemp seeds, chia seeds,  etc.   …..so many possibilities!

Note: you don’t have to have ALL of the ingredients listed, you can improvise.

Directions:

Note: if you don’t have carrot pulp, just shred some carrots in your food processor.  I like to use the pulp when I juice (juice recipe click here)  because I don’t like to waste perfectly good food.  And, sometimes, I make dog food out of it (with apples and carrots).  I give the pulp to my dogs raw or cook it with other ingredients like brown rice, broccoli, quinoa, etc.

  1. Place all ingredients in the food processor.
  2. Adjust sweetness preference.
  3. Mold the mixture into little cookies (about 1/2 an inch thick).
  4. Place the “cookies” in your food dehydrator.
  5. Dehydrate for around 13 hours.  You don’t want them too dry…it gets too hard and chewy.
  6. Enjoy!…and, don’t forget to share the healthy cookies with other children!

Super Healthy Breakfast Idea: Raw Vegan Cookies and Green Smoothie

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This is what we had for breakfast today!  Delicious and super nutritious!  This beats coffee and donuts!  This has lots of fiber, protein, omega 3s and 6s, and lots of vitamins and minerals.  Yay for healthy!

Ingredients for Green Smoothie:

    • 1/3 cup of strawberries
    • 1 cup of spinach
    • 1 banana
    • 1/4 cup of ice
    • 1/3 cup of non dairy milk or coconut water with agave (if you want to keep it “raw”)
    • 3-4 spirulina tablets (sea weed)…for info: Now Foods Spirulina 500mg, Tablets, 500-Count (See all Vitamin B12 Supplements)
    • 3 tablespoons of hemp seeds
    • 1/2 of a small zucchini (optional)
    • 1 small carrot (optional)

Super healthy “raw vegan cookie”

So, I took the pulp from my juice and used it to make this cookie.

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups of pulp (note: you can just use carrot and sweet potato pulp if you don’t want to get all elaborate with the juice)
  • 3 bananas
  • 1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract
  • a pinch of sea salt
  • 3 to 4 tablespoons of raw cacao powder
  • 4 tablespoons of sesame seeds

Directions:

  1. Place all ingredients in a food processor.
  2. Shape into a cookie.
  3. Place in the dehydrator.
  4. Dehydrate for 16 hours.
  5. Enjoy!