Happy June, friends! I’m back to bring you one of the things I’ve always wanted to recreate, the classic ‘Twix’ bar. That shortbread base and gooey caramel layer coated in chocolate is a winning combination! I simply had to try and make it myself, with no dairy, refined sugar or gluten, just wholesome ingredients (and a little chocolate of course)….
dessert
Peanut butter fudge bars
I’m really into no bake treats at the minute. I’m rarely using the oven now it’s getting warmer, but I still want a little something sweet ready to snack on in the fridge. If you love peanut butter and chocolate as much as I do, this recipe could well be your new BFF. These peanut butter fudge bars give you ALL the good flavours, take just 10 minutes to prepare, set in the fridge and you only need 5 ingredients!…
Raw chocolate cheesecakes
One of my favourite things to do is make a healthier version of a classic sweet. Especially if I can make one that’s good enough to have post workout. Cake is for anytime, not just for dessert, right? These chocolate cheesecakes may look just like their sugar laden counterparts, but they’re protein packed, refined sugar, dairy and gluten free and full of wholesome ingredients!…
Strawberry tarts
This recipe is one you’re going to want to make over and over again, I promise! I’ve recently fallen in love with making pastry and I have been very excited to finally share my go to pastry recipe with you. For me, pastry screams out for berries, so of course I had to fill these little tarts with the first of the season’s strawberries. With a scoop of vegan vanilla ice cream, you’ll feel like you’re in the middle of summer when you bite into one of these babies! …
No bake nut brownie
I promised to publish this recipe a couple of weeks ago and it’s finally here! Rich, indulgent, no bake brownie that’s refined sugar free, gluten free and vegan of course.
If you’ve never tried raw brownies before, bookmark this recipe now! I promise you’ll love them – any dessert that’s loaded with chocolate and doesn’t require baking is always a winner for me.
I’m a huge brownie lover but I’m always on the hunt for a healthy version. This one is made with cacao rather than cocao, which is unrefined and therefore more nutritionally dense. I’ve also added chia seeds and maca powder to the brownie base, for an extra helping of protein, b vitamins and omegas. The base is fudgey but with enough bite to hold together and the chocolate ganache is smooth, creamy and sweet, so rich and delicious that just a little slice will suffice.
Feel free to play around with the recipe, you could try different nuts or seeds, personally I love using hazelnuts because they taste so magical with chocolate. I’ve made the base with almonds and walnuts and both came out delicious. I’ve had fun testing out these brownies, they never seem to last very long which is a good sign!
Many thanks to two of my faves, Minimalist Baker and The Bojon Gourmet who have both inspired me with their incredible raw brownie recipes to try out whilst creating these! This recipe is heavily adapted from their recipes so I must say thank you!
I’m thrilled to be featured in the first edition of In The Moment magazine, out in the UK this month! Lots of my recipes are in there, along with an in depth interview with me about how I got into veganism, blogging and cooking. For more information check out their website here (these brownies are featured there too).
If you do try these out, please let me know – I’d love to hear what you think of them! You can also subscribe to my mailing list (just look on the right of this page) and you’ll get my recipes emailed directly to you before anybody else.
Sending you copious amounts of chocolate ganache,
Bo
xoxoxo
- 1.25 cup hazelnuts
- ¼ cup almonds or walnuts
- ½ cup raw cacao powder
- pinch of salt
- 2 tbsp chia seeds
- 1 tbsp maca powder
- 1 cup pitted dates
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ¼ cup coconut oil
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- ¼ cup cacao powder
- 2 tbsp coconut milk
- Start by making the brownie base. Preheat the oven to 180•c . Add the hazelnuts to a baking tray and cook for about 10 minutes, until golden. Allow to cool then rub off as much of the skin as you can with a clean tea towel. Set about 2 tbsp aside for the ganache. Place remaining hazelnuts in a food processor and process until they are a fine, sandy texture. Now add in almonds, cacao powder, chia seeds, maca powder and salt and pulse until the mixture comes together. Set aside in a bowl.
- Add pitted dates and vanilla to the blender and pulse until it forms a paste. Add back in the brownie mix and pulse again until a rough dough is formed - it should stick together when you press it together, if not, add a tbsp of water at a time.
- Put mixture into a lined loaf pan, pressing down firmly to flatten out and pop in the fridge to set.
- Make the ganache topping by melting coconut oil gently over a small pan of water. Take off the heat and add in coconut milk, maple syrup and cacao powder. Whisk until totally smooth and leave to cool for at least 15 minutes. Pour over the brownie base and sprinkle with hazelnuts, cacao nibs and sea salt. Chill until firm, cut into slices and enjoy! Keep well in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Double chocolate and raspberry brownies
Double chocolate and raspberry has to be a match made in heaven, right? I love brownies but raspberries take this bake to a whole new level. …
Mini Mocha Cheesecakes
It definitely is too late to say it now but happy New Year!! I hope it’s all been positive so far! Mine has been the best yet. I can’t wait to share more creations with you in 2017. The last year has been full of change from start to end, but I am so grateful for the journey and most of all for your support. Thank you for stopping by and supporting me on Facebook, Instagram, this blog or in person by eating my food! I really do love doing this and feel incredibly blessed to be able to inspire others to try eating more plants, or begin to think about food differently. It makes me all fuzzy inside when people try my recipes or try something new because of me. I love sharing the benefits of this lifestyle with as many people as possible. I’m full of ideas for 2017, pretty excited to see where this year takes me!
Aside from hibernating with the kittens, I’ve been scurrying about the kitchen recipe testing and my latest food crush are these raw mocha cheesecakes. It has been a recipe I’ve been dreaming of for a while because I love coffee… all types, black, milky, sweet, chilled, in cake form… I’ll take it all! Mocha seems like a safe option for people who may not like coffee because I’ve added a little chocolate and who doesn’t like chocolate? Actually I do know a couple of people, but still, more for you if they don’t like it!
These are indulgent, creamy, not too sweet treats but still dairy, gluten and refined sugar free. They really don’t take much effort to make, just remember to soak your cashews before hand, no matter how hard I try, I always forget. I definitely recommend enjoying a couple of these with a cup of the black stuff for the ultimate coffee shop experience!
Hope the year continues to keep you and your loved ones safe, healthy and well fed.
Peace and coffee,
Bo x
Base
- 2 cups almonds
- 1/2 cup desiccated coconut
- 1/2 tsp pink himalayan salt
- 2 tsp cinnamon
- 2-3 tbsp maple/rice syrup or coconut nectar
Filling
- 2 cups cashews, soaked overnight and drained
- 1/2 cup coconut milk
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
- 1/2 cup maple/rice syrup or coconut nectar
- 1 tsp pink himalayan salt
- 4 tbsp coconut oil
- 1/2 cup very strong black coffee, chilled
- 2 tbsp cacao powder
Chocolate drizzle (optional)
- 1/4 cup coconut oil, melted
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 2 tbsp cacao powder
Toppings (optional)
- 1/2 cup chocolate coated coffee beans (grind 1/4 cup of beans for the mocha dust)
Line a square baking tray with greaseproof paper, leaving a little extra hanging over the sides for easy removal.Prepare your base by adding almonds, coconut, salt and cinnamon until a fine flour is formed. Add syrup a tablespoon at a time, until mixture sticks together between your fingers. Add a tablespoon of water if it’s too dry, or a little extra coconut if it’s too wet.
Press base mixture into a pan evenly. Set aside in the fridge while you make the filling.
Blend soaked cashews, coconut milk, vanilla, lemon juice, syrup and salt until very smooth and creamy, around 4-5 minutes. Pour roughly half the mix on to your base. Set aside in the freezer to set, at least 2 hours.
To the remaining filling, add coconut oil, cooled coffee and cacao. Pour over to make the third and final layer. Set for 2-3 hours in the freezer, then slowly lift out the pan and slice into little squares with a sharp knife.
To make the drizzle, add coconut oil, maple syrup and cacao to a small mixing bowl and mix with a fork until smooth. Drizzle over cheesecakes and top with coffee beans and mocha dust. Keep in the freezer for up to a month. Best eating after thawing for 10 minutes.
Strawberry and black currant sorbet
Sorbet is the perfect after dinner treat. Light, sweet and beautifully refreshing, a little of this rich sorbet goes a long way. It’s really easy to make, you don’t even need an ice cream maker and it has just five ingredients. …