Raw Superfood Donut Holes (Vegan!)

My well loved, lil' ol' oven has been on the fritz lately, so I haven't been able to do much baking. I guess it's just as well because it's been too hot to enjoy baking anyway. Buuuut, I HAD to make something because I need my treats (y'all know). I decided to make a healthy, wholesome version of what may be the most fun baked good ever: donut holes!

The traditional donut hole is baked or fried, and laden with refined sugar and white flour. This version is refined sugar free, flourless, nutrient dense and still super satisfying in both texture and taste. I've been snacking on these for days and they are SO GOOD.

What more could you ask for? Oh yeah. The recipe...

Raw Superfood Donut Holes

Ingredients:

• 1 cup raw almonds (can sub other nut of choice)
• 10 dates, pitted & room temperature
• 1/4 cup hemp seeds
• 2 tbsp. chia seeds
• 2 tbsp. sesame seeds
• 2 tbsp. flax seeds
• 2 tsp maca powder
• 1 cup raw almond butter (I used Trader Joe's) or other nut butter of choice
• 1/4 cup cacao powder
• 3 tbsp. pure maple 
• 3 tbsp. unsweetened vanilla almond milk (can sub non dairy milk of choice)

Combine the raw almonds and dates in a food processor. Pulse or blend on low until it starts to get crumbly. Add in the hemp seeds, chia, sesame, flax and maca powder. Pulse to combine. Add in the raw almond butter, cacao powder, maple and almond milk. Process on low until mixed, and then on high to make sure any large chunks are broken down and the mixture is mostly smooth. You may need to stop and scrape down the bowl a few times because the mixture is quite sticky. 

Transfer the "dough" into a large bowl. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and set aside. Use a tablespoon to scoop out the dough and roll them in your hands to make little balls. You can roll the balls in coconut, cacao powder and/or cacao glaze if desired. Refrigerate 30 min to an hour and then transfer them into an airtight container. Store in the fridge and enjoy!

**I REALLY recommend the cacao glaze. They're all good, but those are my favorite!

I didn't measure the ingredients for the cacao glaze, but it is pretty simple to make. Here's what I did:

In a small bowl, combine about 1 tbsp. cacao powder, 1 tbsp. pure maple and 2 tbsp. melted coconut oil. Stir or whisk to combine. Dip donut holes in the glaze, and place on parchment paper. Refrigerate until set.

xoxo Enjoy!

Samoa Donuts (GF, Vegan, Refined Sugar Free)

 
Oh my delicious donuts... these are GOOD. A few months ago, I sampled (mauled) a completely gluttonous version of a Samoa donut from a local donut shop. Of course, I made it my job to come up with a wholesome, healthier version of this bad baby to be enjoyed by all. The donut itself is flourless and sweetened only with ripe banana, the caramel is made with almond butter and sweetened with maple, then topped with shredded coconut. To really bring this home, they are dipped in dark chocolate and drizzled. Yup.

Samoa Donuts

Ingredients:

1 cup natural unsalted natural creamy almond butter
1 ripe banana, mashed
2 tblsp. organic cacao
1 tsp. baking soda
2 tblsp. pure grade A or B maple
2 tblsp. unsweetened vanilla almond milk
1/2 tsp. vanilla

Almond Butter Caramel:

1/4 cup pure maple
1/4 cup coconut oil
2 tbsp. creamy natural almond butter
pinch of sea salt

Other ingredients:

1/4 cup shredded coconut for topping
1/4 cup chopped dark chocolate for dipping and drizzling

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Prepare a donut pan by greasing with coconut oil or non-stick spray. Use an electric mixer to mash the banana. Add in the almond butter and whisk until smooth. Add in maple, almond milk and vanilla and mix until combined. In a small, separate bowl mix together cacao and baking powder. Whisk into the wet ingredients just until combined. Spoon the batter into your prepared pan and bake for 12-16 minutes or until the donuts spring back when touched. Remove from the donut pan and transfer to a cooling rack until completely cooled.

While the donuts cool, prepare the almond butter caramel. In a small sauce pan, heat maple, coconut oil and almond butter on low heat. Whisk until smooth. Continue to whisk and bring to a boil. Remove from heat and transfer to a heat proof bowl to cool (will thicken as it cools). Next, melt dark chocolate chips or chopped chocolate (I use Trader Joe's 72% dark) in the micro for 30 seconds at a time until melted smooth when stirred. Dip the imperfect sides of your cooled donuts into the chocolate glaze and place on parchment paper-lined cookie sheet. Transfer to the fridge to set the chocolate. Once the chocolate is set, dip the other side of your donuts in almond butter caramel, and then into shredded coconut. Place back on the parchment and drizzle with remaining chocolate. Let set before serving. Store in the fridge in an airtight container.

Enjoy!!

Chocolate Banana Bread (Vegan, Gluten Free, Refined Sugar Free)

Happy Friday! Earlier this week I took a poll on Instagram (Samoa Donuts vs Choco Banana Bread), and it was a tie! So I got right to work and whipped up a loaf of dense, moist, wholesome chocolate goodness. You'll want to go to bed early to get up for this one. It's made with oat flour, so it's essentially oatmeal in loaf form. Sweetened with ripe bananas and a bit of pure maple keep it refined sugar free. I added in some almond butter to create a hefty, satisfying loaf which makes this perfect for breakfast (or a snack).

Ingredients

• 2 ripe bananas
• 1 cup creamy natural almond butter(unsalted)
• ⅓ cup pure maple
• 2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk 
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• ½ tsp. baking powder
• 1 cup oat flour 
• 1/4 cup almond flour 
• 1/4 cup cocoa or cacao
• Dark chocolate chunks or chips 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, smash the bananas with a whisk or fork until mostly smooth (no large chunks). Mix in the almond butter, maple, vanilla and milk. In a food processor (or blender or coffee grinder) grind 1 cup of gluten free oats into a flour. Mix with almond flour, baking soda, baking powder and cocoa in a separate bowl. Mix into the wet ingredients until combined. Line a loaf pan with parchment paper or spray generously with coconut oil. Transfer batter into your prepared loaf pan, top with chopped chocolate or chocolate chips and bake for 30 minutes or until a knife inserted in the middle comes out with moist crumbs. Let stand on a wire rack in the pan for 15 minutes before removing and transferring to the rack to cool completely. Once cooled, slice with a serrated knife and enjoy!

The flavor and moist factor get even better the next day!

Decadent Brownie Skillet with Eating Evolved Chocolate

There's nothing quite like a warm, gooey brownie straight from the oven. Nothing could be better, right? Well... how about if it was a warm, gooey brownie with NO ADDED SUGAR in the batter while still tasting like a sinful treat? Only in your dreams... until NOW. This brownie skillet is sweetened only with banana, the chocolate chunks are refined sugar free, it's also vegan and gluten free. This dessert is other level yum:

*Adapted from The Toasted Pine Nut

1 cup raw pecans (can sub almond flour)
1 ripe banana
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
3 tblsp cacao or cocoa powder
2 tblsp coconut oil, melted
1/2 Eating Evolved Crunchy Caramel Bar, chopped

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Prep a cast iron skillet with coconut oil or coconut oil spray and set aside. In a food processor, pulse the pecans until they resemble a crumble. Add in the baking powder, baking soda, cacao and coconut oil until combined. Add in the banana and process until smooth. Pour the batter into your prepared skillet and smooth with a spatula. Sprinkle your chopped Eating Evolved Crunchy Caramel Bar on top and press lightly into the batter. Bake for 12 minutes. Remove from the oven and drizzle with raw almond butter ( I love Trader Joe's Raw Creamy Unsalted Almond Butter) and a little sea salt if desired.

Don't forget to tag me on Instagram if you make this recipe!  I love seeing your versions :]#wildandflowertreats

Chocolate Almond Butter Banana Brownies (Vegan, Gluten Free and Refined Sugar Free!)

Heyyy! Long time no post! Things have been craaazy in both good and not so good ways (oh life). Anyway, I am currently studying for a Holistic Nutrition certification, which is really exciting for meee :] Because of life events, I am a little behind and I have been busting my buns which hasn't left much time for my blogging passion project. Anywho, I wanted to share this recipe because it turned out soooo good and I couldn't keep it to myself. Now back to the grind! Wish me luck!

Chocolate Almond Butter Brownies

Ingredients

• 2 ripe bananas, smashed
• 1 cup + 3 tblsp creamy or crunchy raw or natural almond butter ( I used Trader Joe's Raw)
• ⅓ cup pure maple
• 2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup unsweetened non dairy milk (I used cashew)
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• ½ tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• ½ tsp. baking powder
• 1 cup oat flour 
• 1/4 cup almond flour 
• 1/4 cup cocoa or cacao
• Dark chocolate chunks or chips (I used Trader Joe's 72% dark chocolate bar)

Would you look at that batter?!

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350. Line an 8x8 square baking dish with parchment paper and set aside. In a large bowl, smash the banana until it resembles a puree. Mix in 1 cup almond butter, maple syrup, vanilla, and almond milk. In a separate bowl, whisk together oat flour, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder, salt, almond flour and cocoa. Add to wet ingredients and mix until just combined. Pour into your prepared baking dish. Dollop the 3 remaining tablespoons of almond butter over the top and use a knife to swirl into the batter. Top with your chopped chocolate or chips. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until a knife inserted comes out with moist crumbs. Don't overbake! You want these to be dense and moist.

While these are good warm from the oven, I actually prefer them the next day. Somehow the banana flavor becomes more pronounced after these have "rested" and cooled. Enjoy with a nice cup of tea or a big glass of cold almond or cashew milk!

xoxo

Almond Butter Cup Protein Cookies

Today I made a really tough decision. Life changing. I decided that it was time to take a break from peanut butter and give almond butter a chance to show me what's up. Ok, so maybe it's not so serious. Or maybe you just don't realize how much PB I actually consume on a daily basis. I currently have a nearly empty crunchy bae sitting in the fridge with 2 brand spankin' new jars up in the cupboard. No grocery run is complete without a trip down the Isle of Creamy Dreamy. To my shock and dismay, I recently read somewhere that a fellow PB loving baker actually developed an adult stage PB allergy from consuming waaay too much (I will still argue that too much PB is not a thing)! Reading that scared the crunchy-creamy dickens out of me, so I picked up some alternates. Sooo... to help me get through this rough patch, I decided to let almond buttah do me a solid and whip up the kind of cookies you make when you're heartbroken: the sweet, salty, sinful-but not so sinful that you feel guilty- kind of cookies. These are flourless, gluten free and refined sugar free with a pea protein pow! Crunchy, chewy, sweet and salty satisfaction. There is light at the end of the tunnel... or maybe that's the fridge light. Whatevs.

Almond Butter Cup Protein Cookies

1 cup almond butter

2/3 cup coconut sugar

2 scoops unsweetened pea protein (can sub other unflavored or vanilla protein powder if desired)

1 egg

Chocolate Glaze

2 to 3 tblsp dark choco chips

1 to 2 tsp coconut oil

Almond Butter Glaze

1 heaping spoon almond butter

1 to 2 tsp coconut oil

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees anf line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Whisk the almond butter and coconut sugar with an electric mixer. Add in the egg and whisk until combined. Whisk in the protein powder. A crumbly but moist dough should form. Roll about 1 inch balls of dough in your hand and place on your prepared cookie sheet. (I was able to get 24 cookies this way. You can definitely roll bigger balls of dough if you want larger cookies)

Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until slightly golden but still soft. Remove from the oven and transfer to a cooling rack. While your cookies cool, prepare the chocolate coating and almond butter drizzle. Melt each in separate bowls with coconut oil. 30 second increments until smooth. Dip each cpokie halfway into the chocolate and place on a tray lined with parchment. Pop in the fridge or freezer to set. Remove from cooling and drizzle with melted almond butter. Place back in the fridge or freezer until set and enjoy!

I like to keep these in the freezer. Keeps them nice and chewy.

Gooey Gluten Free Brownies

Chocolate and I have carried on a long time love affair. Chocolate and I understand each other. Chocolate and I have a bond that cannot be broken. That's why you may notice that nearly all of the recipes I post have chocolate in them. When I think sweet, I think chocolate. Brownies are the ultimate chocolate dessert. I have tried a lot of brownie recipes in my day, but this one might just top all other brownies. First of all, they are made with my favorite flour to bake with: oat flour (xoxo). Secondly, you can change up the sugar and use either cane sugar or coconut sugar (my other fave baking buddy). Both result in ridiculously delicious brownies, but for different reasons. I'm not really a fan of cane sugar, and I reaaallllyyy try to keep that refined babe out of my sweets... but using white sugar creates a crazy beautiful and satisfying crust like nobody's business. The brownies will puff up when baking and then sink when you take them out of the oven, creating cracks of crusty goodness hugging a shy, gooey center. That was my first experience with these brownies, following the original recipe (sans coffee), which you can find here. My second time baking these brownies, I swapped out the refined sugar for coconut sugar. This resulted in a more dense, fudge-like brownie with crazy-complex flavors. The coconut sugar and butter create a sort of (ah-mazing) caramel base, and when they are baked and cooled (I always put my brownies in the fridge or freezer), they taste faintly of coffee. Don't even get me started on the crazy-good and chewy texture with studs of dark chocolate. I cut these babies into bites and store them in a ziplock in the freezer. I eat them cold, but popping a few in the micro for 10-15 seconds is something I can't (and won't) argue with.

Ingredients

1 1/3 cups oat flour
3/4 tsp baking soda
3/4 (1 1/2 sticks) cup unsalted butter
1 1/2 cups coconut (or cane) sugar
1 cup cocoa powder
1 tsp salt
1 Tbsp vanilla extract
3 large eggs
1 1/4 cup dark chocolate chips or chunks

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line an 8x8 ceramic baking dish with parchment paper. In a separate bowl, mix together the oat flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside. In a microwave safe bowl, melt the butter. Mix in the sugar and then microwave for another minute. Whisk by hand with a wire whisk or fork until smooth and creamy. Add in the vanilla and cocoa powder. Mix in the eggs one at a time until smooth. Fold the dry ingredients into the wet until just combined. Don't over mix! Top with dark chocolate chips or chunks and bake for about 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool at least 10 minutes before cutting.

*NOTES:

I baked these in a ceramic baking dish and they turned out beautifully. I also tried a batch in a metal pan, but they turned out dry and cakey.

These are best a bit under-baked. They will look too gooey when you remove them from the oven, but they will firm up as they cool.

Vegan Double Chocolate Cake

I'm not a huge fan of Valentine's Day or the expectations that come with it. Sure, hearts are cute, and who doesn't love a box of chocolates? I'm just not a fan of how the holiday creates a buying frenzy. Love should be celebrated everyday, and I fully believe in showing the people you love how you feel in little, meaningful ways - every single chance you get - ...but I don't think that should mean buying a bunch of 'stuff'. I also hate the question, "So, what did he/she/they get you for Valentine's Day?", like it's some sort of competition. Now, I don't mean to sound like a jerk, but I just think that this holiday is LAME. This is coming from a hopeless romantic (I know it may not sound like it with all of my anti-Valentine's ranting). I have never thought that this holiday was romantic, and that's just my opinion. I'll take those, stay up late talking about life, kiss me in the middle of an argument, hold my hand while watching TV, bring me a flower you picked on your way home when you thought of me, and pinch my butt in the middle of the grocery store because you think I'm really cute (P.S. not an invitation to strangers) kind of moments. It's the little everyday things that matter to me.

Anyway, you know what's not lame? CAKE. Here's a yummy recipe:

Vegan Double Chocolate Cake
Slightly Adapted from Minimalist Baker

1 1/2 cups unsweetened vanilla almond milk
2 tsp apple cider vinegar
1 1/4 cups unsweetened applesauce
1/2 cup hot coffee (I used instant)
2/3 cup melted coconut oil
2 tsp pure vanilla extract
2 cups + 2 Tbsp whole wheat white flour
1 1/3 cups coconut sugar
1 cup cocoa powder
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp sea salt

FROSTING
1 cup vegan butter, softened
2 1/2 powdered sugar
2/3 cup cocoa powder
1/4 cup dairy-free dark chocolate, melted and cooled
Splash of almond milk if needed

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 2 8-inch round cake pans with nonstick spray and dust with cocoa powder. Tap the pans over the sink to shake out the excess, and set aside.
Mix the almond milk and vinegar in a large mixing bowl, and let set for a few minutes to thicken. Add the oil, coffee, and applesauce and beat until foamy.
Add the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt to a separate bowl and whisk together. With your mixer on low, slowly add the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients. Mix until smooth and creamy (batter should be thick, but pour-able). Divide batter evenly between your 2 cake pans. Bake 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let cool completely before frosting.

While the cakes cool, whip up your frosting. Whisk the vegan butter and powered sugar until creamy Add in your cooled, melted chocolate and mix until smooth, then add in the cocoa powder. Whisk everything on high until light and fluffy. Add in some almond milk if the frosting is too thick. You can always add more powdered sugar or cocoa if it's too thin. Once the cake is cooled, frost with your chocolate frosting. If you want to write a note, melt a little bit of white chocolate in the micro for 30 seconds at a time until smooth and melted. Transfer to a plastic sandwich bag, and cut the tip off one corner. Pipe your message onto your cake, and add some pretty flowers if desired. *Note: I always wrap a little parchment around the stems of my flowers before inserting them into the cake.

Whatever your opinion is of Valentine's Day, I hope you enjoy!

xoxo





 

Flourless, Refined Sugar Free Brownie Donuts

OHmyglob. OHMYGL..... Ok you get it. These donuts are what dreams are made of! I'm not exaggerating. Moist, dense, satisfiying...check. Sinful chocolate flavor...check. Flourless?? Refined sugar free??? What??????? Yes. And they're glazed too. Uh huh, uh huh. Also, if you count hemp seeds as sprinkles, then these are sprinkled, baby! What's the catch? There isn't one, unless you don't like donuts, chocolate, almond butter or happiness.

Ingredients:

1 cup natural unsalted creamy or crunchy almond butter
1 ripe banana, mashed
2 tblsp. organic cacao
1 tsp. baking soda
2 tblsp. pure grade A or B maple
2 tblsp. unsweetened vanilla almond milk
1/2 tsp. vanilla

Glaze:
1/4 cup dark chocolate (chips or chopped)
1 tblsp. coconut oil

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Prepare a donut pan by greasing with coconut oil or non-stick spray. Use an electric mixer to mash the banana. Add in the almond butter and whisk until smooth. Add in maple, almond milk and vanilla and mix until combined. In a small, separate bowl mix together cacao and baking powder. Whisk into the wet ingredients just until combined. Spoon the batter into your prepared pan and bake for 12-16 minutes or until the donuts spring back when touched. Remove from the donut pan and transfer to a cooling rack until completely cooled. While the donuts cool, melt dark chocolate chips or chopped chocolate (I use Trader Joe's 72% dark) and coconut oil in the micro for 30 seconds at a time until melted smooth when stirred. Dip your donuts face first into the chocolate glaze and place on parchment paper. Allow the chocolate to set before serving.

I sprinkled a few with hemp seed for a little extra nutritional boost! Try topping them with coconut flakes, nuts, whatever you want!

xoxo

Guilt Free Dark Chocolate PB Cups

I have a long, semi-complicated, love affair with peanut butter cups. As with any long-time love, we have gone through a lot of ups and downs. Around 6 years old, my passion for peanut butter cups was hot and heavy, and I remember hiding in a display cabinet in a hardware store with an empty wrapper and the guilty scent of peanut butter and chocolate on my breath. Oh, the memories. Unfortunately, one too many stale-tasting PB cups from the convenience store shelf, and my changing taste buds started to wear on our relationship. Over the past few years, I've also become more conscious of nutrition labels and ingredients. I've also been pleasantly surprised by how easy it is to make my own, guilt-free versions of my favorite treats. Using deep, dark chocolate, coconut oil and natural peanut butter, I've finally found my PB soul mate. The best peanut butter cups I have ever had. Talk about happily ever after!

Ingredients:

1 cup dark chocolate
2 tblsp coconut oil
Natural unsalted creamy or crunchy peanut butter

Directions:

Line a mini muffin tin with 10-12 mini muffin liners or silicon liners. In a small pot over low heat, melt the chocolate chips and coconut oil until smooth. Remove from heat and let cool for a few minutes. Divide the melted chocolate among the cupcake liners. Spoon a dollop of peanut butter into each one. Top with remaining melted chocolate and pop into the freezer for at least 20 minutes or until the chocolate has hardened. Enjoy!

I like to top my PB cups with coconut flakes or hemp seed when the mood strikes!

xoxo