Dessert Archives - Splurge with Ella /category/dessert/ Simple recipes made with real ingredients Sat, 20 Feb 2021 04:46:56 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1 https://i0.wp.com/splurgewithella.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/cropped-Screen-Shot-2019-10-30-at-11.44.31-PM-1.png?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1 Dessert Archives - Splurge with Ella /category/dessert/ 32 32 164748036 The Best Vegan Date Caramel /the-best-vegan-date-caramel/&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-best-vegan-date-caramel /the-best-vegan-date-caramel/#comments Sat, 20 Feb 2021 04:41:19 +0000 /?p=1626 If you have never had date caramel before, you need to try this recipe! This easy and vegan recipe tastes exactly like caramel, but contains no added sugar!

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If you have never had date caramel before, you need to try this recipe! This easy and vegan recipe tastes exactly like caramel, but contains no added sugar!

date caramel recipe

If you love caramel, this recipe is definitely for you. One of my favorite afterschool snacks as a kid was apples with caramel dip! This snack was always a super special treat, and I was shocked at how much this healthy vegan date caramel tastes just like it! I have always loved caramel, but it contains such a high refined sugar content, which is why I wanted to create a healthier vegan version! And while this recipe is healthified, you would never guess that this recipe contains no refined sugar! This date caramel pairs perfectly with my Banana Nice Cream, oatmeal, apples, pretzels, and anything else that you can think of!

How to make amazing Date Caramel

Dates are a wonderful fruit that is naturally sweet, rich in flavor, chewy texture, and decadent. They are also filled with nutrients, antioxidants, and tons of other health benefits! Dates grow on date palm trees in tropical regions of the world, and they are almost always sold dried.

While there are multiple different types of dates, this recipe calls for Medjool dates. Medjool dates are one of the larger and more flavorful types of dates that are perfect for eating and baking. Their natural sweetness and soft texture make these dates optimal for this date caramel recipe.

So how do you make date caramel? It is so simple! All you have to do is blend dates, dairy-free milk, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt together in your food processor until you have reached your desired caramel consistency (stopping and scraping the sides of the food processor as necessary). Feel free to adjust the dairy-free milk amount based on the consistency that you are looking for. If the dates that you are using feel hard, you might want to soak them in boiling water before using them in order to soften them up. This will make it a little easier on your food processor.

date caramel recipe

If you tried this recipe be sure to leave a comment below, leave a review on my Pinterest, or tag me on Instagram! Happy baking!

date caramel recipe
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The Best Vegan Date Caramel

Course Breakfast, Dessert, Snack
Keyword caramel, dates
Prep Time 10 minutes
Servings 5

Ingredients

  • 2 cups or about 18 pitted Medjool dates they should be very soft
  • 1/4 cup dairy free milk I used almond milk
  • 1/4 teaspoon of vanilla extract
  • Pinch of salt

Instructions

  • Place all ingredients in a food processor and blend until completely smooth. Add more milk for a thinner caramel (note: if your dates are too hard to blend, soak them in hot water for 5-10 minutes first).
  • Enjoy with apples, pretzels, ice cream, or oatmeal and store in the fridge!

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Amazing Healthy Snickerdoodles (Vegan and Paleo) /amazing-healthy-snickerdoodles-vegan-and-paleo/&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=amazing-healthy-snickerdoodles-vegan-and-paleo /amazing-healthy-snickerdoodles-vegan-and-paleo/#respond Sun, 14 Feb 2021 21:04:19 +0000 /?p=1851 These Healthy Vegan Snickerdoodles are soft, chewy, and can be made in less than 20 minutes!

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These Healthy Vegan Snickerdoodles are soft, chewy, and can be made in less than 20 minutes!

snickerdoodles

Snickerdoodles have always been one of my favorite cookies that bring me right back to my childhood! My mother makes the best snickerdoodles, which inspired me to write a recipe that was vegan and healthy. If you love snickerdoodles, you will LOVE these lightened up vegan version of the classic cookies.

Snickerdoodle cookies should be soft, chewy, and should be rolled in cinnamon-sugar. And you will be happy to hear that this recipe hits the mark for all three of those things! Plus, these cookies are beyond easy to make! You just need a handful of simple ingredients and one bowl.

snickerdoodles stacked

Recipe Notes

The base for these cookies was inspired by my recipe for Almond Flour Banana Chocolate Chip Cookies. The main ingredients in this recipe are banana and almond flour.

Almond flour helps ensure that these cookies are soft and chewy, while the banana gives these cookies a natural source of sweetness. It is important to note that the banana you are using should be overripe to produce the sweetest cookie possible. I also advise adding an extra teaspoon or two of maple syrup for a little extra sweetness in these cookies, but it is optional!

This recipe calls for cream of tartar to

Of course, these perfect cookies are rolled in a simple cinnamon-sugar mixture before going into the oven. I used granulated white sugar, but you may use coconut sugar for this step if that is what you prefer.

snickerdoodles

Looking for more healthy cookie recipes? Be sure to check out some of my favorites: Healthy Banana Oat CookiesThe Best Vegan Chocolate Chip CookiesAlmond Flour Pumpkin CookiesChickpea Peanut Butter Cookies, or my Zucchini Breakfast Cookies!

If you love this recipe be sure to leave a comment below or share it with me on Instagram or Pinterest! Happy baking!

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Amazing Healthy Snickerdoodles

Course Dessert, Snack
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Servings 10 cookies

Ingredients

Cinnamon Sugar Mixture

  • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar or coconut sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Cookies

  • 1 cup almond flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar optional
  • 1/3 cup of overripe mashed banana it is important that the banana is very overripe for optimal sweetness
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1-2 teaspoons maple syrup for extra flavor and sweetness this is optional but advised

Instructions

Cinnamon Sugar Mixture

  • Prepare the cinnamon sugar mixture that will be used to coat the cookies by combining two tablespoons of granulated sugar with 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon. Set aside for later.

Cookies

  • Preheat oven to 325 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  • In a medium bowl combine the first 5 dry ingredients and stir until combined.
  • Add the banana, vanilla, and optional maple syrup and stir until combined.
  • Roll spoonfuls of dough into perfect balls, drop each cookie dough ball into the prepared cinnamon sugar mixture until completely coated. Then place onto prepared baking sheet and flatten into desired thickness (they do not spread in the oven). Top each cookie with extra cinnamon-sugar.
  • Bake in preheated oven for about 15 minutes or until the bottoms are golden brown and the tops of the cookies no longer appear wet.
  • Allow to cool on tray for 10 minutes before moving to wire rack to cool. Enjoy!

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The Best Vegan Date Brownies /the-best-vegan-date-brownies/&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-best-vegan-date-brownies /the-best-vegan-date-brownies/#comments Tue, 19 Jan 2021 19:48:31 +0000 /?p=1863 These Date Brownies are AMAZING. You would never guess that these fudgy brownies are also gluten-free, vegan, and are sweetened with dates only!

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These Vegan Date Brownies are AMAZING. You would never guess that these fudgy brownies are also gluten-free and are sweetened with dates only!

As someone who doesn’t go a single day without consuming some form of chocolate, brownies are one of my favorite ways to get my chocolate fix. These brownies are perfectly fudgy, chocolatey, and indulgent. And you would never know they are made with healthy ingredients!

Vegan Date Brownie Recipe Notes

These Vegan Date Brownies are naturally sweetened with dates. Allowing the dates to soak in boiling water for 10 minutes is the secret to giving these cookies an extra fudgy texture! Dates are loaded with health benefits, which is why I love using them as a sugar alternative in baking.

These Vegan Date Brownies call for oat flour, which is one of my favorite gluten-free flour alternatives. I usually make my own oat flour. You can make your own oat flour by placing oats in a blender and blending until a flour consistency is reached.

Additionally, this recipe calls for 1/2 a cup of unsweetened apple sauce. Apple sauce is used in this recipe as a vegan egg replacement. Plus, it also helps add moisture to these brownies. A good rule of thumb is that you can replace one egg with 1/4 cup of apple sauce.

If you love these brownies be sure to check out my recipe for Sweet Potato Brownies, which is one of the most popular recipes on my website!

Did you try this recipe? Feel free to share it with me on Instagram or leave a comment below! Happy baking!

date brownies
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The Best Vegan Date Brownies

Course Dessert, Snack
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 22 minutes
Servings 8 brownies

Ingredients

  • 1 cup of dates pitted
  • 3/4 cups oat flour can be made by blending whole oats in your blender or food processor until you have a flour consistency
  • 1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon of cocoa powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 salt
  • 1/2 cup of unsweetened apple sauce
  • 2 tablespoons of natural nut butter I use peanut butter
  • 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla
  • 1/4 – 1/3 cup of chocolate chips
  • Plus chocolate chips for topping

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a 4×8 pan with parchment paper. Bring a small pot of water to a boil, once water is boiling remove from heat and allow dates to soak for 10 minutes until soft.
  • While you are waiting for your dates to soak, add the rest of the ingredients (aside from chocolate chips) to your food processor and blend until combined. Stir in your chocolate chips.
  • Drain your dates and add them to the food processor and blend until evenly combined (About 30 seconds to a minute). You may want to stop periodically and scrape the sides to ensure everything is evenly combined.
  • Scoop out brownie batter into your prepared baking pan. The dough will be thick and sticky, but these brownies do not spread in the oven so try evenly spread the batter. Top with additional chocolate chips.
  • Bake in preheated oven for 22-24 minutes or until the top no longer appear to be wet. Let cool for 10-15 minutes before serving and enjoy!

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Easy Almond Flour Banana Cookies /easy-almond-flour-banana-cookies/&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=easy-almond-flour-banana-cookies /easy-almond-flour-banana-cookies/#comments Wed, 06 Jan 2021 21:08:49 +0000 /?p=1835 These Banana Almond Flour Chocolate Chip Cookies are perfectly soft, flavorful, and so easy to make. You would never guess that these cookies are made with just a handful of simple ingredients that are vegan, grain-free, and refined sugar-free!

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These Banana Almond Flour Chocolate Chip Cookies are perfectly soft, flavorful, and so easy to make. You would never guess that these cookies are made with just a handful of simple ingredients that are vegan, grain-free, and refined sugar-free!

almond flour banana cookies

Almond Flour Banana Cookie Recipe Breakdown

These secretly healthy cookies make the perfect snack, dessert, or breakfast treat! They are chewy and full of banana flavor and chocolate chips in every bite. Plus, they can be made in less than 20 minutes! All you will need for this recipe is a few simple ingredients. The base of this recipe is made from almond flour and overripe mashed banana.

It is important that you use almond flour in this recipe rather than almond meal. Almond meal will not produce the same texture if used in this recipe. Another important note is that you want to ensure the bananas you are using are overripe. You want them to be as ripe as possible in order to produce the sweetest cookie possible since that is where all of the sweetness in this recipe comes from.

If would like a slightly sweeter cookie, you may add a teaspoon or two of maple syrup to the dough.

This recipe is extremely simple and versatile. If you don’t want to add chocolate chips to these cookies, white chocolate and peanut butter chips will both also work well here!

One last note is that these cookies do not spread much in the oven so it is important to shape or flatten them into whatever thickness you desire.

Looking for more healthy cookie recipes? Check out these Healthy Banana Oat Cookies, The Best Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies, Almond Flour Pumpkin Cookies, Chickpea Peanut Butter Cookies, or my Zucchini Breakfast Cookies! If you try out any of these recipes be sure to leave a comment below or tag me on Instagram!

almond flour banana cookies
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Easy Almond Flour Banana Cookies

Course Breakfast, Dessert, Snack
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 13 minutes
Servings 8 cookies

Ingredients

  • 1 cup almond flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 1/3 cup overripe mashed banana it is important that the banana is very overripe for optimal sweetness
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/4 cup chocolate chips

Optional

  • 1-2 teaspoons maple syrup for extra flavor and sweetness optional but recommended

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 325 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  • In a medium bowl combine the first 3 dry ingredients and stir until combined.
  • Add the banana, vanilla, and optional maple syrup and stir until combined. Stir in chocolate chips.
  • Drop spoonfuls of dough onto pepared baking sheet and flatten into desired thickness (they do not spread in the oven). Bake in preheated oven for about 13-15 minutes or until the bottoms are golden brown and the tops of the cookies no longer appear wet.
  • Allow to cool on tray for 10 minutes before moving to wire rack to cool. Enjoy!

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The Best Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies /vegan-almond-flour-chocolate-chip-cookies/&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=vegan-almond-flour-chocolate-chip-cookies /vegan-almond-flour-chocolate-chip-cookies/#respond Fri, 23 Oct 2020 20:38:06 +0000 /?p=1753 These are the best Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies that I have ever had. You would never guess that they are healthy, gluten-free, and refined sugar-free!

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These are the best Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies that I have ever had. You would never guess that they are healthy, gluten-free, and refined sugar-free! Plus, they can be made in one bowl in less than 20 minutes!

vegan chocolate chip cookies

Chocolate chip cookies are my favorite cookie. They are so simple, yet so perfect. There is nothing better than a warm chocolate chip cookie fresh out of the oven. Although, there are many different types of chocolate chip cookies. One way to categorize cookies is by texture. Thin and crispy or thick and chewy. Personally, I love them both! But if you love thick and chewy chocolate chip cookies, then you will love this recipe. Warning: the following recipe is seriously addicting!

plate of chocolate chip cookies

Why this recipe works

These Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies are perfectly soft, chewy, and filled with chocolate in every bite.

Almond Flour and Oat Flour work together in this recipe to make extra chewy cookies. Almond flour has a high-fat content, which helps ensure these cookies have a thick and chewy texture. If you do not have almond flour, almond meal will also work in this recipe. Extra bonus: both of these flours are gluten-free!

Coconut oil and natural nut butter also help add to the thick and chewy texture of these decadent cookies. You can use any nut or seed butter that you would like. I have only used peanut butter and tahini, both worked wonderfully!

Maple syrup provides a natural source of sweetness in these healthier vegan cookies. If you like a sweeter cookie, try the batter and adjust the level of maple syrup to taste. Chocolate chips also help add to the sweetness of these cookies. I love using trader joe’s chocolate chips because they are cheap, made with vegan ingredients, and so delicious!

chocolate chip cookies with bite

If you love cookies, be sure to check out some of my other favorite vegan cookie recipes here. Are you loving this recipe? Be sure to let me know by leaving a comment below! Follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, and TikTok for video recipe tutorials!

Happy Baking!

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Vegan Almond Flour Chocolate Chip Cookies

Course Dessert, Snack
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Servings 8 cookies

Ingredients

  • 2/3 cups almond flour or almond meal
  • 1/2 cup oat flour can be made by processing whole oats in blender until flour consistency is reached
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • small pinch of salt
  • 3 tablespoons maple syrup
  • 3 tablespoons natural nut or seed butter
  • 1 tablespoon coconut oil melted
  • 1 tablespoon dairy free milk
  • 3/4 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup chocolate chips

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  • Combine first four dry ingredients in medium bowl and stir. Stir in wet ingredients.
  • Add chocolate chips and stir to combine.
  • Roll tablespoon sized dough balls and place them onto prepared baking sheet and flatten slightly. Top with additional chocolate chips.
  • Bake for 7 minutes and allow to cool for 10 minutes before removing from tray. Enjoy!

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Vegan Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread /vegan-chocolate-chip-zucchini-bread/&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=vegan-chocolate-chip-zucchini-bread /vegan-chocolate-chip-zucchini-bread/#comments Sun, 11 Oct 2020 17:02:37 +0000 /?p=1749 This Vegan Zucchini Bread is gluten-free, refined-sugar free, and filled with warm cinnamon and chocolate chips in every bite!

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This Vegan Zucchini Bread is gluten-free, refined-sugar free, and filled with warm cinnamon and chocolate chips in every bite!

zucchini bread

Made with wholesome ingredients like oat flour, zucchini, and naturally sweetened with maple syrup and banana, this quick bread makes the perfect healthy snack.

My grandmother was the most amazing baker. Throughout my childhood, my cousins and I would constantly look forward to her homemade desserts. One of her most famous recipes was her amazing zucchini bread. It was always perfectly sweetened, spiced with cinnamon, and devoured within minutes. Needless to say, I wanted to create a healthier vegan version of this amazing treat, and while it is not quite the same as my grandmother’s – it is pretty damn good!

Why this recipe works

So why does this Healthy Zucchini Bread recipe work? It took many attempts to nail down the right combination of ingredients for this recipe. The main ingredients in this quick-bread include oat flour, zucchini, bananas, maple syrup, natural nut butter, cinnamon, and chocolate chips.

Key Ingredient Breakdown

Oat flour is a wholesome and affordable gluten-free flour alternative that I love using in my recipes. It can easily be made by processing whole oats in a blender or food processor until flour consistency is reached. Oat flour makes a wonderful base for this zucchini bread.

Of course, this zucchini bread calls for zucchini! Zucchini keeps this bread moist because it obtains a high water content. This is why it is important to pat or squeeze your grated zucchini dry before adding to the batter to prevent the zucchini from releasing too much water during the baking time.

Bananas and maple syrup are what give this bread it’s sweetness. It is best to have overripe bananas for this recipe to ensure that the bread will be sweet enough. If you taste the batter and decide you would like a sweeter bread, add extra maple syrup.

Natural nut butter is the healthy fat source in this recipe. I usually opt for peanut butter because it is what I have on hand. It does not add too much flavor to the bread, but it may affect the flavor slightly. Although, you may use whatever you prefer!

Cinnamon and chocolate chips work together in this recipe to give this zucchini bread it’s flavor and add an extra touch of sweetness. Since this bread does not have a lot of sugar in it, the chocolate chips play an important part in the flavor profile.

zucchini bread sliced

If you love this recipe be sure to check out my recipe for Zucchini Breakfast Cookies, Vegan Pumpkin Bread, the Best Vegan Banana Bread, Healthy Chocolate Banana Bread.

If you try out this recipe, feel free to leave a comment below! Happy Baking!

zucchini bread
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Vegan Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread

Course Breakfast, Dessert, Snack
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Servings 8 servings

Ingredients

  • 2 cups oat flour made by processing whole oats in blender or food processor until flour consistency is reached
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1.5 teaspoons cinnamon
  • 1/4 cup dairy free milk
  • 1 cup grated zucchini patted or squeezed dry
  • 2 mashed overripe bananas
  • 4 tablespoons maple syrup
  • 3 tablespoons natural nut butter
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1/2 cup chocolate chips

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 and grease a small bread pan with coconut oil (I use a 6×3 pan or line muffin tray).
  • Combine the first 5 dry ingredients in a medium bowl and stir until combined.
  • Add in the rest of the ingredients (aside from the chocolate chips) and stir until evenly combined.
  • Stir in chocolate chips.
  • Pour batter into prepared pan and bake in preheated oven for 35-45 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
  • Allow to cool in pan for 10-15 minutes before removing onto a wire rack. Enjoy!

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Healthy Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins /healthy-pumpkin-chocolate-chip-muffins/&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=healthy-pumpkin-chocolate-chip-muffins /healthy-pumpkin-chocolate-chip-muffins/#respond Sun, 04 Oct 2020 23:24:42 +0000 /?p=1755 This recipe for Healthy Pumpkin Muffins is vegan, gluten-free, and refined sugar-free! These muffins are packed with warm fall flavors and filled with chocolate chips in every bite.

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This recipe for Healthy Pumpkin Muffins is vegan, gluten-free, and refined sugar-free! These muffins are packed with warm fall flavors and filled with chocolate chips in every bite.

pumpkin muffins on plate

Fall is my favorite season for many reasons, one of which being all of the pumpkin-flavored desserts! Although in reality, I eat pumpkin desserts all year round because why would I deprive myself of something SO good?! These pumpkin muffins have become one of my latest obsessions, and I am so excited to share this recipe with you!

If you love pumpkin, you will love these healthy pumpkin muffins. They are moist, flavorful, and secretly made with healthy ingredients! The flavor combination of warm spices, pumpkin, and chocolate chips is one that is truly addicting. These muffins make the perfect breakfast, snack, or dessert and I hope you love this recipe as much as we do!

Ingredient Breakdown

This recipe is simple and easy, and can be made in just one bowl. I always start by stirring together all of the dry ingredients to a medium bowl first. Then once everything is evenly combined I stir in the wet ingredients, and lastly the chocolate chips. These muffins are made with healthy ingredients that you can feel good about. Let’s breakdown some of the key ingredients in this recipe:

These muffins call for Almond Flour or Almond Meal, either option will work wonderfully for this recipe. I love using almond flour as a gluten-free flour substitute because the high-fat content keeps baked goods extra moist and decadent. Almonds are also a healthy fat source that contain a variety of nutrients like fiber, protein, vitamin e, and many other antioxidants.

Oat Flour is one of my favorite gluten-free flour alternatives that is easy to make and affordable. To make oat flour, you just have to take regular whole oats and place them in a blender or food processor and blend until flour consistency is reached.

Pumpkin Pie Spice and Cinnamon work together to ensure these muffins are full of warm fall flavors. If you do not have pumpkin pie spice, you can make your own at home by combining ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves.

Pumpkin is obviously one of the most important ingredients in these muffins! Make sure that you are using canned pure pumpkin that only lists “pumpkin” on the ingredient list. You do not want to confuse canned pumpkin with pumpkin pie filling, which has many other added ingredients. Pumpkin is not only delicious, but it is low in calories and full of nutrients! It is packed with vitamins and nutrients that are good for your vision, skin, hair, and immune system. Plus, it is linked to many other health benefits.

These muffins call for Dairy-free Milk. I usually use almond milk because it is what I have on hand. Although, you can use any dairy-free milk that you would like. Just make sure it is unsweetened or else the flavor may differ slightly.

Just three tablespoons of Coconut Oil help ensure that these muffins are perfectly moist. You want to make sure that the coconut oil is in its liquid state so you may need to melt it on the stove or in the microwave. This helps evenly combine the coconut oil into the batter.

Of course these pumpkin muffins call for Chocolate Chips because who doesn’t love the combination of pumpkin and chocolate!? The recipe calls for 1/2 cup of chocolate chips, which I think is the perfect amount without being too chocolatey. Although, you can add more or less depending on how much chocolate you like.

pumpkin muffins

If you love these Healthy Pumpkin Muffins, be sure to check out some of my other favorite pumpkin recipes like these Pumpkin Almond Flour Cookies, Pumpkin Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies, Vegan Pumpkin Bread, Maple Pumpkin Granola.

Happy Baking!

pumpkin muffins
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Healthy Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

Course Breakfast, Dessert, Snack
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Servings 12 muffins

Ingredients

  • 3/4 cups of almond flour or almond meal
  • 1 and 1/4 cups oat flour
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup canned pumpkin
  • 1/2 cup dairy free milk
  • 1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon maple syrup
  • 3 tablespoons coconut oil melted
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup chocolate chips plus more for topping

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a muffin tray with 10-12 liners or grease with coconut oil.
  • In a medium bowl combine the first 7 dry ingredients and stir to combine. Add the rest of the wet ingredients and stir until combined.
  • Stir in chocolate chips.
  • Evenly distribute batter into prepared muffin tray and top with additional chocolate chips.
  • Bake for about 35 minutes or until a toothpick come out clean and tops are slightly golden brown. Allow muffins to cool on wire rack for 15 minutes before enjoying.

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Flourless Vegan Brownies /flourless-vegan-brownies/&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=flourless-vegan-brownies /flourless-vegan-brownies/#respond Thu, 27 Aug 2020 20:48:48 +0000 /?p=1695 These super fudgy Flourless Vegan Brownies contain a secret ingredient that makes this decadent recipe gluten-free, protein-packed, and secretly healthy.

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These super fudgy Flourless Vegan Brownies contain a secret ingredient that makes this decadent recipe gluten-free, protein-packed, and secretly healthy.

chickpea brownies

Can you guess what the secret ingredient in these amazing brownies is? If you guessed chickpeas, you’d be correct! Also known as garbanzo beans, these legumes are not only filled with health benefits but are also an amazing flour alternative in gluten-free baking!

If you are familiar with my blog or any of my recipes, you know that I love finding ways to make decadent desserts that utilize healthy, vegan, and gluten-free ingredients! These brownies are no exception, but you would never know because they are extra fudgy and chocolatey!

chickpea brownies

Flourless Vegan Brownie Recipe Breakdown

These fudgy brownies are unbelievably easy to make and only call for a handful of healthy ingredients! But I have a few helpful tips and tricks to ensure your healthy brownies turn out perfectly!

This brownie batter comes together in your food processor. It is important to blend all of the ingredients together until the batter is completely smooth, this should take between 2-3 minutes. It is helpful to stop processing a few times to scrape down the sides to ensure that all of the ingredients are evenly combined.

I prefer to make these brownies in a muffin tin with cupcake liners because I love how they turn out when they are individually proportioned. Plus, just look how cute these are! If you do not have a muffin tin, you can feel free to make this recipe in an 8×8 brownie pan or a bread pan.

Key Ingredients

As I mentioned above, the base for this recipe is chickpeas. It is important to use canned chickpeas for these brownies. Additionally, be sure to rinse and drain them before adding them to your food processor along with the rest of the ingredients.

These brownies call for 3 tablespoons of natural peanut butter, but you may substitute any nut butter that you desire.

4 tablespoons of Maple syrup gives these brownies their source of sweetness. Although, if you prefer a sweeter dessert you may add an additional 1-2 tablespoons.

High-quality cocoa powder and high-quality vegan chocolate chips give these brownies their extra chocolatey flavor and fudgy texture. You can find my favorite chocolate chips at Trader Joe’s for only $1.99! They have an amazing flavor and they are made with vegan ingredients!

Looking for more chickpea recipes? Try out some of my favorites like these Peanut Butter Chickpea Cookies, Flourless Peanut Butter Blondies, Healthy Edible Cookie Dough, or my Easy Homemade Hummus.

Happy baking!

chickpea brownies
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Flourless Vegan Brownies

Course Dessert
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 15 oz can Chickpeas rinsed and drained
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • ¼ cup natural peanut butter or nut butter of your choice
  • 2.5 tablespoons cocoa powder
  • 4 tablespoons maple syrup you may an additoinal 1-2 tablespoons for a sweeter brownie
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 pinch salt
  • 1/2 cup vegan chocolate chips (plus more for topping)

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a muffin tin with 6-8 liners or grease an 8×8 pan with coconut oil or line with parchment paper.
  • Add all ingredients to a food processor and process until completely smooth (about 3 minutes), stopping and scraping down the sides as necessary.
  • Stir in desired amount of chocolate chips. Evenly divide brownie batter between into prepared muffin tin (these brownies do not rise too much so fill liners almost to the top). Top with additoinal chocolate chips.
  • Bake in preheated oven for 20-25 minutes or until the tops of the brownies no longer appear wet. Allow brownies to cool for 30 minutes on cooling rack. Enjoy!

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Zucchini Breakfast Cookies /zucchini-breakfast-cookies/&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=zucchini-breakfast-cookies /zucchini-breakfast-cookies/#comments Fri, 21 Aug 2020 23:44:03 +0000 /?p=1609 These Healthy Cookies are filled with wholesome ingredients like oats, zucchini, and banana that will keep you feeling full, and are totally acceptable to eat for breakfast.

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These Healthy Cookies are filled with wholesome ingredients like oats, zucchini, and banana that will keep you feeling full, and are totally acceptable to eat for breakfast.

zucchini breakfast cookies

Who doesn’t love getting in your vegetables by eating cookies!? Of course, these cookies have the addition of chocolate chips because chocolate is acceptable to eat for breakfast…right? I based this cookie recipe off of the most popular recipe on my blog, which is my recipe for Healthy Banana Oat Cookies (which has been saved over 3,000 times on my Pinterest, featured in Nyota Magazine, and reviewed on the For Vegans By Vegans YouTube Channel!).

Zucchini is a wonderful vegetable that is versatile and delicious during the summer months. Although, one of my favorite ways to eat zucchini happens to be in baked goods like bread, muffins, and these cookies!

breakfast cookies

Zucchini Breakfast Cookie Recipe Breakdown

These cookies are made with a gluten-free base of oats and oat flour. If you have never worked with oat flour before, it can easily be made by processing whole oats in a blender or food processor until you have reached flour consistency.

Of course, these Zucchini Breakfast Cookies call for grated zucchini! It is important to squeeze out most of the water from the zucchini once it has been grated. You may use a thin dish towel or paper towels to do this. Squeezing out more water will result in a slightly lighter cookie while leaving more water will result in a denser texture.

A combination of peanut butter and coconut oil helps give these cookies a moist and chewy texture while adding a healthy source of fat. I like to use natural chunky peanut butter in this recipe because I enjoy the texture of the peanuts, but you may use whatever you prefer as long as it is natural. Natural peanut butter should only have two items on the ingredient list: peanuts and salt. You may also substitute another nut or seed butter, although it may slightly alter the taste.

Mashed banana works in this recipe as a vegan egg replacement as well as a source of natural sweetness. These cookies also call for 4-5 tablespoons of maple syrup depending on desired sweetness. These cookies are super versitile and the dough is very forgiving, so feel free to add even less or more maple syrup to make them your own!

The addition of ground cinnamon is optional in this recipe, but I really enjoy the depth of flavor that it adds to these amazing cookies! You may also add more or less chocolate chips to this recipe depending on how much chocolate you desire. Sometimes I opt to just put them on top of each cookie rather than combine them in the batter.

Looking for more healthy cookie recipes? Check out some of my other favorite cookie recipes like Healthy Banana Oat Cookies, Chickpea Peanut Butter Cookies, Date Brownie Cookies, Healthy Peanut Butter Patties, and these Almond Flour Pumpkin Cookies.

zucchini breakfast cookies
Print

Zucchini Breakfast Cookies

Course Dessert
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 7 minutes
Servings 12 cookies

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups of old fashioned oats gluten-free if desired
  • 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons of oat flour made by blending whole oats in a blender or food processor until flour consistency is reached
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 overripe mashed banana
  • 1 cup of grated zucchini – about one small-medium zucchini patted and squeezed until dry
  • 4-5 tablespoons maple syrup depending on desired sweetness
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
  • 3 tablespoons melted coconut oil
  • 1/4 cup of peanut butter can be substituted with preferred nut or seed butter, but the flavor of the cookies may change
  • 1/3 cup chocolate chips I like to use mini and vegan if desired plus more for topping

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  • Whisk the first 6 dry ingredients in a medium bowl until combined.
  • Add in the rest of the ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir until well combined.
  • Drop heaping tablespoons of dough onto prepared baking sheet and press down slightly to flatten (these cookies do not spread a lot in the oven).
  • Bake for 7-8 minutes or until lightly golden brown. Cool on wire rack and enjoy!

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Chocolate Banana Nice Cream /chocolate-banana-nice-cream/&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=chocolate-banana-nice-cream /chocolate-banana-nice-cream/#comments Sat, 15 Aug 2020 20:10:46 +0000 /?p=1622 This Chocolate Banana Nice Cream is a healthy and vegan version of ice cream only that only requires two simple ingredients, and is unbelievably delicious.

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This Chocolate Banana Nice Cream is a healthy and vegan version of ice cream only that only requires two simple ingredients, and is unbelievably delicious.

banana nice cream

If you are not familiar with Nice Cream, it is a wonderful version of ice cream that is sugar-free, dairy-free, and healthy! This Chocolate Banana Nice Cream is made from frozen bananas and cocoa powder. I promise that you will be blown away by how creamy, flavorful, and decadent this vegan frozen dessert is.

This frozen treat is naturally sweetened from the natural sugars in bananas. Bananas are a healthy and delicious sweetener that have tons of health benefits! Cocoa powder is another key ingredient that is also packed with nutritional value. These two simple ingredients make this recipe the perfect healthy snack or dessert.

Tips for making perfect Nice Cream

Making Nice Cream is extremely easy and versatile, but I have a few helpful tips to get you started:

Make sure you thinly slice your bananas before placing them in the freezer. Thinner slices will make it easier for your food processor to blend them into creamy nice cream! Overripe bananas work best for this recipe to ensure that your nice cream is extra sweet.

Once your bananas have been frozen, it can be helpful to allow them to thaw on the counter for a few minutes before blending them. This will be useful if your food processor or blender is having trouble blending your bananas. Another option to help your bananas blend easier is to add 2-3 tablespoons of dairy-free milk to your mixture.

This recipe is extremely versatile! Feel free to add in chocolate chips, peanut butter, or shredded coconut!

If you love this recipe be sure to check out my Healthy Chocolate Milkshake recipe and this Peanut Butter Banana Swirl Nice cream.

chocolate nice cream
Print

Chocolate Banana Nice Cream

Course Dessert, Snack
Prep Time 3 hours
Total Time 3 hours 5 minutes
Servings 2 people

Ingredients

  • 2 bananas thinly sliced
  • 2 tablespoons of cocoa powder

Optional toppings/Add-ins:

  • chocolate chips
  • peanut butter

Instructions

  • Thinly slice your bananas, place in a ziplock bag and place in the freezer until completely frozen (about 3-4 hours).
  • Remove bananas from freezer and allow 3-5 minutes to thaw very slightly (this will make it easier to blend). Place in food processor or high powered blender along with cocoa powder. Blend until smooth and creamy (if it is not blending try adding 1-2 tablespoons of dairy free milk).
  • Serve immediately along with optional toppings like chocolate chips, peanut butter, coconut whipped cream or anything else you enjoy!

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