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.

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!

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Vegan Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread

Course Breakfast, Dessert, Snack

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 35 minutes 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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Mac and Cheese is one of my favorite comfort foods. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to find vegan mac and cheese that actually tastes good, which is why I am SO excited to share this recipe with you.

Over the past year, I have tried countless Vegan Mac and Cheese recipes that all ended with bowls of (oddly textured) disappointment. Although, after many failed attempts, I have finally developed the perfect Vegan Mac and Cheese recipe that is made with simple ingredients that you can feel good about. Plus, it is naturally gluten-free and soy-free!

Vegan Mac and Cheese Recipe Breakdown

Many vegan “cheese” sauces are made with a cashew base, but that method proved to be more time consuming and obtained a less than desirable texture. This recipe uses vegetables as a base and has four main ingredients: carrots, potatoes, nutritional yeast, and unsweetened almond milk.

Carrot and potato help create a healthy base to this sauce that can be easily blended to a smooth and creamy consistency when combined with almond milk.

Nutritional yeast, is what gives this “cheese” sauce a cheesy flavor and color. I have grown to love nutritional yeast for not only the addicting flavor, but it is also full of health benefits by containing vitamins and minerals!

How to make Vegan Mac and Cheese

This recipe has three simple steps and can be made in less than 20 minutes.

1. Steam the carrots and potatoes until very soft and can be easily pierced with a fork. Once the vegetables are cooked thoroughly, you can add them to your food processor along with all of the other ingredients.

2. Blend all ingredients together until completely smooth and creamy (about 3 minutes).

3. Pour your cheese sauce into a saucepot over medium-high heat and constantly stir or whisk until the mixture thickens to desired consistency (about 5-10 minutes).

Serve warm over pasta and enjoy! I love to enjoy this vegan cheese sauce over chickpea pasta, which is naturally gluten-free and packed with protein! This recipe is easy to make, but it is even easier to eat!

If you love this recipe, be sure to check out another one of my favorite easy dinner recipes: Loaded Sweet Potatoes. Enjoy!

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Vegan Mac and Cheese

Course Main Course

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes minutes

Total Time 20 minutes minutes

Ingredients

• 1 cup of sliced carrot about 1 large
• 1 small/medium golden potato peeled and diced
• ¼ cup plus 1 tablespoon of nutritional yeast
• 1 1/4 cups of unsweetened almond milk
• 1 ¾ teaspoons of salt
• ¼ teaspoon of garlic powder
• 2 tablespoons of olive oil
• 1 tablespoon of cornstarch
• 1 tablespoon of lemon juice
• ¼ teaspoon of onion powder
• pinch of cayenne pinch of nutmeg, black pepper to taste
• 1 box desired pasta I like to use chickpea pasta

Instructions

• Steam the carrots and potatoes about 10 minutes until soft. Remove from heat when a fork can easily pierce potatoes and carrots. Allow to cool for a few minutes before adding to your food processor.
• Add all ingredients into a food processor and blend on high until very smooth.
• Heat pot over medium heat and add mixture, stirring constantly for 5-10 minutes until it begins to thicken to desired consistency
• Pour warm sauce over cooked pasta and enjoy!

The post Vegan Mac and Cheese appeared first on Splurge with Ella.

Banana Nice Cream has become my latest obsession because it is easy to make, completely guilt-free, and tastes unbelievably amazing. It is so good that I have gotten into the habit of keeping bananas in the freezer at all times. Is there anything better than ice cream that is acceptable to eat for breakfast? Not in my book! This recipe has a base of frozen banana and is swirled with peanut butter in every bite.

Banana Nice Cream Recipe Breakdown

As I mentioned above, this Banana Nice Cream is extremely simple and almost too easy to make (and to eat), but let’s break it down.

What you’ll need:

1. Frozen banana

2. Peanut butter

3. Dairy free milk

4. A blender or food processor

Method:

Blend all ingredients together in a blender until smooth and creamy and enjoy! Yes, it is really that simple.

Feel free to let loose and add any additional toppings or flavors that you might like. I always opt for mini chocolate chips or a touch of cocoa powder if I want a chocolate ice cream base.

If you love the combination of banana and peanut butter, be sure to check out my Healthy Banana Oat Cookie recipe for another guilt free treat!

Enjoy!

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Banana Nice Cream

Course Dessert, Snack

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Servings 1

Ingredients

• 2 overripe bananas sliced
• 1-2 tablespoons of peanut butter
• 1-2 tablespoons of nondairy milk ex: almond milk or soy milk
• Optional: chocolate chips

Instructions

• Place banana slices in a ziplock bag and place in freezer until frozen (about 3 hours).
• Remove frozen bananas from freezer and place in a high powered blender or food processor along with nondairy milk and blend until completely smooth (if your ice cream is not reaching a smooth consistency, try adding a little more milk).
• Serve immediately with optional chocolate chips or any other desired toppings.

The post Peanut Butter Swirl Banana Nice Cream appeared first on Splurge with Ella.

If you’re looking for a healthier potato chip alternative or if you’re just looking for a new and delicious snack idea, I have just the recipe for you. Look no further than these Baked Plantain Chips.

Baked Plantain Chips are:

1. Gluten free

2. Paleo friendly

3. Vegan

4. Salty and crispy

5. Quick and easy

6. Extremely addicting!

Recipe Notes

Not familiar with plantains? Plantains are a versatile fruit (with similar uses to a potato) that can be mashed, baked, fried, boiled, and turned into chips! Plantains also contain minerals, vitamins, and are a good source of fiber. Although plantains look like large bananas, they cannot be eaten raw. This recipe calls for green plantains, to ensure that your chips will bake up crisp, rather than soft.

It is important to slice your plantains as thinly as possible to ensure your chips turn out crispy, and be sure to keep a close eye on them while they’re in the oven to prevent from over baking.

These Plantain Chips pair perfectly with my favorite Guacamole recipe or even my Easy Homemade Hummus recipe!

Now enjoy your easy, homemade, and guilt free snack!

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Baked Plantain Chips

Course Snack

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes minutes

Servings 2 people

Ingredients

• 1 large green plantain
• 1 tablespoon of olive oil or whatever oil you prefer
• salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees and grease a baking sheet with oil or line with parchment paper.
• Cut off both ends of the plantain and remove the peel by cutting the peel lengthwise about three times or until you are able to remove it easily.
• Slice the plantain as thinly as possible with a sharp knife and spread slices onto your baking sheet.
• Brush plantains with olive oil and season generously with salt and pepper to taste.
• Bake in preheated oven for about 20 minutes (flipping the chips halfway through) or until crispy.
• Remove from oven and season again with salt and pepper and any other desired seasonings. Serve with guac, hummus or enjoy as is!

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If you’re anything like me, you’re always looking for healthier dessert alternatives. I am so excited to share this recipe with you because these Healthy Banana Oat Cookies have become my new favorite sweet tooth fix. I have been making these cookies FIVE times a week because they are just that good, and not to mention they make for a wonderful breakfast option because they are packed with wholesome ingredients. Cookies for breakfast? Count me in!

These Healthy Banana Oat Cookies are:

soft and chewy

gluten free and vegan

quick and easy (less than 20 minutes and no mixer required)

made with SIMPLE and CLEAN ingredients

perfectly balanced with banana, peanut butter, and chocolate chips

Recipe Breakdown

These cookies only call for 100% vegan and clean ingredients that you can feel good about “splurging” on, but they still taste and feel indulgent. Let’s talk about how a handful of magical ingredients work together to make this result possible.

The base of these cookies is made up of whole oats and oat flour (which is easily made by blending whole oats in a blender until flour consistency is reached). Oat flour is one of my favorite flour alternatives because it results in a chewy (gluten-free) texture.

The source of sweetness within these cookies comes from the banana and a few tablespoons of maple syrup. Feel free to substitute honey in for the maple syrup if that is your preferred sweetener. In this recipe, the banana doubles as a sweetener as well as a vegan egg replacement, giving these cookies their soft and addicting texture.

This recipe calls for 1/4 cup of peanut butter and three tablespoons of coconut oil. These two ingredients team up to create a healthy (and delicious) fat source. I love the flavor that peanut butter adds to these cookies when paired with the banana and chocolate, but you can substitute any nut or seed butter that you prefer.

Oh, and last but not least, the perfect amount of chocolate chips bring these cookies to the next level.

In less than 20 minutes you can have these amazing, easy, and completely guilt-free cookies at your fingertips! Be sure to check out some of my other favorite cookie recipes: Double Chocolate Brownie Cookies, Healthy Peanut Butter Cookies, and my Vegan Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies. Happy baking!

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Healthy Banana Oat Cookies

Course Dessert

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 8 minutes minutes

Servings 10

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups of old fashioned oats gluten free if desired
• 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon 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
• 1 overripe mashed banana
• 4-5 tablespoons maple syrup depending on desired sweetness
• 1/3 cup chocolate chips I like to use mini and vegan if desired
• 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

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Whisk the first 5 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!

Notes

These cookies are so good after they have been frozen! I love putting a few in the freezer overnight and eating them the next day for breakfast.

The post Healthy Banana Oat Cookies appeared first on Splurge with Ella.

This is the best pumpkin bread recipe. It is tender, packed with pumpkin flavor, and filled with chocolate chips in every bite. I promise no one would ever guess that this recipe is vegan!

If you love pumpkin, you will LOVE this recipe. It is the perfect fall snack and packed with warm spices. I have tried many different pumpkin bread recipes, and this is by far the best pumpkin bread I have ever had. After a lot of recipe testing, I found that many recipes will leave you with dry, dense or flavorless loaves. Although, the days of bland pumpkin bread are over! I am so excited to present you with a recipe that results in super moist, tender, and flavorful bread every time.

Why this pumpkin bread recipe works

1. The main ingredient in this recipe is obviously pumpkin! Many pumpkin bread recipes will only use one cup of pumpkin puree, but this recipe calls for an entire 15 ounce can for optimum flavor. Pumpkin puree is also a great egg replacement in vegan baking because of the high moisture content. In this case, it replaces the need for eggs and is the main flavor component.

2. This recipe uses a combination of cinnamon, nutmeg, and pumpkin pie spice to ensure this bread is full of fall flavors.

3. The addition of coconut oil to this recipe adds moisture and creates an amazing texture. Coconut oil is one of my favorite healthier fat alternatives in vegan baking that results in a lighter crumb and moist texture.

4. Maple syrup is another key ingredient in this recipe. It adds an elevated flavor profile by providing the perfect amount of sweetness, and hints of maple in every bite.

5. Of course, chocolate chips make this pumpkin bread extra special. The combination of pumpkin and chocolate has always been one of my fall favorites that I look forward to all year!

If you love pumpkin, be sure to check out this Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe for more fall flavors! Happy baking!

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Vegan Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread

Course Dessert, Snack

Keyword chocolate chip, pumpkin, pumpkin bread, vegan

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 1 hour hour

Total Time 1 hour hour 10 minutes minutes

Servings 8

Ingredients

• 2 cups of flour
• 1 teaspoon of baking soda
• 1 teaspoon of baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon of salt
• 1 teaspoon of cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice
• 1/4 teaspoon of nutmeg
• 1/2 cup of white sugar
• 1/4 cup of dark brown sugar
• 1/4 cup of melted coconut oil
• 1/2 cup of warm almond milk
• 1 15 oz can of pumpkin purée
• 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla
• 1/4 cup of maple syrup
• 1/2 – 2/3 cup of chocolate chips

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease a 4.5 x 8.5 bread pan with coconut oil (or several smaller pans).
• Whisk together the first 9 dry ingredients together in a medium bowl until well combined.
• Stir together the next 5 wet ingredients together in a separate bowl until well combined.
• Pour wet ingredients into the dry and fold to combine (the batter is thick, and if it appears too thick you can add a little extra maple syrup or almond milk).
• Fold in desired amount of chocolate chips.
• Evenly pour batter into greased bread pan and top with extra chocolate chips (optional).
• Bake in preheated oven for 60-70 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean and you can see the bread start to pull away from the sides of the pan.
• Cool in pan for 15 minutes before removing to cool on wire rack. Allow bread to cool for an additional 30 minutes and enjoy! (I think this bread is even better after it has cooled for several hours)

The post Vegan Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread appeared first on Splurge with Ella.

These chewy blondies seriously melt in your mouth, which is why you would never guess that their main ingredient is chickpeas! Yes, chickpeas. These protein-packed legumes are what give these addicting blondies their amazingly fudgy texture and magical crackly top. Perfectly sweetened with maple syrup, these babies are filled with chocolate chips and packed with peanut butter flavor.

Did I mention that these blondies are almost TOO easy to make? All they require are 8 simple ingredients, a few minutes in a food processor, and BOOM! They’re ready for the oven in no time!

Blondie Ingredient Breakdown

Chickpeas

Let’s talk about chickpeas. Chickpeas (also known as garbanzo beans) are a member of the legume family that obtain a mild slightly nutty flavor and are packed with protein. They are also a great source of fiber as well as other vitamins and minerals. This means that chickpeas will help keep you feeling full and satisfied throughout your day! Plus, they are super affordable and versatile!

Peanut Butter

The next main ingredient in these blondies is peanut butter. Peanut butter is not only DELICIOUS, but it is also a wonderful healthy fat source! Nut butter is a great substitute in vegan baking for real butter, and offers far more health benefits! Peanut butter is another great source of protein and contains a variety of vitamins and minerals. This amazing ingredient ensures that these blondies are chewy, soft, and flavorful.

For maximum health benefits, be sure to opt for “all-natural” peanut butter. When you look at the ingredient list on the jar, it should only state peanuts and salt. Many other name brand peanut butters will add in unnecessary oils and sugars that you might want to avoid.

Maple Syrup

Last but not least, maple syrup. Maple syrup is a healthier and natural sugar alternative that is full of antioxidants and has a lower glycemic index than cane sugar. Glycemic index ranks how fast foods will cause a spike in your blood sugar, which is why a lower glycemic index is better for your blood sugar levels. Maple syrup also has a wonderful flavor profile that obtains hints of vanilla and caramel, which is why it is one of my favorite sugar substitutes in healthy baking!

The last thing that you need to know is that this blondie batter is extremely addictive. I’m lucky if any of it even makes it into the pan! If you love peanut butter as much as we do, be sure to check out these recipes for more: Healthy Peanut Butter Cookies and Vegan Peanut Butter Swirl Brownies

Enjoy these guilt-free blondies anytime you need to satisfy your sweet tooth or shock your friends with how amazing healthy vegan treats can be!

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Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Chickpea Blondies

These decadent guilt free blondies melt in your mouth and are SO easy to make.

Course Dessert

Keyword blondies, chickpea, flourless, healthy, vegan

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes minutes

Total Time 30 minutes minutes

Servings 9

Ingredients

• 1 15oz can of chickpeas drained and rinsed
• 1/2 cup of creamy peanut butter
• 1/3 cup of maple syrup
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon of salt
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla
• 1/3-1/2 cup of chocolate chips vegan if desired

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease an 8×8 baking pan.
• Combine all ingredients in food processor or blender and blend until well combined and the batter has reached a thick and creamy consistency.
• Add desired amount of chocolate chips and mix in by hand.
• Evenly spread batter into baking pan and bake for 25-30 minutes or until sides are slightly golden brown (be careful not to over bake).
• Allow blondies to cool for 120-30 minutes before serving. Enjoy!

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