Almond Coconut Granola

Last month I made a nutty chocolate granola that I baked at a temperature that was.... too toasty. It ended up a little crisp but I finished it off. This time, I wanted to make something with the leftover almond pulp I had from making almond milk last weekend.

I found a recipe and made a few substitutions and came up with this brilliant and golden GRANOLA!

Almond Coconut Granola (serves many :)

2 cups almond pulp
1 cup shredded unsweetened coconut
4 tbsp honey
3 tbsp maple syrup
1/3 cup walnuts
1/3 cup slivered almonds
2 tbsp cocoa powder
2 tsp cinnamon

Combine all dry ingredients in a bowl, mix thoroughly and then combine with the wet. Mix until well combined and then lay on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake at 300F for 20 - 25 minutes - until golden!

**If your almond pulp isn't exactly dry, throw it on the baking sheet first and bake for about 10 minutes until slightly toasted and drier.

Serve by itself as a snack, or with almond milk and fruit for breakfast :)

Chocolate Banana Pumpkin Muffins

Last night I overheard my Mom say she wanted to make some banana muffins with the older bananas we had left on our counter.  I decided to beat her to it and developed these delicious gluten free om-noms in the process!

We had some leftover pumpkin puree from before, and I really wanted to throw some cocoa powder in there, so I made it happen!  They were actually quite a bit sweeter than I thought it would be, but just slap some all natural peanut butter on there and you're good to go ;)

Chocolate Banana Pumpkin Muffins (serves ~24)

1 cup almond flour/meal
1 cup brown rice flour
1 cup coconut flour
2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1 tsp cinnamon
2 tsp powdered stevia
1/2 cup brown sugar
6 mashed bananas (the older the sweeter)
1/2 cup pure pumpkin puree
2 eggs
1/8 cup extra virgin olive oil
2 tsp vanilla
1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/4 cup water or unsweetened almond milk
1 cup craisins/chocolate chips/chopped nuts

Preheat the oven to bake at 350F.  Mix all dry ingredients in a bowl (including sugar, stevia and cinnamon), set aside. Mash bananas in another bowl and add all wet ingredients and mix well.  Combine all ingredients together and mix until no dry flour patches remain.

Fill into 24 lined muffin tins (about 3/4 full - they don't rise much) and bake for 20 minutes!  Let cool and enjoy :)

Fudgy Brownies

Everybody loves brownies.  And everyone loves healthy brownies even more!  These are incredibly delicious and better yet, full of amazing ingredients.

I was surprised by just how chewy, chocolatey, sweet and satisfying these brownies were. Mmmmmmmm.  I think I'll be making these again.  These are also 100% raw and gluten free!! How cool?!

Fugdy Brownies (serves about 12 and inspired by This Rawsome Vegan Life)

1 cup oat flour (or coconut, almond or brown rice flour)
1/2 cup oats (gluten free if you choose)
1/4 cup hemp hearts
2 tbsp ground flaxseed
2 tbsp chia seed
1/3 cup cocoa powder
1/3 cup cashews
1/2 tsp cinnamon (or more... hehee)
1/2 cup prunes
1/2 cup dried figs
1.5 tbsp coconut oil
1/4 cup honey/maple syrup
1 tsp vanilla extract

Mix all of the dry ingredients and then combine with the wet in a food processor.  Pulse until a large brownie ball forms - yes it is tempting to eat just then and there.

Press the brownie batter into a baking pan such as a loaf pan, 8x8 or pie pan.  Store in the fridge and serve immediately!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Ice Cream Cake

I'm a sucker for all things peanut and chocolate. Isn't everybody? As soon as I laid eyes on this recipe for a deep dish chocolate peanut butter ice cream cake, I knew the day would come where I would recreate this amazing dessert.

I didn't have the amount of dates required for the recipe... but not to worry! Dates have many substitutions, such as prunes and figs (which we had!). I made the necessary modifications and upped the peanuty-ness just for fun.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Ice Cream Cake (inspired by This Rawsome Vegan Life)

Crust
1/2 cup dates
1/4 cup dried figs
1/4 cup prunes
1/3 cup ground flaxseed
1/2 cup hulled hemp hearts
3 tbsp cocoa powder

Filling
3 frozen bananas
1/2 cup dates
1/4 cup dried figs
1/4 cup prunes
1 cup cashews
1 cup peanuts
2 tbsp coconut oil (melted)
1/4 cup cocoa powder
2 tbsp peanut butter
1 cup unsweetened almond milk

For the crust, pulse the flaxseed, hemp and cocoa powder in a food processor. Add the dried fruit and blend until the mixture begins to stick. Press onto the bottom and sides of a spring-form pan. Mine is 8" in diameter, but a smaller one would work as well.

For the filling, I put EVERYTHING into the food processor, but you may want to start with the nuts and alternate adding dry and wet ingredients whilst blending. Make sure to scrape down the edges of the food processor periodically to ensure proper mixing. After everything is blended, pour into the spring-form pan and smooth out. Leave in the freezer overnight, or for the whole day.

Take out for approximately 10 - 20 minutes before serving for a creamier texture :)

Chocolate Peanut Butter Bliss

And you thought peanut butter got any more blissful? Me neither. Until this recipe.

I was honestly looking for a recipe to use up the rest of our 'Smooth Kraft Peanut Butter' since we've decided to buy all-natural now.  I originally thought cupcakes, then muffins, then cookies... and then came across these Chocolate Peanut Butter Love Bites.

I was looking for something gluten-free and vegan! And of course... I made a couple of modifications :)

Chocolate Peanut Butter Love Bites

Center
1/4 cup oats
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/3 cup peanuts
1-2 tbsp maple syrup

Chocolate Coating
3 tbsp almond butter
2 tbsp maple syrup
2 tbsp cocoa powder (heaping, I might add)
1/8 tsp salt
2-3 tbsp almond milk (unsweetened)

Coating
1/4 cup peanuts
1/4 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
1/2 tsp salt (optional)

Pulse the coating ingredients in your food processor until it becomes granular and crumb-like.  Place in a bowl and put aside.

Pulse the center ingredients in your food processor until a large ball forms.  Shape into small balls (approximately 12 and I put mine on a plate) and place in the fridge.

Pulse the chocolate coating ingredients in your food processor until a thick sauce consistency forms.  Pour into a bowl to prepare for dipping!

Dip each ball into the chocolate sauce (I used a toothpick or two, which was still difficult) and then sprinkle or roll in the coating :) YUMMMMM. Place back on a plate and stick in the fridge for a couple of hours!