SALTED CARAMEL AND PEANUT BUTTER RAW SNICKERS SLICE

Even though I’m not dairy free or vegan I like to try healthier recipes from time to time. They’re loaded with protein, good fats and sweetened with dates instead of processed sugar – a great way to satisfy your sweet tooth without feeling the guilt. Danny and I may have made 2 batches when we went vegan for a month…and may have eaten them the same day we made them 😉 We couldn’t resist the yummy layers of sweet, nutty, caramel and chocolate goodness.

10X10” glass dish
Makes 8 slices

Ingredients

Base
2 tbsp. rolled oats
1/2 cup roasted almonds (or almond meal)
3 soft medjool dates
1 tsp. coconut oil
1 tsp. coconut butter

Peanut Butter Nougat
1 1/2 cup cashews (soaked in water over night)
3 soft medjool dates
1 tbsp. almond milk
2 tsp. vanilla bean paste or extract
2 tbsp. smooth peanut butter

Caramel
2 tbsp. tahini butter
2 tbsp. peanut butter
4 soft medjool dates 1
1 tsp. sea salt flakes
1 tbsp. coconut butter
1 tsp. vanilla bean paste or extract

Chocolate Topping
3 tbsp. raw cacao powder
1 tbsp. coconut oil
1 tbsp. coconut butter

Crust Base: Throw ingredients into a food processor. Pulse until combined. Line the dish with the crust and press evenly until covered. Set aside.

Peanut Butter Nougat Layer: Add all peanut butter nougat ingredients into your cleaned food processor (I used our Vitamix…so blender or food processor will work). Blend until very smooth. Add water if needed to reach a “thick pour” consistency. Pour over the crust and use a spatula to spread it evenly. Place in the freezer.

Caramel Layer: Place all ingredients in your cleaned food processor and blend until smooth. Add more salt or soft dates until desired taste is reached (some like it salty, some like it sweet). Take dish out of freezer and pour on the next layer. Place back in freezer while you prepare the chocolate layer.

Chocolate Layer: Place all chocolate topping ingredients in a heatproof bowl and place in the microwave for 30 seconds. Stir until “chocolate” is liquefied, smooth and the oil has mixed into the cacao. Pour evenly on top of the dish and place back into the freezer for 5 hours or until the raw snickers dish has completely hardened. When ready, pop it out of the dish by pulling on the plastic wrap. Peel off the plastic and cut the dessert with a large knife into desired size squares.

*Top with sea salt flakes

Vanilla Bean Purple Sweet Potato Creamy Cashew Berry Cake

How about a slice of vanilla bean purple sweet potato creamy cashew berry cake? These cakes are vegan, gluten free, wheat free, refined (cane sugar) free, dairy free, soy free and yes they’re still delicious! Flavor packed little squares! Here is the easier-than-you-think recipe!

Ingredients:

Crust
6 soft dates (pitted)
3 tbsp cocoa powder
2 tbsp shredded unsweetened coconut
2 tbsp coconut oil
3 tbsp almond meal
1/2 nuts (almonds, peanuts whatever you have)
1/2 cup rolled oats

Bottom Layer
1 cup cashews (soaked in water for 3 hours and drained)
1/2 purple sweet potato (peeled and steamed)
2 tbsp coconut BUTTER (melted)
1 tbsp maple syrup
1 tsp vanilla bean paste
1 tbsp rice flour
3 tbsp water

Top Layer
1 cup cashews (soaked in water for 3 hours and drained)
10 raspberries
1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
1 tbsp maqui powder
1 tbsp pomegranate powder
2 tbsp beet (finely shredded)
2 tbsp coconut BUTTER (melted)
1 tbsp maple syrup
1 tsp vanilla bean paste
1 tbsp rice flour
3 tbsp water

Directions
Make each layer separately in the food processor (wash the container between each layer). Starting with the crust – throw all ingredients into the processor and blend until a ball is formed. Crust should be pliable and easily to shape without falling apart. Line square glass dish with parchment paper and press the crust into the paper and the edges of the dish. Spread evenly.
Wash out the food processor and blend the first layer ingredients together until smooth and silk. Pour into the dish. Wash and repeat with the second layer.
Place the layered “cheezecake” in the freezer for 3 hours. Cut into squares and top with desired goodies (I used chocolate covered cacao nibs and blackberries). If you want to drizzle it with a magic chocolate sauce shell, mix 1 tbsp cocoa powder with 1 tsp of coconut oil and maple syrup. Serve when cakes are thawed, yet still cold. Like cheesecake.

Oh My Peachy Pie

I promise you I’m not only eating pie (2 pie posts in a row eeek)! My Grandpa has a peach tree in his front yard and the little tree has exploded with peaches this year. I mean LOTS of peaches, about 200+! There are so many peaches that the branches are breaking! So Dan and I have been assigned the task of picking all the ripe ones during our lunch break each day.

Happy to help!

Crust
2 1/2 cups flour
1 tbsp sugar
1 tsp salt
2 sticks butter, cubed and very cold
1/2 cup cold water, plus more as needed

-Mix flour, sugar, and salt in a mixing bowl.
-Add the cold butter to the flour mixture, shave off thin flakes of cold butter with a knife. Use a pastry cutter to work the butter into the dough until it resembles fine crumbs.
-Add water 1 tbsp at a time. Give the dough a few kneads with your hands so that it forms a rough ball.
-Wrap dough in plastic wrap and chill for one hour in the refrigerator.
-Divide the dough in half and roll out a round sheet for the bottom of the pie. Bake at 350F for 15 minutes.
-Save the rest of the dough for decorating the top of the pie.

*********************

Filling
20 small peaches (or 10 big peaches) skinned and sliced
1 cup sugar
1 tbsp lemon juice
1/3 cup flour
2 tbsp butter
1/4 tsp nutmeg

-Throw all ingredients into a medium sized pot, cooking on low heat.
-Stir until the peaches become soft and sauce begins to thicken.
-After the bottom crust is baked, pour the the filling into the crust until level with the pie dish.
-Place dough on top of peaches. Decorate as desired.
-Bake in the oven at 350F for 20 minutes or until the top crust is golden.

^^^Dan Dan my peachy man