Almond Butter Chocolate Cups

Portland Oregon does not snow, however this week we had our mix of flurries and sleet. Cold temperatures kept us in, and we did not have much on hand besides dark chocolate chips, and Almond butter. This recipe is pretty straight forward, and is very easy and quick to make.

Ingredients:

• 1 bag of Dark Chocolate chips
• 3 Tablespoons of Almond Butter, or nut butter of choice

Directions:

Melt 1/2 the bag of chocolate chips, and layer in silicon muffin cups. Place on a plate, cover with plastic wrap, and freeze for 15 to 20 minutes.

Once set, arrange about a teaspoon of butter in the middle, and then melt second half bag of the chocolate chips, and layer on top of the Almond nut butter spread. Once again, cover and freeze, for twenty minutes.

Serve and Enjoy!!

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CocaoCoco-nut Raw Balls

I had the pleasure of taking a trip to Boulder Co, recently and visited a little coffee shop called the Unseen Bean. To my surprise they had candy, caramels made out of coconut, and little Raw balls made by Simply Dara. I picked out my choice of candies and one Raw Ball, to take home and share with my husband, which never made it home because I indulged myself on my plane trip back home.

Skip forward to Sunday, I knew that I wanted to make these balls, and all I had was the ingredients but not the measurements of the the recipe. So off to whole foods we went. This recipe is my first try and pretty good, but it is really rich. My husband insist it is a winner, but I am wondering if it may be too sweet, and will revisit and revise this recipe and add a little less agave.

You can flavor this differently, and next time I am thinking of using a Cherry extract to just for fun.
The time it took me was only ten minutes, and the balls were done, and better yet there was no cooking time. The girls were able to snack on it immediately, with no fears of food poisoning from raw eggs.
And all around these Balls were a great winters treat, with no guilt.

Ingredients

• 1 cup walnuts 
• 1 cup slivered blanched almonds
• 1 cup dried dates, separately
• 1/2 cup cocoa nibs blended
• 1/3 cup cocoa powder (1 tbls cocoa)
  
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/3 agave
• 1/2 Cup of Coconut flakes

(Note this recipe is very sweet, so at first I would add less Agave, and if desired add more to until you get to the 1/3 cup.)

Place 1 cup of walnuts in the food processor and use setting on the blender "chop". Add almonds, Cocoa Nibs, and then place the dry ingredient's in a medium to large bowl. Add one cup of dates to the food processor, and puree, until it is almost a paste. Add to the bowl and all wet ingredients, and stir well, until the mixture is all mixed well. 


Next step is a little messy because dough will be sticky, but roll into balls. On a plate, or flat surface spread out Coconut flakes. Roll the balls in flakes, until covered on all sides. 


Serve and indulge, and enjoy!!! Remember these are very rich, and you will only need just a little!

Cocoa Mint Santa Cookies

The Season of Christmas is here, and the baking of goodies has begun. Baking Gluten Free around the holiday's can become a chore, and not exciting! However this Almond flour cookie will have all begging for more, and yes will even bring the fun back to baking for the Holidays!!!!

• 2 1/2 cup of almond flour ( Honeyville) Bobs Red Mill won't work….
• 1 1/2 cup of cocoa
• 1/2 tsp of baking soda and powder
• 1/4 tsp of kosher salt
• 1 stick of butter (softened)
• 2 eggs
• 2 tsp of Peppermint extract
• 1 1/2 cups of Dark Chocolate Chips
• 1 cup of Pure Maple Syrup
• 1 cup of Coconut Sugar

Pre- heat Oven to 350.
Mix all Dry ingredients together in a bowl.
Mix Butter, eggs, extract and Maple Syrup together.
Combine wet mix and stir into dry mix.

On parchment paper drop about a tablespoon for each cookie, and cook at 350 for 8 minutes, or until done. This is Almond Flour, so I would recommend keeping a close eye on the cookies, as not to burn!

Serve with Coconut Mint Chocolate Milk, for Santa, and his little helpers!

Happy Holidays!!!!

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Gluten- Free Molten Cake

Serve as a Holiday treat!

My downfall is my sweet-tooth. I crave chocolate all the time, everyday, and could eat it all day, to fill a craving that can never be really filled. It is not necessarily the chocolate that I am craving. The texture, temperature play a part in filling my craving too. This cake hits that craving. It can be served chilled, or warm right out of the oven.

Moist, but thick, sweet, and very rich, this dessert is sure to please. This dish is sure to be a holiday treat, and can be dressed with Almond whipped cream, or would go well with a homemade cherry sauce. Or Serve as dessert with a coffee. 

Ingredients

• 6 ounces of Bittersweet Chocolate, chopped
• 6 tablespoons of Butter
• 1/4 cup of cocoa powder
• 4 large egg whites
• 1/4 tsp of cream of tartar
• 2 tablespoons of Coconut Sugar

1. Melt Chocolate and butter in a small sauce pan, remove from heat, and pour in a medium sized bowl.
2. Add cocoa
3. In a deep small bowl, carefully separate egg whites, and beat on high speed the cream of tartar, and egg whites. until you form white peaks. 
4. Add coconut sugar
5. 
   
6. Preheat,  oven to 400 degrees, and cook for about 8 minutes. You can put into muffin cups, or a 9 inch classic round.

Coconut Flour Brownies

Organic Coconut Flour Brownies

Did you know that Chocolate is a super food? Chocolate has tremendous health benefits that can not be ignored. So Eat up! Eat for your heart, eat for your memory, eat it for your health!

Below is a brownie recipe that I made yesterday. It is not yet perfected, but if I promise I will be making a new and improved batch this week. It was still very delicious. I was not a fan of the Agauve so I may try Applesauce or stick with regular sugar, and would like to replace the olive oil with Grapeseed oil, coconut oil, or Walnut Oil next time!

• About 1 cup of Olive oil, give or take.
• 1 cup of Cocoa Powder
• 12 eggs or equivalent egg substititute. 
• 1/2 cup of Agauve
• 1/2 cup of brown sugar
• 1 tsp of Vanilla extract
• 1 cup of Coconut Flour ( Lets Do… Organic)
• hand full of chocolate chips and walnuts if desired.

Pre- heat oven to 350. Whisk eggs and add olive oil, extract, and aguave. Stir, and add Cocoa Powder and coconut flour. Finally add chocolate chips and walnuts!

This was a good brownie mix and was gone in a days time. It is just not my all time best! To me it tasted like a healthy brownie! All in all, this recipe would get 7 starts out of 10. Stay tune for more brownie recipes to follow!

We did have a fun time making the brownies, which is the main reason I cook, and that is to enjoy the experience with my family. Below I included some pictures. Violet even got into the mixing!

Chocolate Coconut Ice Cream Pie

Chocolate Coconut Ice Cream Pie
Yum Yum!

Pie crust

• 2 cups Almond flour
• 1/4 tsp of salt
• 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda
• 2 1/2 tablespoons of Cocoa powder
• 2 1/2 tablespoons of Irish creme Agave
• 1 teaspoon of Vanilla extract
• 4 tablespoons of cold butter 

1. In a medium bowl mix Blanched Almond Flour, salt, baking soda, cocoa powder.
2. Mix in Agave, vanilla extract and butter with a fork.
3. Spread into pie pan with hand
4. Chill in refrigerator for 15 minutes
5. Preheat oven at 350
6. bake for 10 minutes
7. Cool and place in freezer

Pie crust mix

I had a hard time getting the butter to mix in. I am thinking about leaving the butter out and letting it soften to room temp.

Ice Cream Filling

Ice Cream Filling

• 1 tablespoon of bowling water
• 2 teaspoons of coffee instant
• 3/4 cup of chocolate chips
• 2 tablespoons of coconut milk
• 1 Pint Naked Coconut 
• 1 pint Dark Chocolate  Luna & Larry's Organic Coconut Bliss

1. In a small bowl heat a tablespoon of water in the microwave for a minute, and dissolve a packet of Via coffee. 
2. On stove top heat in a saucepan 3/4 cup of chocolate chips, and add 2 tablespoons of coconut milk. 
3. Add melted chocolate mixture into a small bowl with the coffee that has now dissolved into the water.
4. In frozen bowl mix the two variety of ice creams and add 3 Tablespoons of chocolate/ coffee mixture. 
5. Spoon ice Cream filling into the Pie, 
6. then cover and freeze for 3 to 4 hours.

I told my husband two Chocolate and this is what he brought home! So we improvise!

Chocolate goodness!

After filling Pie with Ice Cream, I smoothed top with a Cake smoother tool, and drizzled on a little of the extra melted Chocolate.

The Best ever Almond Flour Chocolate Chip Cookies

We have tried recipe after recipe, trying to perfect the ultimate Almond Flour Chocolate chip cookies. 

Most were o.k., some mixtures were crumbly, others had a really distinct almond flavor!

Tonight I thought that it I would try Maple Syrup and it was a success!

I was so pleased with myself I shared half the batch with my friends and neighbors.

Bagged and ready for delivery!

Chocolate Chip Cookies

• 3 cups of Blanched Almond Four
• 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon of Kosher Sea Salt
• 1/2 cup of Grapeseed oil
• 1 teaspoon of Vanilla Extract
• 1/2 cup of Maple Syrup
• 2 Eggs
• 1 1/2 cup of Chocolate Chips

Mix all dry ingredients into a large bowl, stir well. 

 Next mix wet ingredients into a medium bowl, and mix well. Combine.

Using a tablespoon measure out on parchment paper! Bake at 350 for ten minutes or until no longer wet looking!

For the love of Chocolate

Chocolate dipped prunes. I know that it does not sound appetizing, but I promise you will eat this treat like candy!

I am going to dip walnuts next time!

1/2 pound of dried prunes or any dried fruit of choice

1/2 a bag of 605 to 70% chocolate

Melt chocolate in a saucepan. 

With a fork dip your choice of dried fruit or dip a nut. Dry on parchment paper. 

When dried fully, store in refrigerator, and keep for a nice fast tasty indulging treat!

Chocolate and Strawberries

Chocolate, strawberries and Red Wine!

Treat your loved one to Strawberries and Chocolate this Valentines Day. If you desire to have Chocolate covered strawberries, melt 1 cup of Dark Chocolate Chips in a saucepan, and dip Fresh Strawberries in the melted Chocolate, set on Parchment paper and let Dry.

You don't even have to melt the Chocolate! It still has the same effect. :-)

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Chocolate Chip Cookies

This Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe is slightly adapted from Elana's Pantry. I figured why really mess with perfection, when she has such a great cookie dough recipe!

3 cups blanched almond flour
½ teaspoon celtic sea salt
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ cup grapeseed oil
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
½ cup yacon syrup/  or agave nectar.. (or you may use 1/2 cup of sugar)
2 tablespoons of Applesauce
1 cup dark chocolate chips 73% cacao

Mix all the dry ingredients in a bowl. And mix all the wet ingredients, then mix all together in a large bowl.
Place cookies on Parchment paper and Bake at 350° for 7-10 minutes

This is an amazing recipe, and my girls love to eat just the dough. Because of this we learned to make a double batch! What I love most is there is no eggs in this recipe, so there are no fears of letting my girls eat the dough.