Desserts

Healthy Pumpkin Pecan Muffins | Vegan & Gluten-free

September 15, 2018 by healthienut 1 Comment

It is my first pumpkin recipe of the season and I could not be more excited. Leaves are starting to fall, raining is beginning to drizzle, and I am feeling more rushes of cold air. That might not sound the most exciting to you, but I can tell you I am definitely more a lover of autumn than summer. Want to know the greatest reason why? Food. Simple as that.

The countless recipes you can make from fall produce and warming spices is incredible. The top of my list this season is definitely pumpkin recipes. Well, don’t worry because I have quite a lot coming your way on my blog.

These super fluffy and moist pumpkin pecan muffins are a great way to kick off this cold weather. They are entirely gluten-free, vegan, and can be eaten with no regrets…however I believe every muffin should be guilt-free (even if its unhealthy). Treat yourself am I right?

Embedded with chunks of pecans and topped with a creamy hazelnut frosting.

I am excited that I am finally bringing to you another gluten-free recipe, because those are quite lacking on my blog. I find that working with gluten-free flours can be quite hard, yet I think I nailed it on this one. Practice makes perfect!

A combination of oat flour and almond flour yields a super fluffy and soft texture without creating the stereotypical crumbly and dense texture that you often associate with gluten-free desserts.

I wanted to create a more unique frosting and veer away from the traditional cashew one. I soaked some hazelnuts, took the skin off, and added some acid, sweetness, and some liquid. The results were an ultra creamy and rich hazelnut goodness. …

The Best Fudgy Vegan Brownies

September 7, 2018 by healthienut Leave a Comment

You may or may not be thinking…haven’t you already posted a recipe for vegan brownies? Yes, that is true…but trust me these are even better.

I slightly altered the ingredients and measurements. It resulted in an even more fudgy texture, slightly crackly top, and ultra chewy mouthfeel. The brownie you have been dreaming of? I got you.

What changes did I make?

Although coconut oil may be a bit healthier than vegan butter I wanted to make these the best brownies they could be. Since butter has a higher fat content, it will aid the sugar in creating a nice crackly top. It also helps with the moist and fudginess of the brownie.

The original recipe had more flour, however, the last thing I want are these brownies to be cakey so I decreased the flour from 2 cups to 1 1/2. What happened? even more fudgy action!

I also did a bit of research on the science of baking an ultimate brownie and they recommended that you melt butter, get it hot, and stir in the sugar vigorously. This helps with the crackly top and chewy texture….

Vegan Strawberry Pop Tarts

August 31, 2018 by healthienut Leave a Comment

Yes, you read that right. Vegan strawberry pop tarts. First of all, the biggest accomplishment I made for this recipe was the stamp of approval from my little sister. She even said it tastes better than the real thing which is a lot coming from her.

This “gourmet” pop tart will take you right back to your childhood. With the jelly-like strawberry jam in the middle, slightly hollow center, crispy edges, and sweet icing topping…it truly is close if not better than the original pop tart.

Flaky and buttery pastry dough stuffed with sweet homemade strawberry jam and drizzled with a simple icing and rainbow sprinkles.

If you’re looking to make the icing a lower sugar healthier version I got the recipe for you. Simply mix together 2 tbsp coconut cream, 1 tbsp coconut oil, and 1 tbsp maple syrup. It will be a little runnier than traditional icing but will save you the extra grams of sugar. …

Vegan Coconut Panacotta with Pineapple Mango Sauce

August 30, 2018 by healthienut 2 Comments

As summer is ending…yes I know that is sad to hear…we have to take advantage of all the fresh fruits that are ripe on our counter. For me, that includes pineapple and mango.

Now you could go the simple route and make a fruit salad, but why not puree it with a bit of sugar, starch, simmer it down and pour it over an uber creamy and delicate pannacotta? Now that is what I am talking about.

A soft, delicate coconut-based pannacotta topped with a sweet & creamy pineapple mango sauce and fresh strawberries. With hints of fresh vanilla bean, this will truly excite your taste buds.

Panacotta may seem like a hard challenge to endeavor considering it is traditionally made from heavy cream and milk. However, with the help of the high-fat content from the coconut milk and thickening agent of agar agar, your vegan pannacotta dreams will come true.

Agar agar is a natural vegetable gelatin derived from the sea. It acts as a thickening agent to produce bouncy and jello-like consistencies. You could also use it to create creamy and thick vegan cheeses!

Since coconut milk has a high-fat content it cooks down and becomes pretty thick. It also aids in the ultra-creamy texture that pannacotta traditionally has.…

The Best Vegan Snickerdoodles | Soft & Chewy

July 29, 2018 by healthienut Leave a Comment

When I think of a perfect snickerdoodle I imagine soft, fluffy, sugary circles of goodness. They are not like your traditional cookies that have slightly crunchy edges. Snickerdoodles are slightly underbaked which creates that super soft texture.

No need for eggs or dairy to give these cookies the soft texture they deserve. Of course, rolled in a cinnamon-sugar mixture to create that authentic snickerdoodle taste.

I mean…those cookies look pretty darn perfect to me. I don’t have genius “rolling of dough skills” or anything. It is all thanks to my cookie scoop. That is key to impress your family or friends with bakery-worthy cookies….

Peanut Butter Coconut Macaroons

July 24, 2018 by healthienut Leave a Comment

If you put peanut butter in anything chances are it will taste delicious. And that includes coconut macaroons.

Anything can be made vegan and that includes those cute little coconut macaroons you see in the bakery. Usually made with sweetened condensed milk, but thanks to canned coconut milk I got you covered!

A chewy and crumbly coconut mound with creamy peanut butter and a drizzle of dark chocolate. I think I’ll take a few….