These moist bars slice beautifully and taste even better. Based on a recipe from Veggie World Recipes with a few swaps and one addition, they are everything a Blondie should be.
Yield: 8 to 16 bars
1-15.5 ounce can chickpeas, rinsed and drained, 1 1/2 tablespoons juice reserved
1/4 cup oat flour, almond flour, etc.
1/2 cup pecan butter (can substitute almond or peanut butter, bur pecan is best!)
3/4 cup maple syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 cup chocolate chips
1/2 cup broken pecans or other nuts
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray an 8″ square pan with nonstick spray, line with a 7″ wide strip of parchment paper or foil, spray again, and set aside. In large food processor, process all ingredients except chips and nuts until smooth. Stir in about 1/3 cup each chips and nuts, spread evenly into pan, sprinkle remaining chips and nuts over the top, and bake for 30 minutes. Cool on a wire rack, slice, and serve or store covered.
The secret to the irresistible texture of these cookies is melting the vegan butter, but not the shortening and forming them using the double scoop method.
1/4 cup vegan butter (I like Miyoko’s), melted
1/4 cup vegetable shortening
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup + 2 tablespoons all purpose flour
2 tablespoons nondairy milk
1/4 cup each chocolate chips, shredded coconut, and chopped pecans
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheet with Silpat or parchment paper. Cream together butter and shortening on high speed of electric mixer. Beat in both sugars until fluffy. On low speed, beat in extracts, soda, salt, and cinnamon. Then beat in flour and non-dairy milk, scraping down sides of bowl as necessary. Next add chips, coconut, and pecans. With a 2-tablespoon cookie scoop, make 10 to 12 mounds of dough, 2 inches apart. Then repeat with a second scoop, only nestle the second ball of dough right on top of first one, pressing down firmly to create a kind of tophat form. Bake 13 minutes or until golden brown. Cool and store in airtight container.
Almond Joy Dates are super quick, easy, and luscious bite-size bundles of joy and healthful decadence made by a dear friend, Sharon Lee Clohessy, for my birthday.
Simply sweeten plant-based cream cheese with natural sugar and coconut, tuck inside dates, and top with chopped chocolate-covered almonds. That’s it!
Serve on a platter, if you don’t devour them first, with alternating whole dates garnished with a few of the whole chocolate-covered almonds.
Recipes for these abound, but I like mine best, she says modestly…perhaps it is the brandy!
The absolute strangest thing happened with this recipe. I created it, proudly posted photos and the recipe, and a friend made it and had drastically different results: way too soft and fudgy, even after refrigetation, if there is such a thing, haha.
So I made the recipe again myself and had the same results. Not satisfactory at all. I can’t imagine what I did and I will never know. But, I went back to the drawing board, adding 1/2 cup oatflour–but you could add any flour–2 tablespoons less water, though you might need to add it back in depending on how absorbent your flour is, and 1/2 teaspoon baking powder. I turned up the temperature to 350 instead of 325 and I cooked them for 33 minutes vs. 25.
The result is exactly what you see in the new photos and I can’t imagine a brownie as good with no refrigeration necessary…brownies should not be cold! I was devastated when this happened, but now I’m so glad it did because these are superior to the others and, frankly, to any brownies I have ever made or tasted!
1-15 ounce can black beans, drained and rinsed well
1/2 cup oatflour or your favorite flour, including all purpose if gluten is no problem
2 tablespoons flaxseed meal whisked with 1/4 cup water and set aside for 5 minutes to thicken; whisk again before using
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
1 tablespoons strong brewed coffee (can use decaf)
2 tablespoons brandy (or rum)
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (not Dutched)
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup vegan chocolate chips, divided
1/2 cup pecan pieces, divided (optional, but recommended)
Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray an 8-inch square baking pan with non-stick spray, line bottom and up two sides with parchment paper, and spray again.
In a food processor, place all ingredients except chocolate chips and pecans. Process until very smooth, scraping down sides of bowl as necessary. If consistency is more cookie dough than thick brownie batter, you can add 1 to 2 tablespoons additional water. Remove blade and gently stir in 1/4 cup chocolate chips and 1/4 cup pecan pieces. (In the photo, I just used 1/4 cup pecans on top for prettier slicing.)
Spread mixture evenly into prepared baking pan. Sprinkle tmremaining chocolate chips and pecans evenly over surface.
Place brownies in center of preheated oven and bake about 33 minutes until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out with just the slightest bit of moist chocolate coloring it (not really clinging to it). Cool pan on a wire rack. Serve or cover tightly until serving time.
These are just perfection: not too sweet with beautifully contrasting textures.
Yield: 16 bars
Shortbread Crust: 5 tablespoons vegan butter, softened (I love Miyoko’s) 1/2 cup sugar 1 1/4 cup flour or King Arthur Gluten- Free Baking Mix 1/4 teaspoon sea salt 1/2 cup broken or chopped pecans
Spray an 8-inch square pan with nonstick spray, line with a strip of foil or parchment paper. And spray again. Cream together butter and sugar. With mixer on low speed, blend in flour, salt, and broken pecans until a dough forms. Press evenly into pan and bake 25 minutes.
Filling: 3 tablespoons vegan butter 6 tablespoons maple syrup 1/4 cup sugar 2 tablespoons nondairy milk 1 tablespoons bourbon 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/8 teaspoon sea salt 11/2 cups broken or coarsely chopped pecans 1/2 cup vegan, gluten-free chocolate chips
In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine all ingredients, except chocolate chips, bring to a simmer, and cook for 1 minute. Pour evenly over crust, sprinkle with chocolate chips, and bake 15 minutes. Cool and cut into squares.
This delicious and moist cake is a riff on those vintage chocolate cake recipes that use mayonnaise to replace oil and eggs. And it was my response to a growing mound of oranges from a week of Covid-necessitated bag lunches at the private school where I now teach. With the bountiful apples and oranges, wr joke that they must have an orchard.
As crazy as it sounds, this delicious and moist bundt cake can be completely oil-free if you use an oil-free mayo (and glaze it with something other than ganache). I use Walton Farms no-calorie accidentally vegan (yes, its true!) that I purchase at Harris Teeter.
But that is not the reason to make this recipe. No, its rich flavor and beautiful texture are the reasons why.
Chocolate-Orange Bundt Cake
3 cups flour
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 cup cocoa powder
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 1/4 cups fresh squeezed orange juice
Optional: zest of 1 orange
1/4 cup concentrated coffee or more orange juice
2 teaspoons vanilla
3/4 cup mayonnaise (I used Walton Farms no calorie mayo)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour 10-cup bundt pan. In a large mixing bowl, beat or whisk together all ingredients for about 2 minutes or until smooth and completely combined. Spoon into prepared pan, gently smooth top, and bake 45 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes. Invert onto wire rack, cover with a dish towel, and cool completely. Glaze as desired.
If it is extra hot, as it is here in Southeastern Virginia this July, pop these babies in the freezer for a bit before serving. They will cool you right down and perk you right up.
A note about the garnish: I sprinkle my tarts with mini white chocolate chips, but if you don’t have any, just sprinkle with a little powdered sugar for a bit of color contrast. The little bites of white chocolate are nice, but probably not worth making a special purchase. If you use the powdered sugar, be sure to dust the tarts just before serving.
1/2 cup pecans, plain or toasted
1/2 cup shredded coconut (I like unsweetened)
1/4 to 1/2 cup dates or dry figs, stemmed (this may sound like a big difference, but it depends on how moist the fruit is)
Pinch sea salt
Vegan Chocolate Mousse (recipe follows)
Vegan Chocolate Ganache (recipe follows)
12 fresh raspberries, rinsed and patted very dry
Approximately 2 tablespoons mini vegan white chocolate chips or powdered sugar
Garnish: fresh mint sprigs
Place 12 mini muffin cups liners in muffin tin. in food processor, a small one if you have it, process together pecans, coconut, and one quarter cup of figs or dates, and salt. Process until the mixture starts to hold together. If It holds together when pinched between your fingers, it is the right consistency. If not, keep adding figs or dates, one or two at a time. Divide mixture among lined muffin cups and press into bottoms. Fill each with chocolate mousse. (If there is any mousse left over, spoon into a carton and chill, covered, for another use.) Refrigerate for an hour or so and then prepare chocolate ganache, swirling about 1/12 of the mixture in the center of each tart. While ganache is still soft and pliable, press a raspberry gently into the center and garnish with white chocolate chips. Return to refrigerator until chilled through. If using powdered sugar, dust just prior to serving. Serve with mint sprigs if desired. For a quick cool-down treat, freeze the tarts for about a half hour before serving.
Vegan Chocolate Mousse (easily doubles):
8 ounces firm or extra-firm tofu (if you purchase blocks in 14 ounces rather than 16, use half or 7 ounces)
6 ounces vegan chocolate chips, melted and cooled slightly
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon almond extract (it masks the slightly off-taste of silken tofu)
Pinch sea salt
Optional: 1 tablespoon raspberry liqueur
Place tofu in bowl of large food processor and process until creamy. Add remaining ingredients and process until smooth, creamy, and completely combined, scraping down sides of bowl as necessary. This mousse sets up quickly and can also be served on its own or as a cake filling.
Vegan Chocolate Ganache:
2 tablespoons non-dairy milk, half-and-half or creamer
1/4 cup vegan chocolate chips
Heat non-dairy milk in small cup in microwave or until very warm. Whisk in chocolate chips and let cool until very spreadable, but not warm enough to melt mousse.
Yield: 1 6-inch layer cake (double recipe for an 8-in layer cake)
I finally created a plant-based Black Forest Cake with which I am completely delighted!
Unless you are a recipe developer–professional or amateur counts–you cannot imagine the research, the brainstorming, and the trial and error–mental and actual–to arrive here. I spent many wee hours on Pinterest obsessing.
There were certain things that I wanted from this special cake and certain things I didn’t. For instance, I didn’t want a buttercream frosting, but I also didn’t want pure whipped cream. A favorite dessert from childhood that combined cream cheese, powdered sugar, and whipped cream topped with a layer of cherry pie filling proved to be the inspiration. My recent discovery of Silk brand whipping cream made this luscious filling and frosting possible.
Wanting a deeply chocolate, very moist, and somewhat subtly complex flavored cake, I experimented quite a bit. I wanted the rich fudgyness of a brownie, but more of a cake like consistency. And ultimately, though I love cherry liqueur, I didn’t want the cake to taste too boozy. You can certainly brush the layers with cherry liqueur if you choose But I put a small amount in the batter along with some concentrated coffee and “buttermilk” because cakes made only with coffee, water or other thin liquids, line soda, don’t quite have the structure that I desired. The cake is sturdy, yet moist.
For decoration, I love chocolate shavings and chocolate curls, which are traditional on Black Forest Cake, but I didn’t want this to be fussy, so I used simple chocolate-dipped fresh cherries and toasted slivered almonds.
What can I obsess about now In the wee hours of the morning?
Cake 1 cup all-purpose flour 3/4 cup granulated sugar 1/3 cup cocoa powder 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon baking powder 1/4 teaspoon baking soda 1/3 cup vegetable oil 1/2 cup non-dairy milk curdled with 1 to 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar 2 tablespoons concentrated coffee 2 tablespoons cherry liqueur or more concentrated coffee 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 1/2 teaspoon almond extract Whipped Cream & Cream Cheese Filling/ Frosting (recipe follows) Approximately 3/4 cup canned cherry pie filling 1/4 cup toasted slivered almonds 6 fresh cherries, pitted and halved 4 cherries with stems intact, dipped in about 2 tablespoons vegan chocolate chips melted for 1 minute in microwave
Preheat oven to 350°. Grease and flour a 6-inch cake pan or spray with baking spray. Place metal mixing bowl and whip attachment in freezer for preparing filling.
In large bowl, whisk together all dry ingredients. Make a well in center, add wet ingredients, and whisk together for about 50 strokes until smooth. Transfer batter to prepared pan and bake approximately 35 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes in pan on wire rack and then invert. Cool completely covered with a dish towel. Using a serrated knife, cut cake in half horizontally. Place bottom layer on serving platter, spread with half of filling, and top with half of cherry pie filling. Place second layer on top and repeat. Decorate with cherry halves, toasted slivered almonds, and chocolate dipped cherries. Store in refrigerator.
Whipped Cream & Cream Cheese Filling/Frosting 1/2 cup vegan cream cheese, softened at room temperature for an hour or so 1/2 cup powdered sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 cup Silk brand whipping cream
Place cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla and well-chilled mixing bowl and cream together until smooth. With mixer on medium-high, slowly drizzle in whipping cream. Filling should be sick, but it will likely not be stiff enough to pipe through a pastry bag.
Yield: 1-10-inch Bundt cake or 24-2 inch mini Bundt cakes
Red wine is not just for drinking anymore!
My latest creation–whipped up in one bowl (and one for the gorgeous glaze)–can easily and quickly be yours: Red Wine-Chocolate Bundt Cake with Red Wine Glaze (and chocolate and coconut chip garnish)!
I made the large version as a gift given in a cake box tied with a gorgeous ribbon and the minis for my annual Christmas, Chanukah, Curry and Cakes Party.
Merry, Merry, everyone!
Red Wine-Chocolate Bundt Cake
2 cups flour 1 1/2 cups natural sugar 1/2 cup cocoa powder 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 3 egg substitutes (I used 3 tablespoon Neat Egg– it is flaxseed meal and tapioca starch; I used just flaxseed meal for mini Bundts) 1 1/2 cups red wine (I used Cabernet Sauvignon) 1 cup vegetable oil 1/2 cup non-dairy milk 2 teaspoons vanilla Red Wine Glaze (recipe follows)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a regular or mini Bundt pan with baking spray. In a large bowl, whisk together all dry ingredients. Make a well in center, and pour in all wet ingredients. Whisk together until batter is smooth. Pour into prepared pan. Bake 45 minutes for large/30 for minis or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes. Invert onto wire rack, cool completely, and then glaze.
Red Wine Glaze
2 to 3 tablespoons red wine 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 cup powdered sugar 1/4 cup vegan chocolate chips 1/4 cup coconut chips or shaved coconut
In a medium bowl, whisk together red wine, vanilla, and powdered sugar, adding more red wine or powdered sugar to reach desired consistency. Place cake on wire rack in shallow pan to catch drips and pour glaze over. Decorate with chocolate and coconut chips.
