Category: dessert

This Rich Chocolate Silk Pie is Easy Peasy

Chef KimLeave a Comment on This Rich Chocolate Silk Pie is Easy Peasy

Do you crave silky chocolate richness? Sometimes I just need a bite of chocolate to satisfy. Well this rich chocolate silk pie is quick and easy to put together and full of satisfying plant protein instead of simple carbs. You will feel the difference after eating this dessert compared to one filled will butter, cream, sugar and flour.

Once you gather your ingredients, it only takes about 15 minutes to put together. Then it chills for a couple hours to set. So it’s a perfect dessert to make a head.

The crust is a combination of nuts and oats, but you could easily substitute sunflower seeds or all oats for it to be nut free, or all nut or seeds for for it to be grain free.

The filling uses melted chocolate chips, for dairy and nut allergy choose chocolate like good life, but your favorite chocolate chips/bar can be substituted. I prefer the bitter sweet or 70+% organic cocoa bars. To control the amount of sugar usually found in chocolate chips, you can use cacao powder, coconut sugar, monk fruit or maple syrup as a substitute. The bulk of the filling is avocado and organic silken tofu. Only use organic tofu, as soy is one of the largest GMO crops. And if soy is an allergen, this can be made using only avocado.

When I serve this pie, I like to add sliced bananas and coconut whip cream just before serving to keep the bananas from browning. Another idea is adding sliced strawberries on top or as a layer over the crust before adding the chocolate filling. This would make a decadent Valentine’s Day dessert! Are you ready to make it yet? You can skip the whip cream and serve with this yummy ice cream.

Let me know what you think and send me some pics if you give it a try. I hope you enjoy it.

Print Recipe

Rich Chocolate Silk Pie (plant based)

Quick and easy, rich and delicious!
Prep Time30 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Author: Chef Kim

Equipment

Ingredients

Crust

  • 1 cup raw pecans sub other nuts or sunflower seeds
  • 3/4 cup Old fashioned oats
  • 2 tbsp coconut or date sugar
  • 1 1/2 tbsp coconut oil
  • 1/4 tsp sea salt
  • 1 tbsp water

Filling

  • 2 1/2 cups vegan dark chocolate chips melted
  • 1 cup avocado Fresh or frozen, thawed
  • 1 box organic silken tofu (shelf stable pack) soft or firm
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • pinch salt
  • 1 pint strawberries (optional)
  • 2 bananas (optional)

Whip cream

  • 1 can full fat coconut milk or cream
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 tbsp Organic cane sugar or monk fruit

Instructions

For the crust

  • Combine nuts and oats and sugar in a food processor and pulse to a coarse meal texture.
  • Add the coconut oil and pulse to incorporate.
  • Add water and pulse until mixture begins to stick together.
  • Transfer to a 8-9 in pie pan and press into the bottom with a slight edge up the side of the pan.

For the filling

  • Melt the chocolate chips, by placing in a small glass baking dish in a preheated 300 degree oven or toaster oven. Or in a bowl over a pan of boiling water. *see note below to substitute.
  • wipe out any crumbs from the food processor and add the tofu and avocado. Turn on and blend until smooth.
  • Add the vanilla, salt and melted chocolate and blend again until the chocolate is evenly combined, scraping down the sides when necessary.
  • If using strawberries, wash and slice them making a layer over the crust. If using bananas, I recommend waiting until you serve to put slices on top of the pie.
  • Transfer filling to crust and smooth evenly. Chill for at least two hours.

For the whip cream

  • Chill the can of coconut milk for at least an hour.
  • Open can and scoop out the solid cream into a bowl, reserving the liquid to add to smoothies or soups.
  • To the cream add vanilla and sugar. Whisk or beat using a hand mixer.
  • Chill until ready to serve.

Notes

To use cacao powder instead of chocolate chips, add 1/2 cup cacao powder and 1/3 cup of maple syrup, coconut sugar or monk fruit/erythritol blend to the tofu avocado in the food processor. This will result in a softer filling that doesn’t firm up as much as using the chips. But it’s still delicious! Be sure to taste the filling to adjust the cacao and sweetness, if needed, before pouring it into the crust.
Apple snacks

Tahini Caramel Dip is Perfect for Fall Snackin’

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The leaves on the trees have turned and all the sweet and tart apples are in season. What’s your favorite kind of apple? This time of year I think tahini caramel dip and apples make the perfect snack. Sweet, crunchy and satisfying.

Tahini caramel dip can also be used swirled into a brownie recipe, thinned and drizzled over banana nice cream or even added to a cup of joe or chai. Give it a try, I think you’ll agree it’s a recipe that delivers on taste without all the sugar found in traditional caramel.

 

Print Recipe

Tahini Caramel Dip

Perfect sweet and gooey caramel
Prep Time20 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: coconut, dates, tahini
Servings: 8
Author: Chef Kim

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 8 oz (bag) shredded unsweetened coconut
  • 1 cup dates pitted and soft
  • 2-4 tbsp tahini
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1/2 tsp sea salt

Instructions

  • Pour shredded coconut into a food processor, cover and turn on. Process the coconut until it starts to get creamy. This will take about 3-4 minutes.
  • When the coconut begins to come together into coconut butter, add the dates, vanilla and salt. Process again until the dates break down completely and the mixture starts looking like thick caramel.
  • Stop and scrape the sides of the container. Add 2 tablespoons of tahini and blend until completely incorporated. Stop and taste. If cloyingly sweet or not quite creamy enough, add 2 more tablespoons of the tahini.
  • Store in a sealed glass dish or jar. Can be stored at room temperature for up to two weeks. Longer in the refrigerator. Allow to come to room temperature or warm under running hot water to make it dip ready.

Notes

This dip can be thinned with water or plant milk and whisked to make a sauce or drizzle.

 

 

Pumpkin mousse shots

Pumpkin Mousse Shots Are Scary Good!

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Do you need a Halloween dessert? These Pumpkin Mousse Shots are scary good! You don’t have to save this recipe for Halloween, though. The mousse is perfect poured into a crust and served as pumpkin pie, or cut into pumpkin bars or try freezing it for a pumpkin ice cream, have you ever tried that?

Did you know that pumpkins were first called “pumpions” after the French “pompon”, referencing their round shape, according to the history.com, and were first cultivated in 5500 B.C. in Central America. They were taken back to Europe by explorers of the New World and incorporated into European pastries and pies. The Pilgrims would have been familiar with pumpkins and it is probable that pumpkins made an appearance in some form at the first Thanksgiving. They were most likely cooked in layers with apples and herbs. It is surprising to me, that it wasn’t until after the Civil War that pumpkin pie reached its national acclaim. In 1929, Libby began canning pumpkins which replaced the need for roasting and straining one’s own pumpkin and that lead to pumpkin pie becoming a family tradition.

This pumpkin mousse is a no-bake recipe if you use canned pumpkin. If you roast your own pumpkin and purée it, I recommend allowing the purée to sit over a strainer lined with a coffee filter or paper towel to remove some of the moisture.

You can also make this with raw pumpkin or squash. Peel and chop the raw pumpkin and place it in a blender. Blend on high to purée for about a minute. Scrape the sides of the container and blend again until smooth. Let this purée sit over a strainer to remove some of the moisture before continuing with the recipe.

Let me know how you like this, it’s easier than baking a pumpkin pie. I think it will become a family favorite.

Pumpkin mousse shots
Print Recipe

Pumpkin Mousse

Creamy Pumpkin flavor in every bite!
Prep Time20 minutes
Chill time4 hours
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: dessert, mousse, pumpkin
Servings: 6
Author: Chef Kim

Equipment

  • blender

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups pumpkin puree cooked or raw
  • 1/2 cup date paste dates packed and blended smooth with a little water
  • 1/2 cup nut or oat milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1/2 cup coconut sugar grind into a fine powder or Substitute 1/4 cup maple syrup
  • 2 teaspoons of pumpkin spice mix 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon, 1/4 tsp ginger, 1/8 tsp nutmeg, 1/8 tsp clove
  • 1/3 cup coconut oil melted

Instructions

  • In a blender, combine the date paste, nut milk, vanilla and sweetener. Blend until smooth and completely combined. If you don’t have premade date paste, make that first in the blender, adding 1/2 cup packed, pitted dates and 2 tablespoons of water. Blend. Then add other ingredients.
  • Add in the pumpkin puree and spices, blend again to combine. Scrape down container sides and add the coconut oil. Blend until oil is incorporated and mixture is smooth, about 35 seconds.
  • Pour into serving dishes or into a prepared crust or tart shell and chill for 4 hours. This makes great shot glass desserts. Just portion into glasses and chill. Enjoy!

Notes

Pictured, are pumpkin mousse shots, with chocolate daggers. To make the chocolate daggers for garnish, melt 1/2 cup dairy free chocolate chips And spread out onto a sheet of wax paper or parchment. Roll and stick in the freezer to chill. When you unroll, the chocolate will break into shards. Garnish mousse.
Banana nice cream with granola

Eat Frozen Banana Nice Cream & Be Nice to Yourself!

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When you need a frozen creamy dessert, blend up this frozen banana nice cream and enjoy! You’ll feel like your indulging, but there’s everything right about this dessert and nothing to be ashamed of. Frozen banana nice cream to the rescue!

You need to plan ahead so that you have frozen bananas in the freezer ready to go. The coconut milk can be substituted with almond or oat milk, but coconut is quite a bit creamier if you use the canned full fat coconut milk. Then all you need is a little vanilla and you are set!

By the way this does work with other frozen fruit and vegetables.  Try adding frozen cauliflower to bump the nutrients or even frozen spinach and add a little mint. One of my favorites besides banana Is frozen cherries. So give this recipe a try and You’ll never go back to dairy ice cream. Finish it off with a crunchy granola topping.

Print Recipe

Coconut Banana Nice Cream

Creamy delicious and hits the spot!
Prep Time15 minutes
Course: Dessert
Keyword: banana, coconut milk
Servings: 4
Author: Chef Kim

Equipment

  • blender or food processor

Ingredients

  • 3 cups frozen banan chunks can substitute other frozen fruit
  • 1/4 cup coconut milk substitute almond or oat
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla or 1/2 vanilla bean, scraped

Instructions

  • A day ahead of making this dessert, peel and freeze a bunch of bananas, breaking them into chunks.
  • When you’re ready to have dessert, place three cups of the frozen banana chunks into a blender or food processor.
  • Add the coconut milk (almond or oat) and vanilla.
  • If using a blender, start on low speed and increase up to high speed, stopping and scraping the container sides and blending again to incorporate.
  • If using a food processor, begin by pulsing the mixture to break the bananas down and then blend constantly until it becomes creamy. You may have to stop and scrape the sides.
  • If the mixture is having a hard time blending, add more milk a tablespoon at a time until a thick soft serve consistency is reached..
  • Portion out into serving bowls. Top with granola, chopped nuts, cacao powder or nibs.
  • Serve and enjoy. This is also delicious served with your favorite cake, brownie or between cookies.

 

 

Lemon-berry tart

This Lemon Berry Tart Won’t Disappoint!

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With it’s refreshing lemon flavor and fresh bright berries, this plant-based lemon-berry tart won’t disappoint! Delicious, yet dairy free, refined sugar free and gluten free, so it’s practically appropriate for anyone. This beautiful tart is perfect for a special occasion, but easy enough to make as a treat for a weekday meal.

I make it with a raw crust, but if you have a favorite pastry crust, you can use it, just be sure to bake it before filling. You can also try using different milks for the filling, just keep in mind that the full fat coconut milk makes it’s really creamy.

For the berries, you can use fresh cut berries like the strawberries pictured, or any other berry or even cherries. Another variation  is spreading a layer of Berry Chia Jam on the crust, then cover with the cooked milk filling.

So go ahead and treat yourself to this refreshing lemon tart.

Lemon-berry tart
Print Recipe

Lemon-Berry Tart

Delicious And creamy plant-based Lemon tart.
Prep Time1 hour
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: almond, berries, coconut milk, lemon, oats, raw crust
Servings: 8
Author: Chef Kim

Equipment

  • blender
  • Small sauce pan
  • 8” Tart pan or springform pan

Ingredients

Crust

  • 1 cup oats
  • 1 cup almond flour
  • Pinch Salt
  • 2 Tbsp maple syrup or honey
  • 2 Tbsp Coconut oil melted
  • 1-2 Tbsp water

Lemon Cream Filling

  • 1 can full fat coconut milk
  • 3 Tbsp maple syrup
  • 1/2 cup oat or almond milk
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
  • 1 Tbsp lemon zest
  • 2 Tbsp corn starch or arrowroot powder
  • 1 tsp agar agar
  • 1 cup fresh berries or 1/2 cup berry jam

Instructions

For the crust:

  • Add the oats, almond flour and salt to a food processor or blender and pulse to reach a flour texture.
  • Add the sweetener and oil and pulse to combine.
  • Add 1 Tbsp. of water and pulse, adding another only if the crust mixture does not stick together when pinched.
  • Press into the bottom of a tart pan and up the sides slightly. Place in the freezer, while you make the filling.

For the filling:

  • In a small saucepan, gently warm the coconut milk and maple syrup, stir in a pinch of salt.
  • In a blender, combine the oat milk, lemon juice, zest, vanilla, cornstarch and agar agar and blend until smooth.
  • Bring coconut milk to a simmer and then add the mixture from the blender while you whisk.
  • Bring to a boil for 3 minutes, continue to whisk. Remove from the heat and let cool to room temp.
  • Remove crust from freezer and add sliced berries or spread the crust with jam.
  • When the filling has cooled, pour over the berries and crust and refrigerate for at least four hours or overnight.
  • Garnish with fresh berries on top or drizzle with thinned jam.

Notes

To make individual tarts, line cupcake tin or ramekins with parchment paper or paper liners and press crust into the paper. 
Try different berries to vary the flavor or I think cherries or a fruit coulee would also be delicious. 

Mocha Energy Love Bites

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I made these yummy little bites at a recent snack class and it was the favorite recipe of the night. They come together very quickly with a food processor and keep for weeks in the refrigerator.

It’s a great recipe to double and make a big batch and keep ready in the freezer, for a quick pick-me-up. I tend to gravitate to them when it’s time to prepare dinner. Just having a little something to wake up the taste buds while prepping makes the process go a little more smoothly. Plus they satisfy the urge without eating half a bag of chips.

We all struggle with making healthy snacking choices and these are sure to please..if you like coffee and chocolate! So make a batch this weekend and see how much better you feel after snacking on these!

Print Recipe

Mocha Energy Love Bites

Packed to the brim with flavor and nutrients to keep you going through the slumps in your day.
Prep Time15 minutes
Course: Snack
Cuisine: American
Keyword: gluten free,, sugar-free, vegan
Servings: 6

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 1 cup almonds, Brazil or hazel nuts
  • 1 tsp espresso powder or coffee extract
  • 2 tbsp cacao powder
  • 2 tbsp vanilla protein powder
  • 12 dates pitted and soft
  • 3 tbsp cacao nibs
  • 2 tbsp chia seeds
  • pinch salt

Instructions

  • Combine the nuts, espresso, cacao, protein powder and salt in a food processor and
    process into flour.
    Add half the dates and process adding more dates until the mixture forms into
    dough. It may take a few more or less depending on the stickiness of your
    dates. Then add the nibs and seeds and pulse a couple times to incorporate them
    evenly.
    Scoop into balls or transfer the dough onto a sheet of plastic wrap, fold over
    plastic to cover dough and press into a rectangle an inch thick. Cut into
    bite size pieces.
    Bites will keep for several weeks if kept sealed at room temperature, or longer
    refrigerated.






 

 

Chocolate Swirl Cookies

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These swirl cookies are pretty quick to put together. I adapted this from a recipe I saw on Audrey’s unconventionalbaker.com blog. I decided to use almond and tapioca flour along with a 5-seed butter. The flavor and texture is really nice. This recipe is definitely a keeper. You can change up the nut or seed butter to change up the flavor. This recipe makes 12-15 cookies.

  • 1/4 cup almond flour
  • 1/4 cup tapioca flour
  • 2 tablespoons 5-seed butter
  • 2 tablespoons maple syrup
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • pinch salt

Process the ingredients in a food processor until a dough is formed. If the dough is too sticky to roll out, sprinkle with a little more flour. If it is too dry to stick together, add a little more syrup. Scoop the dough onto a sheet of parchment and press into a disc. Let this rest while you make the chocolate dough, no need to clean the processor container.

  • 1/3 cup almond flour
  • 1/4 cup tapioca flour
  • 2 tablespoons cacao powder
  • 2 tablespoons 5-seed butter
  • 1/4 cup maple syrup
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • pinch salt

Process everything in the food processor until it becomes a dough. Add a little more flour or maple syrup if the consistency needs adjusting. Scoop the dough onto a sheet of parchment and press into a disc. Cover with another piece of parchment and roll out into a rectangle of 1/4 in thickness. Remove top sheet and place on the vanilla dough and repeat, rolling into a rectangle of similar size and thickness.

Remove top parchment sheet and set aside. Take the sheet with the chocolate dough and flip it over onto the vanilla dough and remove the sheet of parchment paper. On the longest side of the rectangle, lift the bottom parchment sheet up and over using it to help roll both layers of dough into a log.

Use a serrated knife or a length of dental floss to cut through the dough into 1/4 inch slices. Lay the slices flat onto a parchment lined cookie sheet and bake at 350 for 10 minutes. Let cool and then store in sealed container.

 

Pecan Fingers

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These delicate cookies are a remake of the traditional buttery sugary cookie that was always one of my favorites. By replacing the sugar, butter and flour, you get a gluten free, sugar free, vegan delight.  Recipe makes about 20 cookies.

  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1/4 cup organic vegan butter at room temperature
  • 1/4 cup powdered monk fruit-erythritol blend, more for dusting**
  • 1/2 cup almond flour or oat flour
  • 1/4 cup tapioca flour
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup chopped pecans

Whip the butter and olive oil together until emulsified and light. If you have crystallized and not powdered monk fruit, put a 1/2 cup in a blender and blend until powdered. Add 1/4 cup of the monk fruit and remaining flours and vanilla to the oil mixture and beat until completely combined and smooth. Stir in chopped pecans. Chill the dough for 30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 350 . Using a small spoon, scoop and roll into short logs and place on a parchment lined cookie sheet.  Bake for 20 minutes in the middle of the oven, until lightly browned.

**I powder my own sweetener rather than paying the higher price for already powdered monk fruit. I use a small container blender with the flat blade base which grinds grains, seeds and powders granulated sweeteners.

Nutty Tahini Fudge

Chef KimLeave a Comment on Nutty Tahini Fudge

This is a delicious candy alternative and so easy to stir together. It takes a little time to set up in the freezer, but well worth the wait.  This is a treat that is gluten and dairy free. If nuts are something you avoid, add in chopped pumpkin or sunflower seeds for texture in place of the almonds.

You’ll need:

  • 1/2 cup tahini
  • 3 tablespoons of cacao powder
  • 2 tablespoons maple syrup
  • 4 tablespoons cacao butter or coconut oil
  • pinch of Himalayan salt
  • 1/2 cup chopped almonds
  • 1/3 dried cranberries or cherries (optional)

Melt the cacao butter or coconut oil in a mixing bowl over a pot of steaming water.  When melted, add the tahini, cacao powder, maple syrup and salt. Stir with a whisk to combine into until smooth. Then add in the chopped nuts and dried fruit, if using.

Line a small rimmed dish with parchment paper and pour in the mixture, smoothing out the top.

Chill in the freezer for two hours, cut and serve. Keep refrigerated. Fudge will last for two weeks in refrigerator, longer in the freezer.

Gluten-free Pumpkin Molasses Ginger Cookies

Chef KimLeave a Comment on Gluten-free Pumpkin Molasses Ginger Cookies
  • 1/4 cup coconut oil, soft
  • 3/4 cup coconut sugar
  • 3/4 cup pumpkin puree
  • 1/4 cup molasses
  • 1 cup oat flour
  • 1 cup almond flour
  • 1/2 cup tapioca flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon ginger powder
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoon clove powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon pink or grey salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Use a blender to mix the coconut oil, coconut sugar, pumpkin and molasses together until smooth. In a mixing bowl, combine the remaining ingredients and stir to mix well. Then add the pumpkin mixture and stir with a spatula or wooden spoon, just until the flour is completely incorporated. The dough is a little thin, so use a 2 tablespoon scoop to spoon the dough onto parchment lined cookie sheets. Sprinkle a little coconut or cane sugar over each mound of dough. Bake for 20-25 minutes until the cookies start to crisp around the edges. Let cool and enjoy!