Chocolate Swirl Cookies

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.

 

Cherry Fudge Balls

These would make a festive healthy treat for the upcoming Christmas holiday and also a special valentines treat. They are easy to throw together if you have some dried fruit and soaked nuts.  Soaking can be done a couple days ahead, as drained fruit and nuts will keep in the fridge for about five days in a sealed container. That can save time on the day you want to make everything.

The balls will also keep for several days in the fridge or much longer if frozen. Different fruit and nuts can be substituted to change the flavor profile. Also including a little cinnamon, ginger and cardamom would add a nice Chai flavor.

  • 2 cups walnuts, soaked for 4 hours, rinsed and drained
  • 1/2 cup tart dry cherries, soaked for 15 minutes until soft
  • 3 dates, pitted and soaked with cherries
  • 6 Tbs. of cacao powder
  • 2 Tbs coconut sugar, ground fine
  • pinch of fresh ground black pepper (optional)

Put 2 Tbs of cacao powder and 1 Tbs of the coconut sugar in a small bowl, add the pepper, stir to mix  and set aside. Add the walnuts to a food processor and pulse until finely chopped. add remaining ingredients and process until a dough is formed and the mixture is pretty smooth.  If you choose not to soak the nuts, the dough may be dry, so I recommend adding a tablespoon of water to make it more like fudge. Using a tablespoon or scoop, make small balls rolling in your palm and then placing in the powdered cacao, sugar, pepper mixture. Coat each ball with the powder and set in a serving bowl or on a plate. Take a bite, close your eyes and taste deeply!