vegan Archives -

Bunny Bark {Only 2-Ingredients}

on April 8, 2017June 29, 2021 By Kelley

This melt-in-your-mouth candy, affectionately called Bunny Bark, is made from only 2 simple ingredients, and is ready in just a few minutes! Naturally sweetened, Bunny Bark, will be a popular (healthy) stand-in for traditional Easter candy!

Easter is almost here and the Easter candy is out in full force everywhere I look! Cadbury Eggs, chocolate bunnies, peeps of all colors and shapes, speckled chocolate eggs, peanut butter eggs, and of course those ever popular colorful jelly beans! Do you have a favorite Easter candy??

I don’t know if I could pick just one. I definitely had a Cadbury Egg phase where I would try (usually unsuccessfully) to eat the yellow part of the sugary yolk last. I was convinced it tasted different and better than the rest, but now that I am older and wiser, I’m not so sure that is the case… Anyway, let’s just say it was a super messy endeavor!

I also loved those big fat jellybeans- the super-sized ones. I would eat all the red ones and leave the yellow and orange ones for my sisters lol.

I also was the oldest of 3 girls (sorry dad!) and my stride length and height gave me a definite advantage on the playing field of Easter egg hunting. Usually my parents would make me fork over the extra eggs in an effort “to be fair,” which I never understood, I mean, wasn’t it a contest? It is called an Easter Egg HUNT after all.

Now, this year, I am the one doing the Easter egg hiding, and I am looking forward to watching my lo run around and find all the eggs. I even bought a few eggs early to start his training. I want him to be in tip top Easter egg hunting shape. haha just kidding. (kind of)

But what I will do is fill the eggs with fun things like stickers, healthy fruit snacks, and toys. I am trying my best to keep an overload of sugar out of our diets, and that is so hard to avoid these days if you don’t pay attention. Easter can still be just as much fun, and can bring you and your children joy, without the sugar overload!

This Bunny Bark will be a great way to satisfy that Easter candy craving without producing a serious sugar coma. Don’t be intimidated, because it is seriously the easiest to make with only 2 ingredients!

And its so colorful and festive! Indulge with no guilt!

Bunny Bark

1 cup coconut butter
1/4 cup creamed honey ((regular honey will work, but the bark will have more of a yellow hue))
natural food coloring ((optional))

Combine and melt the coconut butter and honey in a saucepan over low heat. Stir vigorously until smooth.
If using food coloring (or a teaspoon of fruit juice is another option), separate the melted mixture into several bowl, add food coloring of choice and mix.
Pour the colored mixture onto a parchment-lined cookie sheet and spread with a rubber spatula.
Let it cool in the fridge or freezer for a few minutes then break into pieces with a knife or your hands. Store in the fridge.

Dessert

Lavender & Honey Sparkling Lemonade

on April 7, 2017April 28, 2021 By Kelley 2 Comments

Lavender & Honey Sparkling Lemonade has the subtle sweetness of golden honey, tart and refreshing lemony zest, gentle floral notes, and the perfect amount of bubbly sparkle! This Springtime-inspired bubbly beverage is great for brunch. Healthy, and not too sweet, this delicious and beautiful mocktail will be a huge hit!

Spring is in the air. Flowers are blooming, leaves are budding on the trees, and the days are getting longer! (Which is my favorite part!)

Spring is time to renew, refresh, and clean out your closet. Ever year I try to go through my wardrobe, with a determined effort to get rid of stuff I don’t wear. It never seems to work. There is always some reason to hold onto that pilly sweater (but it so comfy), or that pair of pants (that I will surely fit into this year!). Right!? Well, at least I try!

For me its also time to clean up my diet. I know everyone jumps on the Whole 30 deal in the winter, but not me. During the colder months I like to indulge in a little too much sugar, and love my comfort foods. But once it starts to get warm I want to eat refreshing, lighter, and healthier fare like salads, fruits, smoothies, and cool refreshing drinks.

This Lavender & Honey Sparkling Lemonade is everything you want in a spring beverage. It has the perfect balance of tart and sweet, and has a hint of relaxing lavender. Not to mention the bubbles- they make this drink!

If you are hosting Easter brunch this year, this Honey & Lavender Sparking Lemonade will be a huge hit with your guests, and its so easy to make. Serve it in campaign flutes if you want to get super fancy! You can even make the lemon concentrate the night before and add the soda water right before you are ready to serve. Some other great recipes for Easter or any Spring-day brunch are my Asparagus & Hashbrown Egg Casserole (another super easy dish), or if you are looking to satisfy your sweet tooth Cinnamon Bun Pancakes are also an excellent choice.

Happy Spring!

Lavender & Honey Sparkling Lemonade

6 lemons
1/3 cup creamed honey ((regular honey will work too))
1 liter sparkling water
2-3 tablespoons lavender sprigs

Juice the lemons, and remove any seeds. You should yield about 1/3 cup of lemon juice.
Combine the lemon juice and honey in a high speed blender and been until honey has fully dissolved and the concentrate is frothy.
Divide the concentrate evenly into 4 glasses, or pour into a pitcher. Sprinkle the lavender sprigs over the concentrate than fill the glass/pitcher with sparkling water. (you can either chill the sparkling water prior to serving or add ice if you prefer.

Sticky Ginger Sesame Noodles

on March 30, 2017December 22, 2020 By Kelley

Slurp up these Sticky Ginger Sesame Noodles and use a spoon to lick the bowl clean…That is how amazing this sauce is! Best of all this dish can be made in 5 minutes flat with a handful of simple ingredients. Gluten free, Grain free, Paleo, Vegan.

If you visit my blog often you may have stumbled across my other famous noodle recipes. Sticky Garlic Noodles and Crazy Good Peanut Noodles are my top two most popular recipes on my blog. I guess I have a knack for creating really tasty and addictive noodle dishes, and this dish is no exception!!

So I decided to create another finger-licking, can’t stop eating, swoon-inducing delicious noodle recipe! These Sticky Ginger Sesame Noodles have the perfect balance of sweet, salty, and sticky. Consider this your warning: They are addictive! You will want to put this sauce on everything. I mean everything.

Zoodles are my go-to healthy noodles, as they are low cal and grain free, but if you prefer any other type of noodles, go ahead and sub those in. Rice noodles, wheat noodles, even sweet potato noodles would be amazing. This recipe makes one large serving (that you will not want to share), so make sure to double it if others are wanting to indulge.

Best of all, this recipe can be made in just 5 minutes! You do not need to skimp on big bright flavor when you don’t have time to cook. Top with some sliced chicken breast, tofu, pork, or beef to make a complete balanced meal. Toss in some spinach an other stir fry veggies to bump up the nutrients.

I love healthy, guilt-free dishes that taste sinfully good. These Sticky Ginger Sesame Noodles pack a flavorful punch, but they are so very healthy.

And that sauce…… So good!

Sticky Ginger Sesame Noodles

3 tablespoons coconut aminos ((or soy sauce))
2 tablespoons agave ((or maple syrup))
2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
1 teaspoon fresh ginger, minced
1 teaspoon garlic, minced
1 tablespoon green onion, chopped ((optional))
1 teaspoon sesame seeds ((optional))
1/2 teaspoon arrowroot starch ((optional)(or cornstarch, dissolved in 1 tablespoon water))

Spiralize your noodles or cook your noodles and set aside.
Add a dash of oil to a pan and sauté the minced garlic, ginger, and half of the green onions (optional) for 1-2 minutes over medium-high heat.
Add the rice wine vinegar, coconut aminos (or soy sauce), agave (or maple syrup), and toasted sesame oil. Simmer and Reduce for 3 minutes or until thickened.
Optional: If you want the sauce to be extra thick and sticky add the arrowroot slurry, mix well, and remove from the heat. The sauce will thicken as it cools.
Toss the zoodles or noodles in the sauce. (If using raw zoodles you can leave the noodles and sauce over the heat for a few minutes to soften the zoodles.) Scoop them into a bowl and top with sesame seeds and remaining green onion.

Hot Chocolate Dusted Almonds

on March 24, 2017June 29, 2021 By Kelley

These Hot Chocolate Dusted Almonds are so very addictive, so good thing they are super healthy and very easy to make! Made with only 3 ingredients and ready in under 10 minutes.

I Heart Chocolate. Dark Chocolate. Milk Chocolate. Chocolate-Covered/Smothered Anything! Chocolate is my true love:)

I also love almonds, but chocolate and almonds is truly a heavenly match. Have you tried the Cocoa-Dusted Almonds from Trader Joe’s? Um, well, they are AMAZING! I had a slight addiction to them, and found myself polishing off the entire bag in a day! Oops.

(Glazed with Agave)

I decided since I was going to single-handedly put Trader Joe’s Cocoa Almonds out of stock, I decided to make my very own. It would also save me some trips to the store to stock up on these addictive chocolatey nuts.

Almonds are a great source of energy, and they are of my favorite snacks. I always have a stash of almonds hanging around the house, and grab a handful when I am feeling hungry or need a bump of energy. But plain ole’ almonds can get a little boring.

If you are in an almond snacking slump you must try this recipe. It adds a little dash of sweetness and burst of chocolatey goodness. You will be impressed!

You can whip these babies up in under 10 minutes, and it only takes 3 ingredients. That’s it!

(HOT out of the oven!)

Hot Chocolate Dusted Almonds

These addictive sweet and chocolate roasted almonds will be your new favorite snack.

1 cup raw almonds
1/4 cup agave
1 package hot chocolate mix (or cocoa power)
1 tablespoon cocoa powder (optional- to make them extra chocolatey)

Preheat oven to 350 degree F.
Toss the almonds into a bowl and mix in the agave. Stop to coat all the almonds evenly.
Transfer the coated almonds to a parchment-lined cookie sheet and spread them out.
Last them in the oven at 350 degrees F for about 8 minutes. Check them every few minutes to make sure they do not burn.
Remove the almonds, and transfer them back to the bowl. While they are hot mix in the hot chocolate powder and cocoa (or just cocoa). Stir to ensure they are all coated evenly.
You can leave them in the bowl to cool (some may stick together), or spread them back out on the parchment to cool.
Wait a few minutes, them snack away!

Snack

American

Veggie Christmas Tree (How To VIDEO)

on December 11, 2016March 11, 2021 By Kelley 1 Comment

This adorable Veggie Christmas Tree makes the perfect centerpiece, and doubles as a healthy appetizer for your holiday meal! It’s super easy to make, and the kids will love to help create this festive veggie-art. It will surely impress your guests!

Can you believe Christmas is almost here!? It’s just a few short weeks away and there is always so much to be done. Have you gotten your Christmas shopping done this year? I haven’t even begun. Ugh, it makes me anxious just thinking about it.

I recently moved, and the first thing I did when I unpacked was get out my Christmas decorations. There is something about dressing up the house for Christmas that makes me so joyful. Do you guys feel the same way? Today while I was making this Veggie Christmas Tree I put a pot of potpourri on the stove top and had the Holiday Log Music Special playing nonstop to get that Christmas Spirit up and running.

If you want a few easy peasy Holiday Decor Hacks (with stuff you already have around the house) check out this post I did last year: EASY HOLIDAY DIY DECOR!

My love for all things Christmas goes way back to when I was a little girl. My mom was the ultimate Christmas elf. She decorated Every. Square. Inch. of our home. It was pure awesomeness!

We had multiple Christmas trees, the banisters where dripping with garland and lights, the chandeliers held beautiful springs of spruce and holly, and even the toilet was adorned with Christmas decor! It was a Christmas wonderland, second only to the North Pole.

By the time Christmas arrives and you’ve (hopefully) finished your decorating, and shopping, and wrapping, and shipping, AND cookie making (and eating ;)), and so on, you’re exhausted, right? But if your hosting the holiday festivities this year you’re going to have to rally after pulling that all night gift wrapping extravaganza, and cook an elaborate holiday fest, right?

Well, don’t worry, I have got you covered! The super cute Veggie Christmas Tree only takes a few minutes to make (the kids can have fun putting it together), and it looks amazing. Added bonus, it’s a tasty and healthy alternative to other popular holiday appetizers.

Enjoy! Happy Holidays!

Veggie Christmas Tree

1 styrofoam cone ((I got mine from Michaels))
2 packages toothpicks
2 green peppers
1 bag snap peas
1 head broccoli
1 yellow pepper ((star))
1 red pepper ((garland))
1 package cherry tomatoes ((ornaments))

Cut your green pepper in long triangles to form the lower branches of the tree.
Cut the broccoli into individual pieces.
Use a cookie cutter to make a star from the yellow pepper.
Carefully use a pairing knife to make garland from the red pepper, cutting a spiral.
Next, use the toothpicks to make your tree. Place the green pepper branches on the bottom, then the snap peas, and then the broccoli.
Insert the cherry tomatoes, top with the yellow pepper star and wrap with red pepper garland.
Serve with your favorite dip! Enjoy!

Apple Crisp

on September 24, 2016June 29, 2021 By Kelley

This apple crisp is light and healthy, but packs a flavor punch and looks great too. The fresh apples are topped with a sweet and buttery crisp topping that makes your mouth smile! Gluten-free, paleo and vegan recipe options.

It’s officially the first day of fall! Although summer is my favorite season, autumn follows in a close second. Beautiful fall foliage in bright crimson, gold and burnt orange, crisp morning air, and dusting off your favorite boots are all great reasons to love fall. What are some of the reason you all love fall?

One fall activity that adore is apple picking! I love going to the orchard and roaming down the perfectly straight rows of trees, with the sun shining down, scattering light as it breaks through the leaves. I try as many apples as I put into my basket, and I always fill up on fresh apple cider donuts for dessert.

When I get my apple bounty home, I make my favorite fall dessert- apple crisp! I’m not a huge pie person because I’m just not in love with pie crust. I know, I know, some of you out there are probably pie crust fans, but it’s just not for me. That is why I make apple crisp- an apple pie without the crust!

Of course Cricket is a part of all the fall baking action. She doesn’t miss out on anything! As I was preparing the crisp she was under my feet drooling on the floor waiting for something tasty to come her way. When I tossed her an apple peel she turned up her nose and walked away sulkily. haha.

Apple Crisp

6 apples
1 tablespoon lemon juice
2 tablespoons coconut sugar
2 tablespoons maple syrup
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
dash Himalayan or sea salt

Topping:

1 cup almond flour (I use Wellbee’s)
2 tablespoons coconut sugar
dash salt
1 tablespoon maple syrup
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup coconut oil (melted)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
If you are making apple crisp in the apples (like the pictures show) then peel and cut 2 of the 6 apples into 1″ cubes. Then use a pairing knife to cut the tops off and then carefully remove the inside of the 4 remaining apples, while leaving the exterior skin (and about 1/2 flesh) in tact. Cut the removed center of the apple into 1″ cubes. Toss all the apple cubes into a bowl.
If you are making your apple crisp in a pan, then peel and cube all 6 apples.
Add the lemon juice, coconut sugar, maple syrup, cinnamon, and sea salt to the apple pieces and mix.
Toss the apple mixture into a large pot and cook on the stovetop on medium-low heat for about 10 minutes and apples are fork tender.
Spoon the apple mixture into the apple cups or place the apple mixture in a 8’x8″ pan.
In a small bowl combine the almond flour, dash salt, coconut sugar and mix.
Next add the coconut oil, vanilla and maple sugar and mix until you reach the consistency of wet sand.
Using your hand press the topping mixture onto the top of each apple-mixture-filled apple cup or sprinkle it on top of your apple mixture in the pan. (if you have left overs of apples and topping use individual ramekins to make individual-sized apple crisps with the extras)
Place the apple cups into a cookie sheet and place the cookie sheet (or the 8×8″ pan) into the oven at 350 degrees F for 15-18 minutes.
Serve warm with dairy-free ice cream and caramel sauce (recipe HERE)

Frozen Fruit Ice Cubes: Make Your Own Healthy Soda!

on August 29, 2016June 29, 2021 By Kelley 1 Comment

Frozen Fruit Ice is the perfect way to make a healthy and fruity soda, and it’s so easy! This ice is made from 100% pure fruit and it looks as good as it tastes.I LOVE sweet things. I’ve always been that kind of girl who would skip dinner and go straight for the dessert. As a girl loved soda and fresh fruit juices, but as I got older and more concerned about my calorie intake I traded in soda and fruit juice for diet soda and sugar free fruit juice.

Before I knew it I was literally addicted to diet drinks. I couldn’t just drink water, it tasted much too plain and blah! I adored the carbonated sugar-free fruit fizzy drinks, and if I ran out I would have to make a special trip to the grocery to load up on a few more bottles to feed my habit.

As I began to get more interested in nutrition and clean eating I came across an article that explained how fake sugars, although they have zero calories, can still have negative effects on the body. I was shocked! How could my precious sweet, guilt-free, soda be bad for me? Well, as it turns out, many fake sweeteners still trick the body into thinking it’s consuming sugar, and feed your sugar habit, making you crave more and more. And too much of anything is NEVER a good thing.

To kick my fake sugar habit I came up with several healthy alternatives and this Fruit Ice is my all time favorite. The subtle sweetness comes from 100% pure fruit ONLY! And it’s definitely more exciting than just plain water 🙂

If you love this Frozen Fruit Ice you’ll love these Frozen Fruit Mini Cakes:

Fruit Ice Cubes: Make Your Own Healthy Soda!

Frozen Fruit Ice is the perfect way to make a healthy and fruity soda, and it’s so easy! This ice is made from 100% pure fruit and it looks as good as it tastes.

1 bag of frozen fruit of choice (or multiple fruits if you’d like)
seltzer water
ice cube tray

Let the bag of frozen fruit thaw, or place the frozen fruit in the microwave for a few seconds to soften.
Blend the fruit on high until it’s a smooth puree. Add a touch of coconut water or water to blend if needed.
Pour the puree into your ice cube tray and freeze for at latest 2 hours or until set.
Place a few ice cubes into a glass and pour seltzer over top, then serve!

Rainbow Frozen Fruit Cake

on August 29, 2016June 29, 2021 By Kelley 1 Comment

These mini Rainbow Frozen Fruit Cakes are simply stunning! In addition to being beautiful, they are made with 100% fruit and nothing else, making them a healthy and nutritious dessert.

Summer is winding down, but here in California, it is still hot, hot, hot!

Summer is my favorite season, and always has been. Maybe it’s because I associate summer with vacations at the beach, summer camp, and no school. I still get the end-of-summer blues even though I haven’t been back to school in quite a few years (ok, it has been WELL over a decade). haha.

When I think of summers past there are so many memories that come to mind, and being a food fanatic, many of them do involve something you can eat! Ice cream, Carvel ice cream cake, push pops and fruit popsicles are my favorite sweet and cool treats. What are yours?

The ice cream truck was another marvelous highlight of summer. The small white truck would rumble down our street playing the “ice cream jingle” and all the kids would come running, smiling from ear to ear. I remember standing in line and contemplating which frozen novelty I should get- perhaps a Drumstick? or the Strawberry Shortcake Ice Cream Bar? Froz Fruit Bar with the whole strawberry chunks hidden inside? There were just too many to choose from, but you could never go wrong!

Froz Fruit bars were definitely one of my all time favorites! Does anyone remember those delicious pops? Strawberry, pineapple, and watermelon were some of my top choices in Froz Fruit flavors. Yum!

In honor of my undying love for Froz Fuit bars I have created these sweet and super cute 100% fruit mini cakes. If you have problems deciding on a flavor, no worries, because now you can have them all at once! Pick your favorite fruits and layer them to your liking.

They are made with 100% pure fruit, with no added sugar, so they are super healthy. I prefer to use frozen fruit, as opposed to fresh, as it tends to be sweeter and creates a more concentrated, less watery, frozen fruit cake.

I made these mini Frozen Fruit Cakes in ramekins for the perfect personal-sized cake, but you are welcome to make a large cake in a spring form pan if you wish!

And if you have leftover fruit, be sure to make some Frozen FRUIT ICE with the extras! Pour seltzer over this colorful and flavorful ice to make a healthy and fruity soda.

Happy Summer 🙂

Rainbow Frozen Fruit Cake

These mini Rainbow Frozen Fruit Cakes are simply stunning! In addition to being beautiful, they are made with 100% fruit and nothing else, making them a healthy and nutritious dessert.

1 bag of frozen strawberries
1 bag of frozen mango
1 bag of frozen pineapple
4-5 kiwis (couldn’t find them frozen)
1 bag of frozen blueberries

Allow your frozen fruit to thaw fully (or microwave it for a few seconds until thawed).
Grease 4 ramekins with a bit of coconut oil (or something similar) to make the cakes easier to remove.
Peel the kiwis and cut them into chunks.
Next blend each fruit separately in the blender, and place into separate bowls. Add a bit of coconut water if needed to blend,(but I did not need any) to get a smooth fruit puree.
If you want fruit chunks, set aside a few whole pieces of each fruit, and cut up into small chunks.
Layer each fruit puree in the ramekin to create a rainbow.
Freeze for 2+ hours or until fully set.
When you want to serve them dip the glass ramekin into a bowl of hot water for a few seconds to loosen the frozen fruit cake, and use a butter knife to gentle dislodge the cake.
Serve and enjoy!

3 Ingredient Chocolate & Banana Cream Ice Cream Cake

on August 2, 2016June 29, 2021 By Kelley

This rich and creamy Chocolate and Banana Cream Ice Cream Cake is made in the blender with only 3 simple ingredients! No way? Yes way! You can whip this up in no time. It looks super fancy, and best of all it’s healthy! (dairy-free, paleo, vegan, gluten and grain-free)

My little (almost) one year old loves ice cream! He must of inherited my ice cream gene 🙂 haha. Now that he is eating solids it’s fun to see him try new textures and flavors. He is game to try just about anything, but if he decides he doesn’t like it, his mouth opens, and whatever was in there immediately gets projected and lands on either me, or the floor. Well, this never happens with ice cream. He is always eager for the next bite and grabs for the spoon with all his mite.

This summer my family has made a number of ice cream outings to beat the hot summer heat, and because my lo loves ice cream so much. I personally avoid eating a lot of dairy, but ice cream is an occasional treat I often can’t say no to. Plus, living in a new area, means you have an obligation do some exploring and figure out all the best ice cream places in town, right!?

Well, my family has found some pretty great ice cream joint around here!

Carmela’s is simply amazing. Their shop is simple, elegant and delicate. All organic, their ice creams are made in house with special care and attention. They have unique seasonal flavors, two of my fav’s being lavender honey and brown sugar vanilla bean- yum!

Equally as tasty, but at the other end of the ice cream treat spectrum is After Hours. This cool and hip ice cream parlor is located in a historic old-fashioned gas station. You go up to the window to order your “milky buns.” Oh, you don’t know what a milk bun is? That’s ok. I didn’t either. Basically you get to pick your ice cream flavor and topping and it gets sanwhiched beween two hot and sticky soft glazed donuts. It’s ridiculous. Ridiculously, crazy good! Is your mouth watering yet?

With all this ice cream eating going on I was feeling a bit guilty and sluggish thanks to extra sugar load, and I knew I had to clean up my act, so I made this: Banana Chocolate Cream Ice Cream Cake, and it’s delicious and SUPER HEALTHY. I can have a slice or two, and it’s guilt free. Best of all my little one loves it too!

This ice cream cake is super easy to make and contains only 3 simple ingredients: Coconut milk, chocolate chips (dairy free), and bananas- that’s it! Make sure to use a high speed blender (like a Vitamix) to blend the coconut milk and bananas on high. This will aerate the “ice cream” and keep it smooth and creamy as it freezes!

3 Ingredient Banana Chocolate Cream Ice Cream Cake

3 ripe bananas
2 cans coconut cream can of full fat coconut milk. I would recommend using 2 cans of coconut milk to replace 1 can of coconut cream) (you can find this at Trader Joes OR use only the cream from a (chilled)
1 cup chocolate chips (I used dairy-free Enjoy Life brand)

Combine 1 can of coconut cream and 3 bananas in a high speed blender and blend on high for 2-3 minutes until the mixture is frothy and smooth.
On the stovetop heat the contents of the other can of coconut cream in a small saucepan.
Add the chocolate chips into the saucepan, and mix vigorously until you get a smooth chocolate sauce, then remove from heat and let cool.
Meanwhile grease a 6″ round cake pan (a spring-form pan would be best for easiest removal!) with coconut oil.
Pour in 1/2 cup of the banana mixture, then 1/4 cup of the chocolate mixture, then 1/2 cup of the banana mixture, then 1/2 cup of the chocolate mixture, then another 1/2 cup of the banana mixture, followed by 1/4 cup of chocolate mixture, and finally add the reaming banana mixture to top it off. (If you want absolutely perfect layers freeze each layer for 10 minutes before adding the next.)
Set aside the left over chocolate mixture. You can store it in the fridge and reheat later.
Freeze the cake for 2+ hours.
When you are ready to serve the cake fill a large bowl with hot water.
Remove the cake from the freezer and dip the bottom and sides of the pan into the hot water for a few seconds. Then, if the ice cream cake isn’t free, glide a butter knife around the edges to dislodge it, and place it on a serving plate.
If its melting too quickly, place it back into the freezer to set, and heat the left over chocolate sauce over low-medium heat.
Pour the remaining chocolate sauce over top of the ice cream cake.
You can dunk a knife it hot water to aid in cutting the cake, and it may be easier to let it thaw 5-10 minutes if it’s too frozen to cut.
Enjoy!

Dark Chocolate Coconut Cream Cups

on July 19, 2016August 13, 2021 By Kelley

These creamy, rich, and chocolatey Coconut Cream Cups are the ultimate decandent (and secretly healthy!!) treat. Pop one of these into your mouth and the rich chocolate melts away to reveal silky, smooth, snowy, and sweet coconut cream. They are easy-peasy to make, and be sure to make extra, for they won’t last long!

Oh, chocolate. My true love.

Ode to chocolate:

Creamy, smooth and sweet.

Your rich flavor makes my heart skip a beat.

Sends tingles down from my head to my feet.

You make it so hard not to eat!

I mean, what is it about chocolate that makes it SO GOOD, and SO ADDICTIVE!? Really!? It really should come with a warning label that reads something like this: “If you are eating this for the first time, be warned, that you may never be the same again and find yourself craving chocolate for the rest of your life.” lol.

Cricket and I love to make healthy treats, so we can indulge in the good stuff, without all the guilt. Although Cricket can’t eat chocolate, because she is a dog, I always make her some thing special when I’m making a treat for myself. So today I made her some bacon jerky while I made these easy chocolate coconut cups all for myself! Oooh- maybe I should have made chocolate covered bacon cups?? Maybe next time….

So many flavors go great with chocolate. The best ones I can think of are peanut butter, almond butter (see my Chocolate Almond Butter Cups), and coconut! I always loved Mounds candy bars when I was a little girl, and now I can recreate that amazing flavor combination without having to leave my kitchen. Even better, the ingredients used to make THESE Coconut Cream Cups are healthy, all-natural, and good for you! Hip-hip Hoorah!

Chocolate Coconut Cream Cups

1 1/4 cups dark chocolate chips (I used Enjoy Life brand
2 tablespoons coconut oil
1/2 cup shredded coconut
1 tablespoon maple syrup
1/4 cup coconut butter

Melt the chocolate chips plus 1 tablespoon of coconut oil in a saucepan over low heat.
Grease the mini muffin tin with a little bit of coconut oil.
Pour a teaspoon of melted chocolate into each compartment. Chill in the fridge or freezer for 10 minutes.
Melt the coconut butter, maple syrup, and 1 tablespoon coconut oil in a saucepan over low heat.
Once melted mix in the shredded coconut, and remove from heat.
Spoon a heaping teaspoon of coconut cream mixture into each compartment (on top of the chilled chocolate layer).
Spoon the remaining chocolate on top of the coconut cream layer and chill in the fridge until set, about 1/2 hour in the fridge or 10-15 minutes in the freezer.
Carefully pop the cups out of the tray using a fork or butter knife.