Tag: vegan dessert

Vegan Frendsgiving/Thanksgiving Spice Cake

Vegan Spice Cake
Vegan Spice Cake

The recipe for this delightful morsel of a cake has been passed down from my great-grandmother. It was one of the first recipes I posted when I started my blog several years ago. I didn’t have a picture of it, and I never uploaded one, until today. Just in time to celebrate the start of the holiday season. This cake is ultra moist, full of warming spices, and somehow never too sweet. It is perfect for dessert, breakfast, or as an addition to a holiday brunch. It also takes about 5 minutes to make and makes a big impression with its amazing fall flavors. This is the cake to bake when you have company as the whole house smells like you’ve spent hours in the kitchen as the warm fragrance of fall baking spices waft through the air.

Gramma’s Spice Cake

Makes 1 9×9 cake

Ingredients

  • 1 cup non-dairy milk, or dairy milk
  • 1 tsp. vinegar (apple cider or white, but I’ve also used rice in a pinch)
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 TBL vegetable shortening
  • 1 TBL chia seeds mixed with 2 TBL water, or 1 egg, or equivalent of 1 egg in whatever form you like
  • 1 cup all purpose flour
  • 1 tsp. baking soda
  • 1 tsp. cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp. nutmeg
  • 1/2 tsp. cloves
  • 1/2 tsp. salt

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 370F.
  2. Add vinegar to milk and set aside.
  3. Cream together sugar and shortening until smooth.
  4. Add the chia seed/water mixture to sugar and mix together.
  5. In a separate bowl mix together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt.
  6. Alternate between adding flour mixture and soy milk to the shortening, mixing thoroughly between additions.
  7. Pour batter into a greased 9×9 cake pan and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until cake pulls away from the edges of the pan and a cake tester comes out mostly clean.
  8. Allow to cool for at least 20 minutes if you can.
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Vegan Mud Pie Ice Cream

Vegan Mud Pie Ice Cream
Vegan Mud Pie Ice Cream

Tomorrow is national ice cream day! Oh boy, what a wonderful thing to celebrate. I haven’t created any new ice cream flavors in a while so I decided to put some thought into it. Here is my creation: a creamy coffee ice cream with bits of Oreo, best served topped with hot fudge sauce and coconut whipped cream. A vegan mud pie!

My ice cream recipe is versatile and I have a post on making vegan ice cream without a recipe if you want to experiment. For this coffee base I used my whiskey cold brew, but any strong, cold coffee would work.

If this flavor isn’t your jam, check out the vanilla, peanut butter cup, Irish cream, or Mint. I do love ice cream!

 

Vegan Mud Pie Ice Cream

 Ingredients

  • 1 can (13.6 oz) full fat coconut milk
  • 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 3 TBL agave nectar
  • 3 TBL cold brew whiskey coffee, or cold coffee
  • 6 Oreos, smashed
  • pinch of salt

Instructions

  1. Blend all ingredients together briefly.
  2. Freeze in ice cream maker according to manufacturers instructions.
  3. After ice cream has been churned fold in the crushed Oreos.
  4. Scoop ice cream into freezer friendly container and freeze for at least 2 hours before serving.
  5. Top with vegan hot fudge sauce for a delightful treat.

Vegan Macadamia Nut Cheesecake with Raspberry Sauce

Vegan Macadamia Nut Cheesecake with Raspberry Sauce
Vegan Macadamia Nut Cheesecake with Raspberry Sauce

Happy Fourth of July! This is a delightful summer recipe perfect for cooling off at the end of the day. The base is similar to my Key Lime Pie Cheesecake, but the macadamia nuts make it richer with an almost white chocolate feel to it. The raspberry sauce is a good contrast with its bright fruitiness brings the proper balance to the dish.

Vegan Macadamia Nut Cheesecake

 Ingredients

  • For the crust
  • 3/4 cup graham cracker crumbs (1 sleeve of whole graham crackers-make sure they are vegan) I used the blender to grind them into crumbs
  • 1 TBL brown sugar
  • 3 1/2 TBL vegan butter, melted
  • For the cheesecake filling
  • 1 cup roasted, unsalted macadamia nuts
  • 1/2 cup raw cashews
  • 1 cup coconut milk (full fat from a can)
  • 1/4 cup coconut oil
  • 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 1/8 tsp pure almond extract
  • pinch of salt
  • 1/4 cup agave nectar

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 325.
  2. Prepare muffin pan with 12 liners.
  3. Mix graham cracker crumbs, brown sugar, and vegan butter in a bowl until combined.
  4. Divide evenly into prepared muffin tin.
  5. Press crumbs down into pan with the bottom of a cup or you fingers.
  6. Bake 6-8 minutes until lightly golden.
  7. Cool completely.
  8. While crust is cooling, place macadamia nuts and cashews in a small saucepan and cover with water.
  9. Bring to a boil, and boil for 5 minutes.
  10. Drain and set aside.
  11. In the container of a high powered blender combine the coconut milk, coconut oil, vanilla, almond extract salt, and agave and blend until thoroughly combined, about 30 seconds.
  12. Add the cooked and drained nuts to the blender. Start your blender on a low speed and slowly turn it up to high, then blend on high for 1 minute until completely smooth.
  13. Divide batter evenly over the prepared crust.
  14. Freeze for at least 3 hours before serving. Store in the freezer and allow them to thaw about 20 minutes on the counter before eating for the best texture.
  15. Top with Raspberry sauce before serving.

Raspberry Sauce

 Ingredients

  • 3 cups frozen raspberries
  • 3/4 cup water
  • 3 TBL agave nectar

Instructions

  1. Combine ingredients in a saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat.
  2. Cook, stirring frequently, until the raspberries are soft and falling apart, and the mixture has thickened, about 10 minutes.

Happy Father’s Day Chocolate Cake

vegan blackout chocolate cake
vegan blackout chocolate cake

My dad loves chocolate, I mean really loves chocolate. He isn’t going to be with me this Father’s Day since we live a few states apart, but since he generously passed on his love of chocolate, I will generously eat this cake in his honor. Love you daddy!

I did think about making something for my husband and father of my children, but I make things for him all the time. I’ll make sure to make some of his favorites for him, and I’ll even share the cake.

This is a lovely combination of several recipes on my blog, and comes together into a delightful blackout chocolate cake topped with chocolate mousse.

Vegan Blackout Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Mousse

 Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Cut the top off one cake to make it flat. Frost it and stack the second cake on top. Frost top and sides of cake and pat chocolate chips into sides and top.
  2. Top the cake with chocolate mousse, serve, eat, and then take a nap. Happy Father’s Day!!

Vegan Gluten Free Chocolate Brownies Made With Black Beans

Vegan Gluten Free Black Bean Brownies
Vegan Gluten Free Black Bean Brownies

Sometimes you need a brownie. I gooey, deeply chocolaty, fudgy brownie. Perhaps you want to make a special father in your life something for Father’s Day. Maybe, just maybe, you also want to pretend to do something decent for your body. This is the answer. These are delightful brownies in their own right, and they are gluten free, vegan, and made with black beans! You would never guess that there are beans here, and the texture is a delight. These would be a lovely contribution for any party, grill-out, or picnic.

Vegan Gluten Free Chocolate Brownies Made With Black Beans

Adapted from Chocolate Covered Katie

 Ingredients
  • 1 1/2 cups black beans (1 15-oz can, drained and rinsed very well)
  • 1/4 cup cocoa powder
  • 1/2 cup rolled oats
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/3 cup pure maple syrup
  • 2 tbsp coconut or granulated sugar
  • 1/4 cup coconut oil
  • 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 1/4 tsp pure almond extract
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 cup chocolate chips plus more for top

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 F.
  2. Place the rolled oats in a food processor and blend to a flour, about 1 minute.
  3. Add the rest of the ingredients except for the chocolate chips and process until very smooth, another 2-3 minutes stopping and scraping the sides occasionally.
  4. Stir in the chips, then pour into a greased 8×8 pan.
  5. Sprinkle a few tablespoons of extra chocolate chips over the top.
  6. Cook the black bean brownies 15-18 minutes until the top looks dry and they feel firm to the touch.
  7. Allow to cool at least 10 minutes before trying to cut.

Vegan Affogato for Valentine’s Day

Affogato with Cold Brew Whiskey Coffee
Affogato with Cold Brew Whiskey Coffee

Valentine’s day is just around the corner, and I’m sure you are planning for a lovely evening. I hope you get to stay home snuggled with your special someone, be that your dog or a human partner. To celebrate I am bringing you a super simple treat to finish the evening (or get it started…) Afffogato, which is traditionally espresso over ice cream. Here it is the delightful cold brew whiskey coffee from last week over vegan ice cream. If you are able, you should make your own. I recommend a simple vanilla flavor, but please be adventurous. If making ice cream is out of the picture, then store bought is fine. I love Luna and Larry’s coconut bliss as a second best to my own. And, well, let’s say you are reading this 2 hours before your date arrives. No stress, just go buy some espresso, mix it with a little whiskey, pour it gracefully over ice cream, and you are in business. No one will know you had grand plans to truly impress, but got caught by a snowstorm and had to make do.

Affogato

 Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Scoop ice cream into two small pretty cups.
  2. Pour one shot of whiskey coffee over each cup of ice cream and serve.
  3. It is nice to let the ice cream melt a little to help sweeten the whiskey coffee, so eat slowly and savor each bite.

Fresh Blueberry Pie (Vegan)

Fresh Blueberry Pie Vegan
Fresh Blueberry Pie Vegan

Labor Day is here and that means it is your last chance for summer pies! This delightful blueberry pie is the one to finish your summer with. Sorry for the terrible picture; it really does taste much better than it looks this time around! I personally feel this pie is perfect for dessert, and also for breakfast. Since it is full of fresh fruit and has some whole wheat flour in the crust I think you could even say it is a healthy breakfast…

This Blueberry Pie is the one of dreams. I have never had another like it, though it is not originally my recipe. It is from Beans and Barley, a restaurant in Milwaukee, WI. Once I started making this blueberry pie I have never wanted one with cooked blueberries again. The fresh, juicy, blueberries burst with flavor, and the light flaky crust brings the perfect balance. If you are feeling decadent you could top this with a little coconut whipped cream.  If you are headed to a pot luck, this pie is the perfect addition and will be the hit of the party!

If you need tips on making a homemade crust you could watch this video of my mom making her famous crust.

Fresh Blueberry Pie

Originally from Beans and Barley

 Ingredients

For the Crust

  • ¾ C. unbleached flour
  • ¼ c. whole-wheat flour
  • ¾ tsp. salt (divided)
  • 6 TBL solid vegetable shortening
  • 6TBL. Plus ¼ C. cold water (divided)

For the Pie

  • ¼ c. cornstarch
  • ¾ c. boiling water
  • 1 c. sugar
  • 2 pints fresh blueberries (about 6 cups)
  • 1 1/2 TBL. Lemon juice
  • 1 TBL margarine

Instructions

  1. To make crust: preheat oven to 350.
  2. In bowl, combine flours and ½ tsp salt.
  3. Cut shortening into mixture until it resembles coarse meal.
  4. Add 4 TBL cold water while stiffing with a fork, and mix lightly to form a ball.
  5. Let dough rest at least 5 minutes at room temperature, then roll out to fit a 9-inch pan.
  6. Slip into pan, trimming as needed and crimping edges.
  7. Fill crust with dry beans, rice or pie weights and back 30 minutes or until light brown.
  8. Remove from oven and cool.
  9. To make filling:
  10. Mix cornstarch thoroughly with remaining ¼ cold water.
  11. Add boiling water, stirring until smooth.
  12. Place in a 1-quart saucepan over medium heat.
  13. Add sugar, remaining ¼ tsp. salt and ½ cup of the blueberries, stirring constantly and crushing berries against sides of pan as liquid comes toa low boil, thickens and clears, about 10 minutes.
  14. Reduce heat and cook 3-4 minutes.
  15. Add lemon juice and margarine and mix gently.
  16. Remove mixture from heat, add remaining berries, mix gently and pour into prepared shell. Refrigerate pit at least 2 hours before serving.
  17. Serve with whipped cream if desired.

Vegan Strawberry Shortcake

Vegan Strawberry Shortcake
Vegan Strawberry Shortcake

Summer has arrived, and with it my desire to eat strawberries and whipped cream as often as possible! This is a lovely vegan version of strawberry shortcake. As you know, I’m not into super sweet desserts so this does not call for a lot of sugar. If you like it sweet, just add more.

We are keeping it super simple here with a tweaked version of my drop biscuits, and coconut whipped cream.  It is best to make the strawberries a few hours ahead of time so the sugar dissolves and they become nice and juicy. The coconut whipped cream can be made a day or so in advance, as can the shortcake if you are planning these for a busy day.

Vegan Strawberry Shortcake

Makes 4 large servings

 Ingredients

Strawberries

  • 3 cups sliced fresh strawberries (about 1 lb)
  • 2-4 TBL granulated sugar (depending on how sweet strawberries are, and how sweet you like it)

Shortcake

  • 1 cup all purpose flour
  • 1/2 TBL baking powder
  • 1 TBL granualted sugar
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/3 cup vegetable shortening
  • 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 1/3 cup nondairy milk

Whipped Cream

Instructions

  1. Mix the sliced strawberries and sugar in a bowl, cover, and refrigerate until time to serve and at least one hour.
  2. For the biscuits
  3. Preheat oven to 350.
  4. Mix dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar) in a medium bowl.
  5. Cut in the shortening with a fork or pastry blender.
  6. Stir in milk a little at a time until batter is sticky.
  7. shape dough into 4 equal shortcakes on an un-greased cookie sheet.
  8. Bake at 350 for 18-22 minutes until golden brown.
  9. Allow to cool for at least 20 minutes before serving. I do like them warm, but fully cooled is also fine.
  10. To assemble
  11. Split the biscuits in half placing them in a bowl.
  12. Top liberally with strawberries and juice, then finish with a generous dollop of coconut whipped cream.
  13. Serve immediately!

Mother’s Day Chocolate Parfait with Aquafaba Mousse

Aquafaba Chocolate Mousse Parfait
Aquafaba Chocolate Mousse Parfait

Mother’s Day is on Sunday, yes, this Sunday. I know you want to make something special for the mother in your life, and since she is vegan it can be hard. This will be the perfect fix. Super easy to make as long as you have an electric mixer, looks fantastic, and will leave your both in the best of food comas. It can also be a mix and match to fit her taste buds allowing you to choose the toppings and extras of your choice. You will also impress her with your aquafaba chocolate mousse as aquafaba has just hit the mainstream in the last few weeks. You are on the cutting edge of vegan culinary delights!! Go you!

note: If you happen to be planning ahead the mousse is best made the night before-if not, don’t worry, make it now and it will still take perfect, it just won’t be as firm.

Mother’s Day Parfait with Aquafaba Chocolate Mousse

 Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Start with a tall glass or parfait dish (does anyone actually have one of these?)
  2. Layer as you desire starting with the cake.
  3. If you are using liqueur drizzle a small amount (1 tsp) on each layer of cake.
  4. Top with extras, then mousse. Your choice if you want to add some whipped cream to the layers of save it for the top.
  5. Layer on until you reach the top of the dish and finish with a heap of whipped cream.

Vegan Chocolate Peanut butter Cup/Swirl in Vanilla Ice Cream

Vegan Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Ice Cream
Vegan Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Ice Cream

I know summer is officially over, but its 70 degrees here in Cambridge, MA!! 70!! I also might have an overload of extra Halloween candy because I over-estimated how many trick or treaters I would have. This delightful ice cream celebrates the last of the summer weather, because it’s ice cream, and also uses up that extra candy.

I made this ice cream flavor for my husband. His favorite is vanilla ice cream with chocolate peanut butter cups, and chocolate and peanut butter swirl. It is hard to find in general, and impossible if you are looking for vegan ice cream. Most chocolate peanut butter ice cream has a chocolate ice cream base, this does not. Every time I make this we eat it all in way too short amount of time, then my husband will come home, look in the freezer and ask “oh, is the ice cream gone?” Always with a hopeful expression. There is nothing I can do but make more for him.

I didn’t think this was going to be the ice cream for me due to my love of extreme chocolate, but it is one of my favorites as well. It is like eating a perfectly balanced ice cream sundae without having to make one. The creamy vanilla is set off with the deep chocolate fudgy goodness, and the salty, crunchy peanut butter, YUM! This is a vegan ice cream to impress.

Vanilla ice cream with chocolate peanut butter cup swirl

 Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Make vanilla ice cream and freeze for 2-4 hours, just enough so it doesn’t start to melt when you stir everything in.
  2. Meanwhile, heat the chocolate chips, milk, vanilla, and maple syrup together over low heat stirring to combine. (Or microwave for about 20 seconds, then stir together.)
  3. Place the chopped peanut butter cups in the freezer as well during this time.
  4. Once you have stirred the chocolate mixture until smooth, place it uncovered in the refrigerator to cool completely.
  5. Once the ice cream has frozen for a few hours and the chocolate sauce and peanut butter cups are chilled remove the ice cream from the freezer.
  6. Drizzle the chocolate sauce/scoop gobs of it onto the ice cream, drizzle the peanut butter, sprinkle on the peanut butter cups and fold together.
  7. Re-freeze the mixture until you are ready to serve it, but at least another hour.