It’s the time of year when I go into full on holiday baking mode. Cookies, pies, fudge, you name it. But it still doesn’t mean a plethora of refined junky foods, no thanks. Instead, I look at the holidays as an opportunity to get creative and experiment with new sweeteners and flour substitutes. Technically none of these are completely sugar free but they all contain natural unrefined sweeteners like honey, maple syrup and coconut sugar. Refined sugar free just sounded like a long and annoying title.
Here are some of my favourite treats to make for the holidays, as well as some that I really want to try out this year. I think after I write this post I might run to the kitchen and make those paleo gingerbread cookies. I’m feeling a little blue and lethargic today and I have a feeling the smell of cookies wafting through the house is just the fix.
Wow, it’s already on to week 3 of the whole30! Last time I only made it to about this point before giving up. It was a difficult time to try and do a whole30 because I had just had my little guy and he was only about 3 months old. Sleep deprivation doesn’t help with food craving to say the least. Now I feel a lot stronger and its not so hard. Here’s to a fabulous third week of delicious nourishing food
Wow, hey! It’s been a week already. The hardest part is over and I’m starting to feel like a functioning human again. There were definitely a few days of struggle, even with an abundance of healthy and damn delicious food. Once you get into the groove it feels really good. I’ve kicked my long term late night snacking habit which feel pretty awesome.
How’s everybody else doing? Hope you guys liked the meal plan from week 1 of the whole 30. I’m sure if you did the shopping for week one there will be a lot of things that you can ignore on this shopping list. But for clarities sake and to ensure you’ve got all the ingredients, I included them all. Hope it’s not too overwhelming. Happy week 2!
Okay so there are a zillion different paleo brownie recipes out there folks, but trust me, this one is the simplest. Simple is good. Simple is chewy in the middle and crispy around the edges. Simple is almond butter, not tapioca, arrowroot and flax made into an egg swirl. Yes this recipe is sure to delight the simplest of happy folks.
I know you have that friend who grows the hugest 10lb zucchinis that win every year at the fall fair. Maybe you are that friend. In any case, this is the time of year where there is more than enough zucchini going around. What elso to do than to make zucchini chocolate cake, the children will never know, muahaha. This cake is so epic, Sonia never ceases to amaze me with her indulgent paleo creations and the photos are to die for! I just want to pick that cuisinart up right now and lick it clean.
This is a great secret of many a health nut out there, avocado and chocolate are stunning together. The creamy richness and healthy fats in the avocado, take the cocoa to the next level, plus you’ve just created a powerhouse of nutrients. Pretty sure that’s what Mike was going for when he created this delightful summer treat. I would eat this in all it’s variations- popsicle, pudding, fudge, you name it.
ps.haha “Just imagine what would happened if ice-cream was served during Congress hearings. No more
contentious public battles; only bargain and compromise. Politicians for sure wouldn’t be able to talk so much with their mouths full of ice-cream. ”
Some people hate chocolate and orange, and some love it. Personally I’m in the latter category and proud of it. If someone gave me a box of these gorgeous little truffles I would either run away and eat them all, or share with all chocorange haters and convert them instantly. Cause these aint no Terry’s Chocolate Orange folks.
These are lovely and filled with an air of celebration. Imagine these were what children brought to school on their birthdays? How awesome would that be. I was driving home today and a few young girls in the community had a cupcake stand, gah, cutest thing ever.
Sweetened Condensed Coconut Milk? Good God, tell me you’ve tried this. Tis the goo of the gods. But really all sorts of grandma style recipes calling for condensed milk can now be converted or “paleoized” as the primal desire would state. This giant cookie bar is magic because it contains all good things, nuts, seeds, coconut and chocolate layered to perfection.
I remember the first time I had nutella (who doesn’t?) it was a revelation in my hazelnut free world, and supposedly healthy! The amount of backpackers I’ve met who always carry a jar of nutella with them is astounding. There’s just something about the combination of chocolate and hazelnut that makes people go bonkers. Nutella has been around since the 60’s, can you tell me which came first, ferraro rocher or nutella? This paleo version is a new and improved junk-free version. Love it.
Quintessential chocolate chip cookie recipe-check! These are so yummy, and super simple, again almond butter showing it’s amazing prowess in making chewy perfect treats. The flaked sea salt is not only beautiful but pries out all those rich flavours for our taste buds to fully experience.
Dang, what a splendid way to enjoy summers blackberries. Without added sugar and totally vegan and paleo, this would be a perfect summer birthday cake. Fudgy oozy gooey goodness doesn’t always come easy when GF and vegan but these guys nailed it, with cute baby eating chocolate photos and an avocado chocolate icing to boot.
Creamy cashew goodness on the inside wrapped in a magic shell of crunchy chocolate lovin’. These bars are super easy to whip up, and amazingly nutritious. Did you know a handful of cashews is the therapeutic equivalent to a dose of prozac. Good reason to enjoy the awesome ice cream bars.
This is the sort of thing I would devour after an epic yoga session or high intensity workout. High protein, enzyme rich, easy to digest and energizing. These babies are loaded with sunflower seed butter and pumpkin seeds which are high in zinc. If you’ve ever been to GNC and seen those ZMA (zinc,magnesium,B6) supplements, these bars equal the whole food equivalent.
Um, holy eff. Fabulous dairy free, vegan, and oh so gorgeous. With the power vested in me I officially rename Michelle the un-Dairy Queen because this is way better than any typical banana split. Plus it’s free of added sugar!
A sweet little spinoff of chocolate covered strawberries, these little red jewels are filled with a luxurious avocado and banana sugar-free chocolate sauce. Easy to make and a great nosh to satisfy your sweet tooth.
Raspberries are everywhere right now, and we need to stuff our faces with them while we can. Since razzies and chocolate are meant to be together, this full power, dreamy recipe for layered chocolate raspberry slices should be one of your go to raspberry recipes.
These uniquely flavoured crunchy roasted spicy chocolate cashews would be an excellent addition to any trail mix. Everyone’s a sucker for flavourful roasted cashews.
What are your fave chocolate recipes? Let me know, I love hearing from you 🙂
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Hey I'm Chantelle, my alter ego would be a mermaid if I wasn't such a terrible swimmer. I love writing authentically and cooking in my pyjamas. My favourite pastimes include eating avocados, travelling the world and hanging out with a toddler.
