Chocolate Cherry Cookies - SUGAR FREE!

Our new Favorite (sugar free (shhh)) 

Chocolate Cherry Cookies!!

These are seriously so much better than you would think! 

I was ecstatic when my husband said I could actually call these a cookie! :)

They are grain/gluten free and sugar free!!!!!

Recipe slightly adapted from wing it vegan

Ingredients

1/2 C dried unsweetened dried coconut

1/2 C Date Sugar or coconut palm sugar

1/4 C cocoa powder

1/4 tsp baking powder

1/8 tsp baking soda

Pinch salt

1/2 C almond or peanut butter

4 Tbs almond or coconut milk

1 1/2 tsp vanilla

1/2 - 3/4 C Dried Cherries!! The cherries are key! They really make the cookie.

Try to find unsweetened cherries, here is a link

Optional Add Ins: Dark Chocolate Chips ( I use cacao nibs for a sugar free crunch instead), toasted Macadamia Nuts - chopped, White Chocolate Chips - would be amazing if you weren't too concerned about sugar, Dried Cherries!! The cherries are key! They really make the cookie. 

Try to find unsweetened cherries, here is a link

Bake at 375, 15 minutes

(I flattened my slightly before baking)

If you can hold out - put them in a paper bag and let sit overnight. 

They taste way better the next day!

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Simple NO BAKE - Cookie Dough Bites!

Sunday is my day I allow myself to cheat! 

I believe there is nothing better than the taste of Cookie Dough! 

 Here's what I came up with.

Ingredients:

1/4 C Pecans

1/2 C Cashews

1/3 C Oats

1/8 tsp Salt (only if your nuts are unsalted!!!)

1 Tb Raw Honey or Pure Maple Syrup

1 tsp Vanilla

1/4 C Dark Chocolate Chips, or Mini Chocolate Chips

Put first four ingredients in food processor. Pulse until well combined and ground fine. 

Add honey and vanilla. Pulse until you get a dough like consistency. Fold in chocolate chips.

Store in between wax paper in the freezer for a quick grab and go treat! 

That is, only if you have leftovers!! 

 ENJOY!!

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Sugar Free Easter Treats

I've been off sugar (except for one or two hershey kisses) this week. Its killer and I feel like I binge just trying to get rid of the craving! Is this worth it?? Why is it so DANG hard!!???? Anyway - here a few fun treats we tried this weekend.

Sugar free Lemon Almond Sugar Cookies

(-these were ok, I wish I blended it, instead of processed it, and I wished that I roasted my almonds to get a stronger flavor. They still turned out a little dry, but my kids LOVED Them! Surprisingly!! They were a fun little thing to decorate. - I'll be experimenting more with this recipe for sure!)

Click HERE for the recipe

(make sure to soak your almonds overnight and then let dry, or roast in oven)

I didn't make her frosting recipe, Here's what I did:
Lemon (Dairy Free) Cookie Frosting

3/4 C Raw Cashews (Soaked overnight or at least 3-5 hours)
2 Dates (soaked for an hour or so - optional, but helps)
1 tsp Vanilla
pinch Salt 
Juice from 1 lemon
little lemon zest
1/2 tsp Stevia powder
1/4 Water (add more if you want a thinner consistency)Taste it - you may want to add some Agave/Honey

Blend for quite a while, it thickens as it blends. Add in desired food coloring and enjoy! 

You do need to eat rather soon once frosted, (they didn't store well frosted).

Peanut Butter filled Chocolate Eggs

These were pretty tasty! I did the sugar free version, which wasn't bad! It would taste way better if you wanted to use the real stuff, or even honey would be fine
(might need to add in flour to thicken it).

I froze the peanut butter egg shapes for a couple hours, this made the chocolate harden right as I dipped it! It was so yummy! Just store in fridge or freezer, cause it will melt and get soft, 

and they were way tastier with a hard shell! :)

Click HERE for the recipe

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Valentine Treats

Oh man  - keep that dove chocolate away, cause it will be devoured fast if it comes in my view! 

I have to be prepared with some new, fun ideas! So I thought I would share. 

Coconut Date Butter

This really was SO good!

1 C Dates:

(Soaked for about 1 hour or just simmered in water over small pot for about 20 minutes)

1 Bag of Unsweetened Coconut

THATS IT!!! Can you believe it??

Throw the bag of coconut into your vita-mix or food processor. And GO TO TOWN. You may have to scrape sides every once and while, but it should start to form a pureed coconut butter. (sometimes this doesn't work - it may take a little patience) If it doesn't totally puree - thats ok! 

Add in the dates and a little of the water ( I just see if it needs more  - depending on your desired consistency) And blend until combined. Spread on toast, dip fruit in it, sweeten baked breads, on pancakes - whatever you can think of! YUM!

Raw Almond Joy Candy Bars!

Yum - these are seriously amazing and REALLY taste like an Almond Joy!!!

Who knew a candy bar could be good for you???

This is the coconut before being dipped in chocolate. 

(I freezed in between stages)

CLick HERE for the recipe. 

note: If you can't find coconut butter, just use coconut oil. You can also sub Honey for Agave.

 (or make your own coconut butter in blender like I described above)

Or some Simply Sweet No Bake Cookies 

Easy to make and fun to package up!!

Seriously - I was in love with both of these!! Will be making these quite often!

Hopefully you can click on the picture to enlarge and print? 

Let me know if you want me to email this to you!

The second recipe was from chocolatecoveredkatie!

no sugar, no dairy added - 

Chocolate Cherry Ice cream! 

YUM!

2 VERY RIPE Bananas - cut into chunks and frozen

3/4 C Frozen Cherries

2 Tbl Dried Cherries

1/4 C Cocoa Powder

1/4-1/2 C Almond Milk

Cacoa Nibs or Mini Chocolate chips

Feel free to add some fresh cherries in at the end as garnish. 

Place Bananas in Food processor. Pulse until they begin to melt and combine. (like in this post). Once they are mostly combined add cocoa powder and frozen cherries and continue to pulse for about 30 seconds. Add dried cherries and turn machine on until they are chopped pretty small. While machine is running add milk just small bits at a time until you reach desired consistency. Add in nibs or chips and pulse once or twice just to combine. 

ENJOY immediately!!

Top with coconut or nuts if desired. :)

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After School Snack -

Almond Butter and Jelly Cookies

Yum!! What a prefect, not overly sweet snack. 

This is a good one for the kids to be involved too!

Get the recipe HERE

(the recipe is Gluten Free, for easy alternatives see below)

Feel free to use natural Peanut Butter in place of the Almond Butter

You can also substitute whole wheat flour for the other flours!

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High on the Health Scale

So I can go pretty crazy, making things that my husband would say is, "too healthy!" :) But I have been on a kick lately.

Every once and a while I try to do a 'palate cleanse.' Something that get's rid of my cravings and kicks me into the groove again.

I try to eat dairy free, gluten free, sugar free, and no animal products for at least a week.

Its HARD - to say the least. I was excited to find these 'cookies,' most people would not call them that.
But my kids loved them, and I love that they were eating something less sugary and more pure.

So I don't expect you to jump up and make these, but I want to record them. I was excited! :)

Borrowed the pic from HERE
They looked just like these though!

2 C Diced Apples (you can keep skin on)(over-ripe apples work perfect)

1 C Brown Rice Flour (just blend rice in a blender)

1 C Cashews (raw)

3/4 C Pecan Halves

1 C Raisins

Directions:

1) Pre-heat oven to 350.

2) Combine all ingredients, but raisins, in food processor and process until smooth. Add raisins and process just to combine.

3) Bake for 15 minutes.

ENJOY!

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I'm in the mood for cookies!

I have been majorly craving sugar lately, and it's driving me crazy! When this happens it makes it worse to deny myself totally! I like to create some healthier options, so I don't just binge on the worst things possible.

I was able to use my newly made Date Honey. I am in LOVE with it! I feel like its God's sweetener (I say without risk of sounding too 'tree huggerish' :))! I use it to sometimes replace fat or sugar in a recipe. Its also great on sliced apples!! YES! :)

So here is to - Peanut Butter Protein Bites

Ingredients:

2 C Whole Grain Cereal (I mix Total and Fiber One)

1/3 C of Whole Wheat Pastry Flour

1/2 tsp Baking Soday

1/2 tsp Salt

1/4 C Brown Sugar

1 T Unsweetened Applesauce (or Date Honey - my new love!)

2 T Canola Oil

3/4 C Smooth All Natural Peanut Butter

1/4 C Sweet Potato or Pumpkin Puree

1/4 C Carrot Puree (I was lazy and puree'd canned carrots - not the freshest option though!)

1 tsp Vanilla

1/4 C Mini Chocolate chips

-Oven to 350

-Mix wet ingredients well

-Mix dry ingredients well (these pics are pre-mixed)

-SLOWLY blend both together. Do NOT OVER MIX

- Slowly add in mini chocolate chips.

-Place on Cookie sheet, press down slightly with fork, and bake about 9-11 minutes. (I swear every time I cook these the cooking time changes. Its hard to tell and they often overcook. So when in doubt, just take them out :))

ENJOY - My KIDS devoured these!

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Healthy Holiday Cookie

Ginger Cashew Pillows

A Fav of mine - partially because I love ginger.

A perfect little Sweet Holiday bite :)

You can find the recipe HERE

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THE BEST Cookie DISGUISE

Fat Free Peanut Butter Chip Chocolate Cookies

These are the only cookies I can get away with serving to people or taking to parties. I am always so scared when people bite into them (because my husband said my taste buds can be warped :)) But these cookies always get a good reaction.

I slightly altered a recipe I found from Cooks.com

They have such a better texture and taste than applesauce cookies.

They may be a little high in sugar for my liking,

but they are EXTREMELY low fat and totally yummy and chewy!!!

Ingredients:

1 C Dried Prunes (the secret ingredient)

2 Tbs Canola Oil
1 1/2 C Sugar (you could up this if you didn't think they are sweet enough, but I think its plenty!)

(And I do use sugar instead of honey or Agave, if they are supposed to be disguised)
2 Eggs
2 tsp Vanilla
2 C unsifted All-purpose Flour (I use whole wheat pastry flour, but you decide)
3/4 C Hershey's Cocoa
3/4 tsp Baking Soda
1/2 tsp Salt
2 C Reese's Peanut Butter Chips (crucial to this cookie!)
1/2 C Chopped Peanuts (optional - I have done it with them and without them)

Directions:
1) Take the Prunes and put into blender with a little water, just barely enough to get them moving. process until you have them as smooth as can be. You don't want it too watery, kind of the texture of peanut butter. It may help to try a food proccessor. You should have 1 C of Pureed Prunes.
2) Cream (1 Cup) Pureed Prunes, Oil, Sugar, Eggs, and Vanilla until well combined- (about 3 minutes). Combine Flour, cocoa, Baking Soda and Salt - Add to prune mixture. Stir in PB chips and Peanuts. Chill for about a 1/2 hour.
3) Shape small amount into balls and place on cookie sheet. Flatten slightly with fork. Bake at 350 for 8-10 minutes. Let cool 1 minute before removing from cookie sheet.

Note: I like to put my cookies into the hot oven pretty cold. You can keep the dough in the fridge between batches, or but the balls on the sheet and place the sheet into the fridge until its ready to go in.

2nd Note: DON'T TELL ANYONE WHAT'S IN THEM!! THEY WILL NEVER KNOW!

ENJOY!!!!

Nutrition Facts

Per cookie: 100 Calories, 3.6 g Fat, 16 g Carbs

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Sweet Dot's

Okay - just made that name up. :) They were called doughnut holes, but anyone who think that's what they are getting will NOT be happy! BUT - they were really good - all things considered! A totally RAW treat, that keeps in the fridge for one week.

No extra fat or sugar (gotta love that!) They tasted a lot like the granola bars.

Perfect for a little snack, or even FHE?? I changed it up and dipped some in some sprinkles, the three year old loved that!

He totally ate a ton, so that's a good sign. :)

1 3/4 C Almonds

1/2 tsp Sea Salt

1 Vanilla Bean, Scraped (I didn't have this, I just put in 1 tsp of vanilla extract)

2 C Dried Pineapple, Chopped

2 C Pitted Dates

1/3 C plus 1/4 C Unsweetened Shredded Coconut

I find most of these ingredients in the Bulk Section of my grocery store. (thats where I buy my dates, although I did see them at costco - AWESOME) You can also find all of these at any health food store.

Place Almonds and Salt in food processor. Process into a fine powder. Then add Vanilla. Slowly add chopped pineapple and dates. You might have to pulse it to get them all combined. Mix VERY well. Transfer to large bowl and mix in 1/3 C Coconut. I just wet my hands and blend with hands - its a lot easier. Use a cookie scoop to form into balls and roll into coconut, sprinkles, nuts, whatever you like! Enjoy!

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Coconut Banana Bites

These are for that ever so annoying moment, when you get finished with a meal and just want something sweet! I hate those moments, so grab one of these! Totally good for you, low in fat, and so much lower in sugar than almost anything else you would want to grab. These are also called "Lunchbox" cookies in our house. Perfect little sweet treat for the middle of the day. Don't expect a chocolate chip cookie, just something sweet to satisfy that snacking sweet tooth. :)

Ingredients:

3 large ripe bananas, well mashed (about 1½ C)

1 tsp vanilla extract

¼ C Olive Oil or Canola Oil

2 C rolled oats

⅔ C Almond Meal (you can pulse almonds in food processor)

¼ C wheat germ

⅓ C coconut, finely shredded and unsweetened

½ tsp. Cinnamon

½ tsp. fine grain sea salt

1 tsp baking powder

6-7 oz of dark chocolate chips or 70% dark chocolate bar shaved and broken

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 In large bowl combine bananas, vanilla, and oil. Set aside. In another bowl whisk together the oats, wheat germ, almond meal, shredded coconut, cinnamon, salt, and baking powder. Add the dry ingredients to the wet. Stir. Fold in Chocolate. Drop dollops of dough (about 2 tsp in size) an inch apart on parchment paper or silpat lined baking sheet. Bake 12-14 minutes.

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Chocolate Chip Cookie Re-Do

Okay, we all love chocolate chip cookies! Who doesn't? I have searched high and low for a perfect recipe that is the best balance between great taste and healthy. I still haven't found that perfect one, but this one is VERY close! Good enough for a crowd!


Click HERE for the original recipe.

I changed it up a bit:
instead of 1/4 C of butter and 1/4 C Oil
I did 1/8 C Organic Butter, 1/8 C Canola/Coconut Oil, and 1/4 Canned Pumpkin - (random I know - I was out of applesauce and tried pumpkin, it was SOO yummy! I think I am going to try Sweet Potato puree next time!)

Also, I substituted 1/4 of the Oatmeal with Almond Meal (just grind almonds in your food processor) this adds to the health benefits and makes for a richer taste.

I also added some Butterscotch chips with the Chocolate Chips. (A little of both) It made for an amazing combination!!

The Hubby asked for seconds! Always a good sign. :)

Let me know of you try these and how they turned out!

NOTE: Worried about eating the whole batch? Put the balls of dough on a cookie sheet, quick freeze them in your freezer, (about 1/2 hour), Then place in a ziplock bag. Only bake the amount you want! I will just pull out three, one for each person. Then we're not eating the whole batch in one night. (not like theres nothing wrong with that ;))

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Fiber One Fudge Cookies

Don't let the name fool you!! So easy, crunchy and fun! Full of fiber! Who doesn't love an easy way out for a treat?

For those of you familiar with weight watchers, these cookies are only 1 point! Got it from one of my FAV websites.

Click HERE for the recipe.

(I don't know how I felt about putting the cereal in whole, it left a wierd texture. I might pulse it slightly in my food processor next time to keep it hidden, and maybe add nuts??? We'll see...)

I rate them a 3.5

This was the three year olds reaction:

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