Raw Vegan Brownies (Soy-Free, Grain-Free, Gluten-Free)

Lately I've been trying a lot more raw vegan foods and recipes to get rid of over-processed sugars and take a short vacation from wheat. It has really been working for me and I'm extremely energetic due to it, which just makes me a bucketload of fun. As for these brownies, you could say that they are more than chockful of nuts - the whole base is made out of nuts and pressed into the tops of each brownie is a delicious coconut flavored almond. It took maybe only three or four hours for these to dehydrate, but it depends on how moist or crisp you want these to be. They're lightly chocolatey but full of coconutty-goodness, and a sprinkle of stevia on top can really make them "pop!"

(Ingredients)

• 5 Softened Dates or Prunes
• 1/2 cup of Coconut Flour
• 1/4 cup of Plain Almonds
• 3 tsp Grated Raw Chocolate (sub cocoa if not fully raw)

(Directions)

• After softening your fruit in warm water, you can process it with the rest of the ingredients.
• Press into a dish lined with parchment paper and dehydrate at 180 degrees for 2-5 hours or until it looks well done. I still like to stick a knife in it to test its "gooeyness" and the edges to see if they are plump or crisp. Press it thinner if you like them a bit on the crisp and chewy side.
• Allow to cool slightly, serve and enjoy.

Cat-Bear-Cake?

I got a Hello Kitty cake pan from Wilton, and let's just say I wasn't very good at doing anything with it. For some odd reason, everything HK that I make turns into a bear. It's never an adorable bear either, this one just looks...off, but I didn't use parchment paper to lift it or anything. No matter though, the cake is absolutely moist and delicious and I love it.

(Cat-Bear-Cake Ingredients)

• 1/4 cup Strong Brewed Coffee (you should probably cut down on that)
• 1 cup Vegan Sweetener
• 3 Cornstarch Eggs
• 1/4 cup Cocoa Powder
• 2 and 1/2 cups Cake Flour
• 2 tsp Baking Soda (or a little less baking powder)
• 1 cup of Soy Milk
• 2 tsp Organic Apple Cider Vinegar (avoid if using powder)
• 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
• 1/2 cup Cold Coconut Oil
• 1/2 tsp Iodized Salt

(Directions)

• Cream the coconut oil and sugar together and slowly sift in the dry ingredients. Fold them into each other.
• slowly add the wet ingredients until it is a medium-thick batter.
• Place into a greased and parchment paper lined baking dish and tap onto a hard surface about 20 times.
• at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes or until the knife comes out clean from the middle.
• Let it rest of one hour, cover in coconut cream and berries or whatever you choose.
• Enjoy!

Spirited Away Bread

Despite some obvious mistakes and cracks, this bread tastes delicious and looks completely adorable. If you want you can fill his cheeks with some (vegan) cheese or even make it into a sandwich. I did the latter with some apples and peanut butter, and showed it to my mother. We both love Hayao Miyazaki and all of the animated films that we've seen of his - and we both screamed in delight at the finished bread.

(Spirited Away Bread Ingredients)

• 1 and 1/2 cups All-Purpose Flour
• 1 and 1/2 cups Whole Wheat Flour
• 1 and 1/4 tsp Rapid-Rise Yeast
• 1/2 tsp Iodized Salt
• 1/2-3/4 cup Warm Water

(Directions)

• Mix the ingredients together (adding the salt at the last minute) and knead it for about 10 minutes or until it is a nice elastic ball.
• Place it into an oiled bowl and turn it around to coat it in the oil, put a damp towel over it and let it sit in a heated area for about an hour.
• After time has elapsed, punch it down and cut about 1/4 of the bread dough off.
• Roll the bigger piece into the shape of the mouse's head and then use the ends of the leftover dough to make the ears by rolling them into balls and placing them firmly on top of the mouse's head. Use a little of the dough to make his cheeks more exaggerated and then make his nose.
• Bake it at 350 degrees for about 25 minutes or until your knife comes out clean from the side of his head.
• Use cocoa powder mixed with water to mark his nose, ears and to draw his eyes.
• Keep it as is or make it into a sandwich as I did.
• Enjoy!


• Make sure to tuck any excess dough underneath the head. If necessary, you may need to roll the extra dough out to make it smoother and less cracked like mine.