With cacao nibs, roasted hazelnuts, dried raisins and cranberries
Did you know that homemade chocolate is easier to make than you might think, you only need the right ingredients and thanks to super.nature, that is possible! You just need cacao butter and cacao mass, some sweetener and that’s it!
Recipe
Ingredients
• 200g cacao mass
• 100g cacao butter
• 4-8 tbsp of coconut sugar, depending on how sweet you want it
Add if you like: cacao nibs, roasted nuts like hazelnuts for crunch, dried raisins and cranberries for extra sweetness and sea salt to enhance the chocolate flavor.
Method
1. Melt cocoa mass and cocoa butter in a water bath.
2. Whisk in coconut sugar when the cocoa mass and cocoa butter have become liquid.
3. Taste if the chocolate is sweet enough.
4. Add the desired flavors and additives.
5. Pour the chocolate into a loaf pan lined with parchment paper and place in the fridge for at least 30 minutes.
6. Cut into pieces with a knife and enjoy!
Ps: a thoughtful idea is to give it away as a gift.
Did you know that chocolate is good for the heart, brain and mood!
And did you also know that homemade gifts gives you these mental health benefits:
• It improves your well being and life quality.
• It regulates your mood and can reduce stress.
• Can give fewer symptoms of depression.
So by taking these benefits in regard, let’s combat the long dark hours with chocolate to cheer up and stay healthy mentally. Oh and it just gets better by giving it away, remember what I mentioned above;)
It’s weekend and you might be wondering what to treat yourself with and how to satisfy your sweet tooth? Well, don’t you worry, cause I’ve got you covered. These chocolate raw balls are so delicious, they are nut free, dairyfree, vegan, glutenfree and refined sugar free! It got a rich chocolate flavor, with a hint of coffee and a yummy crunch from the buckwheat! The recipe is from talented Tiril Refsum, in her book “Rågodt”.
These are perfect to make on a Sunday as you can save them up for the week when the hangry mood strikes or you need a quick snack in between your busy schedule. Also not a bad idea to reward yourself with a treat after a good long day of work either;)
The ingredients you’ll need are simple:
• Dates
• Shredded coconut
• Cacao powder
• Espresso shot (2 tbsp) or 1 tsp of coffee powder
• Coconut sugar / brown sugar (if you don’t have any of ingredients play around with honey or maple syrup but then see with the consistency of the dough)
• Salt to enhance the chocolate flavor
• Whole buckwheats
Just mix all ingredients in a food processor except the buckwheat until the dough becomes sticky. Then you can add in some buckwheat to your preferring and pulse lightly with the food processor so that it’s mixed with the dough. After you can roll them into balls and cover them with either cacao powder or shredded coconut.
As this is a recipe from the book of Tiril I won’t share the exact measurements but the ingredients are there for you to try it out and make the delicious healthier treat/snack.
Refrigerate them after you have rolled them into balls! Then after 30 min, you can enjoy them;)Keep them in an airtight container in the fridge and they last for a week:)
It’s weekend and it’s time for a treat right? I made this paleo blueberry paleo cake on a Saturday evening with my childhood friend, as I planned for us to make it as a nice dessert which I found on Pinterest! There are so many talented people and there are so many delicious recipes to find! However, many times I don’t know where to start cause I find so many recipes I wanna make.. But I finally decided to make this occasion hanging with my friends over dinner to enjoy ourselves. And the day after, on a lazy Sunday morning for breakfast, this cake only got better, so so yummy with yoghurt and more fresh blueberries to it.
Baking with high quality ingredients is essential, therefore I’m really happy with the products from cocosa – https://www.midsona.no/cocosa/. As you see of what ingredients you’ll need for this cake, are coconut flour, coconut sugar (pictured above) and coconut oil. In addition you’ll need almond flour, coconut milk, eggs, baking powder, cinnamon and walnuts. That’s why it’s glutenfree, dairyfree and refined sugarfree!
This cake is super delicious with vanilla ice cream for dessert, or when having it for breakfast the day after with your coffee. Then you should definitely eat it with either Greek yoghurt or plantbased coconut yoghurt if you want it dairyfree.
Enjoy yourself with a healthy and yummy treat guys!
Making healthier choices everyday is a step towards better well being. But don’t be misled, balance is so important, like everything in life. Therefore, don’t be too hard on yourself in the first place and enjoy the journey! Here I had made myself a healthier version of what I love; waffles. It can be difficult understanding or being open about if it will still taste great when made healthy. However, I can assure you, it’s no problem at all and with those toppings it’s nothing to miss.
These waffles are gluten-free, dairyfree, plant based, vegan and refined sugar free! They also have a hidden vegetable in it… Carrot!
Ingredients
• 5 dl oats
• 2,5 dl buckwheat flour
• 1 banana
• 8 dl plantbased milk (I used oat milk)
• 1/4 tsp cardamom
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• Pinch of salt
• 2 tbsp coconut sugar
• 1 shredded carrot
Instructions
1. First add all ingredients except the shredded carrot in a blender. When the batter is smooth, then you can stir in the carrot with a spoon.
2. Heat up your waffle maker and add some coconut oil to it so that the batter doesn’t stick.
3. Have your favorite toppings with it! I love both savory and sweet, the options are so many! On the picture I had homemade hazelnut and chocolate spread with slices of strawberries and coconut yoghurt on top. For the savory part, I did homemade beetroot hummus with slices of avocado, olives, pesto, afalfa sprouts and chili flakes. The combinations are so so good!
Enjoy a nutritious waffle and congratulations on taking one step further on your journey towards healthier food choices.
I mean, who doesn’t love cinnamon buns? Silly question I know cause the answer is yes to the majority. Anyways, I wanted to make a different kind this time, trying cardamom and orange! Now who loves that kind? Me! And so will you when you bake them. It resulted into a new favorite as it got so much flavor. It’s definitely a blissful moment taking that first bite as it warms your soul with a hug, indeed a necessity these days when it’s minus 13 here in Oslo. So there is my argument for baking these goodies, it will only do you well. And even if it’s not that cold where you are, let’s remind us that these are also healthier as they have no refined white sugar in it, nor butter or dairy milk! I guess i have convinced you enough, so let’s get to it!
• 2-3 tsp apricot and orange jam (I found out that I took a bit too much of the jam when trying to form them as knots, can be a bit messy so you can choose to either skip it or try with just a little)
Top it with shaves almonds! It’s optional but it gives it a good crunch and they just get more irresistible, aaand prettier.
Instructions
1. First add warm almond milk and water to a bowl at lukewarm temperature. Then add the rest of the ingredients, but first start with the yeast and let it rest about 10 minutes before mixing all together.
2. Next step is kneading the dough for approx. 10 minutes if you have a breadmaker. If not do by hand but it might take you longer to knead the dough well. It should be elastic and shaped into a loose ball. In case it’s too sticky, add more flour until the desired consistency mentioned above.
3. Up next is to let your dough rise to doubled size around an hour covered with damp cloth.
4. When the time has passed, sprinkle some white flour to the surface so it’s easier to roll the dough. Use a wooden or marble rolling pin to do the process until you have shaped a nice rectangle!
5. With room tempered dairy free butter, spread it with a spoon equally across the surface. After that add your filling and do same procedure.
6. Fold the dough into 3 parts, one side meets the middle, while the other side does same and at last fold it over for the third time into one piece.
7. Cut the dough into 12 to 13 equally sized smaller rectangles. Then form them into knots tying them together. Let them rest for 45 minutes covered in cling film for them to rise one last time.
8. Bake them until golden brown and soft in the middle on 180 degrees fan oven for about 20 minutes!
Enjoy everybody and comment how it went or if you have any questions/doubts on how to make them.
With love & care, Melanie x
Vegan, dairyfree & refined sugarfree.. Instead with coconut sugar!
Can’t believe it’s soon Christmas! So I’m warming up with some Christmas flavors and making a Christmas smoothie bowl edition in honor of this beautiful, magical and wonderful festive holiday. The season is truly something special, it’s a time which reminds us to be grateful, to be kind, to give and appreciate the present of family and loved ones.
Blend all ingredients in a smoothie blender until smooth.
Tip and facts to be aware of
The lecithin powder helps to make it creamy so I would definitely invest in buying that product. Also the spices from Helios are with no additives. Did you know that there is two kinds of cinnamon? There is cassia cinnamon, which is the type of cinnamon we find in most store shelves and then the other one is named Ceylon cinnamon. Be aware that there is more coumarin than in Ceylon cinnamon. Coumarin gives taste, but it is also a toxin that in large quantities can damage the liver. Therefore I would recommend to use Ceylon cinnamon as it contains much less coumarin than Cassia.
Add toppings like granola & gingerbread cookies to decorate your smoothie bowl.
I hope you feel some Christmas spirit by making yourself this smoothie bowl and may all your wishes come true.
Wondering what to eat for a quick snack when feeling hungry? The answer is no bake matcha bars! These are healthy, vegan, gluten-free and refined sugar free. And they got a superfood ingredient… Matcha! I’ve used “power matcha” superfood mix from https://yoursuper.eu and it’s definitely a favorite of mine. Use my code MELANIESTOKKE for 15% off. What are you waiting for? Buy the superfood mix with my discount code and treat yourself with these healthy snack bars!
The process of making the matcha bars is super easy. There is no baking time in the oven on them and they are made with few ingredients. So here’s a shout-out for those at you at home who claim they cannot bake… This is truly your time to shine at the kitchen!
Ingredients
• 1,5 tsp power matcha
• 12 pitted medjool dates
• 2 dl oats
• 0,5 dl shredded coconut
• 3 dl cashews
• 2 tbs coconut oil
• 1 tsp lemon juice
• A pinch of salt and a touch of cinnamon
Instructions
1. Put all of the ingredients in a food processor until you’ve achieved a sticky dough
2. Line a baking pan or a form with parchment paper. Press down evenly the dough.
3. Refrigerate before cutting the bars and add toppings like cacao nibs and coconut chips.
Add all ingredients in a food processorPulse until you’ve achieved a sticky doughNo bake matcha bars refrigerated topped with cacao nibs and coconut chips!The mixture makes 10 bars.
It’s weekend and it’s time for a sweet treat! And these healthy cookies are the answer!
This recipe I found from @thebigmansworld being the best healthy cookies searched on Pinterest.
Was that right? BIG YES!
Recipe:
• 2 cups blanched almond flour
• 1/4 cup corn starch
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 6 tbs maple syrup
• 2 tbs coconut oil
• 1/4 cup almond milk
• 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips
Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 175 degrees.
2. In a bowl mix your dry ingredients.
3. In a saucepan, combine your maple syrup and coconut oil and heat until melted.
4. Add the syrup/coconut mixture to your bowl along with almond milk to mix well with your dry ingredients. Fold in the dark chocolate chips but be careful not over mixing it.
5. Form balls with the cookie batter on a line of parchment paper. Press them down so they become a cookie;)
6. Bake for 12 minutes and let them rest so that they keep their shape!
Enjoy these ones without guilt, I mean it, you will seriously enjoy them so so much.
Such a good treat with delicious spices of autumn feels
Ingredients
• 80 soaked and pitted dates or I’d guess around 0,5 kilo/500g
• 4 dl walnuts
• 3-5 dl gluten-free oats depending on the chewiness & stickiness you like
• 2 tbs “yoursuper mellow yellow”
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• 5 generous tbs peanut butter
Instructions
Firstly soak your pitted dates in warm water until soft, then simply put all the ingredients in a food processor.
When you’ve achieved a smooth consistency, then shape the dough into balls and cover them with shredded coconut.
Voila and they are ready for you to eat them!
Leave them in the fridge to store them:)
The process of making them step by step
Soaked pitted dates and walnutsGluten-free oats, peanut butter and mellow yellow powder plus cinnamon The desired smooth consistency Shape the dough into balls and cover them with shredded coconutThe end result!
Hope you enjoy these as mush as I do! They have a lovely spice to it, is anti inflammatory and gives you an energy boost. The perfect treat or snack when hungry or craving sweet. These mellow yellow energy balls are gluten-free, dairy free, vegan and refined sugar free!
I absolutely love waffles, I mean who doesn’t? So I wanted to make them healthier and with fruity toppings giving you that summer feel! This recipe is with eggs, no sugar, without dairy and made with less gluten. These waffles I actually made in June but forgot to post them. However, I’m not too late as we get to enjoy summer a bit more and these waffles goes with it. Be prepared for another waffle recipe too as I want to make them next time without eggs being vegan friendly:)
Ingredients
• 100g oats
• 150g buckwheat flour
• 125g whole-wheat flour
• 4,5 dl almond milk or any other kind of plant based milk
• 50g coconut oil
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 3 eggs
Instructions
1. Whip the eggs first.
2. Then add all the flour, oatmeal, baking powder and almond milk to a smooth mixture.
3. Finally add melted coconut oil and buckwheat flour.
4. Let the batter swell for 30 minutes.
5. Pour a scoop into the waffle maker and they are finished when having a golden light brown color!
6. Enjoy your healthy summer edition waffle and add whatever toppings you love. My favorites are homemade raspberry jam (in a heated pot add frozen raspberries till they are cooked done, if you want it sweeter add some honey or maple syrup), nectarine, slices of banana and apple, dark chocolate chips, coconut flakes etc. Oh and don’t forget to drizzle some peanut butter and honey/maple syrup. Go all out, rooting for you to do that, I promise it will put a smile on your face.
Bloom with food 