Bars

Name: Walnut Spelt Blondies
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 1 h 45 min
Yield: 12 bars
Cuisine: Dessert
Ingredients: 1/2 cup + 1/4 cup walnuts, chopped; 3/4 cup unbleached all-purpose flour; 1/2 cup spelt flour; 3/4 tsp baking powder; 2 tsp arrowroot starch; 1/2 tsp salt; 5 Tbsp vegan butter (I recommend Earth Balance Vegan Buttery Sticks); 6 Tbsp coconut sugar; 6 Tbsp light brown sugar; 1 large egg, room temp; 2 tsp pure vanilla extract

Walnut Spelt Blondies (dairy-free!)

May 20, 2019 by Rachael Ng Leave a Comment

The first time I had a blondie bar was way back when I was still baking with an Easy Bake Oven. I remember being confused because what even is a blondie? And I’ll be honest, before setting out to bake this recipe, I looked online to figure what exactly a blondie bar really is. Some people say they’re the vanilla version of a brownie, but I don’t find the textures to be very similar.

What I do know for sure is that a butterscotch flavor, brought on by using butter and brown sugar, is a hallmark to a traditional blondie. For me, they’re a bit like chewy cookie bars, but with the delicate, crackly top of a brownie. In fact, for this recipe you’ll whisk the eggs and sugar the same way you would to make brownies. This helps lift the batter as it’s baking to create that flaky top!

I chose to use vegan butter and a mix of 50/50 coconut sugar + brown sugar in this recipe because I really wanted these to taste like a real deal blondie bar. And I find that chopped walnuts or pecans really add to that butterscotch flavor we’re after, so I added lots of walnuts, too.

The add-ins for this recipe are super adaptable, so you should feel free to add your favorite chocolate chips, candy bits, or even white chocolate chips, depending on your diet (most varieties contain milk). As for the rest of the ingredients, I recommend following the recipe exactly as-is. This was my third test, and it’s very easy to end up with results that are less than stellar (trust me!).

Some of the ingredients I love for this recipe:

Spelt flour is an ancient whole grain flour and a good source of carbs, protein, and fiber. The flavor adds a bit of nuttiness to these blondies, which I love. But if you only have all-purpose flour on hand, that will work, too.

Arrowroot starch adds a bit of chewiness to these bars. Corn starch will do the same, so feel free to use that instead.

Vegan butter is a must for this recipe. I can only recommend Earth Balance Vegan Buttery Sticks (not sponsored – just love them!). It adds that necessary “butter” flavor while helping to keep these bars moist.

Coconut sugar is an unrefined, low GI sugar, which means it won’t spike your blood sugar as high as regular sugar, maple syrup, or honey may. And it doesn’t taste like coconut!

Brown sugar is necessary for that true blondie flavor. Since brown sugar has molasses in it, it adds moisture and lends a hand to a delicious butterscotch flavor.

Egg helps give these bars a little lift and (when whisked with the sugar) creates a delicate, crackly top to the blondies.

Yield: 12 bars

Walnut Spelt Blondies

Deliciously nutty Blondies made better-for-you with coconut sugar and spelt flour! These dairy-free bars taste just as good as a traditional, butterscotch flavored blondie!

Prep Time 25 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Additional Time 1 hour

Total Time 1 hour 45 minutes

Ingredients

1/2 cup + 1/4 cup walnuts, chopped
3/4 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
1/2 cup spelt flour
3/4 tsp baking powder
2 tsp arrowroot starch
1/2 tsp salt
5 Tbsp vegan butter (I recommend Earth Balance Vegan Buttery Sticks)
6 Tbsp coconut sugar
6 Tbsp light brown sugar
1 large egg, room temp
2 tsp pure vanilla extract

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 325°F and prepare an 8x8 baking dish. Spray your dish with olive oil and then line with parchment paper. I like to cut one long strip to cover the bottom + 2 sides and then fold the excess over the sides (to use as handles later when I pull the blondies out to slice).
Place 1/2 cup of walnuts on a baking sheet and pop them in your preheating oven to toast. This can take 5-10 minutes, and the moment you smell the walnuts, it's time to take them out of the oven - don't forget about them! You can also bring your egg to room temperature by placing it in a glass of warm water for around 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, whisk together the flours, baking powder, arrowroot starch, and salt; set aside.
Melt your vegan butter in small saucepan over medium-low heat. Bring to a boil before removing from the heat; set aside.
In a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, add the sugars and egg. Set speed to medium-high, adding in the vanilla. Whisk the mixture until is light brown, fluffy, and thick, stopping to scrape the sides of the bowl as necessary. You'll know it's ready when you lift the whisk out the batter and the "ribbons" take 2-3 seconds to disappear.
Slowly pour the melted vegan butter into the egg and sugar mixture bit by bit, gently folding it in between each pour. Once totally combined, add the dry ingredients and gently fold. Finally, fold in the toasted chopped walnuts.
Scrape batter (it will be thick) into your prepared baking dish and use a spatula to evenly distribute it. Smooth out the top and then sprinkle with the 1/4 cup of extra walnuts.
Bake at 325°F for 15-20 minutes or until edges are slightly browned. Allow to cool completely. Run a butter knife around the edges and use the parchment paper overhang to pull the entire blondie up and out of the dish. Slice into 12 bars. Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature.

Notes

I don't recommend most substitutes for this recipe as blondies can be a bit finicky. But you can use all-purpose flour in place of the spelt flour and corn starch in place of the arrowroot starch.

Recipe adapted from Cook's Illustrated

Grain-Free Tahini Swirl Brownies

May 10, 2019 by Rachael Ng Leave a Comment

If you haven’t jumped on the tahini + chocolate bandwagon yet, then this is the recipe for you! But also, if you love tahini desserts then this is also the recipe for you. These brownies are ultra fudgy with just the right amount of melted chocolate, cocoa powder, and tahini. All topped with a beautiful tahini swirl! I mean, look at it.

When I set out to make these brownies, I wanted to come up with a totally fudgy, not-too-rich brownie that was free of grains, dairy, and oil. And then, of course, I sweetened them with coconut sugar (along with the chocolate chips) to make these indulgent babies a little bit better for you.

The method that I like best when baking brownies is to use melted chocolate with an oil (in this case, the tahini) and some cocoa powder, and then whisk the eggs and sugar until they’re nice and fluffy. The whisking is what gives these brownies a bit of lift, and all the wet ingredients help them stay totally fudgy.

For this recipe, I took my love for sesame a bit further than your typical tahini brownie by adding a bit of toasted black sesame powder. I highly recommend you make your way to the nearest Asian market, buy a big (and cheap!) bag of black sesame seeds, and spend 10 minutes making the powder. It’s affordable, easy, and adds another element of nuttiness to these brownies. And if you haven’t toasted black sesame seeds before, then you’re in for a treat, because the smell is divine.

Some of the ingredients I love for this recipe:

Chocolate chips add a ton of moisture, flavor, and sweetness to these brownies. In my experience, with this specific recipe, they also lend a hand to the shiny top crust of the brownies.

Tahini is simply ground sesame seeds – think “peanut butter” but with sesame seeds instead of peanuts. It’s delicious in savory dishes and desserts. I especially love how it pairs with chocolate, and anyone who has ever tasted a tahini dessert from me has loved it!

Dutch-process cocoa powder has a deeper chocolate flavor than natural cocoa powder. I like to use Hershey’s Special Dark Cocoa because it’s affordable and easy to find. They recently switched from a 50/50 dutched/natural mix to all dutch-process for their Special Dark Cocoa, so check your labels.

Coconut sugar is an unrefined, low GI sweetener. It doesn’t taste like coconut, and since it’s low GI, it doesn’t spike blood sugar as high as white sugar, honey, or maple syrup would.

Arrowroot starch is a corn allergy-friendly thickener, but if you don’t have this on hand, feel free to use corn starch.

Toasted black sesame powder is simply toasted black sesame seeds that have been ground up in a blender or food processor. It’s aromatic and nutty and elevates the delicious sesame flavor in these brownies.

Yield: 16 brownies

Grain-Free Tahini Swirl Brownies

Ultra fudgy brownies made grain-free, dairy-free, and oil-free! These brownies are loaded with chocolate and tahini and topped with a beautiful tahini swirl!

Prep Time 30 minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes

Additional Time 30 minutes

Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes

Ingredients

Brownies

1 ½ cups dairy-free chocolate chips
¾ cup tahini
2 Tbsp dutch-process cocoa powder
3 large eggs, room temp
1 cup coconut sugar
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
4 ½ Tbsp arrowroot starch
¼ cup toasted black sesame powder
½ tsp salt

Tahini Swirl

Instructions

Make your toasted black sesame powder by toasting ½ cup of black sesame seeds in a skillet over medium heat (I highly recommend getting these at your local Asian market/grocery store to save money!) . Stir constantly until seeds are toasted - you'll begin to smell a very aromatic nutty scent. Add the toasted seeds to a blender or food processor and blend until a powder forms.
Bring your eggs to room temperature by placing them in a glass of warm water for around 10 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat your oven to 325°F. Prepare your baking dish by spraying it with olive oil and then lining the bottom + 2 sides with a long strip of parchment paper. Crease the excess parchment paper over the sides.
Using the double boiler method (place heatproof bowl over a pot with 1" of water on medium heat, making sure bowl doesn't touch the water), melt the chocolate chips and tahini in a medium bowl until smooth. Remove from heat and stir in the cocoa powder; set aside.
In a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, add the coconut sugar and eggs. Begin whisking on medium-high speed and add the vanilla extract. Continue whisking until the mixture becomes thick and light brown in color. It will look very bubbly.
Add the chocolate mixture to the whisked eggs and sugar. Gently fold the chocolate in - this will take a few minutes. Then fold in the arrowroot starch, black sesame powder, and salt until totally combined. The batter will be thick.
Scrape batter into your prepared baking dish and use a spatula to smooth out the top.
In a small bowl, mix together the remaining ¼ cup of tahini with 2 Tbsp of agave. Drop spoonfuls of the tahini mixture onto the top of the brownie batter, creating 9 blobs - 3 across and 3 down (see photo). Use a chopstick (or wooden skewer) to drag and swirl the tahini into the top of the batter. Be careful not to over-swirl or you won't have the defined swirls.
Bake brownies at 325°F for 25-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out with a bit of batter. You want to under-bake these a bit for maximum fudginess, but feel free to bake them a little longer if you like your brownies less fudgy.
Allow brownies to cool completely in the dish (I like to sit mine on top of a cooling rack). Run a butter knife along the edges without parchment paper, and then use the parchment paper overhang to pull the brownies up and out of the dish. Slice into 16 squares, wiping your knife between each slice for a cleaner look.
Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature.

Notes

The toasted black sesame powder adds to the delicious sesame flavor in these brownies, but you can replace the powder with ¼ cup of cocoa powder if need be. Your brownies will be more rich and taste less sweet.

Arrowroot starch can be replaced with corn starch.

Dutch-process cocoa can be replaced with natural cocoa powder since this recipe contains no leavening agents (baking soda, etc).

Grain-Free Orange Brownies (dairy-free!)

March 31, 2019 by Rachael Ng 1 Comment

Where are my fudgy brownie lovers at?! I love an ooey-gooey fudgy brownie! You know, the kind that you’re not quite sure are even done. There’s just something so good about warm, melt-in-your-mouth brownies.

These Orange Brownies are by far one of my favorite recipes. They’re made with low GI coconut sugar (and also a cup and a half of chocolate chips!), coconut oil, and arrowroot starch in place of any flour. So they’re gluten/grain-free and dairy-free. And seriously delicious! I adapted this recipe from Amanda at Running with Spoons, and it’s one of the best “healthier” brownie recipes!

For this recipe, you’ll use the double boiler method to melt the chocolate and oil together, whip up the sugar and eggs, and zest a few oranges. As long as you follow the recipe and instructions exactly as-is, then you’ll end up with ultra-fudgy, perfectly crinkle-topped brownies that rival any other traditional brownie. For real.

I baked this recipe up three times and found that it’s vital to use chocolate chips instead of chopped chocolate in order to get that beautiful, shiny top. I used chopped dark chocolate for one batch, and the brownies came out dull and smooth – not crinkly at all! So I suggest only using chocolate chips!

Some of the ingredients I love for this recipe:

Coconut sugar is a low GI, unrefined sugar. This means that it places lower on the glycemic index scale than cane sugar, honey, and maple syrup, so it has less of an effect on blood sugar levels. It tastes nothing like coconut, and, in my opinion, tastes less sweet than regular white sugar.

Coconut oil is a great dairy-free alternative to butter (and it’s better for you!). These brownies are so rich I don’t taste the coconut, but if you prefer a dessert with no trace of coconut then I recommend making these with refined coconut oil.

Arrowroot starch is a gluten-free, corn-free starch that can work with any recipe that calls for corn starch. It lends to a softer, lighter texture in baked goods.

Instant coffee (as well as espresso powder) is great for adding to chocolate baked goods, because it enhances and intensifies the chocolate flavor. So your brownies will taste more chocolate-y!

Yield: 16

Grain-Free Orange Brownies

Ultra-fudgy chocolate brownies flavored with freshly grated orange zest. These rich brownies are loaded with delicious chocolate and made with no dairy or grain!

Prep Time 30 minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes

Total Time 1 hour

Ingredients

1/2 cup coconut oil, solid
1 1/2 cups dairy-free chocolate chips
2 tsp instant coffee granules
6 Tbsp cocoa powder
3 large eggs, room temp
1 cup coconut sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 Tbsp finely grated orange zest (2-3 medium oranges)
4 1/2 Tbsp arrowroot starch
1/2 tsp salt

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 350°F and prepare an 8x8" baking dish with non-stick spray (I like to use olive oil spray) and parchment paper. Cut your parchment paper long enough that it hangs over the sides of your dish for easy brownie removal. Bring your eggs to room temperature by placing them in a glass of warm water for around 10 minutes.
In a heatproof bowl, add the chocolate chips, coconut oil, instant coffee, and cocoa powder. Place on top of a pot of simmering water (making sure it's not touching the water), stirring the mixture frequently until everything is melted. Set bowl aside to cool off.
In a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, add your eggs and coconut sugar. Set to medium speed and add in the vanilla extract. Whisk for 5-10 minutes or until mixture has thickened and is light brown in color.
Slowly pour the chocolate mixture into the egg and sugar mixture. Gently fold the ingredients together until totally combined - move slowly so you don't deflate the mixture. This will take a couple of minutes. Stir in the orange zest and then the arrowroot starch and salt.
Pour the batter into your prepared baking dish and bake at 350°F for 25-30 minutes, or until the center looks set and a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out with a little batter. You want to under-bake these brownies a bit so that they stay fudgy.
Allow brownies to cool in the baking dish on top of a cooling rack (or dig in while they're warm!). Once cool, use the parchment paper to lift the whole dish of brownies up and onto the cooling rack. Slice into 16 squares, wiping the knife clean between each slice. For serving, use a fork or small spatula to gently lift each brownie onto a serving dish. Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature.

Notes

For a richer chocolate flavor, you can use dutch-process cocoa powder instead of regular, natural cocoa powder

I only recommend using chocolate chips for this recipe as my test with chopped chocolate came out with a dull, smooth surface instead of a shiny, crinkly one

Sesame Coconut Nut & Seed Bars (with CBD oils!)

February 20, 2019 by Rachael Ng Leave a Comment

I didn’t try my first KIND bar until a few weeks ago during an outing at Costco. You know, half the fun (okay, all of the fun) of going to Costco is the free product samples they pass out all over the store! Anyways, the KIND bar I tried was good. And dairy-free! But we’re on a budget, and if it’s a snack we don’t really need then I’m hesitant to shell out the cash for it. So I went home and started researching how to make my own KIND bars. I came across this wonderfully helpful and informative recipe page from The Yummy Life. I applied her technique for the perfect homemade KIND bar, and let’s just say these Sesame Coconut Bars made in collaboration with Santa Cruz Medicinals are killing it.

The best part about these bars is how easily customizable they are! You can basically add in your favorite nuts, seeds, and dried fruit in place of what I’ve used. Not a fan of coconut? Use whatever you like instead! Cooking the syrup and honey mixture to the right temperature really allows these bars to set perfectly. I don’t recommend attempting this recipe without a candy thermometer (Nathan picked one up for me for around $3 at our local grocery store!). The CBD infused oils are totally optional, and these bars are good either way! Have fun with this recipe and happy making!

Sesame Coconut Nut & Seed Bars
Makes 20 bars

Bars
1 1/3 cups whole almonds, toasted
1 cup walnut pieces, chopped and toasted
1 1/2 cups unsweetened coconut chips/flakes, toasted
1/3 cup puffed millet or puffed rice
1/2 cup sesame seeds, toasted (I did a mix of black and white)
2 Tbsp flaxseed meal
1/2 cup honey
6 Tbsp brown rice syrup
1/2 tsp fine sea salt
5 ml Santa Cruz Medicinals 2000mg CBD Infused MCT Oil (optional)
Chocolate Drizzle (optional)
1/2 cup dairy-free chocolate chips
2 tsp Santa Cruz Medicinals 1000mg CBD Infused Coconut Oil (or regular coconut oil)

1.) Preheat your oven to 350°F if your ingredients need to be toasted. Toast your nuts and sesame seeds by heating them at 350°F for 5-10 minutes. Toast your coconut chips/flakes at 325°F for around 5 minutes.

2.) Prepare a 9×13” pan or baking dish with olive oil spray + parchment paper – spray your pan then line with the parchment paper. In a large bowl, mix together the toasted nuts, coconut chips, puffed millet, toasted sesame seeds, and flaxseed meal.

3.) In a small saucepan fitted with a candy thermometer, add the honey, brown rice syrup, and salt. Bring to a boil, stirring frequently until liquid reaches 260°F (hard ball candy stage). Immediately remove from heat.

4.) Quickly stir the CBD infused MCT oil into the nuts and seeds mix (if using). Immediately pour the hot syrup mixture over the nuts and seeds and stir until totally combined. Dump into your prepared pan/dish and use a flat measuring cup (I sprayed mine with olive oil) to quickly spread and firmly press the mixture into the pan.

5.) Allow your mixture to cool completely before removing from the pan to cut into 20 bars. Heat the chocolate chips and coconut oil, and drizzle over each bar. Store bars in a single layer in an airtight container at room temp or in the refrigerator. Enjoy!

Recipe adapted from The Yummy Life

This recipe was created in partnership with Santa Cruz Medicinals

Vegan Blueberry Crumble Bars

February 14, 2019 by Rachael Ng 2 Comments

The last time I made something this fruit heavy was probably last fall (I’m basically on a permanent chocolate and cookie kick). But we love berries at our house. And blueberries have been on sale, which means we’ve been hoarding an abundance of them in our fridge. This also means that sometimes we don’t get to them in time before one of the little suckers starts growing mold. If I’m going to rush to eat a whole carton of blueberries, I want to put them in these Blueberry Crumble Bars.

These bars are seriously simple and will look like you spent more time on them than you will. You whip up an easy dough that will be the base and topping for these bars. Then you’ll toss your blueberries in a few things, put it all together and throw it in the oven! I promise it really is that simple. And they’re vegan and can easily be made gluten-free! In fact, my first recipe test for these was with an all-purpose GF flour blend. Still totally delicious. The base of these bars is sweet and chewy and the blueberry lime filling is perfectly tart. The crumble adds a bit of texture and really rounds it all out. I love these so much I actually ate three of them the day I baked them (it’s fine. they’re small)! I hope you love them, too – happy baking!

Vegan Blueberry Crumble Bars
Makes 16 bars

Crust + Topping
1/3 cup melted coconut oil
1/4 cup coconut sugar
1/3 cup maple syrup
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup + 2 Tbsp all-purpose flour (or gluten-free all-purpose flour blend)
1 1/4 cups old-fashioned oats
Pinch of salt
Blueberry Filling
2 1/2 cups fresh blueberries
2 Tbsp coconut sugar
2 Tbsp fresh lime juice*
Zest from 1 lime* (optional)
1 1/2 Tbsp tapioca starch/flour (or 3/4 Tbsp corn starch)

1.) Preheat your oven to 350°F and spray an 8×8″ baking dish with olive oil – or other non-stick spray. Line sprayed dish with parchment paper, being sure to leave “handles” hanging over two of the edges.

2.) In a small bowl, combine the melted coconut oil, coconut sugar, maple syrup, and vanilla extract; set aside. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, oats, and salt. Add the wet ingredients to the dry and mix with a large wooden spoon or spatula until just combined (mixture will be crumbly).

3.) Set aside 3/4 cup of the crumbly dough (for your topping). Firmly press the rest of the dough into the bottom of your prepared baking dish; set aside.

4.) Rinse your fresh blueberries and pat dry. In a medium bowl, combine the coconut sugar, lime juice, lime zest, and tapioca starch until no longer lumpy. Add the blueberries and mix until fruit is well coated.

5.) Add the blueberry mixture to your baking dish, spreading the fruit in an even layer. Be sure to scrape any extra liquid into the dish. Sprinkle the 3/4 cup of crumbly dough over the blueberries.

6.) Bake at 350°F for 25-35 minutes or until fruit is bubbling. Allow your bars to cool completely before removing from the dish (using the parchment paper handles) to cut into squares. I cut mine four across and four down, which yields 16 bars. Store the bars in a sealed container at room temperature or in the refrigerator. Bars can be frozen ahead of time and then thawed in the refrigerator – be sure to pop them in the oven for a couple of minutes to re-heat and serve fresh! Enjoy!

*lemon will work just fine. I personally love the slight lime flavor that the zest adds to these!

Bars

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