coconut oil

Name: Vegan Double Chocolate Muddy Buddies
Prep time: 30 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 6
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 6 cups Chex cereal; 2/3 cup dairy-free chocolate chips or chopped chocolate (semi-sweet or dark); 1/3 cup natural peanut butter; 1 Tbsp coconut oil; 1 tsp vanilla extract; 2/3 cup powdered sugar; 1/4 cup arrowroot starch; 1/4 cup cocoa or cacao powder

Vegan Double Chocolate Muddy Buddies

January 9, 2020 by Rachael Ng Leave a Comment

Muddy Buddies (aka Puppy Chow) is another one of those super sweet desserts I remember eating as a kid. It’s so simple, easy to make, and combines three of my favorite things: chocolate, peanut butter, and sugar. Yes. the original recipe has loads of powdered sugar. I haven’t made original Muddy Buddies in ages as it’s tooth-achingly sweet and totally addictive!

I had a box of Chex cereal – a peanut butter flavored one that I bought on a whim during a major hunger strike at Target last week – that wasn’t going to get eaten (apparently I don’t like PB Chex), so I decided to whip up a quick batch of my own Muddy Buddies with ingredients that are a bit better for you. And, of course, I toned down on the powdered sugar coating by swapping some of the sugar with cocoa powder and arrowroot starch. The starch is flavorless while adding bulk to the necessary powder coating.

I’ve also used a smaller portion of fat – coconut oil – and opted for natural peanut butter instead of the oil and sugar-laden kind. If you prefer dark chocolate vs semi-sweet (which is what I used) you can make these with even less sugar! Choose whatever Chex cereal you’d like, and you’re on your way to an easy and delicious weeknight snack.

If you’ve never had Muddy Buddies before, then I promise you’re in for such an easy snack. You’ll basically coat the cereal with the melted chocolate, peanut butter, and oil and then toss it all in a mixture of powdered sugar, cocoa, and arrowroot. So. Simple. And you don’t even need to wait for it to set – you can dig in right away! Store the leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature, but I promise these won’t last long.

Some of the ingredients I like for this recipe:

Coconut oil replaces margarine or butter in this recipe and helps thin the chocolate peanut butter mixture. Feel free to use vegan butter instead!

Natural peanut butter adds that traditional peanut butter flavor without any of the added oils or sugar. For a nut free option, try using tahini or sunflower butter.

Arrowroot starch mixes with the powdered sugar to add volume to the powdered ingredients. It’s flavorless and makes for a great substitute in this recipe that traditionally calls for only powdered sugar.

Cocoa powder is another better-for-you alternative to the all-powdered sugar original recipe. It also adds a double chocolate element to this recipe, so feel free to use even more – replacing some/all of the starch – if you’d like!

Powdered sugar is necessary for that traditional, sweet Muddy Buddies flavor! If you opt for a powdered coconut sugar or sugar-free powdered “sugar” then the taste will be affected (and I cannot vouch for this).

Yield: 6 Cups

Vegan Double Chocolate Muddy Buddies

Classic chocolate peanut butter Muddy Buddy treats made better-for-you with coconut oil, natural peanut butter, and less powdered sugar! With a double does of chocolate, this indulgent treat is the perfect sweet snack!

Prep Time 30 minutes

Total Time 30 minutes

Ingredients

6 cups Chex cereal
2/3 cup dairy-free chocolate chips or chopped chocolate (semi-sweet or dark)
1/3 cup natural peanut butter
1 Tbsp coconut oil
1 tsp vanilla extract
2/3 cup powdered sugar
1/4 cup arrowroot starch
1/4 cup cocoa or cacao powder

Instructions

Line a baking sheet (or a portion of your counter) with parchment paper, wax paper, or foil. In a large bowl, measure out 6 cups of Chex cereal and set aside.
In a medium bowl, sift the powdered sugar, arrowroot starch, and cocoa powder. Whisk until totally combined and uniform in color; set aside.
In a small bowl, melt together the chocolate, peanut butter, and coconut oil. If microwaving, heat in 30 second intervals, stirring between each one. Stir in the vanilla extract. Pour the chocolate mixture over the cereal and gently mix with a large spoon or spatula.
In another large bowl, add the powdered sugar mixture and chocolate covered cereal. Cover the top with a lid or a flat object like a baking sheet or cutting board and shake the bowl until cereal is evenly coated with the powder.
Pour Muddy Buddies onto your prepared baking sheet to set or eat right away! Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature.

Notes

I recommend using a clean bowl to shake the powdered sugar mixture with the chocolate covered cereal so the powder doesn't stick to the sides of a chocolate-y bowl.
Recipe adapted from Chex

Strawberry Balsamic Galette with Coconut Oil Crust

August 6, 2019 by Rachael Ng 2 Comments

Hello friends! I took a bit of an unexpected hiatus from baking and blogging the past couple of months to focus on taking care of myself (and also because the sight of food made my stomach turn). Yep, Nathan and I are expecting baby #2 this coming January! I’m finally feeling much more like myself these days, and I’m happy to be getting around to sharing this delicious Strawberry Balsamic Galette with you all! I made this galette at the beginning of the summer (or was it still Spring?), but let’s be honest, strawberries are a year-round staple for lots of us in the States. So here we are!

I’ve said this before (and I’ll never stop saying it), but I love galettes! To me, they’re like an easier, dressed up version of pie. They look gorgeous, they’re relatively easy to put together, and you 100% don’t have to worry about pinching the perfect crust. My coconut oil crust is so simple and comes together quickly in a blender or food processor. And then it’s just a matter of mixing a few ingredients together for the filling and assembling your galette! If you’re new to galettes, don’t worry. You basically roll the crust into a circle, dump your filling, and then fold the edges up and over. Pop it the oven, and you’ve got a beautiful, scrumptious dessert that pairs perfectly with your favorite vanilla bean ice cream.

Some of the ingredients I love for this recipe:

Coconut sugar is my favorite, go-to sweetener. It’s unrefined and low glycemic index. It tastes nothing like coconut and makes for a great 1:1 substitute for white sugar.

Coconut oil makes for a great butter/shortening replacement for pie crust. I find that the crust still comes out flakey and delicious. For me, the taste is unnoticeable, but you can use refined coconut oil to make sure there is absolutely no coconut taste.

Corn starch thickens the fruit filling, so you’ll get clean slices.

Agave brings moisture and sweetness to this galette. If you prefer to use maple syrup or honey, go for it!

Yield: 8 Servings

Strawberry Balsamic Galette with Coconut Oil Crust

An easy and delicious, lightly sweetened galette made with fresh strawberries and a splash of balsamic vinegar. With a flaky coconut oil crust, this recipe can easily be made vegan!

Prep Time 35 minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes

Total Time 1 hour

Ingredients

Crust

2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
2 Tbsp coconut sugar (or granulated sugar)
3/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup coconut oil, solid
3-5 Tbsp cold water

Filling

4 cups fresh, sliced strawberries
2 tsp balsamic vinegar
2 Tbsp coconut sugar (or granulated sugar)
2 Tbsp corn starch
2 Tbsp agave
1 Tbsp fresh orange juice
Zest from 1 orange
Honey (or agave) to brush on baked berries

Instructions

Prepare your crust by adding the flour, coconut sugar, and salt to a blender or food processor. Pulse until combined. Spoon in the solid coconut oil and blend. Add cold water 1 Tbsp at a time until dough begins to come together - slightly wet is better than dry when it comes to coconut oil crusts. Dump crust onto a piece of plastic wrap, shape into a disc, and refrigerate for 10-15 minutes (or until firm enough to roll out).
Meanwhile, prepare your filling. Slice your strawberries and place them in a large bowl; set aside. In a small bowl, whisk together the balsamic vinegar, coconut sugar, corn starch, agave, orange juice, and orange zest. Mix until combined. Pour mixture over strawberries and gently mix.
Preheat your oven to 375°F. Take your crust out of the refrigerator, remove plastic, and place between two pieces of parchment paper (the size of a baking sheet). Roll into a large circle - don't worry about getting the shape perfect!
Pour strawberry mixture onto the middle of your rolled out crust, evenly distributing the berries - be sure to leave at least a 1" border of plain crust to fold over. If your edges are really uneven or jagged, feel free to trim your galette to a more circular shape. Brush almond milk or egg wash (whisked egg) around the border. Gently fold the crust up and over the fruit, being careful not to tear the crust. If any tears occur, you can use a bit of water to help you pinch and smooth the dough back together. If you have any remaining liquid in your bowl, pour that over the strawberries.
Keeping your galette on the parchment paper, carefully move it to a baking sheet. Brush the crust with almond milk or egg wash. Bake at 375°F for 20-25 minutes or until fruit is bubbling and tender - you can use a fork to check the berries for doneness.
Once your galette is out of the oven, brush the berries with a small amount of honey (or agave, if vegan) for added shine. Allow your galette to cool before slicing up and enjoying! Or scoop your favorite ice cream on top and eat it warm, right off the pan! Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Vegan Olive Oil Chocolate Chunk Cookies

May 25, 2019 by Rachael Ng 8 Comments

A delicious, plant-based cookie loaded with dark chocolate chunks? I’m so in. These cookies are undetectably vegan, which means they’re good. It took me a few attempts to nail a vegan cookie that is thick, soft, and delicious. I found vegan butter to lend too much of a flavor I wasn’t fond of, and a cookie with all coconut oil was a little crispier than I wanted. But with a mix of olive oil and a bit of coconut oil, the texture of these cookies is perfect!

This recipe calls for two kinds of sugar to make them a little on the healthier side (as coconut sugar is less likely to spike your blood sugar as high as white sugar, honey, or maple syrup). I added a bit of brown sugar to add moisture and flavor to these cookies. The molasses in the brown sugar adds so much to these cookies!

The dough requires no refrigeration (hello, quick cookies!!), but I found that it was best to let the dough balls rest for a few minutes after hand rolling them. This allowed the coconut oil (which melts in our hands) to re-solidify a bit before baking, creating a more even bake amongst all the cookies. But if you’re using a cookie scoop instead of the scoop and roll method, you can bake these babies right away! Just preheat your oven at the start of your mixing.

Some of the ingredients I love for this recipe:

Coconut sugar is my favorite, go-to sweetener. It’s unrefined and low glycemic index. It tastes nothing like coconut and makes for a great 1:1 substitute for white sugar.

Brown sugar brings moisture (through the molasses) and flavor to these cookies. I highly recommend using light or dark brown sugar. Brown sugar has more molasses, which means more moisture.

Flaxseed meal mixed with water creates a great egg substitute.

Olive oil adds moisture and softness to these cookies. For a lighter taste, feel free to use light olive oil.

Coconut oil adds moisture and a bit of crunch to the outside of the baked cookies. Since there is so little in this recipe, the taste is unnoticeable, but you can use refined coconut oil to make sure there is absolutely no coconut taste.

Arrowroot starch adds to the chew factor in these cookies. Feel free to use corn starch instead.

Yield: 12 Cookies

Vegan Olive Oil Chocolate Chunk Cookies

Classic Chocolate Chunk Cookies made vegan using a blend of olive and coconut oil and flaxseed meal. Delicious and packed with lots of chocolate, these cookies will please both vegans and non vegans alike!

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes

Additional Time 15 minutes

Total Time 50 minutes

Ingredients

3 Tbsp coconut oil, liquid (*measured as a liquid)
6 Tbsp olive oil or light olive oil
1/2 cup coconut sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
1 flax egg (1 Tbsp flaxseed meal + 3 Tbsp lukewarm water)
1 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
3/4 tsp baking soda
2 tsp arrowroot starch (or corn starch)
1/4 tsp salt
3/4 cup dairy-free chopped chocolate chunks or chocolate chips
Maldon salt to sprinkle

Instructions

Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Prepare your flax egg using lukewarm water and allow to thicken for around 5 minutes.
In a medium bowl, combine the liquid coconut oil and olive oil. Whisk in the coconut sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla extract. Finally, whisk in the flax egg until all ingredients are totally combined - it may take a minute for the oil and water to mix together; set aside.
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, arrowroot starch, and salt. Add in the liquid ingredients and use a large wooden spoon or spatula to mix until nearly combined. Add 1/2 cup of the chopped chocolate or chocolate chips and mix. The dough will be oily, so it's normal for the chocolate to fall away from the dough.
Scoop dough balls 2 Tbsp in size. Press and roll each dough ball smooth, placing pieces of extra chocolate into the tops of each one and reshaping as necessary. Place all of the dough balls onto one parchment-lined baking sheet and allow to rest at room temperature while you preheat your oven to 350°F. This gives the coconut oil a chance to solidify a bit (evenly) across all dough balls.
Bake dough balls 6 at a time at 350°F for 7 minutes. Be careful not to over-bake them! Remove from the oven, sprinkle with sea salt flakes, and allow to cool on the baking sheet for 2 minutes before moving to a cooling rack. Let your baking sheet cool to room temperature before baking another batch.
Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature.

Notes

If you prefer to use only a cookie scoop instead of the scoop and roll method, your cookie dough balls won't need to rest as long. Feel free to bake them right away!

Vegan Chocolate Flax Cookies

April 12, 2019 by Rachael Ng 5 Comments

This is a recipe I created around the time I first started recipe testing. Back then, I would try to come up with new recipes off the top of my head. And with that came a lot of trial and error. Baking cookies with coconut oil was super tricky for me at first. Sometimes the cookies would spread way too much, get too crispy at the edges, or even not spread enough!

These cookies have such a lovely flavor and texture. I’d actually forgotten just how good they are. The best part? They’re vegan and packed with good-for-you flaxseed meal! And they’re delicious. Tender, melt-in-your-mouth cookies with lots of chocolate flavor and the tiniest bit of crunch thanks to the flaxseed meal.

I love these cookies, and I enjoyed re-baking them after so long. But you must follow the ingredients and method precisely. You’ll want to measure your coconut oil as a solid and then melt it. If it’s already melted, then pour it into your liquid measuring cup until you have a bit more than 1/3 cup (I know. I know.).

As for the refrigeration, it is mandatory. If your dough is too greasy to handle after it’s first mixed (this has to do with the temperature in your home affecting the coconut oil) pop your scooped dough balls into the refrigerator for 10 minutes before rolling them smooth. Then (no matter what) you must refrigerate your dough balls for 20 minutes prior to baking. Don’t worry, this is all outlined below.

Some of the ingredients I love for this recipe:

Flaxseed meal (along with water) makes for a wonderful egg replacement. It’s the only vegan egg replacer that I use when baking. Flax seeds are also high in fiber and omega-3 fatty acids.

Coconut sugar is my go-to low Glycemic Index sweetener. It’s less likely to spike your blood sugar as intensely as cane sugar, honey, or maple syrup.

Coconut oil is a great butter substitute when it comes to cookies. For this recipe, we melt it first to make sure our cookies are tender and soft. If you don’t like the taste of coconut (or just prefer your treats without the flavor) you can use refined coconut oil which has no flavor.

Cocoa powder helps give these cookies that rich double-chocolate flavor. You’ll want to use the natural, regular cocoa powder, or even cacao powder, for this recipe.

Baking powder helps these cookies keep their shape. Be sure to use powder instead of soda.

Yield: 12 cookies

Vegan Chocolate Flax Cookies

Rich and chocolate-y cookies made vegan with high fiber, good-for-you flaxseed meal! These cookies taste so good, no one will be able to tell they're better for you than the average cookie!

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 7 minutes

Additional Time 30 minutes

Total Time 47 minutes

Ingredients

1 flax egg (1 Tbsp flaxseed meal + 3 Tbsp water)
1/3 cup coconut oil, melted (measure solid and then melt)
2/3 cup coconut sugar
1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
3/4 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/3 cup flaxseed meal
3/4 cup dairy-free chocolate chips

Instructions

Make your flax egg by combining 1 Tbsp flaxseed meal with 3 Tbsp water; set aside to thicken. In a medium bowl, mix together the melted coconut oil, coconut sugar, and vanilla extract; set aside.
In a large bowl, sift the flour and cocoa powder. Whisk in the baking powder, baking soda, salt, and flaxseed meal until totally combined.
Stir flax egg into wet ingredients and add wet ingredients to dry. Use a wooden spoon or large spatula to mix the ingredients together. Add 1/2 cup of the chocolate chips and mix.
Scoop dough balls 1.5 Tbsp in size onto a parchment-lined baking sheet and refrigerate for 10 minutes. Roll dough balls smooth and press extra chocolate chips into the tops. Refrigerate for another 20 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat your oven to 350°F.
Prepare a second baking sheet with parchment paper. Transfer dough balls to room temperature baking sheet and bake at 350°F for 6 minutes.
Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 2 minutes. Move to a cooling rack. Store leftover in an airtight container at room temperature.

Notes

refrigerating the dough balls is super important for proper shape! Don't skip this step!

Chocolate Chip Muffins (dairy-free!)

March 26, 2019 by Rachael Ng 4 Comments

Sometimes you just need a simple and quick chocolate chip muffin. I mean, what’s better than biting into a fluffy, moist muffin loaded with melted chocolate chips?! Not a lot. That’s what.

And these muffins are all of that and more since they’re sweetened with low GI coconut sugar (which doesn’t taste like coconut!) and unsweetened applesauce! Coconut sugar acts a bit like brown sugar, which is why these muffins take on that delicious caramel-like color.

You can play around with this recipe, adding more or less chocolate, adding nuts, changing up the spices, or even making them vegan or gluten-free (see my notes below). Quick breads, like these muffins, are easy to manipulate, so have fun! And, as always, happy baking.

Yield: 9 Standard Muffins

Chocolate Chip Muffins

These chocolate chip muffins are ultra fluffy and loaded with chocolate! They're made free of dairy + sweetened with low GI coconut sugar and unsweetened applesauce.

Prep Time 25 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Total Time 45 minutes

Ingredients

2 eggs, room temp
1/2 cup coconut sugar
1 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/4 cup unsweetened almond milk, room temp
1/4 cup coconut oil, melted
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups whole wheat pastry flour
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp fine sea salt
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
3/4 + 1/4 cup dairy-free chocolate chips

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 350°F and line a muffin pan with 9 liners or spray with olive oil. Bring your eggs to room temperature by placing them in a glass of warm water for around 10 minutes.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs and coconut sugar. Add the applesauce, almond milk, coconut oil, and vanilla extract, mixing until ingredients are well combined; set aside.
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Gently fold the wet ingredients into the dry until nearly combined. Add 3/4 cup of the chocolate chips, gently mixing until no flour pockets remain.
Divide the batter into the 9 prepared muffin wells, filling them nearly to the top, and sprinkle with chocolate chips. Bake at 350°F for 15-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into a muffin comes out with a few crumbs.
Allow the baked muffins to rest in the pan for 10 minutes before removing to a cooling rack. Enjoy warm! Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature.

Notes

I like using whole wheat pastry flour in my muffins as it lends to a fluffy, moist muffin. All-purpose flour will work just fine, or you could even use a mix of 1/2 regular whole wheat + 1/2 all-purpose

For Vegan: replace the two eggs with two flax eggs. Mix 2 Tbsp flaxseed meal with 6 Tbsp water. Allow to thicken for around 5 minutes.

For Gluten-Free: replace the flour and baking powder + baking soda with the following...

1/3 cup + 1 Tbsp white rice flour

1/3 cup + 1 Tbsp GF oat flour

1/2 cup tapioca starch/flour

1/4 cup almond flour

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

coconut oil

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