Traditional vegan baking will have to step aside. I have no desire to turn on the oven today. Instead, I’m going to indulge in a few no-bake treats from Jennifer Cornbleet’s Raw for Dessert. Would you like to join me?
I wish I had come across Raw for Dessert when I first started dabbling in raw dessert-making. Unlike other raw recipe books that can seem intimidating and complex, this book makes use of simple ingredient combinations. After a basic primer on raw ingredients, equipment, techniques and knife skills, the book launches into 94 pages of recipes, the first chapter of which includes basic raw milk, creams, sauces and fillings that many of the subsequent dessert recipes require.
Skimming through the desserts’ ingredient lists, it’s not hard to realize that each dessert strikes a perfect balance between indulgence and health. Every recipe is vegan and is completely void of refined sugars and flours—rather, the flour is swapped for ground nuts, dates and natural sweeteners for sugar, and fresh coconut and avocado for cream and butter.
Who can resist the idea of a raw take on traditional chocolate pecan pie? Its almond-pecan crust is rich in calcium, manganese and vitamin E, while the chocolate ganache and date syrup filling highlight antioxidant-rich cocao and fiber-rich dates. Making mine into individual mini pies, it was only a matter of blending, forming the crust into tart tins, soaking the agar and blending some more, before a brief chill and all was done. I have to say this is one simple yet incredibly impressive dessert that may very well convert full-fledged carnivores to the idea of raw foodism (or even just another slice of pie?).
Turning next to a simple yet popular holiday treat, the dark chocolate truffles are tiny balls of delight that melt in your mouth like velvety-smooth ice cream. Made with a combination of coconut oil, cocao, dates and maple syrup (the last of which is not raw but is often used in raw dessert-making), these versatile treats can be rolled in any coating you wish and renamed to suit their flavour.
Finally, the idea of raw ginger spice cookies were too tempting to resist. Delightfully sweet and chewy, with nothing to impede the pure flavours of nuts, dates and select spices, it’s hard to believe these were created with the simplest of ingredients, and with no baking time required!
Unfortunately I had to skip the entire section on raw ice creams and sundaes because I don't own an ice cream maker, but maybe some day I will (fingers crossed). Nevertheless, this book is worthy of a gander. What I love most about it is that you don’t have to be vegan or raw to indulge in these treats—the only requirements are that you love desserts, simple processes and healthful ingredients. Check out Jennifer Cornbleet's website for more information on her book and recipes.
In honour of Vegan MoFo, I have a copy of Raw for Dessert from the Book Publishing Company to give away to one lucky reader! Just leave a comment below letting me know your favourite raw dessert. A random winner will be chosen on Friday, November 12. Good luck!
UPDATE: This contest is now closed.
UPDATE: This contest is now closed.
31 comments:
The chocolate pecan pie looks AMAZING!
omg i want to eat that entire plate of truffles. now.
my favorite raw desert is dates stuffed with raw almond butter
Yum, I'd love to win the dessert book. One of my favourite desserts ever is a raw chocolate pie a local cafe makes, it's great.
My favourite raw dessert is any raw (vegan) cheesecake I've ever eaten. They have always been amazing.
I don't think I could resist a chocolate pecan pie, raw or otherwise. That looks fantastic.
My favorite raw dessert is the cheesecake that Isa posted on her PPK Blog awhile ago. It's so simple and so yummy!
My favorite raw dessert is truffles! The ones I've made don't look nearly as good as those ones though :D
Mini pecan pies look AMAZING! My favortie raw dessert is a chocolate cherry pudding made with dates, cacao blended with frozen cherries ^_^
I like to make cookies out of ground almonds, dates, shredded coconut, ginger root, and a bit of sea salt. Toss 'em all in the food processor and call it a day. Yum!
Thank you for running this giveaway! It's very exciting!
I've only really made raw truffles, and they were fab. I'd like to branch out more :)
It is a great book - those ginger cookies are a personal favourite.
So...I think we should have a raw dessert, holiday exchange party.
Just fresh fruit!
My favourite raw dessert is fresh huckleberries - they have a rather limited season, though.
I loveeeee coconut-covered chocolate truffles! :)
I'm definitely inexperienced when it comes to preparing raw, but I love fresh fruit sprinkled with raw sugar as a sweet snack. All your desserts look super yummy!
that Pecan pie has me drooling all over my keyboard! I just have to try it!!!
So far, my favourite raw treat are all sorts of date balls, with or without nuts. I'd love to make something with avocado cream, though!
OMG Nicole, I *must* have this book! My favorite raw dessert that I currently make is my chocolate banana softserve from the vitamix!
xoxo,
LJ
I think those ginger spice cookies could be my BFF! thanks!
I just discovered your blog. And I'm in love. Thanks for sharing -- it all looks delish!
My favorite raw dessert is frozen bananas or berries whipped up in the blender. Simple and delicious!
Incredible! You buy pure date syrup online at organics are for everyone.
I haven't made a dessert from this book but Chocomole is definitely my favorite! MMM... just when you think avocados can't get any better you add some cacao, dates and agave and life is never the same.
I once made raw fudge from avocados. I slathered it over some homemade vegan brownies. It was SO good!
Oh my goodness! I've been meaning to try this cookbook out forever! I'm a big fan of Cafe Gratitude and love playing around with raw desserts (like a raw lemon cream pie I made once...)
They're kinda dessert, kinda just any time snack, but I loooove raw banana, date, coconut and almond balls. Yuuummmm
My favorite raw dessert is an apple sprinkled with cinnamon and topped with raw cashew cream (cashews, water, and agave nectar). Yu!
Raw "chocolate chip" cookies. I made them from a recipe that was floating around the healthy living blogs a while back, and man, it is a dangerous thing to know.
Apart from fruit I've never had another kind of raw dessert.
Those truffles look crazy good.
Raw truffles are my favorite!
Just fresh fruit!
Post a Comment