What a week. While trying to fall back into my regular routine after my whirlwind vacation in Vegas, I came down with a nasty cold. Work piled up on my desk, decisions about more home renovations needed to be made, and I wanted to come up with something to contribute to my father-in-law’s birthday dinner. I feel like I’ve taken quite a hit with this cold, and everyday tasks seem that much harder to accomplish.

Healthy, healing food has been my priority this week, so I created this nutritious kale and quinoa tabbouleh salad to take to my in-laws’ house for the big birthday bash this weekend. It was pretty simple to throw together. The only real time investment is cooking the quinoa and lentils, which can be done ahead of time if desired. To make the tabbouleh, I combined the quinoa and lentils along with parsley, celery, green onions, goji berries and tomatoes.

I imagined this served on a bed of shredded curly leaved kale. By “shredded,” I just mean that I finely chopped it on a cutting board, after removing the thick stem and spine of each leaf. Of course, any kale or other salad greens will do, but I like curly or red kale because it’s easiest to find. It’s also best to use it within a day or two after purchasing because it tastes bitter the longer it sits around.

For the dressing, I decided to go with something light. Lemon, rice vinegar, garlic, sunflower oil, a touch of maple syrup and salt and pepper resulted in a nice, simple blend with just enough tang. I’ve also recently been adding celery to my dressings because it adds a refreshing yet mild element to the mix. The celery stalks puree quite easily with the other dressing ingredients using a high-speed blender.

The salad went over well with the family, and it paired nicely with the delicious quinoa, veggie and tofu casserole my mother-in-law made for part of the main meal.

I have to say, I’m a pretty lucky girl. I’m the only vegan in the family, but everyone seems to eat healthier when I’m around, as vegan options are always incorporated at every meal. My sister-in-law also made the coconut lemon bundt cake from Veganomicon for dessert, along with vegan whipped cream and berries. I wish I had snapped a photo because it was plated so beautifully.

Fresh, spring salads are my favourite way to welcome spring, so I think I’ll be making another batch of this salad for weekday lunches and dinners. Enjoy!

Kale and quinoa tabbouleh salad

Yield: 6 to 8 servings

Ingredients:

Tabbouleh:

• 3/4 cup uncooked quinoa (makes 2.5 cups cooked)
• 1/2 cup dry lentils (makes 1.5 cups cooked)
• 1/3 cup goji berries
• 1/2 cup chopped Italian parsley
• 2 celery sticks, thinly sliced
• 2 green onions, sliced
• 1 tomato, chopped

Kale:

• 2 small bunches of kale
• 1/2 lemon

Dressing:

• 2 small garlic cloves
• 1 celery stalk, roughly chopped
• 2 tbsp rice vinegar
• 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
• 1 1/2 tsp lemon zest
• 1 1/2 tsp pure maple syrup
• 1/2 tsp sea salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 1/4 cup sunflower oil

Directions:

1. To cook the quinoa, first rinse it thoroughly under running water. Next, combine the dry quinoa with 1.5 cups of water in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat and then reduce heat to a simmer. Cook uncovered until all the water has been absorbed, about 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool.
2. To cook the lentils, first rinse under running water. Next, combine the lentils and 1 cup water in a saucepan. Bring the lentils to a boil over medium-high heat and then reduce heat to a simmer. Cook uncovered for about 20 to 30 minutes. Add water as needed to make sure the lentils are just barely covered. Lentils are done as soon as they are tender and no longer crunchy. Remove from heat and strain.
3. Place the goji berries in a small bowl and cover with water. Allow to soak for about 15 minutes, then drain and squeeze out any excess water.
4. Combine the cooked quinoa, lentils, goji berries and remaining tabbouleh ingredients in a large bowl.
5. Remove the stems and thick part of the spines from the kale and chop into small, thin pieces (shredded). Place in a large bowl. Squeeze the juice of 1/2 lemon over the kale (take care not to drop the seeds in!) and massage into kale with your hands.
6. To make the dressing, blend all ingredients in a high-speed blender.
7. To assemble, you can mix the dressing with the tabbouleh and serve it on top of the kale (this is best if serving on individual plates). Alternatively, mix the tabbouleh, kale and dressing all together in one large bowl to serve at a buffet. Garnish with sprouts and hemp seeds, if desired.

I’m not getting off the baked doughnut bandwagon yet, either. This time, I experimented with an allergen-friendly version so some of my gluten-, nut- and dairy-sensitive colleagues could enjoy them, too. And, well, because it just meant another fun challenge in the kitchen. I do love challenges.

Thanks to Lani at LPK’s Culinary Groove, one of my favourite bakeries in Toronto, I’ve learned to be a little more daring when it comes to gluten-free, vegan recipe development. I participated in her Introduction to Gluten-Free Baking workshop a few months ago and I simply relished my experience working in a professional kitchen alongside her, if only for a few hours.

The keys to successful gluten-free, vegan baking? Use a combination of flours that include rice, bean and two starches. My go-to mix includes brown rice flour, chickpea flour, potato starch and tapioca starch—or a similar combination like in the recipe below. Also, a combination of binding agents is often required to keep things together. For the recipe below, I’ve included both flax and Ener-G powder.

One of my favourite treats to bring to parties and to the office, these cinnamon-spice doughnuts have a lovely, fluffy crumb. The deep, spicy flavour is enhanced by the cinnamon sugar topping—a must, as far as I’m concerned. Enjoy!

Gluten-free cinnamon spice doughnuts

Yield: 2 dozen mini doughnuts

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup brown rice flour
• 1/2 cup sorghum flour
• 1/4 cup potato starch
• 1/4 cup tapioca starch
• 1/3 cup Sucanat, ground
• 1 1/2 tbsp flaxmeal
• 1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp ground ginger
• 1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1/8 tsp ground cloves
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 3/4 cup nondairy milk
• 3 tbsp sunflower oil
• 3 tbsp unsweetened applesauce
• Ener-G egg replacement for one egg
• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract

Cinnamon sugar coating:

• 1/2 cup cinnamon sugar (ground cinnamon + organic cane sugar)
• 1/4 cup Earth Balance butter, melted

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350F.
2. Lightly oil two mini doughnut pans and set aside.
3. In a large bowl, sift together the brown rice flour, sorghum flour, potato starch, tapioca starch, Sucanat, flaxmeal, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, baking powder and baking soda.
4. In a separate bowl, whisk together the nondairy milk, sunflower oil, applesauce, egg replacement and vanilla.
5. Add the liquid mixture to the flour mixture and stir to combine, making sure there are no more large clumps.
6. Spoon the mixture evenly into the prepared doughnut pans, filling each about 3/4 full. Lightly tap the pan on the counter to release any air bubbles. Bake at 350F for 8 to 10 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the centre of a doughnut comes out clean. Allow to cool for about 5 minutes before transferring them to a cooling rack to cool completely.
7. For the cinnamon sugar topping, simply dip each doughnut in the melted Earth Balance and allow excess to drip off. Then dip in the cinnamon sugar to cover all sides.

To avoid soggy doughnuts, I prefer to freeze the doughnuts for an hour after baking and dipping them while frozen to keep the Earth Balance from soaking right in.

Not surprisingly, my taste test of these lovely little pillows of sweetness didn’t involve Rice Krispies squares, s’mores or hot chocolate, but incorporating them into a new muffin recipe.

I know, I probably bake too many muffins as it is, but when I came across these marshmallow muffins that Mihl created, I knew I had to come up with my own version. They were just too tempting to resist. I mean, isn’t a marshmallow muffin a genius idea? Besides, I had my trial package of Dandies to use up!

Packed with chunks of rich dark chocolate and gooey baked marshmallows, these muffins are probably one of the most decadent of my recipe collection, but they’re definitely worth trying if you’ve got some vegan marshmallows on hand, or if you’re craving something creative and sweet. I can imagine these would be a hit at a birthday party, too. Enjoy!

Chocolate marshmallow muffins

Yield: 10 muffins

Ingredients:

• 1 cup unbleached AP flour
• 1/2 cup whole wheat pastry flour
• 1/2 cup cocoa powder
• 1/4 cup Sucanat
• 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp sea salt
• 1 cup nondairy milk
• 1/4 cup canola or sunflower oil
• 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
• 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup chopped dark chocolate
• 12 vegan marshmallows, chopped

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350F and line a muffin pan with paper muffin liners.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together the unbleached flour, whole wheat flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
3. In another bowl, whisk together the nondairy milk, oil, maple syrup, vinegar and vanilla extract until well blended.
4. Add the milk mixture to the flour mixture and stir until just blended. Gently fold in the chocolate and marshmallows.
5. Spoon the batter into the prepared muffin cups, filling each about 3/4 full. Bake at 350F for about 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of a muffin comes out clean. Allow the muffins to cool for 10 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

That is, until today.  Its new Urban Eatery offers a variety of menus, and although many SAD outlets are still included, the wholesome vegetarian and vegan options stand out. The most notable addition is vegan empire Urban Herbivore, a Kensington Market staple owned by chef Stephen Gardner, where organic salads, sandwiches with thick, homemade bread, curry bowls and hearty soups are offered to hungry shoppers looking to refuel with healthy fare.

Their salad bowl menu involves choosing your own greens, proteins and toppings from 30 vegan options that change daily. I wish I had this variety of choices available to me at home.

Did I forget to mention their legendary muffins? Dense and filling with a crunchy exterior, they’re unlike anything I’ve had before. I highly recommend the sweet potato date flavour. A quick Google search reveals that everyone and their sister are dreaming of replicating these delicious delights in their own kitchens.

Of course, after being tempted by those muffins on my recent visit to Urban Herbivore’s new location, I couldn’t help myself from dreaming up my own version. Although mine aren’t as ginormous in size, the flavour and texture had me reminiscing of early morning dates in Kensington with my new love. Enjoy!

Sweet potato date muffins

Yield: 8 muffins

Ingredients:

• 1 cup spelt flour
• 1 cup rolled oats
• 1/2 tbsp baking powder
• 1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp sea salt
• 1 cup cooked, peeled and diced sweet potato
• 1/3 cup chopped dates
• 1 ripe banana, mashed
• 1/3 cup sunflower or canola oil
• 1/4 cup Sucanat
• 1/4 cup date paste (I made my own)

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 400F and line a muffin tray with paper muffin liners.
2. In a small bowl, soak the chopped dates in some warm water and set aside.
3. In a medium bowl, combine the spelt flour, oats, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda and salt.
4. Drain the dates from the soaking water and add them to the flour mixture along with the diced sweet potato. Gently mix to coat them with flour, separating the pieces that are sticking together. Set aside.
5. In a large bowl, whisk together the mashed banana, oil, Sucanat and date paste until well combined.
6. Add the banana mixture to the flour mixture and mix just to combine. Spoon evenly into the muffin cups and bake at 400F for 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the centre of a muffin comes out clean.

Now, on to dessert.

I don’t remember the last time I bit into a Snickers bar, but I’d imagine it tastes something like this sinfully delicious tart, which was the perfect ending to a meal with my brother- and sister-in-law last Saturday. They came to the city for the day and I suggested they stop by for dinner and drinks before heading home that evening. With little time to prepare, I whipped up Angela’s creamy 15-minute avocado pasta, a salad and bruschetta for our meal, and, lucky for us, I just happen to have this new recipe creation in my freezer for dessert.

It’s a little nerve-racking when I share my dessert experiments with others, not knowing if it should have been tweaked just a little more. Thankfully, this peanut caramel and chocolate tart came out just as I had intended. The combination of a light peanut crust (adapted from my pistachio-poppyseed crust), toasted peanuts and caramel (made from a base of brown rice syrup and peanut butter), and a smooth dark chocolate ganache turned out to be a sophisticated, vegan version of the popular candy bar I grew to love as a child. The best part? No sugar or butter or other non-vegan ingredients are required. Enjoy!

Peanut caramel and chocolate tart

Yield: one 8-inch tart

Ingredients:

For the crust:

• 3/4 cup unbleached AP flour
• 1/3 cup whole wheat pastry flour
• 1/2 cup ground peanuts (or other nuts)
• 1/8 tsp baking soda
• 1/8 tsp sea salt
• 1/4 cup sunflower or canola oil
• 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
• 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 1 cup peanuts, toasted

For the filling:

• 1/2 cup brown rice syrup
• 1/4 cup smooth, natural peanut butter
• 1 tbsp agave nectar
• 2 tbsp flax meal
• 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 1 tsp arrowroot
• 1/4 cup unsweetened almond milk

For the chocolate topping:

• 4 oz. dark chocolate
• 2 tbsp almond milk

Directions:

For the crust:

1. In a large bowl, whisk together the unbleached flour, whole wheat flour, ground peanuts, baking soda and salt.
2. In small bowl, whisk together the oil, maple syrup and vanilla. Add the liquid mixture to the dry mixture and mix until a dough forms.
3. Press the dough into a flat disk shape and wrap tightly in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for about 30 minutes. While the dough is chilling, proceed with the filling (recipe below).
4. Remove the dough from the fridge and roll it out between 2 pieces of parchment paper, working from the middle out, until it is large enough to fit into a 7- or 8-inch tart pan with a removable bottom.
5. Carefully transfer the dough to the tart pan and gently press it down to fit, filling cracks where needed. Be sure the dough is not thicker where the sides and bottom meet. Trim any excess dough on the rim. Refrigerate for 15 minutes.
6. Evenly spread the toasted peanuts over the bottom of the tart and spoon the filling over top, making sure all the peanuts are covered in the filling.
7. Bake the tart at 300 degrees on the bottom rack of the oven for about 25 minutes, or until the filling starts to bubble and the crust is light golden. Remove the tart from the oven and allow it to cool completely. Return the tart to the fridge for 2 to 3 hours to firm up before topping with chocolate ganache (recipe below). Place the tart back in the fridge to allow the chocolate to firm up before serving. Store leftovers in the fridge or freezer, covered with plastic wrap.

For the filling:

1. In a medium bowl, stir together the brown rice syrup, peanut butter, agave nectar, flax meal and vanilla until smooth.
2. In a small bowl, whisk together the arrowroot and almond milk until the arrowroot is dissolved. Add the mixture to the brown rice syrup mixture and stir until well combined and smooth.

For the chocolate topping:

1. Melt the chocolate using a double boiler and whisk in the almond milk until smooth.

Better still, I headed out on Saturday evening to spend time with my loveliest of lady friends. I’m convinced there’s no better cure for stress than an evening with friends, food and wine—this particular combination always leaves me glowing with happiness (not just from the wine).

To celebrate, I couldn’t help myself from taking advantage of the strawberries that seem to be invading the produce aisle at the grocery stores. Although I’m still anticipating the local harvest, I created a scrumptious summer tart by combining fresh strawberries and Granny Smith apples and baking them in a lovely pistachio and poppy seed crust. Enjoy!

Strawberry apple tart

Yield: one 8-inch tart

Ingredients:

For the crust:

• 3/4 cup unbleached flour
• 1/3 cup whole wheat pastry flour
• 1/2 cup ground pistachios
• 1 tbsp poppy seeds
• 1/8 tsp baking soda
• 1/8 tsp sea salt
• 1/4 cup sunflower or canola oil
• 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
• 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract

For the filling:

• 2 Granny Smith apples, cored and peeled
• 1 pound of strawberries, rinsed and dried
• 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
• 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
• 1 tbsp cornstarch

Directions:

For the crust:

1. Using a stand mixer or hand mixer, combine the unbleached flour, whole wheat flour, pistachios, poppy seeds, baking soda and salt.
2. With the mixer running, add the oil, maple syrup and vanilla extract and continue to mix until combined. The dough should stick together when pressed between two fingers.
3. Press the dough into a flat disk shape and wrap tightly in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for about 30 minutes. While the dough is chilling, proceed with the filling (recipe below).
4. Roll out the dough in between 2 pieces of parchment paper, working from the middle out, until it is large enough to fit into an 8-inch tart pan with a removable bottom.
5. Carefully transfer the dough to the tart pan and gently press it down to fit, filling cracks where needed. Be sure the dough is not thicker where the sides and bottom meet. Trim any excess dough on the rim. Refrigerate for 15 minutes.
6. Make small indents in the bottom of the unfilled crust with a fork and prebake it on the bottom rack of the oven for 10 minutes at 400 degrees.
7. Remove the crust from the oven and evenly spread 1 tsp of coconut oil on the bottom of the crust. Next, spoon the filling into the crust and slip a cookie sheet underneath it (to catch the juices while baking).
8. Return the tart to the bottom rack of the oven and bake at 375 degrees for 30 minutes. If you notice the edges are browning too much during baking, cover with aluminum foil.
9. Reduce the temperature to 350 degrees, move the tart to the middle oven rack and continue to bake for another 15 minutes. Remove the tart from the oven and allow it to sit undisturbed for 2 to 3 hours before serving. Store leftovers at room temperature, covered loosely with plastic wrap.

For the filling:

1. Cut the apples and strawberries into 1/2-inch pieces and place them in a saucepan. Add the maple syrup and lemon juice and allow to sit for about 20 minutes.
2. Stir in the cornstarch and cook the mixture over medium-low heat until it comes to a boil, and then simmer for about 1 minute, stirring constantly. The mixture should thicken. Remove from heat and allow to cool until the crust is ready.

I’m pretty unpredictable when it comes to baking for a crowd though. Sometimes I’m in the mood to “wow” the crowd, and other times I settle for comfort food recipes that are popular and recognizable. Either way, I always put a spin on it. Sometimes it’s obvious and sometimes it’s not.

This delicious pudding is one such example. Can you tell by the photos that it’s full of beans? You can’t tell by the taste either. It’s a thick, creamy chocolate-and-nut heaven thanks to the addition of silken tofu, cocoa and nut butter. It’s also incredibly versatile—I’d consider using it as a tart filling, a cream centre for cupcakes or even on its own as a pudding parfait. Here, I used some of it as a filling for mini almond-oat tart crusts. The pudding can be made a day in advance (it thickens and provides a deep chocolate and nut flavour after being refrigerated overnight), and then filled or piped or layered the day of your celebration…or just eat it as a simple fibre-rich pudding!

I was inspired to create this delicious recipe for this month’s SOS Kitchen Challenge, featuring adzuki beans. If it wasn’t for the challenge hosts, Ricki of Diet, Dessert and Dogs, and Kim of Affairs of Living, this pudding would have never happened. The recipe below makes enough crust and filling for about 20 mini tarts. Enjoy!

Adzuki pudding tarts

Yield: 20 tartlets

Ingredients:

Crust:

• 1 cup rolled oats
• 1 cup almonds
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp sea salt
• 1/4 cup brown rice flour
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 2 tbsp unsweetened coconut flakes
• 2 tbsp canola or sunflower oil
• 3 tbsp pure maple syrup
• 2 tsp pure vanilla extract

Adzuki pudding:

• 1 1/2 cups cooked adzuki beans (or 1 can)
• 1 12-oz package firm silken tofu (I use Mori Nu)
• 1/2 cup agave nectar
• 6 tbsp natural nut butter (I use almond and peanut)
• 1/4 cup cocoa powder, sifted
• 1 oz. unsweetened chocolate, melted
• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
• pinch of salt

Directions:

Crust:

1. In a food processor, process the oats and almonds to a fine meal.
2. Add the cinnamon, salt, brown rice flour, baking powder and coconut and pulse to combine.
3. Finally, add the oil, maple syrup and vanilla and process until well combined. The mixture should stick together when pressed between two fingers. If it seems too dry, add a teaspoon or two of water.
4. Press the mixture into the bottom of oiled tart tins. Bake at 350 for about 8 to 10 minutes, or until dry to the touch and lightly browned. Allow to cool completely before filling.

Adzuki pudding:

1. In a high-powered blender, puree the beans and silken tofu. Add the remaining ingredients and blend for 2 or 3 minutes until smooth.
2. Refrigerate the filling in a covered container for several hours or overnight to allow it to thicken up. Pipe or spread the filling into tart crusts and refrigerate until ready to serve. Tarts are best eaten the day they are made.

Crust recipe adapted from More Great Good Dairy-Free Desserts.

Have you ever thought about what stimulates your imagination or inspires you to create something new? It really doesn’t take much to inspire me or to make me smile in quiet awe. It’s the green bananas ripening on my kitchen counter. The way cookie dough comes together. Coconut oil melting. Lentils sprouting. What happens to chia seeds when I soak them. Beautiful photographs. The flowers that grow in my garden. My cat purring. My friends. And all of you. Those of you who leave your comments here, showing proof there are people who actually read my blog. Those of you who are silent but keep dropping in.

I find endless inspiration in other blogs, too. Food bloggers’ passion, and the delicious results of that passion, never fail to inspire me. This beautiful pudding is one such example. It is inspired by someone’s quinoa porridge, combined with another’s banana soft serve, and topped with my own creation of caramelized banana and nuts. The frozen bananas make this pudding thick and creamy, the cocoa adds a deep chocolate flavour, and the quinoa provides a perfect balance of essential amino acids and vital nutrients. As far as I know, no other chocolate pudding has the superstar power of this one. Enjoy!

Chocolate quinoa pudding

Ingredients:

Quinoa pudding:

• 2 cups nondairy milk
• 1 cup quinoa, rinsed well
• 2 frozen bananas
• 3 tbsp cocoa powder
• 3 tbsp maple syrup or agave nectar
• 2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract

Caramelized banana and nuts:

• 1 tbsp sunflower oil
• 2 yellow bananas, sliced
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
• 2 tbsp pure maple syrup
• dash of cinnamon

Directions:

Quinoa pudding:

1. In a large saucepan, combine the nondairy milk and quinoa and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and let simmer until the liquid is absorbed, about 30 minutes. Stir occasionally so that a skin doesn't form on top.
2. While the quinoa is cooking, combine the bananas, cocoa powder, maple syrup, cinnamon and vanilla in a blender and blend until creamy.
3. When the quinoa is done, stir in the banana mixture. Serve warm, topped with caramelized banana and nuts (recipe below).

Caramelized banana and nuts:

1. In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium heat. Spread out the sliced bananas and nuts in the pan and cook for about 2 minutes. Flip the banana slices over and cook for another minute or two, until they turn light brown.
2. Add the maple syrup and cinnamon and stir to combine. Cook for another minute, or until the maple syrup has dissolved. Remove from heat.

I’d like to think I’ve reached a higher level of existence where I no longer feel the need to be part of the Christmas marketing scheme, but the truth is I still feel the pressure. I’m not saying I don’t love giving gifts to those I love. Instead, I prefer to go the homemade route. This year, however, I chose to purchase gifts from a local not-for-profit group to go along with my homemade packages of chocolate-dipped ginger cookies.

Chocosol is a small but innovative initiative that links cocao farmers in southern Mexico with ecological and socially conscious producers in southern Ontario to make beautiful artisanal chocolate in its purest form—true whole food treats without the fillers. Chocosol is embarking on a friendlier trade route that goes beyond the fair-trade model, defining it as a horizontal trading relationship akin to community-supported agriculture. And, of course, everyone loves chocolate, right? I’m excited to tell my family members the story of how their chocolate gifts came to be.

One aspect of Christmas that keeps me sane is the excuse to bake with my favourite winter spices, break out the traditional recipes (veganized, of course) and try new desserts that are just too decadent for any other day. These Nanaimo bars definitely fall into the latter category. Once I took a bite of one of these babies, I realized that Christmas really isn’t all that bad.

The Nanaimo bar, a popular no-bake dessert that originated in Nanaimo, BC, is typically made with butter, eggs and honey graham cracker crumbs. While the butter and eggs are quite easy to substitute, I chose to make my own cinnamon graham cookies to use for crumbs in the bottom layer and it worked out perfectly.

If you’ve made these bars before, you’ve probably experienced the difficulty in cutting them into squares without breaking the chocolate topping. I almost cried on  my first attempt, as I carefully punctured the chocolate with a sharp knife only to watch the chocolate continue to crack in misdirected ways through the beautiful bars that I carefully put together. On my second attempt, however, I discovered that placing a sharp serrated knife in a jar of hot water for several minutes helps lessen the impact. Using light, sawing motions with the knife on the horizontal also helps. Enjoy!

Nanaimo bars

Ingredients:

Cinnamon graham crackers:

• 1/2 cup + 2 tbsp whole wheat flour
• 1/4 cup unbleached AP flour
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp sea salt
• 1/4 tsp baking soda
• 2 tbsp nondairy milk
• 1 1/2 tbsp sunflower or canola oil
• 1 1/2 tbsp molasses
• 2 tbsp pure agave nectar

Bottom layer:

• 1/2 cup vegan butter (I use Earth Balance)
• 1/4 cup organic cane sugar
• 5 tbsp cocoa powder, sifted
• 1/4 cup almonds
• 1 tbsp ground flax + 2 tbsp warm water
• 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
• 1 cup unsweetened coconut flakes

Middle layer:

• 1/2 cup vegan butter
• 2 tbsp nondairy milk (I use coconut)
• 1 tbsp arrowroot
• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
• Seeds of 1 vanilla bean
• 2 cups vegan powdered sugar

Top layer:

• 4 oz. dark chocolate
• 2 tbsp vegan butter

Directions:

Graham cracker crumbs:

1. In a large bowl, whisk together the whole wheat flour, unbleached flour, cinnamon, salt and baking soda.
2. In a small bowl, whisk together the nondairy milk, oil, molasses and agave nectar.
3. Add the liquid mixture to the dry mixture and stir to combine.
4. In between two pieces of parchment paper, roll out the dough into a rectangle about 1/4-inch thick. Transfer the dough to a cookie pan lined with parchment paper (no need to cut them into squares since you'll be processing them into crumbs after baking). Bake at 350 degrees for about 12 to 15 minutes. Let cool completely.
5. Put the cookies in a food processor and process into crumbs. This should make about 1 1/2 cups, enough for the Nanaimo bar bottom layer.

Bottom layer:

1. In a medium saucepan, combine the vegan butter and sugar and cook over low heat until melted. Add the cocoa and whisk until smooth. Remove from heat.
2. In a food processor, process the almonds to a fine meal. Add the flax mixture, cookie crumbs and coconut flakes and pulse to combine.
3. Add the chocolate sauce to the dry ingredients in the food processor and process until thoroughly combined.
4. Press the mixture into the bottom of an 8 x 8-inch square pan. Set aside.

Middle layer:

1. Using an electric mixer, beat the vegan butter until light and fluffy.
2. In a small bowl, whisk together the nondairy milk, arrowroot, vanilla extract and vanilla bean seeds. Add the mixture to the butter and beat until well combined.
3. Gradually add the powdered sugar and beat for a few minutes until light and fluffy.
4. Spread the mixture evenly over top of the bottom layer using an offset spatula and place in the freezer until firm, about one hour.

Top layer:

1. Melt the chocolate in a double boiler over medium-low heat and then stir in the vegan butter. Remove from heat.
2. Remove the pan from the freezer and then sit for about 10 minutes. Then spread the chocolate evenly over the top using an offset spatula. Work quickly or else the chocolate will start to harden. Place the pan in the freezer for at least an hour to set. See above for tips on cutting the squares without breaking the chocolate.

No time to bake all these sweet treats? That’s what friends are for! This year, I got much of my holiday baking done early while catching up with friends, sharing laughs and having fun at the same time, thanks to Kelly, who had the fabulous idea of hosting a holiday cookie baking party.

Yesterday was the day we came together with our own recipe ideas and ingredients and got to work. I decided on a version of Fran Costigan‘s famous jam dots from her book, More Great Good Dairy-Free Desserts (recipe below). I am a big fan of Fran’s wholesome dessert recipes. With the early winter theme in mind, homemade persimmon jam made for the cookies’ centre attraction.

Kelly decided on the delicious peanut butter chocolate pillows from Vegan Cookies Invade Your Cookie Jar. After whipping together the chocolate cookie dough and peanut butter filling, and then carefully rolling out the tiny peanut butter balls and wrapping them in the chocolate shell, Kelly’s patience paid off with luscious pillows of goodness.

Angela quickly mixed together a batch of snickerdoodles from La Dolce Vegan! and rolled them in a sweet cinnamon and sugar mixture before placing them in the oven for 10 minutes. The warming scent of cinnamon filled the kitchen as these babies were pulled from the oven to cool.

Lisa put a surprise twist to the cookie-themed party with the idea of a vegan version of Bailey’s Irish cream liqueur (without the whiskey) from Tal Ronnen’s The Conscious Cook. This coconut milk and cocoa-based recipe makes for an excellent sauce poured over cake, or served in a glass with a shot of whiskey. We each enjoyed sipping this smooth drink while the rest was bottled up for us to take home.

Enjoying an afternoon with these lovely vegan ladies was the perfect start to the holiday season. Alissa also joined us a little later in the afternoon to make chocolate mint cookies from The Joy of Vegan Baking, but sadly I had to head out before they were finished. I did, however, leave with a container full of assorted cookies to share with family and friends. I can’t wait to do this again next year!

Famous jam dots

Ingredients:

Homemade persimmon jam:

• 2 ripe persimmons
• 1/4 cup organic cane sugar
• dash of cinnamon

Famous jam dots:

• 1 cup rolled oats
• 1 cup pecans
• 1 1/4 cup whole wheat pastry flour
• 1/4 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1/8 tsp sea salt
• 1/2 cup canola or sunflower oil
• 1/2 cup maple syrup
• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp pure almond extract
• Persimmon jam or other all-fruit jam

Directions:

For the jam:

1. Cut the top of each persimmon and scoop out the pulp into a small saucepan. Combine the sugar and cinnamon and simmer over medium-low heat for about 5 minutes, or until the back of a spoon is coated and glossy.
2. Remove the saucepan from the heat and let cool. Puree in a food processor or blender until smooth.

For the cookies:

1. Position a rack in the middle of the oven and another rack above it. Preheat to 325 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. Spread the oats on one of the prepared sheets and the pecans on another. Toast each pan in the oven for 6 minutes. Cool completely, leaving the parchment paper on the sheets for baking the cookies. Raise the oven temperature to 350 degrees.
3. Put the oats in a blender or food processor, and process until fine. Add the pecans and process until the mixture resembles a coarse meal. Pour into a medium bowl and add the pastry flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt.
4. Whisk the oil, maply syrup, and vanilla and almond extracts in a small bowl until well blended. Pour into the dry mixture and stir with a rubber spatula until the dough holds together when squeezed.
5. Shape the dough into 1-inch balls and place 1 inch apart on the prepared sheets. Use your finger to make an indentation in the centre of each cookie. Spoon 1/2 tsp jam in each indentation.
6. Bake for 15 to 16 minutes, or until the cookies are light browne on the bottom. Cool for 3 minutes, until the cookies are firm enough to move. Transfer the cookies to a rack to cool. Store at room temperature in a covered container for two days.

Cookie recipe (not the jam) from More Great Good Dairy-Free Desserts. Reprinted with permission.