If you’re craving cheesecake, chocolate, or peanut butter but i) want a healthy fix; ii) don’t have an oven (dorm life!); and/or you literally burn break and bake cookies, you’re in luck. There is a way to make all your dessert dreams come true. These are some healthy desserts that are 100 percent guilt-free. Prepare to be raw-struck because these treats don’t need baking in the oven.
Below are three raw vegan desserts to make for an on-the-go snack for class, a girl’s night in, or just cause you need a fix for your sweet tooth.
Mango Pineapple “Cheesecake” Bites
These bite size snacks are perfect for a warm spring day. They’re refreshing and good for you. It’s a win-win situation! Avocados have high levels of potassium, pineapples are super packed with vitamins and essential nutrients, and almonds are full of protein and can also promote weight loss.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup almonds
- 6 medjool dates
- 1 well sized ripe avocado
- 1/2 cup pineapple
- 1/2 cup mango
- 1 tbsp pure maple syrup
Start making the base by pitting the medjool dates (cut them in half and simply remove the pit) and adding them to a food processor or high speed blender with the almonds. Next, clump this mixture using your hands and pressing it down into the muffin pan. Then, place it in the freezer while you make the filling.
Blend your avocado, mango, pineapple, and maple syrup until it’s creamy. Grab your muffin pan from the freezer. Take a spoon and scoop the smoothie onto each bite. Finally, freeze for 30 minutes and it’s ready to eat!
Peanut Butter + Coconut Balls
Need an energy boost after writing an essay that’s due tomorrow? Get the ball rolling and make these snacks in a flash. It takes only 10 minutes to make these delicious and easy to make treats.
Ingredients:
- ¾ cup unsweetened shredded coconut
- ¾ cup rolled oats
- ¼ cup ground flaxseed
- ¼ cup chopped peanuts or other add-ins such as chocolate chips, raisins, etc.
- ¾ cup natural, unsalted peanut butter
- ¼ cup pure maple syrup
First, in a large bowl, mix together all of the dry ingredients. This includes the coconut, oats, flax, and peanuts. Next, in a medium bowl, whisk together the wet ingredients: peanut butter and maple syrup. Then, pour the wet mixture with the dry ingredients. Fold it together with a spatula until it’s well mixed. If the mixture is too dry, then add more maple syrup and peanut butter. Lastly, scoop the mixture into your hands and roll it into bite-sized balls. You can put them in the fridge for a bit or go right ahead and enjoy!
Oat Fudge Bars
Save your money from going to Starbucks for one of these scrumptious bars. Instead, why not make a whole tray? Although they take more prep time to create, it’s so worth it.
For the base layer:
- 2 cups rolled oats
- 2 cups walnuts
- 2 tbsp coconut oil
- 4 tbsp honey
Put all of the base ingredients into a food processor and pulse until it’s combined. If it doesn’t hold together, add more honey to the mix. Then, place the mixture into a lined backing cake pan and press down with a fork.
For the middle layer
- 2 cups soaked dates (boil water and pour into bowl with dates, leave for 5-10 minutes)
- 2 tbsp all-natural peanut butter
- 1 tbsp honey (optional)
Throw in the ingredients into a food processor and pulse. You may need to turn it off and using a spoon, push down the sides to the bottom. Repeat this a few times until it looks like “caramel.” Scoop the mixture on top of the base layer and freeze from three to eight hours.
For the Chocolate layer
- 1 cup coconut oil
- 1/3 cup cacao powder
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract
Melt the coconut oil in the microwave. Add the cacao powder and vanilla extract and stir. Top off the layers with the melted chocolate and put it back in the freezer for 30 minutes. Cut the oat fudge bars into slices and you’re good to go!
All of these treats will impress your friends, and give you that boost of energy to get through your day. Don’t forget to tag your creations with #cfoffline.
