The Best Raw Chocolate Chip Cookies

The best raw chocolate chip cookies.

I have had many experiences with raw chocolate chip cookies. While they’re all good, I wanted to make something that would taste amazing. Something both regular people and healthy inclined people would enjoy. Eureka! I have found it.

These cookies can be made with cacao powder for a double chocolate taste or regular, like the ones below.

The Best Raw Chocolate Chip Cookies
4 cups walnuts
1 cup dates
1/2 cup almond butter
1 cup oats
2 handfuls chocolate chips
2 tbsp cacao powder (optional)
2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp cinnamon

1. Before blending dates in processor, cut each one in half so that processing will be easier. Then, put dates in the processor and blend until a sort of paste. Add walnuts and process till combined. Then, add the almond butter, vanilla extract and cinnamon. Process until combined again. Add the cacao powder, chocolate chips and oats last.

2. Form into cookies on a plate + put in the freezer. When hardened, take out and enjoy!

You will have a very hard time keeping these in the freezer.

And an even harder time keeping these from others.

The Pure Pantry

The Pure Pantry.

Recently, the Pure Pantry sent me some gluten free mixes to review.

Mixes for Sugar cookies, dark chocolate cake mix, chocolate chip cookies, oatmeal spice cookies + all purpose baking mix + 2 pancakes mixes, one flax and one regular.

First, I decided to try the dark chocolate cake mix. I used it to create these lovely cupcakes.

These were incredible. They were moist, chocolate-y + overall great.

At the same time, I made the chocolate chip cookies.

They were a little bit more biscuit-y than I was expecting, but they still tasted good.

Now, it was time to make the sugar cookies! Before they visited the oven…

…And after!

These were very good + did not crumble away like most gluten free cookies. Perfect!

I made pancakes with both mixes + they turned out amazing. Just like regular pancakes.

The baking mix is very, very similar to gluten all purpose flour + it is a very reliable all purpose.

Pure Pantry’s mixes hold up to make the yummiest gluten free treats + their cookies mixes are very good. I would highly recommend the dark chocolate cake mix.

I would like to thank the Pure Pantry for allowing me to review these items.

Alter Eco

Another chocolate review.

This time, the chocolate in question is from a company called Alter Eco. The ingredients for their chocolate (among other products including quinoa + sugar) is grown by small-scale farms. These farms practice fair trade, sustainability + their crops are organic. By working with smaller farms as opposed to bigger ones, they are benefiting small businesses and helping them grow.

To me, this is a very good thing. Helping out smaller businesses in the form of buying chocolate is a simple way of growing a community.

And it’s delicious.

I received from Alter Eco:

1. Pearl Quinoa
2. Mascobado Cane Sugar
3. Dark Coconut Toffee Chocolate
4. Nutty Toasted Quinoa Chocolate
5. Dark Blackout Chocolate

I used the cane sugar in my chocolate chip cookies recipe + they turned out great! The sugar has a very carmel taste + is perfect for baking, sprinkling on oatmeal + pretty much everything. Except for tomato sauce.

The chocolate was delicious + I will for sure be re-purchasing the dark coconut toffee chocolate because it was delicious! unfortunately, it wasn’t vegan, but the nutty toasted quinoa chocolate was + it was heaven! The quinoa was like crispy rice in chocolate, but has more value. The dark blackout chocolate is for serious chocolate lovers only. It is extremely dark.

I haven’t gotten to cook the pearl quinoa, but I am very much impressed with everything Alter Eco sent me, so I am sure the quinoa will be fantastic.

Chocolate No Bakes

Chocolate No Bakes.

Oats, chocolate + no sugar. What could be better?

All that in cookie form of course!

These have passed my family’s test and, more importantly, my brother’s.

He is skeptical about anything without sugar because he loves sugar.

But these changed his mind for sure!

Chocolate No Bakes
vegan + gluten free
sugar free

1/4 cup + 3 tbsp cacao powder
2 1/4 cup quick oats
1 cup + 2 tbsp oat flour
3/4 tsp sea salt
3/4 tsp baking soda (for taste)
3/4 cup + 3 tbsp xylitol
3/4 cup melted coconut oil
4 1/2 tbsp – 6 tbsp water (Depends on if your dough gets too wet. Add 1 tbsp at a time.)
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1. Mix dry ingredients well, then add wet until it forms dough.

Green Mint Smoothie

This is one of the best drinks ever.

Cool, refreshing mint. I swear it tastes like mint chip ice cream.

These past few days we have had no chocolate in the house.

Crazy, huh?

So, this has given me lots of time to make sugar free things that taste amazingly delicious.

Like this smoothie. And I may have things coming on the way that are also sugar free.

I mean, I need to use that 3 lb bag of xylitol, anyways!

Green Mint Smoothie
vegan + gluten free
sugar free

1 frozen banana
1 handful spinach (I swear you cannot taste it!) or more
2/3 cup almond milk
1/4 tsp peppermint extract
Optional: A few chocolate chips or cacao nibs. You can even add some cacao powder!

1. Blend!

2. Pour into a fancy glass and drink.

Just like my little brother!

Coconut Whipped Cream

Coconut whipped cream.

My little brother has to be dairy free + has been dairy free since he was a baby. Whenever he eats dairy, he gets a clogged tearduct + it’s very uncomfortable for him.

That means he can’t have whipped cream or regular ice cream (he eats coconut ice cream), so if we have it for special occasions, he’s left out.

Not anymore!

Coconut ice cream is easy to assemble + tastes delicious. Plus you’re getting healthy fats and the numerous health benefits that come with coconut.

Coconut Whipped Cream
vegan + dairy free
gluten free

1 can coconut milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
Sweetener to taste (I used 3 tbsp maples syrup)

1. First, leave the coconut milk can overnight uncovered in your fridge. Scoop the coconut milk from the can, leaving the water at the bottom. Combine all other ingredients with a mixer until combined. Coconut whipped cream!

The uses for coconut whipped cream are endless. Use it on your ice cream, put it over waffles or pancakes, eat it plain…

How to Make Maple Almond Butter

I made almond butter.

And it was soooo delicious!

You can too. But let me tell you, you’ve got to have some patience.

And preferably some almonds, sea salt + maple sugar.

Just kidding, those aren’t preferences, please have those in the house before you attempt to make this. Please.

Dont’s of Almond Butter
1. Do not add any liquid or oil. It will cause your almond butter to clump up.
2. Do not over blend your almond butter. It will become all crumbly.
3. Do not share with your family members. Instead hoard it like a squirrel. Your family members will become addicted and your hopes of almond butter on toast will be dashed. True story.

Maple Almond Butter

2 cups of unsalted almonds
2 tbsp maple sugar
1/4 tsp sea salt

1. Blend almonds until they’re in the “flour stage”. Then add the maple sugar and sea salt. Continue to blend until you have creamy, smooth almond butter.

2. Wait. Patience is super important when making this because it might take awhile. Read a book. Watch a full length movie. I am just kidding about the movie part.

My mom is now desperately addicted to my almond butter + no longer likes her favorite earth balance flaxseed peanut butter as much as my almond butter. That’s success.