Tam Tims - Australia (Copycat Tim Tams Recipe)

MAKES 8

Ingredients

• 1 cup gluten-free plain flour, plus extra for dusting
• 2 teaspoons granulated stevia
• 1/3 cup raw cacao powder
• 75 g cold unsalted butter, diced
• 1/4 cup milk (any kind, though full-fat dairy is best)

Ganache

• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 2 tablespoons rice malt syrup
• 2 tablespoons raw cacao powder

Chocolate Coating

• 100 g dark (85-90% cocoa) chocolate, chopped into small, even-sized pieces

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C and line a baking tray with baking paper. 
2. Place the flour, stevia, cacao powder, butter and milk in a food processor bowl and process to make a firm dough. Transfer the dough to a lightly floured work surface and knead until smooth. Roll the dough out between two sheets of baking paper to make a rectangle (about 5 mm thick). Cut into 16 smaller rectangles. Transfer to the baking tray and bake in the oven for 10 minutes. 
3. Meanwhile, to make the ganache, place all the ingredients in a small bowl and beat until fluffy. (For a firmer frosting, set the ganache mixture in the fridge for 15 minutes.) 
4. Remove the biscuits from the oven and allow to cool. Once cooled, spread a thin layer of ganache over eight of the biscuits and top each one with another biscuit, sandwiching them together. Place in the fridge while you make the chocolate coating. 
5. Melt the chocolate slowly in a microwave (or in a heatproof bowl over a saucepan of boiling water, making sure the base of the bowl doesn't touch the water). Dip each biscuit sandwich in the melted chocolate and place on the baking paper. Return to the fridge to set before serving. Store in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 1 week or in the freezer for up to 3 months. 

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Ina Garten's Ultimate Ginger Cookie, Paige-Style

Paige's Ginger Molasses Cookies

Ingredients

• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/4 cup white sugar
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1/3 cup unsulfured molasses
• 1 flax egg
• 1 1/4 cups chopped crystallized ginger (6 ounces)
• Granulated sugar, for rolling the cookies

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 sheet pans with parchment paper.
2. In a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, ginger, and salt and then combine the mixture with your hands. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the sugar, butter, and molasses on medium speed for 5 minutes. Turn the mixer to low speed, add the flax egg, and beat for 1 minute. Scrape the bowl with a rubber spatula and beat for 1 more minute. With the mixer still on low, slowly add the dry ingredients to the bowl and mix on medium speed for 2 minutes. Add the crystallized ginger and mix until combined.
3. Scoop the dough with 2 spoons or a small ice cream scoop. With your hands, roll each cookie into a 1 3/4-inch ball and then flatten them lightly with your fingers. Press both sides of each cookie in granulated sugar and place them on the sheet pans. Bake for exactly 13 minutes. The cookies will be crackled on the top and soft inside. Let the cookies cool on the sheets for 1 to 2 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.

Note: adapted from Ina Garten's Ultimate Ginger Cookie recipe. 

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Ray's Vegan Soul: Dessert Recipes

Ray's Vegan Soul Dessert Recipes from Soul Fusion Summer Days: A combination of Raw and Cooked VEGAN Recipes.

Vegan Date Cookie

Ingredients

• 1 cup soaked dates
• 1 ripe Banana
• 2 tablespoons of Almond Butter
• ¾ cups of Almond Meal
• ¾ cups of Quinoa Fakes
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla
• Pinch of salt 

Instructions

1. Add dry ingredients to food processor and pulse and wet ingredients and pulse until well mix. Place scoops of cooking on baking sheet and bake at 350 until firm Approximately 12 to 15 minutes.

Vegan Raw Cheese Cake 

Ingredients

Crust

• 1 cup of Dates
• 1 cup of Walnuts
• ¼ cup unsweetened Coconut
• Pinch of salt 

Cheese Cake Filling

• 1 ½ cup of Raw Cashews (soaked overnight)
• 1 lemon (juice from lemon)
• ¼ cup Coconut Oil
• ½ cup sweetener Maple syrup or agave
• 1 tablespoon of Vanilla extract 

Mango Glaze

• 1 cup of Mango
• ¼ cup of sweetener Maple syrup or agave
• 1 teaspoon of Vanilla extract 

Instructions

1. Crust combine all ingredients in food processor and pulse until crumbly. Press crust in springform pan. Blend ingredients for Filling and pour on top of crust. Blend glaze ingredients and spread on top of filing. Place in freezer until firm and remove from pan and serve.

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Banana Bread (Betty Crocker)

Banana Bread

Source: Betty Crocker.

Ingredients

• 1 1/4 cups sugar
• 1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened 
• 2 eggs
• 1 1/2 cups mashed very ripe bananas (3 to 4 medium)
• 1/2 cup buttermilk 
• 1 teaspoon vanilla 
• 2 1/2 cups Gold Medal™ all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup chopped nuts, if desired

Instructions

1. Move oven rack to low position so that tops of pans will be in center of oven. Heat oven to 350°F. Grease bottoms only of 2 loaf pans, 8 1/2 x 4 1/2 x 2 1/2 inches, or 1 loaf pan, 9x5x3 inches.
2. Mix sugar and butter in large bowl. Stir in eggs until well blended. Add bananas, buttermilk and vanilla. Beat until smooth. Stir in flour, baking soda and salt just until moistened. Stir in nuts. Pour into pans.
3. Bake 8-inch loaves about 1 hour, 9-inch loaf about 1 1/4 hours, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes. Loosen sides of loaves from pans; remove from pans and place top side up on wire rack. Cool completely, about 2 hours, before slicing. Wrap tightly and store at room temperature up to 4 days, or refrigerate up to 10 days.

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Wild Apple Crunch (Dr. Fuhrman)

Wild Apple Crunch

Source: Dr. Fuhrman.

Ingredients

• 6 apples, peeled and sliced
• 3/4 cup chopped walnuts
• 8 dates, pitted, chopped
• 1 cup dried currants or raisins
• 3/4 cup water
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
• juice of 1 orange

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375 F.
2. Combine all ingredients except the orange juice. Place in an 8 x 8 inch baking pan and drizzle the orange juice on top. 
3. Cover and bake for about one hour until all ingredients are soft, stirring occasionally. 

Note: You can also simmer this in a covered pot for 30 minutes on top of the stove, stirring occasionally. 

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Lemon Cream Cheese Pound Cake

Lemon Cream Cheese Pound Cake

Source: Two in the Kitchen.

Paige's Recipe Notes: Very, very good. No glaze.

Lemon Velvet Cream Cheese Bundt Cake

Ingredients

• 2 1/4 c. flour
• 1 1/2 t. baking soda
• 1/4 t. salt
• 1 c. buttermilk
• 2 large eggs
• 1 t. vanilla
• 12 TBLS butter, softened
• 1 1/2 c. sugar
• zest of 1 lemon
• 3 TBLS lemon juice
cream cheese filling
• 8 oz. cream cheese, softened
• 1/4 c. sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 1/2 t. lemon juice
Glaze
• 2 oz. cream cheese, softened
• 1 t. lemon zest
• 1 TBLS lemon juice
• 3/4 c. powdered sugar
• 2-3 TBLS milk until the glaze is pourable.

Instructions

1. In a medium mixing bowl, mix all filling ingredients until well blended. Set aside.
2. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees and spray a large bundt pan with baking spray. Set aside.
3. In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
4. In a medium bowl, whisk together the buttermilk,eggs, and vanilla. Set aside.
5. In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the zest and lemon juice and mix until blended.
6. Mix in the flour mixture alternatively with the buttermilk mixture in a couple of additions, starting and ending with the flour mixture, and scraping down the bowl after each addition.
7. Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Spread the cream cheese filling evenly over the top. The filling will sink into the batter as it bakes.
8. Bake for approximately 50-55 minutes, or until the cake is no longer jiggly when moved and the top is beginning to brown and if a toothpick is inserted, the crumbs sticking should be "cake like" and not 'batter like".
9. Remove to a cooling rack till cool. Then invert onto a serving tray or plate.
Prepare the glaze
10. In a medium mixing bowl, mix all glaze ingredients until the mixture is pourable.
11. Drizzle over the top of the fully cooled cake with a spoon.

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Oatmeal Creme Pies (Little Debbie Copycat)

Oatmeal Creme Pies (Little Debbie Copycat)

Source: Cooking with K.

Ingredients: Cookies

1 cup butter, softened
1 cup light brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
1 large egg
2 tablespoons molasses
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 and 1/2 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon soda
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
3 cups quick cook oatmeal
1/2 to 1 cup raisins (optional)

Ingredients: Marshmallow Creme

2 (7 oz.) jar marshmallow fluff
1 cup butter, softened
3 to 4 cups powdered sugar
1/3 cup heavy cream
1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions: Cookies

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper; set aside.

In the bowl of an electric mixer using the paddle attachment, cream butter, brown sugar and sugar together until creamy smooth, scraping down the sides of the bowl occasionally.

Add egg, molasses and vanilla, cream until well incorporated.

In a medium bowl, sift together flour, soda and cinnamon. Add flour mixture to the creamy mixture and mix until well incorporated.

Add oatmeal 1 cup at a time and mix until all the oatmeal is well incorporated. Fold in raisins.

Using a 3 tablespoon cookie scoop, drop cookie dough onto the prepared cookie sheets far enough apart, so the cookies do not touch when baked.

Bake for 10 minutes or until cookies are still soft to the touch. They will be barely brown on the edges. Remove the parchment paper with the cookies onto a cooling rack. Do not remove the cookies from the parchment paper until they are completely cooled, or they will break.

Scoop 3 tablespoons frosting and place on the bottom of a cookie. Place the bottom of another cookie on top of the frosting. Slightly press down; set aside. Continue with remaining cookies.

Directions: Marshmallow Creme

In the bowl of an electric mixer using the wire whisk, cream the marshmallow fluff and butter until creamy smooth, scraping down edges.

Add 2 cups powdered sugar. Beat until creamy smooth. Add milk and additional powdered sugar (a 1/2 cup at a time) until mixture is thick and will hold together after scooping. Use the cream as needed to keep creamy and not too stiff.

Cook's Note: The marshmallow mixture needs to be very thick but not too stiff to keep the cookies from breaking when they are pressed together with the filling inside them.

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Fudgy Brownies (Mel's Kitchen Cafe)

The Best Fudgy Brownies

Source: Mel's Kitchen Cafe.

Paige's Recipe Notes: ! - very good !

YIELD: MAKES 16 BROWNIES

Note: This recipe doubles wonderfully for a 9X13-inch pan. Just keep an eye on the baking time and adjust accordingly.

INGREDIENTS

• 10 tablespoons (1 1/4 sticks or 5 ounces) butter
• 1 1/4 cups (9 7/8 ounces) sugar
• 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons (2 7/8 ounces) unsweetened cocoa powder (natural or Dutch-process)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 2 large eggs
• 1/2 cup (2 3/8 ounces) all-purpose flour

DIRECTIONS

1. Position a rack in the lower third of the oven and preheat the oven to 325°F. Line the bottom and sides of an 8×8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper or foil, leaving an overhang on two opposite sides. Lightly grease with cooking spray and set aside.
2. Combine the butter, sugar, cocoa, and salt in a medium microwave-wafe bowl. Microwave for one minute intervals, stirring in between, until the butter is melted and the mixture is smooth. Set the mixture aside until it cools slightly (is warm to the touch not hot). It will look gritty but it will become smooth once the other ingredients are added.
3. Stir in the vanilla with a wooden spoon or rubber spatula. Add the eggs one at a time, stirring vigorously after each one. When the batter looks thick, shiny, and well blended, add the flour and stir until you cannot see it any longer, then beat vigorously for 40 strokes with the wooden spoon or a rubber spatula. Spread evenly in the lined pan.
4. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center emerges slightly moist with batter, 20 to 25 minutes. Let cool completely on a rack. After the brownies are cooled completely, I like to throw the pan in the refrigerator - cold brownies cut much easier and taste heavenly. Lift up the ends of the parchment or foil liner, and transfer the brownies to a cutting board. Cut into squares and serve.

Recipe Source: adapted slightly from Smitten Kitchen originally from Alice Medrich’s Bittersweet.

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Vegan Pumpkin Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

Vegan Pumpkin Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

Source: Running With Spoons.

Prep time
10 mins

Cook time
10 mins

Total time
20 mins

Yields: 12 cookies

Ingredients

• ¾ cup whole wheat flour 
• ½ cup rolled oats 
• ¼ cup unrefined sugar 
• ½ tsp. baking powder 
• ¼ tsp. salt 
• 1 tsp. ground cinnamon 
• ½ tsp. ground nutmeg 
• ¼ tsp. ground ginger-fresh 
• ¼ cup honey 
• ½ cup canned pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling) 
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract 
• 1½ Tbsp. coconut oil 
• ¼ cup dairy free chocolate chips (can also use regular) 

Paige's Recipe Notes:

• Add more sugar 
• Sub baking powder for dash of baking soda and 1 egg white

Instructions 

1. Preheat oven to 350ºF and lightly grease a cookie sheet or cover it with parchment paper. 
2. In a medium sized mixing bowl, combine flour, oats, sugar, baking powder, salt, and spices. Mix until well combined and set aside. 
3. In a separate bowl, combine maple syrup, pumpkin, and vanilla, then stir in oil to incorporate. 
4. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients, mixing until just combined. Do not overmix. Fold in chocolate chips. 
5. Using a rounded tablespoon, drop dough onto prepared baking sheets, and flatten slightly. 
6. Bake 10-12 minutes, or until edges begin to turn golden brown. 
7. Remove from oven and let cool for 1 minute before transferring to a cooling rack to cool completely.

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Deirdre's Best Gluten Free Cookies

Deirdre's Best Cookies (Gluten Free)

Ingredients

• 1 cup creamy almond butter
• 1/4 cup honey *or less
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 tbsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. Beat all ingredients together
3. Using a large spoon to form balls, scoop batter onto a parchment paper lined cookie sheet (making sure you leave plenty of room in between each. *Add some to the top of the balls if looking for something sweet.
4. Bake for 12 minutes

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Quinoa Chocolate Chip Cookies (Simply Quinoa)

Vegan Coconut Oil Chocolate Chip Cookies

Source: Simply Quinoa.

Prep Time: 2 hours
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 2 hours, 10 minutes

Yield: 18 - 20 cookies

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup quinoa flour 
• 1/2 cup brown rice flour 
• 2 tablespoons arrowroot starch (I haven't tried these with tapioca or potato) 
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 
• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt 
• 1/2 cup coconut oil, softened 
• 1 cup coconut sugar 
• 1 flax egg (1 tablespoon flaxseed meal + 3 tablespoons water) 
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 
• 1/2 cup vegan chocolate chips (I like Enjoy Life) 

Instructions

1. In a small mixing bowl, whisk together all dry ingredients and set aside. 
2. Beat together softened coconut oil and coconut sugar until creamy. Add flax egg and vanilla and beat until smooth. 
3. Add flour mixture into wet ingredients in three additions, mixing fully between each. Fold in chocolate chips. 
4. Cover bowl and chill dough for 1 - 2 hours. 
5. With 30 minutes left in the chilling, preheat oven to 350 degrees F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. 
6. Remove dough from fridge and let sit for 5 minutes. Scoop 2 tablespoons of dough and shape into balls. Place on parchment and repeat until no dough remains. For a thicker cookie, leave balls as is, but for a thinner cookie, gently flatten them between your palms. 
7. Bake cookies for 9 - 11 minutes until edges are brown and crispy. 
8. Let cool on pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack and cool completely.

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Chocolate Pumpkin Spice Muffins (Raw Doreen)

Chocolate Pumpkin Spice Muffins (Gluten Free, Wheat Free)

Source: Raw Doreen. (Recipe since removed from website.)



Serves: 12

A sweet and spicy muffin, loaded with the flavors of Fall!

Ingredients

• 1 cup almond butter (store-bought or homemade)
• ½ cup pumpkin puree
• 2 whole eggs
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
• 1 tablespoon Pumpkin Pie Spice*
• 1/3 cup maple syrup (or honey, if you prefer)
• Optional: 1/3 cup dark chocolate chips

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350F, and line a standard muffin pan with paper cups.
2. In a medium bowl, combine all of the ingredients and mix until a smooth batter is formed, folding in the chocolate chips last, if desired.
3. Using a ¼ cup, distribute the batter evenly among the 12 baking cups.
4. Bake for 15-20 minutes at 350F, until the centers are firm and starting to crack.
5. Allow to cool in the pan for 15 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
6. For best shelf life, store in a sealed container in the fridge for up to a week. (These freeze well, too!)

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Chia Seed Pudding

Chia Seed Pudding 

Ingredients

• Chia seeds
• Almond milk (lightly sweetened)
• Cinnamon

Instructions

1. Just soak chia seeds in lightly sweetened almond milk, and add a touch of cinnamon. 

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Oatmeal Cookie Smoothie

Oatmeal Cookie Smoothie

Yield: 1 serving

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups almond milk  
• 1/3 cup rolled oats 
• 1 frozen banana  
• 1 tablespoon chia seeds 
• 1 tablespoon cacao nibs 
• 1 tablespoon raisins 
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 

Instructions

1. Blend until smooth.

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Pumpkin Spice Chia Seed Muffins (SparkRecipes)

Pumpkin Spice Chia Seed Muffins

Source: SparkRecipes, submitted by KELLIEK1986.

Minutes to Cook: 25
Number of Servings: 22

Ingredients

• 2 Tbsp ground chia seeds (or ground flax seeds)
• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 1/2 cup white unbleached flour
• 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1 cup pure maple syrup
• 2 tsp baking soda
• 1 can (16 oz) pumpkin 
• 1 Tbsp vanilla
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp nutmeg
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• 2 eggs

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Mix dry ingredients together in a bowl. In a separate bowl, then mix all wet ingredients.
3. Fold the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and spoon into paper-lined muffin or greased muffin tins. 
4. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the middle of a muffin comes out clean.

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Raw Pecan Pie (Raw Doreen)

Raw Pecan Pie

Source: Raw Doreen.

One of my favorite pies is Pecan so of course I want to share with you a raw version.

Crust

• 2 cups Pecans 
• 1 cup Raisins 
• ¼ tsp Salt 

Filling

• 1 cup Pecans 
• 1 cup Medjool Dates 
• ½ cup Maple Syrup 
• ½ cup Coconut Butter 
• 1 Tbsp Vanilla 

Topping

• 1 ½ cups Pecans 
• 3 Tbsp Maple Syrup 

Instructions

1. Put the crust ingredients in a food processor and process until they well broken down and just start to stick together. Then remove to your pie plate and press down to make a crust. You do not need to oil the pan first. There is enough oil from the nuts so it will not stick. 
2. To make the filling, put the crust ingredients in a food processor and process until it becomes a smooth and creamy mixture. Transfer into the crust shell and spread out with a spatula. Mine was very thick. Gently spread it out to the edges and smooth it down. 
3. For the topping, go through your cup and a half of pecans and pick out ¾ of a cup of the nicest looking ones. I actually used just over ¾ of a cup to cover the whole top, as you can see in the picture below. Then take the rest of the pecans and put them in the processor with the 3 tablespoons of maple syrup and pulse chop until pecans are in small uniform pieces. 
4. Now the big decision to put the whole pecans down first or the crumbly pecan topping you just processed. It will look great either way.

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Thanksgiving Vegan Pumpkin Pie (Fat Free Vegan Kitchen)

Thanksgiving Vegan Pumpkin Pie

Source: Susan Voisin at Fat Free Vegan Kitchen.

Paige's Recipe Notes: Needs a crust, sub sugar for maple syrup.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups soy milk or other non-dairy milk
• 1 tablespoon Ener-G egg replacer see Notes
• 1/4 cup water see Notes
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 cups pureed or mashed cooked pumpkin or cushaw or winter squash, see Notes
• 1/2 cup brown rice flour see Notes
• 2 teaspoon baking powder
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon ginger powder
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Spray a 9-inch deep dish pie pan with cooking spray. (I used a Pyrex pan, and it came out with no sticking.) A deep dish is recommended because this pie will rise a lot during cooking but will fall back down as it cools.
2. Put the first five ingredients in the blender, and blend well. Add the pumpkin, and puree. Add the remaining ingredients and blend on high for 2 minutes, stopping to scrape the sides a couple of times to make sure everything is thoroughly blended. Pour into a pie pan and bake for about 60 minutes. The top and edges should be brown, but the edges should not be over-done. (Since this is a custardy pie, using the standard toothpick or knife test does not work; it will remain somewhat moist in the center, but it shouldn’t be uncooked.)
3. Remove from the oven and allow to cool on the counter. For best results, refrigerate until chilled before eating.

Recipe Notes

*If you don’t have Ener-G egg replacer, you can omit it and the 1/4 cup water and use any other replacement for two eggs.

**The pie will come out best if the pumpkin is very dry, so after my pumpkin is mashed, I drain all the water off completely by putting it into a cheesecloth-lined colander and letting it drip over a bowl.

***I have made this pie with white rice flour and with whole wheat, and the rice flour pie was infinitely better than the ww, which was gluey. If you use another type of flour, do so at your own risk. Check the comments to see what has worked for other people.

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Overnight Homemade Cinnamon Buns (Peanut Butter Runner)

Overnight Homemade Cinnamon Buns

Source: Peanut Butter Runner by Jen Eddins.

(Recipe adapted from The Way the Cookie Crumbles.)

Ingredients

DOUGH

• 1/2 cup whole milk
• 7 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1/2 cup warm water (about 110-115 degrees)
• 1 envelope (2 1/4 teaspoons) yeast
• 1/4 cup (1 3/4 ounce) sugar
• 1 large egg, plus 2 large egg yolks
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 4-4 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting the work surface

FILLING

• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 3 tablespoons melted butter
• 1/2 cup raisins (optional)

GLAZE

• 1 cup powdered sugar, sifted to remove lumps
• 2-4 ounces cream cheese, softened (to taste)
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1-2 tablespoons milk, until you reach your desired consistency

Directions

1. Heat the milk and butter in the microwave until the butter melts. Remove from microwave and set aside until the mixture is lukewarm (about 100 degrees).
2. In the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, mix together the water, yeast, sugar, egg and yolks at low speed until well combined. Add the salt, warm milk mixture and 2 cups of flour and mix at medium speed until thoroughly blended, about 1 minute. Switch to the dough hook, add another 2 cups of the flour and knead at medium speed (adding up to ¼ cup more flour, 1 tablespoon at a time, if necessary) until the dough is smooth and freely clears the sides of the bowl, about 10 minutes. The dough might still be a little sticky but you should be able to shape it into a round ball. Place it in a very lightly oiled large bowl and cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a dish towel. Leave in a warm, draft-free spot until doubled in bulk, 1 1/2 to 2 hours. (I like to let my dough rise in the oven. I turn the oven to warm for a few seconds, switch it off and then put the bowl of dough in.)
3. After the dough has doubled in bulk, press it down and turn it out onto a lightly floured work surface. Using a rolling pin, shape the dough into a 16 by 12-inch rectangle, with the long side facing you. Mix together the filling ingredients in a small bowl and sprinkle the filling evenly over the dough, leaving a ½-inch border at the far edges. Roll the dough, beginning with the long edge closest to you and using both hands to pinch the dough with your fingertips as you roll. Moisten the top border with water and seal the roll. Lightly dust the roll with flour and press on it ends if necessary to make a uniform 16-inch cylinder. Using a sharp, serrated knife, cut the roll in 12 equal pieces and place the rolls cut-side up into a greased 13 x 9 baking dish. Cover with plastic wrap and place in a warm, draft-free spot until doubled in bulk, 1½ to 2 hours. (This is where you have the option of letting them rise overnight in the refrigerator.)
4. When the rolls are almost fully risen, adjust an oven rack to the middle position and heat the oven to 350 degrees. (If you left them in the fridge overnight, let them come to room temperature before baking.) Bake the rolls until golden brown and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center of one reads 185 to 188 degrees, 25 to 30 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, stir the glaze ingredients together until smooth. Glaze the rolls and serve.

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Nutty Raw Brownies with Raspberry Glaze (The Vegan 8)

Nutty Raw Brownies with Raspberry Glaze

Source: The Vegan 8.

Ingredients

• 1 heaping cup raw pecan halves (120 g)
• 1 heaping cup whole raw almonds (150 g)
• 1/2 cup raw cacao powder (46 g)
• 2 tablespoons coconut sugar (helps with the texture and flavor)
• 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
• 3 tablespoons ground flaxseed (21 g)
• 1/2 cup pure maple syrup (or agave) (120 mL)
• 1 tablespoon Rawguru pumpkin seed butter

Raspberry Glaze

• 1/2 cup raspberries
• 1-2 tablespoons syrup/agave

Note
I understand not everybody is going to be able to order the pumpkin seed butter from every location, so you can sub with creamy almond butter. It will have a less creamy taste, but will still be delicious.

Instructions

1. Add the pecans and walnuts to a food processor and blend into a flour, about 10 seconds. You don't want to overprocess or it will turn into butter. Add the cacao powder, sugar, salt and flaxseed and blend just until mixed, another 10 seconds.
2. Add the syrup/agave and pumpkin seed butter and blend just until it all comes together in a ball (see photo), another 5-10 seconds. Don't overprocess.
3. Line a 9X5 loaf pan with parchment paper hanging over the sides. Add the mixture to the pan and press down flat and hard and out to the edges. I used a rubber spatula to help press the mixture down. It will be very sticky, so be patient. It also will help to dampen your fingers with water. Once the mixture is spread out, overlap the paper over the mixture and press down really flat and hard and smooth it out to the corners. This will help form the bars and make the mixture hold. Place to firm up in the freezer for an hour.
4. Remove from the freezer and pull out with the parchment paper and slice into 8 bars. Wrap each bar in plastic wrap and keep stored in the freezer or fridge. I like mine straight from the fridge as they are chewy and edible that way, but the fridge works too, they will just be slightly softer.
5. To make the glaze, simply blend the raspberries with the syrup in a food processor until very smooth. Strain through a strainer to catch all the seeds, pressing through with a spoon. Place in the fridge to firm up a bit, or you can add tapioca or a thickener. I added a tiny bit of cocoa powder to mine. It will thicken up in the fridge.

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Maria's Chocolate Buttermilk Sheet Cake

Maria's Chocolate Buttermilk Sheet Cake

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup butter
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup buttermilk or sour milk 
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1 recipe chocolate buttermilk frosting

Instructions

1. Grease a 15x10x1-inch or 13x9x2-inch baking pan; set aside. In a medium bowl, stir together flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt; set aside. 
2. In a medium saucepan combine butter, cocoa powder, and 1 cup water. Bring mixture just to boiling, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Add the cocoa mixture to flour mixture and beat with an electric mixer on medium to high speed until thoroughly combined. Add eggs, buttermilk, and vanilla. Beat for 1 minute (batter will be thin). Pour batter into the prepared pan. 
3. Bake in a 350 F oven about 25 minutes for the 15x10-inch pan, 35 minutes for the 13x9x2-inch pan, or until a wooden toothpick comes out clean. 
4. Pour warm Chocolate-Buttermilk Frosting over the warm cake, spreading evenly. Place cake in pan on wire rack; cool thoroughly. 
5. Chocolate-Buttermilk Frosting: In a medium saucepan combine 1/4 (?) cup butter or margarine, 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder, and 3 tablespoons buttermilk. Bring to boiling. Remove from heat. Add 2 1/4 cups sifted powdered sugar and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla. Beat until smooth. If desired, stir in 3/4 cup coarsely chopped pecans. 
6. Chocolate-Cinnamon Sheet Cake: Prepare as above, except add 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon to the flour mixture.

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