Vegan and Gluten-Free Mocha Granola

there are two things I am certain about when it comes to granola, 1 it is the best breakfast cereal out there, and 2, it is always worth making a double batch. So for today's dream granola, you are going to need only 7 simple ingredients that are easily interchangeable if needed!

Let’s start with the oats. I use gluten-free rolled oats because traditional rolled oats can contain traces of gluten. So if you are like me and are very sensitive to gluten, spend the extra dollar and get yourself a big bag of gluten-free rolled oats! I like to get mine at Trader Joe's because they are the cheapest and taste awesome! If you can’t access a Trader Joes you can buy them online. I use Thrive Market and they have them on there for only a dollar more than Trader Joes. You can also try Bob’s Red Mill and order them off of Amazon. 

Now for the coconut sugar, you can use whatever granulated sugar you like. The benefit of coconut sugar is nit just because it’s “healthier” but because coconut sugar has a unique caramel-like flavor that gives a lot more flavor to the granola! SO do what you wish, but I highly recommend using coconut sugar!

when it comes to the espresso, daniel and I dring ut coffee at home, if you don’t have access to freshly ground coffee, you can use store-bought espresso powder.. also if you use fresh coffee the milk will be smoother and more enjoyable. If you don’t have espresso powder at home feel free to omit the espresso powder and just make it chocolate! Don’t worry, you won’t be disappointed, either way!

When it comes to baking the granola make sure you follow the instructions and mix it around halfway through. This helps the granola to bake evenly, then when you take it out of the oven, put the granola in a glass plate to cool. I have learned the hard way, burning one too many batches of granola by letting it wit in a hot pan to cool off, then realizing I have half-burnt granola…

Anyways, thankfully I am here to make the mistakes so you don’t have to! 

So without any further chit-chat here is your recipe for Mocha Granola! 

Ingredients

• 2 cups gluten-free oats

• 1/4th cup coconut sugar

• 1/4th cup chia seeds **

• 1/4th cup cocoa powder

• 1 tsp fine sea salt

• 1 tbsp espresso powder

• 1/3rd cup melted coconut oil

Instructions

1. Preheat your over to 350F and spray a baking sheet with coconut oil, set aside. 

2. In a large bowl whisk together your dry ingredients

3. Mix in the coconut oil until fully combined

4. spread your mixture evenly onto your baking sheet and place in the oven. 

5. Bake for 10 minutes, take your granola out of the oven, and give it a good mix, evening it out when you're done. 

6. Bake for another 10 minutes. 

7. Remove from the oven and transport granola into a glass plate to cool. Do not leave on the baking sheet as this will stay hot and possibly burn your granola. 

8. Once cool serve with milk, on yogurt or all by itself!

9. Enjoy!

Cosmic Brownies // Gluten Free & Vegan

One fine afternoon my friend Natalie from the blog Feasting on Fruit and I were discussing what treasures we would make next. Our obsession with pumpkin for the season had yet to begin so we began to brainstorm what to make until then.

When we come up with recipes they have to be Daniel approved because if we can make a baking traditionalist happy with something baked that’s gluten-free and vegan, we can make anyone happy! We also take every opportunity to make recipes that give us some glam drizzle shots!

We landed on something nostalgic, chocolaty, and irresistibly good! You probably guessed from the title of course, but we landed on making Cosmic Brownies, and we were determined to make them even better than the original. I know that’s saying a lot especially when we are making them without flour, butter, or eggs…

Well, folks, this one here is a winner if I have ever seen (or eaten) one! The fudgy brownie and decadent chocolate ganache will without a doubt bring up your dessert game while simultaneously bring you back to your childhood days, eating Little Debbie snacks on the back porch with your friends.

We made this recipe simple so that everyone can have a chance to make and enjoy them! We also kept in mind to make these vegan, gluten-free, & paleo so that more than just one group of people can enjoy them! Let us know how you enjoy the brownies, and in the meantime don’t forget to check out Daniel Peacocke on YouTube and Natalie on her website Feasting on Fruit!

Now without any further delay here is the recipe!

Brownies

• 2 flax eggs (2 tbsp ground flax + 6 tbsp warm water)

• 3/4 cup (185g) runny nut/seed butter

• 1/4 cup (50g) coconut oil*

• 1/2 cup (75g) coconut sugar

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

• 3/4 cup (70g) cacao powder

• 1/2 tsp baking soda

• 1/4 tsp salt

Ganache

• 1 cup (160g) chocolate chips

• 1/3 cup coconut milk

• Colorful sprinkles for topping**

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 350F

• Whisk together the nut/seed butter, coconut sugar, prepared flax eggs, and vanilla.

• Stir in the cacao powder, baking soda, and salt to form a thick batter. If batter seems too dry add 1/4 cup coconut oil or nondairy milk.

• Spread into a greased loaf pan. Bake for 20-25 minutes at 350ºF.

• Cool completely (or chill to speed it up) before frosting

• For the ganache, melt the chocolate chips with the coconut milk. Stir until smooth pour/spread on top of cooled brownies.

• Top with sprinkles. Chill until the ganache is set.

• Slice and enjoy!!

Notes

*You can use non-dairy milk instead of coconut oil for an oil-free option, but the brownies will be drier.

** For an all-natural revision check out Feasting on Fruit for a homemade sprinkles recipe!

Healthy Gluten & Dairy-free Chocolate Chunk Oatmeal Cookies

Something urged me to make oatmeal cookies this week, I don’t know if it was the fact that I had an abundance of oats in my house, or I just wanted something sweet to dunk in my morning coffee! Who knows, probably both!

Anyway, I just wanted to bring you a simple and easy recipe that will fill your bellies with something wholesome and sweet!

These cookies are made gluten-free by using gluten-Free oats which you can find at your local grocery store, or online. I buy mine at Trader Joe’s because you get a lot for what you pay for!

When it came to the chocolate I didn’t have any chocolate chips on hand, so I just chopped up a chocolate bar! I love doing this because the chocolate bars I buy are always at least 65% dark chocolate, making them usually dairy-free! So if you like things less sweet, go for the dark chocolate trick, but if not go for some dairy-free chocolate chips! Either way, you won’t be sorry you made these bad boys!

Time: 30-35 minutes

Makes about 12 cookies

Ingredients

• 1 cup GF oat flour

• 1 cup GF whole oats

• 1 tsp baking powder

• 1/4th tsp salt

• 1tsp cinnamon

• 1/3rd cup coconut sugar  

• 2 large eggs

• 1/4th cup coconut oil

• 1/4th cup almond milk

• ½ cup dairy-free chocolate chips (or chunks)

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 350F and prepare your baking sheet.

Whisk together the dry ingredients and then whisk in the wet ingredients until a batter forms.

Gently fold the chocolate into the batter.

Scoop the dough into 1 inch balls using an ice cream scoop and place on the prepared baking sheet about 1 to 2 inches apart.

Place in oven and bake for 22-25 minutes.

Let cool on a cooling rack for about 15 minutes and enjoy!

Psst….dont forget to pin it!