Category: Desserts

Desserts, Holiday

Holiday Truffles

Featuredby Stephanie BoschLeave a Comment on Holiday Truffles
Holiday Truffles

Making cookies and candy around the holidays always puts me in the best mood! It also reminds me of being a kid. Back then, I cut out sugar cookies and made those green cornflake wreaths with red hots. Remember those? I mostly loved being in the kitchen with my mom and my brother and listening to my mom sing Christmas carols.

We each had our cookie job, and my mom’s job was to make my dad a dozen or two of his mother’s rum truffles. My brother and I were never allowed to have any (although we managed to sneak one or two without any notice), so my mom would make us some sans the rum! They were delicious and usually gone within a day or two! 

This is a vegan version of her truffles! Enjoy!

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Holiday Truffles

  • Author: Stephanie Bosch
  • Prep Time: 1 hour
  • Cook Time: 5 hours (Refrigerate)
  • Total Time: 6 hours
  • Yield: @ 60 Truffles
  • Diet: Vegan
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Description

These truffles are incredible!  Incredibly easy and incredibly delicious!   This batch will make approximately 60 truffles.   You can use the basic truffle recipe and modify anyway you want! 

Ingredients

Scale
Basic Truffle Mix
 
  • 2 cups (about 16 oz) 100% unsweetened vegan dark chocolate  
  • 2 tablespoons coconut oil, melted
  • 2/3 cup full fat coconut milk
  • 2 tablespoons maple syrup
  • 1/8 tsp fine sea salt
For Chocolate Orange Truffles
 

Dark Chocolate Raspberry Truffles

For Vanilla White Chocolate Truffles
 
  • Basic Truffle Mix
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 1/3 cup vegan white chocolate (for coating truffles)
  • Shredded Coconut, White Nonpareils, or Sparkling Sugar
 
 

Instructions

     To make the truffle mixture:
 

  1. To make the basic truffle mix, melt the chocolate and coconut oil in a glass dish over boiling water. Stirring constantly.

  2. Remove dish from the heat and whisk in coconut milk, maple syrup and sea salt.

  3. Divide the mixture into 3 bowls, one for each of the flavors. 

  4. For the chocolate orange truffles add the orange essence. Mix well. 

  5. For the dark chocolate raspberry truffles add dark rum and raspberry essence. Mix well.

  6. For the vanilla truffles, add the vanilla essence.  Mix well. 

  7. Put all three bowls in the fridge for at least 5 hours to fully firm up.

  8. After the truffle mixes are firm, use a teaspoon to spoon out mixture and roll in your hands to make small balls, about half the size of golf balls.

  9. Set out the truffles on parchment lined baking pans. Just make sure you know which flavor is which.  Freeze for at least 3 hours.

    To decorate:

  • In a glass bowl over boiling water, melt chocolate to cover the truffles in.

  • For the orange truffles, and the raspberry truffles melt the dark chocolate. For the vanilla truffles, melt white chocolate. 

  • I like to use this chocolate dipping tool, but you can also use a fork. Dip truffles one by one into the melted chocolate, and place on a parchment lined baking sheet.

Immediately decorate each truffle, while the chocolate is still melted.

  • For the orange chocolates, sprinkle with flaky sea salt and orange zest, or edible gold dust powder. You can also add two thin slices of candied orange across the top. For raspberry truffles, dust in cocoa powder and ground dried raspberries.  For vanilla truffles, sprinkle with coconut or white sparkling sugar (blue sanding sugar is also very pretty). 

  • Put all covered and decorated truffles in the fridge for an hour or so to set. Then they can be served. 

     

Notes

The truffles will last in an air tight container the fridge for 2-3 weeks. They can also be frozen. 

Desserts, Summer Berries, Vegan

Courtney K’s Strawberry Rhubarb Sorbet

Featuredby Stephanie BoschLeave a Comment on Courtney K’s Strawberry Rhubarb Sorbet
Courtney K’s Strawberry Rhubarb Sorbet

I love summer. I love the long warm days, eating juicy watermelon by the pound, and spending as much time in the water as possible. Summer’s bounty includes tomatoes, cucumbers, cherries, all the berries, but especially strawberries. I have fond memories of those little round shortcakes filled with fresh strawberries and cool-whip my mom used to make! And I still love it.

I have also grown quite fond of fresh rhubarb. Although rhubarb is a vegetable, it is often put to the same culinary use as a fruit. The leaf stalks can be used raw (I love it thinly shaved), and it tastes a lot like celery. But most commonly, it is boiled down with sugar and made into things like pies or this sorbet! 

When choosing rhubarb, look for crisp stalks that are firm and tender. Try to avoid stalks that are too woody or thick. And unlike its friend, the strawberry, color doesn’t have much impact on taste.

There is some sugar in this recipe but do not reduce the amount. Sugar lowers the freezing point of water and helps prevent crystallization. 

Finally, when choosing strawberries, look for the gariguette strawberry. They are the sweetest and most fragrant strawberries you’ll ever taste. If you can’t find the french variety, try to buy them locally if you can. A fresh strawberry should be firm to the touch, bright red, and free of bruises. And yellowish/green berries do not ripen at home, so remember that when you won’t think you want summer berries in December! 

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Courtney K’s Strawberry Rhubarb Sorbet

  • Author: Stephanie Bosch
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes + 6 chill/freezer
  • Cook Time: 10 minutes
  • Total Time: 50 minute
  • Yield: 6-8 servings 1x
  • Category: Desserts
  • Cuisine: Desserts
  • Diet: Vegan
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Description

Basically frozen water, fruit, and sugar, a sorbet is a perfect summer dessert!  This frozen base would also be great as a margarita, or daiquiri.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3 stalks of fresh rhubarb, washed and thinly sliced
  • 1 lb stemmed and chopped gariguette strawberries
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 2 teaspoons orange zest (about 1 orange)
  • 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated or minced 
  • 1/4 tsp salt

Instructions

  1. In a medium saucepan, bring all ingredients to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 10 minutes, or until the rhubarb is quite soft. Remove from heat and let cool.
  2. Transfer the mixture to a blender or food processor and carefully mix until smooth. If using a blender, do so in batches so the mixture doesn’t overflow and burns you. Chill the mixture in the fridge for about 3 hours, or until cool. (About one hour in the freezer).
  3. Pour the mixture into an ice cream maker and freeze according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
  4. If you are not using an ice cream maker, you can also pour the mixture into a freezer-safe container and freeze. It will be ready in about 3-4 hours. Best made the day before and frozen overnight.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 cup

Keywords: frozen sorbet, strawberry rhubarb sorbet

Desserts, Holiday

Raw Key Lime & Blue Spirulina Cheesecake

Featuredby Stephanie BoschLeave a Comment on Raw Key Lime & Blue Spirulina Cheesecake
Raw Key Lime & Blue Spirulina Cheesecake

I’ve wanted to make this recipe for a long time. I also wanted to create a yummy recipe for the 4th of July. Hence, the raw cheesecake! Key Lime Pie screams summer, but I wanted to make something a little more festive for a holiday. At first, I tried making a red, white, and blue cheesecake, but that idea came crashing down when I couldn’t get a pretty red layer. It kept coming up pink. And on one occasion, it even turned brown! The alternative was to use food coloring, but I wanted to keep it clean. In the end, I decided the red should come from fresh raspberries. You could even use pomegranate arils, or pitted cherries as an alternative. It is beautiful, as well as delicious!

Since it does require some freezer time, you’ll want to make this the day before. For the first layer, I would recommend freezing for at least 3-4 hours before adding the second layer. When I made this the first time, I used soft-baked vegan oatmeal cookies pulsed with coconut oil for the crust. It was yummy, but it wasn’t raw. If you decide to use the cookies, you will need at least eight large soft-baked cookies and 1/4 cup coconut oil. I liked the addition of the raisins in my crust, but if you don’t, either pick them out or find oatmeal cookies without raisins (not easy to do, by the way).

If you make this let me know how you like it! Be sure to let the cheesecake thaw for at least 25-30 minutes before serving.

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Raw Key Lime & Blue Spirulina Cheesecake

  • Author: Stephanie Bosch
  • Prep Time: 10
  • Cook Time: 24 hours
  • Total Time: 24 hours 10 minutes
  • Diet: Vegan
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Description

This easy and delicious cheesecake will surely be the hit of any summer party! 

Ingredients

Scale

Crust:

  • 1 cup soaked raw pitted medjool dates
  • 2 cups raw almonds 
  • 1/8 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 1 tbsp water, if needed

Lime layer:

  • 1 cup cashew nuts, soaked (soak overnight, or boil for 10 minutes)
  • 1/4 cup freshly squeezed key lime juice
  • 1/3 cup full fat coconut milk
  • 4 tbsp maple syrup
  • 2 tbsp melted cacao butter
  • 1/8 tsp sea salt

Blue Spirulina Layer:

  • 1 cup cashew nuts, soaked (soak overnight, or boil for 10 minutes)
  • 1/2 cup full fat coconut milk
  • 4 tbsp maple syrup
  • 2 tbsp cacao butter
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/4 tsp Blue Spirulina Powder
  • 1/8 tsp sea salt

Instructions

Crust: 

  1. Line a round 9-inch springform pan with parchment paper, and set aside.
  2. Add all ingredients to a food processor and blitz until a fine meal has formed.  The crust should stick together well. If too dry and crumbly, slowly add up to 1 tablespoon water.  
  3. Press mixture into pan, or small individual pans (will make about 12 small tarts).  
  4. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.  

Blue spirulina layer:

  1. Add all ingredients in a processor and process until smooth. 
  2. Pour mixture over the refrigerated crust. Place in the freezer for at least 3-4 hours.

Key Lime Layer:

  1. Repeat the same process for the key lime layer. Pour mixture over the set blue spirulina layer and freeze overnight. 
  1. 4. When ready to serve, remove cheesecake from mold and place it on top of the base and garnish with red fruit of choice and freshly grated lime zest. Allow to thaw for a few minutes before eating.
  1. Enjoy!

Notes

Be sure to soak, or boil your dates—especially if they have been around for awhile! 

Keywords: raw vegan

Dairy Free, Desserts, Vegan

Easy Vegan Whipped Cream

Featuredby Stephanie Bosch2 Comments on Easy Vegan Whipped Cream
Easy Vegan Whipped Cream

When I first became a vegan, I couldn’t find a non-dairy whipped cream anywhere. Now you can buy it pretty much anywhere, but it costs a small fortune, and my last two cans quick working with half of the cream still in the can. While making the sugar whipped aquafaba for my cornbread recipe, it occurred to me that if I added cream of tartar, vanilla extract for sweetness, that I would have a vegan whipped cream!

If you’re looking for an easy whipped cream recipe for a yummy Thanksgiving pie, I’ve got you covered! Be sure to add this to your dish right before serving. The whipped cream will deflate after a few hours, but you can re-whip it again and again and it will come back to peaks in 2-3 minutes.

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Easy Vegan Whipped Cream

  • Author: Stephanie Bosch
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Description

Looking for an easy and inexpensive whipped cream?  If the answer is yes, this recipe is for you! 

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 can garbanzo beans, drained, reserve liquid
  • 1/4 tsp cream of tartar
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 Tbsp powdered sugar

Instructions

Drain garbanzo beans and keep the liquid (aquafaba). Set beans aside for another use. Add aquafaba (I use all of what was in the can) to a mixing bowl (I used a stand mixer).  Mix on high for 5 minutes, or until mixture begins to foam.  Add cream of tartar, vanilla extract, and powdered sugar.  Mix for a few minutes more until soft peaks begin to form, about 3-5 minutes.  Taste for sweetness and adjust to preference. Do not overmix, or the whipped cream will fall and flatten out. 

Dairy Free, Desserts, Gluten Free, Vegan

Chocolate Cream Pie (Vegan, GF)

by Stephanie BoschLeave a Comment on Chocolate Cream Pie (Vegan, GF)

I have a love/hate relationship with the word vegan.  On one hand, it encompasses many fundamental aspects of who I am.  Legitimate scientific concerns about my health and the systematic destruction of our planet, topped with my love and compassion for ALL of God’s creatures, far outweigh any desire I might have for a Delmonico Ribeye.  But, on the other hand the word vegan strikes fear into the hearts of most people. And its presumed connotations immediately separate me from the flock. For many, vegans are seen as extremists. Fanatics, who are either angry animal right suffragists, or gaunt, pale hippies who live on scant amounts of lettuce and tofu.  Just Google the phrase, “Vegans are…” and see what comes next. Adjectives like crazy, stupid, weird, and extreme, popped up in my search bar.  But ya know what?  I’m kinda getting over it.

When an “Omni'” eats a meal I’ve prepared, they are intrigued. Almost beguiled by my ability to make not only a palatable, but delectable meal without using any part of an animal.   It’s as if they’ve suddenly realized eating meat and cheese isn’t the only way to be truly satiated.   And one of my favorite ways to showcase my vegan culinary prowess is with this Chocolate Cream Pie.

lorraine-squares-xlarge

CRUST:

• 2 cups raw pecans
• 1/4 cup date sugar or maple sugar (I used coconut sugar and 1 tbsp maple syrup)
• 1 1/2 tbsp coconut oil (melted)
• 1/2 tsp sea salt
• 1/4 tsp chipotle powder (optional, but highly recommended)

FILLING:

• 2 1/2 cups vegan dark chocolate chips (add half semi-sweet vegan to make pie sweeter)
• 2 packs of organic firm silken tofu  (I like Mori-Nu Organic firm)
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• Pinch of sea salt

Preheat the oven to 350°F

To prepare the crust, combine the pecans and sugar in a food processor fitted with the metal blade. Process until the mixture resembles a fine meal. Add the coconut oil, salt and optional chipotle powder and pulse to combine well.
Transfer the mixture to an 8- or 9-inch pie pan (I use an 8″ springform pan). Press and shape the mixture into the bottom and sides of the pan to make a pie shell.

Place the chocolate chips in a baking tray or shallow pan, Transfer to the preheated oven and heat for 3 to 4 minutes or just until melted. Watch carefully as the chocolate can burn quickly. Remove from the oven.

While the chocolate is melting, combine the tofu, vanilla and salt in a food processor fitted with the metal blade. Add the melted chocolate and blend until very smooth.

*Note: For the tofu, if you cannot find firm silken tofu, “soft” tofu can be used instead. In this case, use 600 grams total.

Pour the mixture into the reserved pie shell, smooth the top with an offset spatula and refrigerate for at least 20 minutes or until firm. When firm, slice and serve.

*Modified from Original Recipe via Rouxbe Cooking School.

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