Everyone knows I'm a sugar addict, and while I don't really restrict my sweet tooth (for the most part), I do love finding slightly healthier ways to indulge it from time to time. Let's be real, endless desserts full of processed sugar, flour, and butter do not make you feel great, and are not great for your waistline. I was super pumped to find this gem of a place while vacationing in Sydney, Australia. Whip It Good is a vegan ice cream bar in the heart of Bondi Beach, serving some seriously tasty coconut-based soft serve. Their ice cream and toppings are free of gluten, grains, lactose, and dairy, and most are kosher as well! I know some of you may be thinking- So, what does that leave? How could it still taste creamy and delicious? Trust me when I say both the standard Plain Jane coconut soft serve as well as the seasonally-rotating option are worth your time (and calories)! I fell in love with the turmeric soft serve- the deeply spiced and earthy flavor may not be for everyone, but it was definitely right up my alley. Both my husband and I went for the Banoffee Ya Face sundaes, complete with soft serve (I went turmeric base, while he went with the traditional coconut), toasted banana bread, and caramelized bananas. Oh. My. Gosh. It was literally heaven in a bowl, and I wish I could eat it again right now! Some of their other offerings were just as tempting- think chocolate donuts, caramel sauce, and toasted nuts! Yum! Here's hoping that Whip It Good opens a location stateside soon!
superfood balls
If you ever need something sweet, but don't want to indulge in a full-on dessert, these are a tasty, but healthy alternative. Whether it's an afternoon pick-me-up or an after dinner treat, there are great to have on hand and contain many superfoods like maca, chia seeds & cacao! Even better, they're super easy to make- just throw everything in the food processor, and that's it! Enjoy!
Superfood Balls:
1/2 cup raw walnuts
1/2 cup raw almonds
1/4 cup chia seeds
1 cup pitted Medjool dates (about 10)
1/4 cup dried unsweetened coconut
1/3 cup raw cacao powder
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
1/2 tsp maca powder
2 tbsp water
1/4 tsp salt
Pulse all ingredients together in food processor until well combined. Roll into balls. Coat in extra coconut or cacao, if desired. Makes about 2 dozen balls. These store well in an airtight container at room temperature for a few days, or in the regrigerator for 7-10 days.
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healthier black bean brownies
My best friend Stephanie is a registered dietician and plant-based chef who runs a vegan food truck in Texas called Ripe Cuisine. You can find tons of delicious, yet good-for-you recipes on her site, many of which you'd never know are vegan! Her motto is "eat with a purpose", and it's comforting to know you can do just that, even when a craving for sweets hits! When I want a brownie, I want it to be rich and fudgy, and that's exactly what these are. Stephanie's recipe includes a secret ingredient- black beans- but don't let that deter you. I promise you'll enjoy these just as much as any butter and egg-filled brownie, but you can feel good about the fact that they're both vegan and gluten free!
Flourless Fudge Brownies:
1 cup dark chocolate chunks
1/4 cup coconut oil
2 cans black beans, drained & rinsed
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
3/4 cup coconut palm sugar
2 tbsp maple syrup
1 tbsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp sea salt
Preheat oven to 350 F. In a double broiler, melt chocolate and coconut oil together. Remove from heat and set aside.
In a food processor fitted with a steel blade, combine black beans, cocoa powder, palm sugar, maple syrup, vanilla extract, and salt. Pulse a few times to begin to breakdown beans, and with the motor running, pour in the melted chocolate-coconut oil mixture.
Continue to process until smooth, stopping to scrape down the sides of the work bowl, as needed. If adding in extra chocolate chips, nuts, etc., now is the time to stir them into the batter.
Using 1 tablespoon coconut oil, grease a 9 inch x 9 inch pan and pour in brownie batter. Bake for 45 minutes until brownies are set. Allow to cool for 30 minutes for brownies to firm up before cutting. Allow them plenty of time to cool and firm up before cutting. Enjoy!
*Makes 9 large brownies
**Optional additions- maca powder, extra chocolate chips, chopped nuts, shredded coconut, nut butter or dried fruit
***Recipe from Ripe Cuisine
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