Au naturel is the name of the game this week.
Au naturel is the name of the game this week.
INGREDIENTS
Base
1 cup raw cashew nuts
1 cup dried dates
1 cup desiccated coconut
2 tablespoons raw cacao
Zest of one orange, grated
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon coconut oil
Filling
1 cup raw cashew nuts
½ cup fresh orange juice
6 tablespoons coconut oil, melted
4 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons raw cacao powder
Zest of one orange
Topping
1 cup dried dates
2 cups water
2 tablespoons raw cacao powder
3 tablespoons coconut oil, melted
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
½ teaspoon cinnamon
Sprinkle of salt
Zest half orange, grated
Orange zest to garnish
INSTRUCTIONS
TO MAKE THE BASE place the raw cashews and dried dates into a blender or food processor and blitz until they are finely ground down. Add the desiccated coconut, cacao powder and orange zest, whizz until all the ingredients are combined. Finally add the wet ingredients, the vanilla extract and coconut oil. Combine. Line a slice tin with baking paper and press the base mixture into the bottom of the slice tin. Place in the fridge to set while you make the other layers.
TO MAKE THE FILLING soak the raw cashew nuts in water for 3 hours to soften. Drain and rinse the cashews with clean water. Place the swollen cashew nuts into a blender or food processor and blitz for a couple of minutes. Add the orange juice, melted coconut oil and honey and whizz until all of the ingredients are combined and very smooth. You may need to scrape the sides down several times. Add the orange zest and cacao powder, process for a final time, combining all the ingredients. Pour the orange choc cream onto the base and smooth over. Place back in the fridge.
TO MAKE THE TOPPING place the dried dates and 2 cups of water in a saucepan and simmer over a medium heat for 10 minutes. Drain the water from the dates and place the dates in a blender or food processor. Whizz until very smooth. Add the cacao powder, coconut oil, vanilla extract, cinnamon and orange zest. Continue to process until the chocolate topping is very smooth. Once the topping is cool, pour on top of the slice and smooth over. Decorate the top with orange zest and place back in the fridge to set for 1 hour. Once set cut into 20 squares and serve.
For more great recipes by Gold Coast local Caralee Caldwell, check out her page here.
They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day and one including chocolate is surely the most delicious. Try this simple, healthy granola for something a little bit sweeter in the mornings.
INGREDIENTS
1 ½ cups raw almonds
½ a cup of pecans
½ a cup of cashews
½ a cup of sunflower seeds
2 cups of shredded coconut
½ a cup of cacao powder
1/3 cup of coconut oil, melted
1/3 cup of maple syrup
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
½ teaspoon of salt
DIRECTIONS
Pre-heat your oven to 130 degrees celsius and line a baking tray with baking paper. Place the almonds, pecans and cashew nuts in a food processor and blitz for only a few seconds. You want the mixture to be crunched down a little but ideally there will still be a few whole nuts.
Place the sunflower seeds and coconut into the food processor and blitz for a few seconds until the mixture is combined but still chunky.
Place the dry mixture in a bowl. To prepare the wet mixture, in a small bowl whisk together the cacao, melted coconut oil, maple syrup, vanilla extract and salt. Once the wet mixture is combined, pour into the dry mixture and coat the nuts evenly. Spread the coated granola evenly in a single layer on the baking tray.
Place in the oven for 50 – 60 minutes, shaking the tray once at around 25 minutes and then let bake for a minimum of a further 25 minutes. Let the granola stand to cool for a couple of hours once baked and then store in an airtight container or jar.
Makes 5 cups
Preparation time 15 minutes
Baking time 50 minutes
For more great recipes by Gold Coast local Caralee Caldwell, check out her page here.
Have a bit of spare time on your hands? Make these simple and delicious cookies. They are as healthy as cookies get. Enjoy!
INGREDIENTS
1½ cups almond meal or ground almonds
1 cup dried dates
1 cup shredded coconut
2 tablespoons cacao powder
½ teaspoon baking powder
3 tablespoons natural crunchy peanut butter
¼ cup water
Extra peanut butter for garnish (optional)
INSTRUCTIONS
Pre-heat the oven to 180 degrees and line a baking tray with baking paper. In a food processor place the almond meal and the dried dates. Whizz until the dates are a very fine crumble. Add the cacao, shredded coconut and baking powder. Stir until combined. Add the peanut butter and water and mix together until the mixture is moist and all the ingredients are fully combined. Roll the dough into 16 balls and place in a row on the baking try. With a wet fork, press each ball down to form the shape of a cookie. Place the bikkies in the oven for 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and let them cool. Garnish with a small dollop of peanut butter.
For more great recipes by Gold Coast local Caralee Caldwell, check out her page here.
Apparently Christmas in July came about because our European settler friends weren’t keen on celebrating in 40 degree heat and not a snowflake in sight. Us Aussies though are up for a feast t any old time so Christmas in July it is! Here’s a healthy Christmas Cake to jump start the festivities.
INGREDIENTS
1 cup almond meal
1 cup dried dates
2 tablespoons coconut flour
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon ground ginger
½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 tablespoon orange zest
Pinch of salt
3 eggs
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons chia seeds
½ cup water
½ cup chopped prunes
½ cup chopped apricots
½ cup chopped figs
½ cup chopped brazil nuts
½ cup orange juice
INSTRUCTIONS
Pre-heat the oven at 180 degrees celsius and line a square cake tin with baking paper. To start, soak the chia seeds in the ½ cup of water and set aside. In a separate bowl soak the prunes, apricots and figs in the ½ cup of orange juice. In a food processor place the almond meal and dried dates, process until finely ground down and combined. Add the other dry ingredients including the coconut flour, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, baking soda, orange zest and salt. Process together until combined. In a small bowl whisk the eggs, apple cider vinegar, olive oil and soaked chia seeds. Add the wet mixture to the dry mixture and blitz in the processor until combined. Finally add the fruit that has been soaking in the orange juice and the Brazil nuts. Mix gently to combine the nuts and fruit into the cake mixture. Scrape the mixture into the cake tin and place in the oven for 40 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean. Remove the loaf from the oven allow to cool down.
For more great recipes by Gold Coast local Caralee Caldwell, check out her page here.
