Raw Cookies & Truffles

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Raw truffles with cacao (I need to grind it more next time!), coconut oil, agave nectar, raisins (ground), extracts, and hempseeds.  Not what I was going for but tasty, anyway.

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These are simply amazing and I think better than any cooked cookie I’ve ever had!  They have cashews, sun-dried bing cherries, agave nectar (not a lot), and vanilla extract. 

Cherry Spirals

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My Sweet Vegan

I made these based off of the My Sweet Vegan recipe for strawberry spirals.  I wouldn’t suggest making this dessert if you’re in a hurry; the dough must chill twice, for a preparation of approximately 6 hours.  I REALLY enjoyed the spirals of cherry and the not-too-sweet cookie.  Unlike the turtles below, I think you can indulge in a few cherry cookies without feeling ill.  You might notice that some cookies have more cherry filling than others; the ones with extra filling are just as tasty, but they are not as feasible to pick up and eat.

Turtle Shortbread Wedges

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My Sweet Vegan

Crunchy and sweet on top, chocolately on the bottom, these dessert wedges are good, but I’d hesitate to say excellent.  I think the chocolate shortbread was way too oily and the top too sweet.  Also, I used a candy thermometer and followed the directions exactly, but the top of mine are crystallized, unlike the picture in the book, which shows a more caramely goo.  :)     I don’t want to be too critical; don’t get me wrong, they will satisfy grandpa’s cookie cravings for 10 days straight!

I see that Fat Free Vegan also made these and cut them into squares, a great idea, considering the wedges do break apart easily.

VeganMoFo - I have a confession.

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I used to read posts on blogs of people who said they would make something and not follow a recipe, amazed by how they did this, thinking, “How did they know it would turn out right?!”

Months later, I make cookies, small batches of cookies, without writing a thing down, going merely by sight (and hope, ahem).  The last batch I made was oatmeal, peanut butter, quinoa cereal flakes, and maple syrup - and it was good!  The cookies were huge. 

I’ll be the first to acknowledge that the reason no measurements are needed is because I’m the only one eating these things.  So if the cookies are less than delicious, I’m the only one who knows.   :)

The lastest have agave nectar, almond extract, vanilla extract, peanut oil (only 1 T.), egg replacer powder (come on, I felt like using it as opposed to baking soda and/or powder), white wheat flour, and chopped peanuts.

All whole-grain, lower in fat, and sweetened with a wholesome sweetener!

They were good but tasted “healthy,” as you might have guessed.  I wanted to dump another 1/4 c. of agave on top and let it crystallize.  It was nothing a tablespoon or two of maple syrup couldn’t fix!  These satisfied my cookie craving without the guilt.

Almond Butter & Jam Cookies

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Cooking With the Right Side of the Brain

Filled with almond butter, ground raisins, and whole-wheat pastry flour, these cookies have merely four ingredients and are completely fruit-sweetened, provided you use a fruit-only jam (check out your nearest health food store for organic varieties; I like Bionaturae).  While I found these little treats to be very tasty, I can see how someone who is used to high-sugar or refined sugar items would find them a little bland.

Chocolate & White Chocolate Cookie Bars (gluten-free) & Banana Custard with Maple-Glazed Pecans

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 The cookies are a repeat and our favorite chocolate chip bars, from The Best Gluten-free Family Cookbook.    This time, I added white chocolate chips as well.  All of these items are for the NJARA meetup today!

I also made pear cardamom muffins with spelt flour today, from ExtraVeganZa but they didn’t turn out well, sticking to the muffin liners.  Last time I made them, they were fabulous, so I don’t know what the problem was.

The custard is from Sweet & Natural, using the vanilla custard recipe and adding also bananas and maple-glazed pecans.  It’s really hard to tell by the picture, but it thickened nicely and tastes very sweet!

VEGAN CUPCAKES TAKE OVER THE WORLD

Can you see the army of them, waiting in line to destroy the omnivorous crumbly ones?!  ;)

 This is Isa and Terry’s new book and everyone is raving about it.  I decided to go with the cookies and cream cupcakes for my birthday.  Very good.  I couldn’t believe how perfect everything was, down to the icing.  Now you see why lunch was reduced in fat.  And Rich’s friends or someone has GOT to come over before I eat them all!

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Hempnut Brownies

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Hempnut Cookbook

Check it out, brownies that don’t stick to the glass pan!  :)  Lessens my cleanup time.  These turned out really good, but I’ll warn you - they are crunchy brownies, not chewy or cakey.  They also are higher in fat than some other recipes but great flavor.  contains wheat