Vegan No-Bake Yummies
SERVES: 10-12 SERVINGS | PREP TIME: 10 MIN
I say "yummies" but the truth is that means nothing. You're probably still wondering what it is I'm sharing with you today.
So to answer your question, yummies are a simple food prepared with dates, nuts, cocoa and a bit of sweetener. You may now be thinking "oh, like date energy bites", and I guess you could say these would fall into that category, yes. However I tend to treat this as a dessert - not really as an energy snack- and would say it's closest to a brownie. I usually make this recipe, or "brownies", for a crowd because it's vegan, it's gluten free, it's considered a health promoting food (go dates!), and most people really enjoy something chocolatey. All you need to do is pop everything into a food processor, press the mixture into a travel container, like the Weck jars you'll see below, and off you'll go. It won't take you more than 10 minutes. Heck at that rate, next time you have a hankering for chocolate just make it for yourself. It's quite satisfying.
All that being said...
Make no mistake my friends. If you want brownies, have the brownies. If you want a piece of chocolate, have the chocolate. This isn't meant to be anything it's not. That's why I've named them "yummies". Make this as something fun and different, and enjoy it as such. There's a time and a place for everything. Got it?
Substitutions
Now, the raspberries and salt are totally optional, but they balance this guy out pretty nicely. You could use strawberries or any fruit really. Heck you could even add some powdered sugar or whipped cream and you'd hit the trifecta of dessert toppings.
Walnuts. Hmm.. Probably any nut or seed would substitute quite nicely in the case of a food allergy. I'd probably go to sunflower seeds first.
Maple syrup really adds nice flavor, but you could use any liquid sweetener. Honey may be too overpowering, but give it a try if you feel so inclined! Just remember, less is more.
Cocoa powder adds smoothness, but if you really wanted to hit up the "super foods" category add ground cacao. And while you're at it, throw in some Goji Berries, Flax Oil, Spirulina. BAM.
Vegan No-Bake Yummies
SERVES: 10-12 SERVINGS
PREP TIME: 10 MIN
INSTRUCTIONSPlace walnuts and salt in a food processor fitted with the "S" blade and process until finely ground. Add the dates, cocoa, vanilla, and maple syrup. Process until mixture creates a sticky dough.
Press into either one 8" or four 2" tart pans with removable bottoms, or in a glass storage container, and chill thoroughly. If serving immediately, press raspberries into the top for garnish.
Cover tightly with plastic wrap, yummies will keep for 3 days in the fridge, for 2 weeks in the freezer.
INGREDIENTS3 cups Raw walnuts
Pinch of salt
24 Dates, pitted and chopped
2/3 cup Unsweetened cocoa powder
2 tsp Vanilla extract
6 tbsp Maple syrup
Optional: raspberries and flaked salt for garnish