'Tis the season of love. What better way to show your affection than through sweet confections?
We're constantly encouraging you to fall in love with food again through recipes made of nutritious, lively natural options, but that doesn't mean you have to stop eating desserts. There are plenty of delicious choices you can have without ditching your primarily raw, plant-based eating habits, especially around Valentine's Day!
Show your special someone how much you care by creating one - or all - of these sweet treats to share for the upcoming holiday:
1. Sweetheart Cake with Fudge Frosting
This delicious pairing, found in Rhonda Malkmus' recipe book, "Rhonda's Culinary Creations" makes the perfect treat to share with a loved one.
Ingredients:
For the cake:
3 cups walnuts, soaked overnight, drained and dried
1 cup raw, unsweetened carob powder - try Hallelujah Diet raw carob powder
1 cup medjool dates, pitted
3 tablespoons raw, extra-virgin, cold-pressed coconut butter
1 tablespoon ground flaxseed
1/4 raw vanilla bean, ground fine or 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon unrefined sea salt
Zest of 1/2 orange
1/2 cup fresh or frozen raspberries
For the frosting:
1/3 cup soft, pitted medjool dates
1/3 cup raw carob powder
1 tablespoon ground flaxseed
1/4 cup raw, unfiltered honey or other sweetener
1 to 1/2 medium avocado, peeled and pitted
Directions:
To make the cake, simply place all ingredients in a food processor, pulsing until it reaches a thick, smooth consistency. Push the mixture into a cake mold to form, and then let it set in the refrigerator.
In the meantime, place all frosting ingredients into the food processor, and blend until smooth. Remove cake from the refrigerator, and apply frosting generously over the sides and surface of the dessert. Enjoy!
2. Cinnamon Blueberry Tart
Try this delicious treat that uses a multitude of fruits and seasonings to reach a remarkable depth of flavor.
Ingredients:
For the cinnamon pastry:
1 cup almonds
2 tablespoons cinnamon
1/2 tablespoon nutmeg
1 tablespoon distilled water
Sprinkle of sea salt
For the blueberry jam:
1/2 cup blueberries, plus 12 blueberries set aside for garnish
1/2 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon ground flaxseed
1 tablespoon agave
Directions:
First, combine all cinnamon pastry ingredients in a food processor. Add more water to reach smooth consistency if necessary. Set aside.
Place all blueberry jam ingredients in the food processor, mixing until smooth.
Take the cinnamon pastry mix and press it into a tart mold. Then, place blueberry jam in a pastry bag and pipe the mixture over the cinnamon pastry. Garnish the tart with reserved blueberries and enjoy!
3. Coconut Banana Cream Pie with Carob Sauce
Need a guilt-free sweet and satisfying treat that curbs a chocolate craving? Try this recipe.
Ingredients:
For the pie filling:
2 fresh bananas
4 frozen bananas
2/3 cup dates, pitted
1 cup shredded unsweetened coconut
For the date-nut pie crust:
1 cup pecans
1 cup walnuts
1 cup dates
1/4 cup honey
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
For the carob sauce:
2 tablespoons oil
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup water
3 tablespoons tahini
3 teaspoons molasses
1/3 cup Hallelujah Diet raw carob powder
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
Directions:
First, create your pie filling. Place fresh bananas and dates in a blender, mixing until smooth. Then, add the frozen bananas, and process until just mixed. Add coconut, pulsing softly. Set the mixture aside.
To create the pie crust, process pecans, walnuts and dates until they're well-chopped. Stop the processor, add honey, and then pulse until the mixture just holds together, making sure not to over process. Remove the pie crust from the food processor, and it press into the bottom and sides of a pie plate.
Once the pie crust is ready, pour in the pie filling. Sprinkle with coconut flakes,and then place the pie in the freezer to set for at least one hour.
As soon as you're ready to enjoy the pie, remove from it freezer, and create the carob sauce. Simply mix all ingredients in a small bowl, and then place the mixture in a saucepan over medium heat. Let it simmer until thickened, and then drizzle over the pie. Enjoy!
There are plenty of delicious dessert options where that came from! Find the perfect treat to make for your special someone this Valentine's Day by searching through our database of recipes.
