no bake

Desserts, Raw, Recipes, Vegan, Vegetarian

Raw Gingerbread Men

Congratulations to the winner of my #ChotallyAwesome Chobani Giveaway: Kaitlin!
Don’t forget to check your email to claim your prize! xo

Giveaway Winner 12:13:13
Merry Christmas Eve Eve little bunnies!

Is it just me or has this holiday season been crazy? I’ve been working on a lot of graphic design projects and I’ve barely had time to create new recipes, which makes me bummed. But today, that changed! It’s been a way-too-warm 70 degrees here in southern California, and as awesome as it sounds to have beach weather and sunshine, it makes it feel less like Christmas. I literally don’t even want to turn on my oven to bake anything because it’s too hot in my house, haha.

Instead of traditional gingerbread cookies, I created a no bake, raw, vegan, paleo, gluten-free, gingerbread cookie recipe with no grains or refined sugars! How do you like them apples?! I don’t want to toot my own horn, but toot toot, this is probably the healthiest gingerbread recipe you will find! Minimal dishes required. What whatttttt!

Grab your almond milk, turn on Elf, and prepare to be a man-eater. ha. ha .ha.
But seriously, these Medjool men are so scrumptious!

Raw-Gingerbread-Man-Cookies-8
Raw-Gingerbread-Man-Cookies-9

Raw Gingerbread Men

1 cup + 1/4 cup Natural Delights Medjool dates, pitted
1 cup almonds
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
1/8 tsp cloves

Before you begin, REMOVE PITS FROM DATES! Combine all spices and almonds in a food processor and blend until finely chopped. Next add the dates and vanilla extract and blend until well combined. Even if it doesn’t resemble dough, it should stick together when pressing it into a ball. Transfer the ball of dough onto a picee or parchment or wax paper, cover with another sheet of parchment paper, and flatten to 1/4 inch thickness with a rolling pin. Remove the top layer of parchment paper and cut into gingerbread men or various shapes using a cookie cutter. Continue balling up the dough, rolling it out, and cutting into gingerbread men until there is no dough left. Eat right off of the plate, or store in refrigerator until serving!

Note: If you don’t have a cookie cutter, you can also roll them into 1 Tbsp sized balls as Gingerbread bites!

Raw-Gingerbread-Man-Cookies-1
Raw-Gingerbread-Man-Cookies-2
Raw-Gingerbread-Man-Cookies-3
Raw-Gingerbread-Man-Cookies-4
Raw-Gingerbread-Man-Cookies-5
Raw-Gingerbread-Man-Cookies-7
Raw-Gingerbread-Man-Cookies-6
Have a Merry Merry Christmas my loves!
xo Catherine

| 12 Comments
Contests & Giveaways, Desserts, Recipes, Reviews, Vegan, Vegetarian

Healthy Halloween: Reese’s Redo + MaraNatha Giveaway (CLOSED)

This past weekend I took to my Facebook page to ask what your favorite Halloween candy is. Not just because I couldn’t stop thinking about candy, but because I wanted to do a Healthy Halloween recipe for you guys! Winning by a landslide was your favorite chocolate pb treat, Reese’s!

Today I have vegan-ified those little chocolate cups of heaven and traded in the peanut butter for nutritious MaraNatha Maple Almond Butter!

Vegan-Reese's-8

Warning: This product is highly addictive! I literally ate spoonfuls of this straight out of the jar! As a product that is completely raw with no preservatives, no additives, and no artificial flavors or colors I have to give this 5 stars. It’s smooth yet still has that authentic gritty almond texture mixed in and spreads nicely. The taste is absolutely on par. You get a hint of the maple without it being too overpowering or too sweet. The “no stir” addition makes it soooo easy to use, especially when you keep it in the refrigerator. No more chunks of hardened almond butter stuck in the bottom of the jar!

Vegan-Reese's-7

Here is why my Reese’s Redo is a part of Healthy Halloween!
Learn why this sweet treat isn’t just delicious, but nutritious too:

5 Fast Facts About Almonds:

  • contains calcium, zinc, magnesium, and iron
  • packed with protein
  • loaded with fiber
  • contains many important B-complex groups of vitamins
  • filled with heart-healthy monounsaturated fat

5 Fast Facts About Coconut Oil:

  • super high in lauric acid
  • rich in antioxidants
  • contains natural microbial and anti-bacterial agents
  • improves metabolism
  • can help improve cholesterol

5 Fast Facts About Maple Syrup:

  • contains manganese and zinc
  • high levels of antioxidants
  • helps with inflammation
  • 1/4 cup contains more calcium as the same amount of  milk
  • 1/4 cup contains more potassium than a banana

5 Fast Facts About Raw Cacao Powder:

  • contains over 300 compounds including protein, copper, calcium, magnesium, zinc and iron
  • super high in anti-oxidants
  • contains 4 different neuro-transmitters that act as anti-depressants
  • contains essential fatty acids
  • can help to lower blood pressure

Make sure to read all the way through the post for your chance to win some MaraNatha goodies to make your own Vegan Reese’s Almond Butter Cups!

Vegan-Reese's-1 mix the chocolate

Vegan-Reese'spour evenly

Vegan-Reese's-2freeze for 15 minutes

Vegan-Reese's-3
Vegan-Reese's-4drop 1/2 Tbsp of MaraNatha Raw No Stir Maple Almond Butter in each chocolate cup

Vegan-Reese's-5cover and fill to the rim with remaining chocolate

Vegan-Reese's-6freeze for 15 minues

Vegan-Reese's-9enjoy!

Vegan Almond Butter Cups
Makes 12

1/2 cup Maranatha Coconut Butter
1/2 cup raw cacao powder
2 Tbsp grade b pure maple syrup
3 oz of Maranatha Raw No Stir Maple Almond Butter
12 mini cupcake liners

Line a mini cupcake tin with mini cupcake liners. Melt coconut butter/oil and combine with the raw cacao, and maple syrup in a medium size bowl and stir until well combined. Divide the chocolate liquid in half and reserve one half for the “top layer” of the almond butter cups. Pour the chocolate evenly in each liner and freeze for at least 15 minutes or until hardened. Remove the tin from the freezer. Drop 1/2 tablespoon of Maranatha Maple Almond Butter at a time on top of each frozen/hardened chocolate cup. After almond butter has been dropped into each cup, pour the remaining half of the chocolate until filled to the top and almond butter is covered. Carefully place them into the freezer (to expedite the process) for at least 15 minutes or until hardened. Keep almond butter cups in the refrigerator until served because they will melt and lose their shape at room temperature if the coconut butter/oil begins to melt.

Maranatha-Giveaway
It’s your chance to win some goodies from MaraNatha!
One lucky RFFMBT reader will win 1 jar of MaraNatha Coconut Butter, 1 jar of MaraNatha No Stir Raw Maple Almond Butter, 1 jar of MaraNatha No Stir Coconut Almond Butter (brand spanking new product!)!

For your chance to win:
1. Comment on this post telling me your favorite way to eat almond/nut butter.

2. Instagram a photo of how you enjoy almond or nut butter with the handles @RabbitFoodForMyBunnyTeeth @MaraNatha and hashtag #RFFMBTmaranatha
– Leave a separate comment with the URL to your Instagram photo.

This means you can earn up to two entries!
Giveaway ends on Thursday, October 24th at 11:59pm PST.
Winner will be announced on Friday, October 25th! Must use a valid email address when entering. Open to U.S. residents only.

| 115 Comments
Breakfast, Desserts, Recipes, Vegan, Vegetarian

Carrot Cake Bites

Hoppy Easter Everybunny!

Even if you don’t celebrate Easter, you can celebrate bunnies, spring, pastel colors, and carrot cake with me!
I’m so excited to hangout with my family this weekend. I will be celebrating Armenian Easter Saturday with my cousins tomorrow, and then Easter Sunday with my dad, mom, sister, grandparents, and aunt. Can’t wait for all of the bunny cuteness that will occur this weekend!

Since Easter is often associated with bunnies and carrots and those are pretty much the two best things on this planet, I thought it would be fun to make Carrot Cake Bites. Little bites of natural energy that won’t hurt your waistline! True rabbit food!

Carrot Cake Bites
Carrot Cake Bites

Carrot Cake Bites
Makes about 20 bites
Adapted from Baking Serendipity

1 cup rolled oats
1/2 cup shredded carrots
1/2 cup almond butter
1/3 cup maple syrup
1/4 chopped almonds
1/4 cup raisins
1/4 cup ground flaxseed
1/2 tsp cinnamon

In a mixing bowl, combine shredded carrots, almonds, raisins, flaxseed, and cinnamon and stir. Add almond butter and maple syrup and stir until evenly combined. Place mixture in refrigerator for at least one hour. Shape mixture into one-inch bites.

Don’t forget my other healthy carrot cake recipes:

Carrot Cake Oatmeal

Carrot Cake Oatmeal
Serves 1

1/4 cup rolled oats
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup grated carrot
1/4 cup nonfat cream cheese
1 Tbsp chia seeds
1 Tbsp maple syrup
2 Tbsp raisins
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp vanilla

Cook the oats with water in a pan over medium-high heat. Once most of the water has been soaked up into the oats, stir in the chia seeds, cream cheese, and grated carrot. Add in the rest of the spices, vanilla, and maple syrup and stir until all ingredients are combined. Transfer the cooked oatmeal to a bowl, garnish with extra shredded carrot, and top with raisins. Enjoy warm.

The Rabbit Food Pyramid Breakdown
Produce: carrot and raisins
Whole Grain: rolled oats
Protein: nonfat cream cheese
Plant Based Fat: chia seeds

Carrot Cake Smoothie

Carrot Cake Smoothie
Serves 1

1 cup chopped carrots
1 frozen banana
6oz Chobani Pineapple Greek Yogurt
1/3 cup unsweetened almond milk
1/4 cup rolled oats
1 Tbsp chia seeds
1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1/8 tsp ground cloves
1/8 tsp ground ginger

Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Add almond milk as needed to acquire your desired thickness.
Note: For a vegan option, omit the Greek yogurt (and almond milk) and sub with 1 cup of coconut milk instead.

The Rabbit Food Pyramid Breakdown
Produce: carrot and banana
Whole Grain: rolled oats
Protein: Greek yogurt
Plant Based Fat: chia seeds

| 10 Comments
Desserts, Raw, Recipes, Vegan, Vegetarian

Valentine’s Day Cookie Sandwiches

Valentine’s day is just around the corner. You’re probably imagining a romantic day filled with love, teddy bears, flowers and chocolate. That’s right, mouth watering, stomach ache inducing amounts of chocolate. Americans will purchase around 58 million pounds of chocolate during the days leading up to V-day. Oh my goji, that’s a lot of chocolate! Instead of going the traditional route of store bought truffles in heart shaped boxes, branch out and make something healthy and delish!

These gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free, vegan bite-sized treats provide healthy plant-based fats, natural sugars, macronutrients, and tons of flavor that will satisfy your sweet tooth, give you a little burst of energy, and keep you away from the truffles! Oh, and did I mention… No baking required?!

If you’re short on time, skip the filling and just make the outer cookies for a fun dessert!

Valentine's Day Cookie Sandwiches
Valentine's Day Cookie Sandwiches
Valentines Day Cookie Sandwiches
Makes about 24 one inch heart shaped sandwiches

1 cup pitted Medjool dates (pitted)
1/2 cup unsalted sunflower seeds
1/2 cup walnuts
3 Tbsp raw cacao powder (or 4 Tbsp cocoa powder)
1/2 tbsp pure vanilla extract

Filling:
1/2 cup raspberries
2 Tbsp coconut flour
1 Tbsp coconut oil
1 Tbsp honey or agave
1 tsp vanilla

Blend the sunflower seeds and walnuts in a food processor until finely ground but not a nut butter consistency. Add the cacao powder and vanilla extract and blend again until mixed evenly. Remove pits from dates. Add the the dates and process until a dough like mixture is formed. You should be able to sculpt the dough without crumbling. Remove the dough from the food processor and transfer onto a large piece of wax paper. Cover the top of the dough with wax paper, and flatten with a rolling pin. Place the flattened dough in the freezer (with both sheets of wax paper) while you make the filling. For the filling, combine raspberries, coconut flour, coconut oil, honey, and vanilla in a food processor and blend until smooth. Transfer the filling mixture onto a large piece of wax paper. Cover the top with another piece of wax paper and use a rolling pin to flatten. Transfer the filling (with wax paper) to the freezer. While the filling is setting, remove the outer dough from the freezer and remove the top layer of wax paper. Using a 1 inch heart shaped cookie cutter, cut the dough into hearts. Remove the filling from the freezer and remove the top layer of wax paper. Using the cookie cutter, cut the filling into hearts. Place one heart of filling over one cookie heart, and top with another cookie heart to form a sandwich. Store in the freezer until served.
Note: I used frozen raspberries in the filling to expedite the setting process.

Valentine's Day Cookie Sandwiches

| 10 Comments