Vegan Vanilla Caramel Slice

The most AMAZING vanilla caramel slices! They taste like caramelly cookie dough heaven! Vegan and refined sugar free. Made from wholesome ingredients with healthy benefits! I like to keep these in the freezer and have one for dessert...or breakfast ;) with a cup of coffee. Awww perfection! 

Here’s what you’ll need:

Base:

1 cup soft pitted dates

1 cup almond flour

1 cup rolled oats

1 tsp. vanilla

1 tbsp. water

Blend ingredients in a food processor until combined. Press date mixture into a lined (wax paper) 9X9 glass dish.  Place in the freezer.

Middle Layer:

2 cups soft pitted dates

1 tbsp. peanut butter

3 tbsp.  tahini

1/2 cup hemp mylk

1 tbsp. mesquite powder (*see note below)

1 tsp. vanilla

Blend ingredients in a food processor until smooth and creamy. Pour on top of the base mixture and use a spatula to spread it evenly into the corners of the dish. Place back in the freezer.

Top Layer:

1/2 cup raw cocoa powder

1/3 cup coconut oil

1 tbsp. pure maple syrup (optional sweetener)

Mix ingredients in a cup. Use a microwave if needed to melt the coconut oil.

Pour on top and spread chocolate sauce evenly over the caramel-date layer.

Sprinkle with topping of your choice or keep plain (I used chopped pistachios and Brazil nuts).

Place in the freezer for 8 hours (or over night). Cut into slices and serve!

*Note on Mesquite Powder

So when I first heard about Mesquite powder, I thought it would taste like smoky BBQ; not so... it has a sweet nutty caramel-like flavor, making it ideal for a natural sweetener in desserts. Mesquite powder is ground from the pods of the mesquite plant and is high in protein, low on the glycemic index and is a good source of soluble fiber, calcium, iron, lysine, manganese, zinc, and potassium. Nice...

Vegan Chocolate Peanut Butter Bites

I'm obsessed with Laura Bars...my favorite is their chocolate peanut butter bar. At $1.79 a pop things can add up quickly, so I decided to make my own. It looked simple enough, right? It was! My version is refined sugar-free and packed with protein. They are the perfect treat! 

Ingredients:

15 soft pitted dates

2 tbsp. smooth peanut butter (raw or regular)

1 tsp. water

1/2 peanuts

1/4 tsp. sea salt

1/2 cup vegan chocolate chips or cacao nibs

1 cup shredded coconut

Instructions:

Blend pitted dates, peanut butter and water in a food processor until the mixture turns into a coarse paste. You may need to add more water depending on the brand of peanut butter you use (some pb's are drier than others).

Add peanuts, salt and chocolate chips to the food processor. Pulse a few times to incorporate the ingredients and break the peanuts into smaller pieces.

Take spoonfuls of the mixer and roll into 2-inch balls. Roll each ball in finely shredded coconut and place on a plate.

Refrigerate for 20 minutes or until ready to serve.

*I usually keep these in the refrigerator for the whole week and grab one whenever a sweet craving hits.