Chelsea Harrison8 Comments

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Black Bean Cookies

Chelsea Harrison8 Comments
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Black Bean Cookies

The first time I saw a recipe for black bean cookies I thought surely there must be a mistake. Black beans couldn't possibly taste good as cookies, right? Wrong. Chocolate black bean cookie dough tastes exactly like brownie batter. EXACTLY. And they are packed with protein and fiber too! Win, win.  So after months of eating chocolate black bean cookies, I got adventurous and came up with these Pumpkin Spice ones in time for fall.  They are flourless, gluten-free, vegan, and nut-free.  And somehow they still taste amazing.  

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Black Bean Cookies

Ingredients:

1 cup cooked black beans, rinsed

2/3 cup cooked pumpkin puree

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp cinnamon

1/8 tsp nutmeg

1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract

1/2 cup coconut palm sugar

1/4 cup dark chocolate chips 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Put black beans and pumpkin into a food processor and mix until smooth and consistent, scraping down the sides as needed.  Add in all other ingredients except chocolate chips and blend again until incorporated.  Stir in chocolate chips.  On a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper, spoon out batter one tablespoon per cookie.  Using the back of a spoon, spread each cookie thin (they will not continue to spread while baking).  Bake for 25 minutes. Makes about 16 cookies.

Chelsea Harrison14 Comments

Creamy Butternut Squash Orecchiette with Crispy Sage

Growing up as a vegetarian on Thanksgiving, there was always Chelsea's food and everyone else's food. And while I do like steamed vegetables, it seemed like that was always the only option for me other than rice.  As an adult, I love having Thanksgiving as an opportunity to make vegetarian dishes that the whole family (meat-eaters included) will enjoy.  This Butternut Squash Orecchiette is the perfect side dish to win over any picky eater.  I have included the vegan and gluten free variations in the recipe as well so that everyone can enjoy it.

Chelsea Harrison14 Comments
Creamy Butternut Squash Orecchiette with Crispy Sage
Chelsea Harrison16 Comments

Raw Orange Vanilla Cream Cake

Raw cake always seems to be too good to be true.  Healthy cake!? This one tastes like a creamsicle, but the ingredients are barely more than nuts, honey, and fruit.  No matter how many times I make a raw cake, I am always surprised that it can taste this good and be this good for me.  And remembering to soak the cashews is the only prep-time.  Making the cake only requires about 10 minutes total.  So if you are looking for an easy dessert that is healthy enough you could eat it for breakfast, look no further.

Chelsea Harrison16 Comments
Raw Orange Vanilla Cream Cake
Chelsea Harrison1 Comment

Maple Pecan Banana Muffins

When it comes to baked goods, I typically prefer gluten. Some things are just sacred. But these muffins might convert me. The banana and the egg make these muffins hold together in a way that gluten-free treats can’t usually manage. They are super moist not to mention absolutely delicious. And they are so healthy!

Chelsea Harrison1 Comment
Maple Pecan Banana Muffins
Chelsea Harrison3 Comments

Banana Birthday Cake with Cream Cheese and Chocolate Frosting

My best friend Emily of Whisk and Whittle makes this amazing cake with caramelized bananas and Nutella.  If you are in the mood for all the butter, flour, and sugar (which sometimes I am!), her cake is definitely the winner.  But last week I was in the mood for that cake, but I wanted a healthier version. I decided to adapt the recipe from my Maple Pecan Banana Muffins to make a healthy gluten-free/refined sugar-free version. And while it is a different cake experience completely, it turned out great!

Chelsea Harrison3 Comments
Banana Birthday Cake with Cream Cheese and Chocolate Frosting
Chelsea HarrisonComment

Fudgy Flourless Chocolate Walnut Cookies and Healthy(er) Powdered Sugar

Let me start this by saying, this recipe is not health food.  It is most definitely an indulgent treat.  That said, it is gluten-free, dairy-free, and full of healthy fats.  I got the idea for this recipe from my aunt.  Every Sunday my family meets for lunch at my grandmother's house.  Lately my aunt has been bringing these chewy walnut chocolate cookies.  I normally can easily say no to cookies.  They just don't appeal to me enough to be worth consuming the not-so-clean ingredients they typically contain.  But these cookies are different.  They are just so rich and fudgy I couldn't resist.  So I decided I had to create my own version with ingredients I trust.

Chelsea HarrisonComment
Fudgy Flourless Chocolate Walnut Cookies and Healthy(er) Powdered Sugar