MINT CHOCOLATE ICE CREAM SANDWICHES - Gluten-free, flourless, dairy-free, refined sugar-free, heart-healthy - Ice cream sandwiches are the perfect summer treat. I love making them secretly healthy with bold flavors in a flourless, mint-scented cookie that goes perfectly with your favorite vegan ice cream. My new recipe is inspired by my garden where three forms of fresh mint are growing. But you can simply use a mint tea bag in this recipe for perfect results. Yummy, flavonoid-rich treats with mint – one of the best ingredients out there for soothing bloated stomachs and aiding the body’s natural detoxification process. I use coconut sugar, instead of the refined stuff, for a natural, slow energy release. These are great to make ahead and pull out for a special treat any time!

WALNUT CHOCOLATE CLUSTERS - Vegan, Paleo, vitamin rich, dairy-free, grain free, refined sugar-free, heart-healthy - Occasionally I need a small pick-me-up that satisfies my sweet tooth. A few pieces of chocolate candies usually do the trick. My mom taught me to love walnuts since they grew in our orchard at home. Walnuts are rich in heart-healthy fats and high in antioxidants. What's even more encouraging is that regularly eating walnuts may improve brain health and reduce your risk of heart disease and cancer. These candies are so delicious and so easy to make with just 4 ingredients.

TRIPLE CHOCOLATE MOUSSE TARTS - Vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, refined sugar-free, heart-healthy, single-servings - Chocolate is known as the “food for the gods” and I love to add it to my healthy treats as much as possible. So how about a triple chocolate treat? Cocoa in the crust, topped by a chocolate mousse, dipped into delicious glossy chocolate – a trifecta of antioxidants and yumminess! This tart makes a gorgeous dessert you and your guests can feel good about since it is filled not only with chocolate but also with heart-healthy nut flours and oils.

PINKIE’S FRUITY VEGAN BUTTER COOKIES - Vegan, gluten free, refined sugar free, heart-healthy, antioxidants - Experimenting with new ingredients is always fun, but especially when I find a new health food that adds antioxidants, promotes gut and heart health and helps fighting inflammation. Have you tried dragon fruit (aka pitahaya or strawberry pear) yet? I added bright pink dragon fruit powder to my vegan butter cookies and they really pop – with color, taste and nutrition! Combined with cranberries and orange zest these cookies have the perfect balance of tangy and sweet. My cat “Pinkie” gets big eyes whenever he sees these on the counter…

PB & J ENERGY BITES - Vegan, low glycemic, gluten-free, dairy-free, sugar-free, heart-healthy -

PB & J – Peanut Butter and Jelly – are two magic ingredients of many childhood memories. Together, they provide a good balance of protein, fat and carbohydrates. This recipe is so easy to make, no baking required. A great snack for a portable treat that gives me energy without spiking my blood sugars. In addition, I use no-sugar added jam for these bites, so I get a healthy boost that I can feel good about.

VEGAN CASHEW CARAMEL COOKIES - Vegan, gluten free, heart-healthy - I love to bake cookies that are not overly sweet, but instead carry so much flavor I simply can’t stop eating them. Try these simple vegan chia spice cookies and see for yourself. Instead of wheat flour I use a combination of cashews, oats, teff flour and chia seeds that produce highly nutritious, light cookies. Instead of butter I use heart-healthy coconut oil that adds just the right amount of healthy fat to bring out the colorful spices. Finally, you can use brown rice syrup, a low glycemic sweetener paired with date caramel for a fantastic sandwich cookie.

HEALTHY CHOCOLATE TURTLES - Vitamin rich, vegan, Paleo, dairy-free, grain free, refined sugar-free - Once in a while I love to “play with my food”. These chocolate turtles just make me smile and I have a blast making them and offering them as treats (as well as eating them, of course). These fun treats are made healthy by combining dates and pecans with dark chocolate. Give these a try and make someone smile!

TAHINI CHOCOLATE LAVA COOKIES - Vegan, gluten free, flourless, Paleo, heart-healthy - My tahini lava cookies lava cookies are so delicious with their gooey hot fudge mocha center and their crispy outside. Tahini makes the batter thick plus it adds a punch of protein, good fats, B vitamins and minerals like magnesium. I used coffee in the batter to make nutritious cookies that have just the right “pick-me-up”-flavor to give you an extra boost when your energy runs low.

HONEY COCONUT CARDAMOM GRANOLA (4 SEEDS - NUT-FREE) - High protein, gluten-free, dairy-free, refined sugar-free, vitamin rich, nut-free - Granola is my go-to breakfast and I prefer to make my own, so I can blend my favorite seeds, spices and dried fruit. This granola easily rivals any high-end, super expensive granola from a health-food store. And it is homemade! I enjoy giving my granola as gifts to my friends and family.

SESAME COCONUT HALVA - Gluten-free, vegetarian, dairy free, refined sugar free, heart-healthy - A traditional middle eastern dessert made of tahini and raw ingredients like coconut, sesame seeds and pistachios. Instead of refined sugar, I chose honey as sweetener. Instead of butter, I made this with heart-healthy coconut oil. Go ahead, indulge with this perfectly balanced sweet treat!

MANGO CARROT CAKE TRIFLE - Gluten free, dairy free, refined sugar-free, heart-healthy - This is such a fun dessert to serve to your family and friends. I love my vegan carrot cake so much I had to make a trifle using mango as a compliment to my classic gluten-free spice cake. Its easy once you bake the cake and cut it into bite sized pieces. Grab a big spoon and indulge your senses in layers; moist and fragrant homemade carrot cake, smooth vegan whipped cream and fresh mango topped with toasted walnuts. The best part is that this sweet dessert is refined sugar-free and provides a lot of heart-healthy antioxidants.

SPICY VEGAN MOLASSES DATE CAKES
++Vegan, gluten free, dairy-free, refined sugar free, high fiber ++
One of my go-to-cakes is my unique, vegan cake with warm spices, gooey molasses, sweet dates and crunchy walnuts. I love the rich, dark, earthy notes of molasses with its licorice flavor and dark golden color. Add in cardamom, Chinese five spice and ginger and you bake a wonderful spicy cake. Brown rice and spelt flours make for a robust crumb, yet a tender and moist cake. As an added health benefit, molasses provides calcium and magnesium which are crucial in preventing diseases like osteoporosis and asthma along with others that can affect your blood and heart. I even melt a little extra molasses over my cake to make it extra yummy A classic breakfast cake or afternoon treat with tea.

ORANGE POPPY SEED VEGAN SHORTBREAD - Vegan, gluten free, dairy-free, heart-healthy - Shortbread with orange jam is simply heavenly! The buttery, crumbly cookie combined with sweet, tart jam is the perfect combination to make your tongue sing. Now imagine biting into this delicious combination and it’s actually heart-healthy… By using vegan butter with zero cholesterol, gluten-free flour with coconut sugar and maple syrup as sweeteners, you can create yummy shortbread cookies that are secretly healthy. This recipe is made in just one bowl in no time.

NO-BAKE COCONUT BOUNTY BARS - Vegan, gluten-free, grain-free, low-glycemic, high protein, heart-healthy, Paleo - Are you kidding me…a vegan whole-food bounty bar! The combination of sweet & soft coconut, caramel and chocolate is delightful. I had to create a healthy version of this childhood favorite candy bar to indulge my sweet tooth. My bounty bars are low-glycemic and high in protein. Super easy to make … no baking required. I keep mine in the freezer, easy to grab and go. You will be forever spoiled once you try these heart-healthy treats…

CHOCOLATE TRIFLE WITH STRAWBERRIES - Vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, refined sugar-free, heart-healthy - This is the perfect, fresh summer dessert when strawberries are in season. The combination of a delicious, gluten-free chocolate cupcake base, topped with vegan whipped cream and fresh berries makes for a wonderful, guilt-free dessert. I make this dessert extra decadent by drizzling it with my vegan chocolate sauce. The cake is easy to make and is exceptionally light. Your friends will not believe this trifle is vegan and gluten free! Surprise them!

CARDAMOM CARAMEL CORN - Vegan, dairy-free, refined sugar-free, high fiber - Seriously, who does not love caramel corn coated with warm spices and strong Middle Eastern flavors? My version is a combination of tahini, vanilla and sweet syrup that magically transform popcorn into delicious caramel corn. This salty treat is irresistible. My caramel corn will become a fast favorite recipe since it is easy to make and fun to eat. Plus, its jewel-like color and speckles of spice are sure to enhance everyone’s tastes.

ORANGE VEGAN SANDWICH COOKIES - Vegan, gluten free, dairy-free, refined sugar-free, heart-healthy - There is something about sandwich cookies that I find simply irresistible. Bright orange zest provides subtle citrus flavor to counterbalance the sweetness of the caramel in the center of these delicious, chia-infused, sandwiched sugar cookies. The vegan butter makes the cookies so tender and crave-worthy. Luckily, these sandwich cookies are also refined sugar-free, so you can indulge without guilt. I dare you to eat just one!

MOCHA BROWNIE BATTER TRUFFLES - Vitamin rich, vegan, dairy-free, grain free, refined sugar-free - Who can resist brownie batter? And who can resist mocha chocolate truffles? I combined these two into one delicious bite. A guilt-free, healthy dessert loaded with vitamins, protein and antioxidants. The secret ingredient is chickpeas; really - no dairy, no heavy fats, just a can of chickpeas blended with cocoa, coffee and maple syrup into a smooth, creamy paste. You could eat these truffles for dinner- they are that healthy! Loaded with fiber and protein with bold coffee and chocolate taste and subtle sweetness. No need to resist, just enjoy!

HEALTHY CHOCOLATE MARSHMALLOW BROWNIES - Flourless, gluten-free, dairy-free, refined sugar-free, single-servings - I must admit – marshmallows are my downfall. There is something addictive about all that sweetness packaged in a fluffy texture. So of course, I had to create a healthy version of a brownie that is very chocolaty and fudgy inside, and light and fluffy outside. I called these brownies, because they have so much chocolate, but you could also call them ‘Chocolate Marshmallows”. Make a batch and see if you can stop eating them at just one…

CHEWY OATMEAL RAISIN COOKIES - Vegan, gluten free, dairy free, refined sugar-free, heart-healthy - Oatmeal raisin cookies are a staple in every coffee shop in the US. The commonly used ingredients are flour, butter and sugar. Of course, I needed to reinvent this staple cookie and make it gluten-free, dairy-free and refined sugar-free – without sacrificing taste. My oatmeal cookies are maple sweetened, filled with bright raisins and warm cinnamon. Bite into one of these healthy, vegan cookies, and you will be spoiled forever!