CHOCOLATE COCONUT CRUNCH
++ Vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, refined sugar-free, heart-healthy ++
This is a very simple recipe to make. My coconut candy is really yummy starting with a 4-ingredient crunchy cookie base which I made healthy with a combo of coconut and oats. These candies are low glycemic using unrefined coconut sugar as a sweetener. The dark chocolate coating adds the right amount of bling to a perfect, heart healthy wafer candy.

PUMPKIN ICE CREAM SANDWICHES
++ Refined sugar-free, dairy-free, vegetarian, high fiber, heart-healthy, gluten free ++
Here is my dairy free, golden pumpkin cake filled with vegan vanilla ice cream. This combination of cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg spices in my soft cake - paired with creamy ice cream - makes my taste buds sing. To complete the flavor profile for the perfect ice cream sandwich, I poured dark chocolate sauce over the tops. You can even sprinkle a few toasted pumpkin seeds on the plate to create another pleasurable texture Serve these healthy ice cream treats for dessert and your guests will be asking for your recipe - only you will know they are secretly heart-healthy, dairy-, refined sugar- and gluten-free…

APPRICOT DATE BARS
++ Vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, refined sugar-free, heart-healthy ++
These are my mom’s favorite bars ever. She is a real fan of apricots, especially those from my orchard fruit trees. If you love sweet, gooey dates, tart apricots and toasted walnuts, this bar if for you! An easy recipe using simple pantry ingredients like oats, banana and lemon juice. People rave about these bars since they not only taste great, but they also pack well and are prefect for hiking or a long car trip. High in fiber, endurance carbs and just plain yummy. Bake a batch and indulge guilt-free!

PUMPKIN CHOCOLATE CHIP MUFFINS
++ Refined sugar-free, dairy-free, vegetarian, high fiber, heart-healthy, gluten free ++
I remember getting the most delicious pumpkin chocolate chip muffins in Santa Cruz in the late 80s. I kept going back for more of the perfect combination of earthy chocolate chunks within a moist pumpkin muffin. I needed to re-create those flavors in my healthy version of gluten free, spicy pumpkin cake with baby chocolate chips in every bite. Here it is, the perfect crumb using buckwheat seed flour, combined with brown rice flour and soaked with vegan butter to make a dense and high fiber muffin. I eat one for breakfast or with tea and dream about the 1980’s Santa Cruz at the beach. Yummy!

PUMPKIN SPICE CAKE TRIFLE
++ Refined sugar-free, dairy-free, vegetarian, high antioxidant, high fiber, heart-healthy, gluten free ++
I am a fan of decadent, layered trifles. Especially ones that are golden pumpkin orange layered with vegan vanilla ice cream. This combination of my pumpkin spice cake - cut into bite sized pieces, layered with creamy ice cream makes my taste buds sing. To complete the flavor profile for the perfect spice trifle, I added candied ginger and fresh ginger root grated on the tops. Serve these healthy trifles for dessert and your guests will be asking for your recipe - only you will know they are secretly heart-healthy, high in fiber, refined sugar- and gluten-free…

VEGAN CUPCAKES WITH CHOCOLATE-PEANUT BUTTER-FROSTING
++ Vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, refined sugar-free, heart-healthy ++
These cupcakes are really a party in your mouth! Topped with dark-chocolate-peanut butter-frosting, strawberries and natural sprinkles. Make my scrumptious vegan banana cupcakes for your go-to, light cupcake base. These cupcakes taste delicious and let you add any topping you love. My vegan dark-chocolate-peanut butter-frosting is also heart-healthy and refined sugar-free and combines so well with the banana cupcake flavor. And to think they are good for you….!!!

CHOCOLATE POLKA DOT ALMOND COOKIES
++ Vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, refined sugar-free, heart-healthy ++
Thumbprint cookies are so lovely with their color contrast. They look like they took hours to make. Surprise! This is one of my simplest recipes made vegan and gluten free using almond, flax and brown rice flours. The maple flavor pairs perfectly with almond and vanilla. Then the enticing circle of dark, smooth chocolate centers sends your taste buds into heaven. Make a batch for family and friends and remind them that cookies can be healthy.

VEGAN CHOCOLATE BROWNIE SUNDAES
++ Vegan, single-servings, gluten free, paleo, high protein ++
Seriously, my easy, vegan, mocha brownies are so tender, they melt in your mouth. Made with a blend of plant-based ingredients that give these brownies great mouthfeel and texture: namely almond butter, cocoa powder, buckwheat flour and apple sauce with the added bonus of freeze-dried coffee in the batter. Super simple to make, this recipe comes together in minutes. Once the brownies are cooled, just cut them into cubes and make a beautiful vegan sundae with layers of vegan vanilla ice cream. Finish the layers with added textures of toasted nuts and banana slices. Yummy!

VEGAN BANANA CAKE SUNDAES
++ Vegan, refined sugar-free, dairy-free, heart-healthy, gluten free ++
Who does not love an Ice Cream Sundae with creamy layers of vanilla ice cream, crunchy pecans and sweet banana slices? Make your Banana Sundae even better by adding freshly baked banana cake to the party! Seriously, this is the perfect dessert. Just cut your cupcakes into bite sized pieces and layer with creamy ice cream and chocolate sauce. Serve these healthy Sundays in a pretty glass for a beautiful dessert that your guests will be asking how you did it - only you will know they are secretly heart-healthy, dairy-, refined sugar- and gluten-free…

VEGAN ORANGE OLIVE OIL CAKES
++ Vegan, low-glycemic, gluten-free, dairy-free, high fiber, heart healthy ++
This is a classic flavor combination with a modern, plant-based twist. One bite into this delicious, moist cake makes you close your eyes to savor the flavor of sweet orange in your mouth. I combined almond and corn flour with brown rice flour to get a perfect crumb that holds together and satisfies my craving for a little crunch. The orange marmalade brings me back to memories of childhood in my mother’s kitchen making marmalade from our orchard oranges. This recipe consistently gets 5 stars from every test baker. Try it yourself!

DAIRY-FREE PUMPKIN PIES
++ Gluten-free, dairy-free, refined sugar-free, vegetarian, heart-healthy, single-servings ++
I love the spicy flavor and creamy texture of a great pumpkin pie. However, I won't eat dairy and needed to create my own dairy-free, authentic pumpkin pie. I made my crust using oat, almond and brown rice flours. The crust is tender, like a shortbread cookie with the perfect crumb. When you hold this beautiful pie in your fingers, you look at layers of deep golden pumpkin pie, spiced like a warm chai latte. The final touch is fragrant, grated ginger on top. Serve these on any elegant table. People won't believe these are dairy-free.

DARK CHOCOLATE STRAWBERRY CRUNCH
++ Vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, refined sugar-free, heart-healthy ++
How cute are these little pink coconut candies dipped in chocolate? They're just as yummy as they look. The fresh tart flavor of strawberries comes through in the creamy frosting and then you bite down into a yummy, crunchy cookie base. I made a healthy coconut-oat-cookie-base which is low glycemic using unrefined coconut sugar as a sweetener. The delicious, vegan strawberry frosting is made with soaked cashews and freeze-dried strawberries. A perfect little heart healthy candy that sparkles with color.

CHOCOLATE PUDDING POWER BARS
++ Vegan, low glycemic, gluten-free, refined sugar-free, high fiber, heart-healthy, high protein ++
Look at the layers of creamy chocolate pudding nesting inside a healthy power bar! What is not to love in these high protein, high fiber, low glycemic bars? The vegan pudding is made using yummy, full fat coconut milk and tastes like a happy blend of dark chocolate and vanilla. These bars hold together on a camping trip or at a picnic. I eat mine for breakfast and I get to have my oats, protein and chocolate all in one delicious, healthy meal. Bake a batch and be happy!

MAGIC CHOCOLATE SAUCE
++ Vegan, heart-healthy, dairy-free, gluten-free, refined sugar-free, Paleo ++
Melted chocolate sauce makes every bowl of non-dairy ice cream EXTRA special! That is why pastry chefs use dipping chocolate when they aim to transform a plain ice-cream-sundae into a chocolate-coated masterpiece. Here is my easy, 2-ingredient, vegan, magic chocolate sauce recipe. I used 80% chocolate drops, but any quality dark chocolate containing 65 to 85% cocoa is perfect in this recipe. I love the fact that this chocolate sauce is adding totally guilt-free antioxidants to my desserts.

ALMOND THUMBPRINT COOKIES
++ Vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, refined sugar-free, heart-healthy ++
These are my easy jam filled almond cookies made with all plant-based ingredients. You bite into this soft shortbread cookie with an outer cookie crunch. Then you find the soft jam in the center. It was fun playing with my favorite jam flavors. I love raspberry, grape and orange marmalade. But you can use any jam you have on hand for different flavor combos. This is such a simple recipe using easy pantry ingredients for a lovely cookie suitable for gifts to friends. Little will they know these cookies are vegan and gluten free, made using only unrefined sugar. Perfect!

CARAMEL CHOCOLATE PROTEIN COOKIES
++ Gluten free, refined sugar-free, low-glycemic, heart-healthy, high protein ++
This is my high protein version of a vegetarian chocolate cookie that is quick and easy. But then there is a surprising caramel filling. For the cookies I combined high protein peanut butter, healthy eggs, and vegan protein powder making them chockfull of high energy fuel. I made a melt-in-your-mouth date caramel filling and popped it inside these cookies. Together with the low-glycemic carbs from chocolate and coconut sugar these cookies provide me long-lasting fuel for tough workouts. Bake a batch and bite into a surprisingly yummy cookie!

CHAI-LACED FLOURLESS FUDGE BROWNIES
++ Gluten-free, dairy-free, low-glycemic, sugar-free, high-protein, Paleo ++
Yummy Chai-laced goodness… No one can resist brownies. Seriously - chocolate, coffee and spice are the best combo in these unique fudge brownies. My recipe has the perfect balance between healthy plant fats, carbs, and plant proteins. I added three secret ingredients that make these brownies stand out: sweet potato, coffee and seed butter all come together in a perfect brownie. The surprising flavor boost comes from the chai spice. And finally, switching up the nuts to walnuts gives these brownies a lot of “something extra” without much effort. These brownies are gluten-free, dairy-free and high-protein.

VEGAN DARK CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER FROSTING
++ Vegan, gluten free, heart healthy, high fiber, Paleo ++
Creamy, plant-based, vegan, dark chocolate frosting is a must have recipe! My chocolate frosting is completely healthy made using all plant-based, real food ingredients. No one will know this frosting is healthy and less sugary because it is packed with chocolate flavor and warm notes from peanut butter and vanilla. Thanks to coconut milk this frosting has a wonderful creamy taste and texture. I use it on cakes and cupcakes because it is easy to pipe into pretty decorations or I just use a knife to create a smooth layer.

STICKY TEA PUMPKIN CAKES
++ Vegan, gluten free, dairy-free, refined sugar free, high fiber ++
Sticky toffee pudding is an English dessert consisting of a very moist sponge cake made with chopped dates. My recipe for Sticky Tea Cakes used the classic English Earl Grey tea for its bold Bergamot flavor, plus warm spices and molasses. I made these vegan cakes extra moist by adding pumpkin puree, apple cider vinegar and tea-soaked dates in the batter. They are so pretty and heart healthy with loads of plant-based fiber from brown rice flour, flax seed and pumpkin. You can serve these cakes with afternoon tea or at a party - they are that pretty!

PUMPKIN PROTEIN TRUFFLES
++ High protein, vegan, gluten free, heart-healthy, high fiber ++
Healthy Truffles…sound too good to be true, right? But trust me, these truffles not only taste amazing, but they also provide long-lasting energy with the perfect blend of protein, healthy fats, fiber and antioxidants. I love making recipes that taste sinfully good but contain nothing but plant-based goodness.