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Recipe paleo chocolate cookies biscuits dehydrator-min

Recipe: Paleo Chocolate Cookies

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Let's get one thing clear – these are a treat – not a daily indulgence (whenever I post sweet recipes I get comments about how cavemen wouldn't eat dessert, yet they're also the most popular recipes I post!).

Recipe Strawberry Date Almond Cashew Cookies Paleo Network-min

As the weather's been a bit cooler, it's been the perfect time to get my dehydrator out. This recipe was a case of making do with what I had and seeing what I could come up with, but very pleased with the results.

If you don't have a dehydrator, you can use your oven I believe, but do some research first. If you're keen to try a dehydrator (and I highly recommend them), you can go really cheap like this one, or go all out on an Excalibur like this.

Recipe: Paleo Cookies
 
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Recipe type: Dessert
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These cookies are a sweet treat straight from the dehydrator. Just six ingredients is all it takes to make these delicious treats!
Ingredients
  • 20 small medjool dates
  • 1 cup almonds
  • 1 cup cashews
  • 10 strawberries
  • 2 tablespoons cacao powder
  • Few drops vanilla essence
Instructions
  1. Pit the dates and leave them to soak for a few minutes in a cup of water
  2. I was too mean to buy expensive almond meal, so I put the almonds and cashews in a paper bag on a heavy chopping board, and bashed with a rolling pin until they were almond completely ground down. If you have almond meal - you're done!
  3. Put the date mixture into a blender and pulse until the mixture is consistent, then add in the ground nuts and strawberries. Add in the vanilla and cacao and blend until it's thoroughly mixed and smooth.
  4. Spoon onto a dehydrator sheet and flatten with the back of the spoon to make the cookie shapes.
  5. Recipe Strawberry Date Almond Cashew Cookies Paleo Network Making
  6. I dehydrated at 145 degrees for about 20 hours, but keep checking as you may prefer a different texture.

 

Chocolate Orange and Fig Pudding paleo recipe dessets sweet treat-min

Recipe: Chocolate Orange and Fig Pudding

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Caught somewhere in the dreamy middle ground of a chocolate mousse and a chocolate pudding, this recipe is about as indulgent as it gets on a Paleo diet – but you can sleep soundly knowing that it’s full of healthy fats and nutrients, and low on the sugar. The secret ingredient in this recipe is the Avocado, which provides a delectably smooth texture and creamy flavour.

Serves 2

Chocolate Orange and Fig Pudding Ingredients:

  • 1 ripe, large avocado, stone removed, peeled
  • ½ an orange, juice and zest
  • 1 tsp raw honey
  • 1 tbsp cocoa powder
  • 2 medium sized fig, diced

 Chocolate Orange and Fig Pudding How To:

1)    In a food processor or high powered blender, blitz your avocado to a pulp. Squeeze in the orange juice before blending again to combine.

2)    Add the raw honey and cocoa powder and blitz once more. Spoon out of the food processor and into two small desert bowls. Chill for at least an hour before serving.

3)    When ready to serve, stir in the diced figs and sprinkle the orange zest over the top. Garnish with a mint leaf it you have one.

It’s brilliant for making healthy desserts, but there are so many other ways to enjoy avocado. What’s your favourite?

Chocolate Orange and Fig Pudding paleo recipe dessets sweet treat-min

5 Ways to get more coconut oil in your diet paleo diet primal fat nutrition-min

5 Ways to get more coconut oil in your diet (I did number 4 today)

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You know the health benefits of coconut oil by now. It’s loaded with MCT’s (Medium Chain Triglycerides) and is a wonderful source of healthy saturated fat. It’s antiseptic, antimicrobial and anti-fungal, is excellent at improving gut health and even boosts your metabolism. There’s also a lot of research indicating it’s great for dementia/ Alzheimer's patients.

If you’re not the greatest fan of eating it by the spoonful (personally, I love nothing better, but we’re all different!), then it can be tricky getting copious amounts of the stuff into your diet. I get a lot of emails from people really keen to consume it – but who hate the flavour. Whilst you can get refined coconut oil, with none of the taste, it is a refined product – far better to go for the purest oil you can find.

If you’re looking to up your intake of coconut oil in a delicious way, then check out some of the great ideas below.

5 Ways to get more coconut oil in your diet paleo diet primal fat nutrition-min

  1. Bulletproof coffee – I've covered Bulletproof Coffee before as it is a fabulous way to enjoy the saturated goodness of coconut oil in liquid form. To make a DIY Bulletproof coffee, put a generous spoonful of coconut oil into a black coffee, and enjoy the creamier, mellower beverage it creates. Bulletproof coffee is also a proven energy boost and is a great start to the day if you are practising intermittent fasting.
  2. Coconut oil chocolate – who doesn't love chocolate!? Home made chocolate bites are a fantastic way to get a little more coconut oil in your life. Simply melt down 1 tbsp coconut oil, and mix in 1 tsp cacao powder and half a teaspoon of raw honey. Leave this to set in the freezer for 20 minutes, and you’ll have a delicious block of coconut oil chocolate to enjoy! It’s extra tasty with a couple of chopped macadamias or goji berries thrown into the mix too.
  3. Smoothies – if you’re making smoothies, why not add an extra dose of healthy fats by adding a tablespoon of coconut oil to the blender? You won’t notice the taste, but it will add a subtle creaminess to the mix.
  4. Roasted Veggies – As one of the healthiest oils to roast with, coconut oil is a fantastic choice for tossing your favourite veggies in before roasting. It’s flavourless when used in this way, so works brilliantly if you’re adding herbs and spices to the mix. My favourite mix is sweet potato and delicata squash, tossed in a generous amount of melted coconut oil then sprinkled with cinnamon, rosemary, thyme and black pepper. Delicious!
  5. Paleo baked goods – I'm not the biggest fan of Paleo baking, but when the occasion arrives, you could do a far lot worse than using generous amounts of coconut oil to make super moist muffins or melt in the mouth cookies.

These are just a few tasty ways to ramp up your coconut oil intake. Have I missed any?

Raw Chocolate Maple and Pecan Fudge recipe paleo primal sugar free sweet streats dessert-min

Recipe: Raw Chocolate Maple and Pecan Fudge

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Makes roughly 20 squares
The classic combination of Maple and Pecan tastes like heaven in this silky smooth raw chocolate fudge. I added Lucuma for a touch extra sweetness and to ramp up the levels of iron and calcium, but its not essential.

Raw Chocolate Maple and Pecan Fudge Ingredients:

  • 1 cup pecans, roughly chopped
  • ½ cup pecan butter (best when home made!)
  • ½ cup coconut butter
  • ½ cup raw cacao powder
  • 100ml maple syrup (adjust to taste)
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 tsp lucuma powder (optional)

Raw Chocolate Maple and Pecan Fudge Ingredients:

1) With a fork, combine the pecan butter and coconut butter. If you don’t have coconut butter available, I guess coconut oil would work just as well, however you may want to use a little less.

2) Whisk in the cacao powder until smooth. Add the maple syrup, vanilla, and lucuma if using, and whisk well until thoroughly combined. Stir in the chopped pecans.

3) Line a baking tray with some parchment paper. Pour the mixture out evenly, then transfer to the freezer for an hour or so. When completely set, remove, leave for 10 minutes at room temperature, then fall in love.

Raw Chocolate Maple and Pecan Fudge recipe paleo primal sugar free sweet streats dessert-min

Paleo Diet Recipe Primal Chicken Mole-min

Recipe: Chicken Mole

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With no relation to the blind, burrowing creatures, this wonderful one pot is actually pronounced ‘Mol-ay.’ If you’re a fan of chilli con carne, you’ll love the rich, sweet and smoky flavours that resonate from this stew. Dark chocolate, chipotle chillies, ground nuts and cinnamon all add up to make a unique, piquant dish that will have you running straight back to the kitchen for more chicken mole!

Chicken Mole Ingredients:

  • 1 medium free range chicken
  • 2 onions
  • 1 red chilli, chopped and deseeded
  • 3 garlic cloves, crushed
  • 2 tsp ground cumin
  • 2 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 2 heaped teaspoons chipotle paste
  • 2 tbsp almond butter
  • 1 handful sultanas
  • 1 x 400g can chopped tomatoes
  • 40g organic dark chocolate

Chicken Mole How To:

Preheat an oven to 180C. Season the chicken, and roast for half the allocated cooking time (approx 45 minutes). Leave to stand for 10 minutes, then shred the meat with a fork and set aside.

Chop the onions into light strips. In a large, flameproof casserole dish, heat a little olive oil to a medium heat. Add the onion strips and cook for 5 minutes until softened. Add a little more oil, along with the chilli, garlic and spices, and cook for another 2 minutes until aromatic.

Meanwhile, crush the sultanas in a mortar and pestle. Whisk in the chipotle paste and almond butter, then add to the pan. Pour in the chopped tomatoes and 400ml hot water.

Add the shredded chicken to the dish, stir well, then cover with a lid and simmer for 30 minutes. Stir occasionally.

10 minutes before serving, break up the dark chocolate and add to the dish. It should turn a deep brown and thicken slightly. Simmer gently for the 10 minutes, then serve with fresh vegetables and cauliflower rice.

Paleo Diet Recipe Primal Chicken Mole-min

Paleo Diet Recipe Primal Raw Chocolate Caramel Torte dessert sweet treat pudding cake 680 min

Recipe: Raw Chocolate Caramel Torte

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Delightfully decadent chocolate cream, layered on top of rich caramel and a crisp, buttery biscuit base in a beautiful torte. Sound like the kind of thing you can only eat in your wildest, non-paleo dreams? Think again! The power of almonds, avocado, cacao and coconut make this treat as good for your body as it is for your soul.

I used maple syrup as my sweetener in this recipe, but I’m sure raw honey will work just as well!

Raw Chocolate Caramel Torte Ingredients:

For the base:

  • 1 cup ground almonds
  • 1 cup unsweetened, finely shredded coconut
  • 2 tbsp coconut oil
  • 2 medjool dates, pitted
  • 1 tbsp raw honey / maple syrup

For the caramel:

  • 50g almond butter
  • 1 tbsp coconut oil
  • 4 medjool dates
  • 2 tbsp raw honey / maple syrup
  • A dash of almond milk
  • A little vanilla extract and sea salt (optional)

For the chocolate:

  • 1 avocado, skinned and pitted
  • ¼ cup raw cacao powder
  • ¼ cup raw honey / maple syrup
  • 1 tbsp coconut oil
  • 1 handful cacao nibs (optional)

Raw Chocolate Caramel Torte How To:

Line a 6 inch round cake tin with some baking parchment.

To make the base, combine the ground almonds with the coconut in the food processor. Add the coconut oil, dates and maple syrup, and whizz together until combined. Press the mixture into the cake tin, and put straight into the freezer for 10 minutes to set.

Meanwhile, make the caramel by combining almond butter, coconut oil, dates, honey, vanilla and sea salt. Whizz together in the food processor until a smooth, thick paste is formed. Gradually add a little dash of almond milk to thin down to your desired caramel consistency (I used about 2tbsp). Spread evenly over the biscuit base, then return to the freezer for another 10 minutes.

Make the chocolate topping by combining all ingredients in the food processor. Smooth evenly over the caramel, top with cacao nibs if using, then leave to set in the fridge for an hour (if you can wait that long!)

Paleo Diet Recipe Primal Raw Chocolate Caramel Torte dessert sweet treat pudding cake 680 min

Raw Chocolate Coconut Macaroons paleo dessert sweet treat snack primal gluten free sugar free-min

Recipes: Raw Chocolate Coconut Macaroons

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Let’s face it; sometimes, we all crave a bit of chocolate. Even we Paleo folk have our weaknesses. Fortunately though, our chocolate fixes don’t have to be laden with sugar and dairy. In moderation, raw cacao is extremely healthy, bursting with antioxidants and beneficial phytochemicals. There are loads of different ways you can enjoy it, and for me it's much more delicious than the cheap and nasty stuff people buy stacks of in the supermarket. What better way to enjoy it than as part of some delicious, no bake, easy to make, mini macaroons?

Makes 12

Chocolate Coconut Macaroons Ingredients:

  • 1 banana
  • ¼ cup Almond Butter
  • ¼ cup Coconut oil
  • 2 tbsp Maple Syrup
  • 5 tbsp raw cacao powder
  • 1 ½ cups unsweetened shredded coconut
  • ½ tsp vanilla extract (optional)

Chocolate Coconut Macaroons How To:

Cover a flat baking tray with some baking parchment.

Mash the banana in a large bowl. Whisk in the almond butter, coconut oil, maple syrup and vanilla if using to form a paste.

Add the cacao powder to the mix, one spoonful at a time, stirring well.

Stir in the coconut, making sure all the mixture is well combined (I used my hands for this part!). Form the mixture into 12 mini ‘macaroon’ shapes, and place on top of the baking parchment.

Leave in the fridge for at least an hour to fully set. If you can’t wait that long, 10 minutes in the freezer is just as good!

Raw Chocolate Coconut Macaroons paleo dessert sweet treat snack primal gluten free sugar free-min

Avocado Chocolate Mousse paleo recipe dessert sweet treat-min

Recipe: Avocado Chocolate Mousse

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Whilst I generally try to avoid desserts and puddings, sometimes it is nice to have a sweet treat. And when I do have a sweet treat – it needs to still be Paleo. It’s easy to veer of Paleo towards SAD treats if you don’t have a back-up plan, so far better to make sure if you are going to have something sweet or containing chocolate, that it’s made with better ingredients.

I don’t think it can get much better than a dessert made with avocado, do you?

Recipe: Avocado Chocolate Mousse
 
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Recipe type: Desserts
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This delicious creamy chocolate mousse has a hidden ingredient - avocado!
Ingredients
  • 1 ripe avocado (straight from the fridge)
  • 1 frozen banana (peeled and cut into chunks before freezing!)
  • 3 heaped tablespoons of raw cacao powder
  • 2 tablespoons of raw local honey (optional)
  • Squeeze of lemon
  • Water as required
  • Pinch of sea salt (I used Celtic sea salt)
Instructions
  1. In a blender, add the cacao powder, then the remaining ingredients on top.
  2. Blend until it reaches a “moussey” texture. Make sure you scrape the sides of the blender and mix in, to ensure it is all blended well.
  3. Fill small cups or shot glasses with the mixture and serve straight away!

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Do you have “Paleo treats”, or are sweet things strictly off the menu for you?

Avocado Chocolate Mousse paleo recipe dessert sweet treat-min

Paleo cherry ripe recipe bar chocolate treat homemade-min

Paleo Cherry Ripes

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Cherry Ripes are the oldest chocolate bar in Australia – and hugely popular.

My problem with Cherry Ripes is the ingredients: –

Sugar, Coconut, Glace cherries (cherries, sugar, flavour, colour (129)), Wheat Glucose syrup, Cocoa mass, Sweetened condensed milk (milk concentrate, sugar, lactose), Vegetable fat, Milk solids, Cocoa butter, Cocoa powder, Invert sugar, Gelatine, Emulsifiers (soy lecithin, 476), Flavours, Colours (102, 123), Mineral salt (500). May contain traces of Nuts. Dark Chocolate contains Cocoa Solids 43%.

So whilst they do contain cherries, they aren't fresh cherries, and they come along with sugar, artificial flavours and colours, wheat, “vegetable” fat and soy lecithin; no thanks!

I saw cherries for the first time in the supermarket this morning (summer is well and truly on it's way!), so thought it was about time I made a paleo approved version of Cherry Ripes.

Paleo Cherry Ripes
Recipe type: Desserts
Cuisine: Australian
Prep time: 
Total time: 
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Why buy Cherry Ripes when you can make your own, healthy, paleo version?!
Ingredients
  • 150g raw almonds
  • 70g raw pecans
  • 12 medjool dates
  • 175g fresh cherries (weighed with stones)
  • 2 tablespoons of coconut oil
  • a pinch of salt
  • 30g shredded coconut
  • paleo cherry ripe ingredients-min
Instructions
  1. I put the nuts in my blender with the salt and blended until most of the big pieces had ground down.
  2. I set the nuts aside and then removed the stones from the cherries and dates.
  3. I then blended the cherries, dates and oil before adding this paste to the ground nuts, along with the shredded coconut.
  4. I then mixed everything together thoroughly into a ball and rolled it out between two pieces of grease proof paper.
  5. I put the rolled out mixture in the fridge for half an hour, before cutting it into cherry ripe length strips.
  6. paleo cherry ripes-min

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Whilst dates are natural “sugar bombs”, my paleo cherry ripes have no added sweeteners.  As an occasional treat these are a much better alternative – and I happen to think far tastier!

I'd love to hear what you think!

Paleo cherry ripe recipe bar chocolate treat homemade-min