Tag: baking

2 Ingredient Chocolate Mousse With Citrus + Lychee

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Lychee is one of my favorite southeast Asian fruits, second only to mangosteen. Its pink-white flesh is glossy, delicate and aromatic…the vibrant taste is absolutely unique. Think of a grape, but juicier, with smooth floral, rosy notes and pear undertones. Even comparing it to a grape is slightly insulting, because its freshness and flavor is on an entirely different level.

lychee fruit (1 of 2)

Clearly, lychee is my valentine this year.  Lychee is also considered a lucky fruit in Chinese culture, symbolizing family abundance and harmony, so this dessert would be a fun fusion dish for Lunar New Year gatherings this weekend. Red and golden hues make a lucky color palette. Continue reading →

Bite-Sized Coconut Macaroon Nests

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Say hello to the cutest dessert I’ve ever made, inspired by spring and nature!
Mini Coconut Macaroon Nests | plantcrush.coCrunchy on the outside, tender and chewy on the inside, these little coconut macaroon bites are best enjoyed soon after they’re taken out of the oven. They are decadent and delicate at the same time. To compliment the macaroons’ rich coconut flavor, I topped them with fresh juicy blueberries for some tart sweetness.

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One-Apple Galette

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Easy Vegan Apple Galette
I am all about gorgeous desserts that are simple to make. This past weekend, I embarked on my first galette-making adventure.
Galettes look so beautiful, I was afraid it would be a difficult process, but it was easier than pie, honestly. I only used one apple!
For less effort than a pie, I got a flaky, light and tasty fruit pastry that looks amazing. I think I will always choose this over a pie.
There was some waiting time and apple peeling involved, so you’ll need a pinch of patience, but really, I’d much rather peel one apple for a galette, than five or six for a pie.
While the dough is chilling, you can chill too…read a book or take a nap! I prepared my dough around midnight, so I just went to sleep and let it chill overnight.
Easy One-Apple Galette
(makes 6 servings)

Easy Vegan Apple Galette

I had some coconut caramel sauce on hand, so I used that to sweeten the galette before baking it. It made the galette pretty decadent. Traditionally, sugar is sprinkled on top, but I also think maple syrup or agave could also be used. I also want to try making this with whole wheat pastry flour, and maybe coconut oil, in the future.
Total time: ~1.5 hours
Ingredients:
  • 1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
  • 1 pinch sea salt
  • 1 t organic sugar
  • 1/2 cup chilled non-dairy butter (I used Earth Balance)
  • 3 T ice water
  • ground cinnamon
  • sweetener of your choice (organic sugar, maple syrup, sucanat, or coconut caramel)
  • 1 apple, cored, peeled, and thinly sliced
  • Lemon juice, about 1 teaspoon

Method:

  1. Mix the all purpose flour, sea salt, and sugar in a food processor.
  2. Cut the non-dairy butter into the flour mixture using a fork.
  3. Process in the food processor until you get a coarse, crumbly mixture. Clumps are fine here.
  4. Transfer the dough to a mixing bowl and add the ice water. Use your hands to mix the flour mixture and water together. Roughly roll the dough into a ball and wrap it tightly in plastic wrap.
  5. Place the dough in the fridge and let it chill for at least 30 minutes. I let mine sit overnight. This dough can also be made two days ahead.
  6. Take the dough out of the fridge, let it soften a little so it’s easier to work with—this took about 5-10 minutes for me.
  7. On a floured surface, gently roll out the dough in a circle, about 1/8” thick. Place it on a baking tray or pan (I used a glass pie pan).
  8. Sprinkle cinnamon on the dough and arrange the apple slices to your liking in the middle of the rolled out dough—leave about 1 1/2 inches at the edges of the dough. Squeeze some lemon juice on the apple slices.
  9. Fold all the edges of the dough towards the center—for tips, check out this post from Food 52.
  10. Place the galette in the fridge and let it chill for at least 15 minutes. During this time, preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
  11. Take the galette out of the fridge and drizzle your sweetener of choice over the apple slices–to your taste. Sprinkle some cinnamon on top and put a few dots of nondairy on top, if you want.
  12. Brush the crust with some nondairy milk or melted nondairy butter.
  13. Lower the oven’s heat to 350 degrees F and bake the galette for 30-45 minutes, or until the crust is golden.

Bon appétit! This crust can also be used with different fillings, like berries or sliced pears. I hope you enjoy it! If you make this please let me know how it turned out by leaving me a comment below!

Apple Galette | Vegan
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Vegans Love Chocolate: Valentine’s Day Tips

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In high school, for Valentine’s Day, one of my sister’s admirers got her a box of milk chocolates. While she appreciated the gesture, as a vegan, she had no idea what to do with the chocolates since they had animal products in them. It was definitely a let-down.

Don’t be that guy (or girl). Check out my recommendations below to avoid an awkward situation with your vegan (or lactose-intolerant) valentine. Show them your thoughtful side and let them know that you acknowledge their values.

There are plenty of vegan chocolate options on the market to choose from. I always browse the chocolate section at Whole Foods, even if I don’t need any chocolate, just because it makes me happy to see so much vegan chocolate in one place.

  • Go Max Go Candy Bars: These vegan bars mimic classic candy bars–my favorite is probably the Jokerz bar, which features caramel, peanuts, nougat, and a rice-milk chocolate coating. Other flavors include Cleo’s peanut butter cups and Buccaneers (like Three Musketeers). Available at Whole Foods.
  • Allison’s Gourmet Chocolates: This company specializes in artisan vegan truffles, peppermint patties and chocolate bark. The raspberry blush hearts and artisan vegan caramels look the best to me! Available online.
  • Sjaak’s Organic Chocolates: Sjaak’s isn’t all vegan, but they have some pretty sweet vegan options. Surprise your valentine with the unconventional: chocolate lavender hearts and salted caramels, among other things! Available online.
  • Chocolove: These chocolate bars have adorable wrappers with love poems inside. Not all the flavors are vegan, but many of them are! Just check the ingredients. My favorites from this brand are Almonds & Sea Salt in Dark Chocolate and Raspberries in Dark Chocolate. Available at Whole Foods.

Vegan NutellaI personally appreciate and gravitate towards homemade gifts, so this post would not be complete without a list of homemade chocolate treats any vegan will appreciate.

If you need more ideas, please feel free to check out my other tips from last year.

I know this post was a little chocolate-heavy, and I’m not apologizing for that, but if you are looking for other kinds of treats for your valentine, consider browsing FindingVegan or The Post Punk Kitchen for recipes. There’s also a discussion about vegan baking on the Vegan Club’s Valentine’s Day Bake Sale Facebook event that could be useful.

PSA: This year, Vegan Club and The Environmental Society are teaming up to help you out for Valentine’s Day with our bake/card sale! Come out this Thursday and buy some homemade treats and eco-valentines for your crush.

ECO VALENTINES

Happy planning!