Homemade Fig Newtons

Fig newtons were a childhood favorite of mine, and to this day they are still a go-to snack for people of all ages. They're thought of as being a healthier cookie because they're made with "real fruit" and "whole grains." I took a look at the ingredients label (found here) and I wasn't surprised to see a long list of ingredients including high fructose corn syrup, partially hydrogenated cottonseed oil, and sodium benzoate (a potentially harmful preservative)... just to name a few.

These fig newtons still taste like the sweet, soft cookies that I once knew as a child, but they contain healthy ingredients that you can feel good about putting into your body. They are also allergen-friendly, and I have included some substitutions to make them vegan or grain-free.


Ingredients

Dough:
1 cup almond flour
1/2 cup oat or spelt flour*
3 T coconut oil, melted
1/2 T vanilla extract
1 T honey (or agave if vegan)
1/4 cup baking stevia or granulated sweetener of choice
1 tsp cinnamon

Filling:
2/3 cup dried black mission figs, stems cut off
3 T unsweetened applesauce

*Note: To make grain-free, substitute oat/spelt flour for more almond flour

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350F. For the dough, combine dry ingredients in a medium-sized mixing bowl. Then add wet ingredients and mix well. If the dough seems a little dry, you can add a splash of almond milk or a little more coconut oil. Put in the fridge while you're making the filling. For the filling, combine the figs and applesauce in a food processor and process until smooth. Take the dough out of the fridge and roll out between two pieces of parchment paper. Try to roll it into a rectangle shape, about 1/4" thick. Spread the filling on one half of the dough. Then use the parchment paper to fold the dough over lengthwise so that the half without the filling covers the half with the filling. Pinch the edges of the dough together if needed. Place the dough onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for 25 minutes or until the edges begin to brown. Let cool, then cut into squares. Store in a tightly sealed container in the fridge.

Peanut Butter Apple Cinnamon Cake Bars

Another delicious, guilt-free dessert recipe! These cake bars are moist with the perfect amount of sweetness. They are also dairy-free, egg-free, and vegan, with no added sugar.

Ingredients for Apple Cinnamon Cake layer:
-1 cup almond flour
-1/2 cup oat flour
-1/2 cup whole wheat pastry flour
-1/3 cup baking stevia
-1/2 tbsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp baking soda
-1/2 tsp baking powder
-1/4 tsp sea salt
-1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
-3 tbsp coconut oil, melted
-1 cup unsweetened almond milk
-1 cup apples, peeled and diced

Ingredients for Peanut butter layer:
-1/4 cup natural peanut butter
-1 tbs coconut oil, soft but not melted
-2 tbsp almond meal
-2 tbsp sugar-free maple syrup
-pinch of sea salt

Directions: Preheat oven to 325F. First make the apple cinnamon cake layer. Mix dry ingredients and apples in one bowl, and wet ingredients in a separate bowl. Then pour the wet ingredients into the dry and mix well. Pour batter into a baking dish coated with non-stick spray. Bake for 25-30 minutes. Let cool for about 30 minutes. Then, mix ingredients for peanut butter layer. Spread evenly on top of the apple cinnamon cake. Refrigerate until peanut butter layer becomes more firm. Cut into squares, and keep stored in an airtight container in the fridge.

Healthy Double Chocolate Chip Brownies

"Healthy" and "brownie" in the same sentence...need I say more? These brownies were so delicious and moist, you'd never know that they are egg-free, dairy-free, grain-free, and gluten-free. It's no secret I have a major sweet tooth, and these more than satisfied my craving for something chocolately and sweet.

Ingredients:

-1 cup nut butter -- I used Peanut Butter & Co. Dark Chocolate Dreams

-3/4 cup pumpkin puree

-1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce

-1/3 cup baking stevia (or agave, honey, or pure maple syrup)

-3 tbs unsweetened cocoa powder

-1/4 cup chocolate chips of choice -- I used Enjoy Life Chocolate Mini Chips

-1 tsp baking soda

-1/2 tsp baking powder

Directions: Preheat oven to 350F. Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix well. Spread the batter evenly into a baking pan coated well with non-stick spray (the batter should be pretty thick). Bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool before cutting, and store in the fridge.