Vegan Vanilla Cake with Strawberry Ganache Recipe

My wonderful husband decided to make me a birthday cake this year.  Usually, if we even bother to get one, we just go to Whole foods.  The trouble is their cakes are FULL of sugar--not good.  That's why it was so thoughtful and loving that Arneil came up with this recipe and made it for me!

CAKE
Ingredients:
2 cups flour
1 1/2 cups rice milk
1/2 cup agave syrup
1/4 cup oil
10 oz jar strawberry jam (make sure it is made with fruit pectin--st. dalfour is a GREAT choice)
2 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp lemon juice
2 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp sea salt
3 tbsp unsweetened apple sauce

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350.  Combine all dry ingredients in a mixing bowl.  In a separate bowl, combine all the wet ingredients.  Pour the wet ingredient mixture into the dry ingredients and mix together.  Pour approximately half of the batter into a baking pan.  Spread the entire jar of jam on top of the batter.  Pour the remaining batter into the baking pan.  Bake the cake for approximately 25 minutes or until you put a toothpick in the middle and it comes out clean.  Let it cool completely before serving.

FROSTING
Ingredients:
1/4 cup agave syrup
1 container of vegan cream cheese
1 tsp vanilla extract

Directions:
Put all ingredients into a blender and mix thoroughly.  Set aside until the cake is ready to be frosted.

NOTE:
You can try making this with a different kind of jam, extract, and without the frosting.  We did this for the new year and made it with an apricot jam ganache, almond extract, and no frosting.  We also used organic coconut sugar instead of the agave syrup.  It cooks a little differently, so just keep an eye on it to know when to take it out of the oven.

Enjoy!

Vegan Berry Cheesecake Recipe

We have wanted to come up with a delicious and easy cheesecake recipe for quite some time now and we think we have found a winner!  We love Follow Your Heart vegan gourmet cream cheese because they don't use any gross sweeteners; they just use agave syrup!  Sweeteners are a big no no in our family--so thank you FYH!

Ingredients:
1 10 oz. package organic mixed berries
1 container of vegan cream cheese
1 pie crust
1/2 cup agave syrup
3 cups cashews (soaked overnight)

Directions:
Preheat oven to 400.  Pour berries, entire container of cream cheese, and agave syrup into food processor or blender.  Blend thoroughly.  Add half the cashews to the processor and blend thoroughly.  Add the other half of the cashews and blend thoroughly.  Put this mixture in the pie crust.  Bake for 20 minutes.  Once done, let the pie sit until it is cooled and then refrigerate for at least an hour.  Then serve and enjoy!

Vegan Pumpkin Pie Recipe

We love pumpkin and always have it on hand.  Our dogs love pumpkin too and always come running when they hear us open a can of it!  This is a recipe we came up with just before Thanksgiving because we were hosting family at our house for the first time.  It is a super quick and easy recipe that everyone can enjoy during the winter months!

Ingredients:
1 pie crust
1 cup cashews (soaked overnight)
1 can pumpkin puree (or 2 cup fresh pumpkin)
12 dates (soaked overnight and pitted)
1/4 cup raisins
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp cloves
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp cardamom
dash sea salt
a little water

Directions:
Preheat oven to 400.  Put pumpkin, cashews, dates, and raisins in food processor and blend thoroughly.  Next add the seasonings and blend thoroughly.  If the mixture seems too thick while blending add a tiny amount of water.  Once the mixture is completely blended pour it into the pie crust and bake for 20 minutes.  Once it is done, take it out and let it cool down.  Then put it in your refrigerator for at least an hour.  Then serve and enjoy!

Vegan Five Spice Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe

I'm pretty sure most people LOVE cookies.  The problem is, cookies are not always good for you.  We have created a healthier version of the chocolate chip cookie, and it is DELISH!

Ingredients:

1 cup flour

1/3 cup maple syrup

1/4 cup grain sweetened chocolate chips

1/4 cup oil

1 tsp almond extract

1 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp sea salt

1 1/2 tsp five spice seasoning (a mixture of star anise, cloves, cinnamon, fennel, and black pepper)

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  In one bowl mix the maple syrup, canola oil, and almond extract evenly.  In a separate bowl mix the flour, baking powder, baking soda, sea salt, and five spice seasoning evenly.  Pour the wet mixture into the dry mixture and blend together evenly.  Do not over mix.  Add the chocolate chips, and mix evenly.  Spoon onto a greased baking sheet.  Bake for approximately 8-10 minutes.  Once they are golden brown, they are done!  Let cool for a couple minutes and serve!

Note:
This makes a small batch of only 9 cookies.  If you want more cookies, double or triple the recipe!