5 Vitamin-Enriched Vegan Desserts
Finding recipes that are flavorful, nutritious and vegan-friendly are already hard as it is, and this difficulty increases when it comes to desserts. Fortunately, more and more options are now available thanks to the steadily increasing number of vegan-friendly restaurants. Forbes noted that there are over 24,000 vegan and vegetarian-friendly eateries in the US, including 1,474 exclusively vegan restaurants. This means there's a wealth of options to inspire you for every kind of vegan meal -- even dessert!
It's important to note that despite the fact that vegan desserts are made with alternatives to animal-derived products, they aren't necessarily a) better for you, or b) able to give your body all the nutrients that it needs. To ensure that the vegan food you are eating is giving you everything you need, a post by Parsley Health on vegan collagen suggests incorporating more vitamin C in your diet to boost collagen production, absorb iron better and improve the health of your immune system.
Here are five vitamin-enriched desserts that can help you become even healthier:
Credit: Coconut Cloud
Brownies with Almond Butter Frosting topped with Strawberries
One simple way to make this famous dessert healthy is by topping it with almond butter frosting and strawberry bits. Almonds contain lots of healthy fats, magnesium and vitamin E, which make them effective in lowering blood sugar levels and reducing blood pressure. Strawberries, meanwhile, are an excellent source of vitamin C, manganese, vitamin B9 and potassium, which makes them a great food for the heart. Here's a list of all the ingredients and the directions you'd need:
For the brownies:
2 cups of blanched almonds 1/2 cup of Coconut Cloud's vegan hot cocoa
2 teaspoons of baking powder
1/2 teaspoon of salt
1/4 cup of melted coconut oil
1/2 cup of sugar-free sweetener
1 flax egg
4 tablespoons of Coconut Cloud Creamer in 4 ounces of warm water
2 teaspoons of vanilla extract
For the frosting:
3 tablespoons of cocoa powder
a few drops of stevia
almond milk
Directions:
1. Mix the almond flour, hot cocoa powder, baking powder, salt, sweetener and melted coconut oil until fully incorporated.
2. In a baking pan, spread the batter out and smoothen the top. Bake for 25 minutes and cool.
3. Mix all the ingredients for the frosting and spread on top of the brownies. Top with some chopped fruits of your choosing.
Credit: BBC Good Food
Lemon Cheesecake
Cheesecake may seem like the dessert that you should definitely say goodbye to once you’ve transitioned to a vegan lifestyle, but with the right mix of agave syrup, coconut oil and almond milk, you don’t have to. To make this dessert healthy, try adding in two zested and juiced lemons. Lemons contain high amounts of vitamin C, soluble fiber and plant compounds that make them the perfect fruit for those who want to lose weight and avoid anemia, kidney stones, digestive issues and cancer. Take a look at some of the ingredients you'd need and the directions you should follow:
For the base:
3.5 oz blanched almonds
3.5 oz of soft pitted dates
a pinch of salt
For the topping:
2.5 tablespoons of agave syrup
3 ½ tablespoons of coconut oil
2 tablespoons of Coconut Cloud Cream mixed with 5oz of warm water
2 zested and juiced lemons
Directions:
2. Place all the ingredients for the topping in the cleaned food processor and blitz it until smooth.
3. Spoon the topping onto the base and place the tin back to the fridge for about two hours. Top with some lemon zest.
Credit: Delightful Mom Food
Peanut Butter Cookies
Living a vegan lifestyle doesn’t have to translate to eating dull and flavorless granola bars as a snack all the time. You can actually enjoy soft and chewy peanut butter cookies that are delicious and healthy. Peanut butter, despite being a guilty pleasure for some, can actually provide you with protein, phosphorus, zinc, niacin and vitamin B6. These nutrients are the reason why peanut butter can aid in weight loss, boost heart health, manage blood sugar levels, reduce the risk of breast cancer and build muscles. Here's how to make your very own peanut butter cookies:
Ingredients:
1/2 cup of maple syrup
1 teaspoon of vanilla
2 tablespoons of cinnamon apple sauce
2 tablespoons of flour
Directions:
2. In a medium mixing bowl, combine the peanut butter, maple syrup, vanilla and apple sauce. Mix then add in the flour.
3. Round into balls and place on a baking pan 2 inches apart. With a fork, press down to form lines at the top and to flatten.
4. Bake for 14 minutes and then cool.
Credit: Good Housekeeping
Basil Berry Lemonade Sorbet
For a refreshing dessert that is perfect for the summer, try a berry lemonade sorbet that is infused with basil. Basil is virtually calorie-free and is a rich source of vitamin K, zinc, calcium, potassium and dietary fiber. Combined with equally nutritious berries and lemonade, this basil infused sorbet is good in fighting depression, managing diabetes, promoting a healthy gut and inhibiting free radical activities that cause oxidative stress to the body and cause more damage to cells. Here's how to make this yummy dessert:
Ingredients:
1 cup of lightly packed fresh basil
6 cups of frozen mixed berries
3/4 cup of lemon juice (about 4 lemons)
Directions:
2. Strain the syrup into a bowl then refrigerate until cold.
3. Puree frozen berries, lemon juice and cooled basil syrup in a blender until smooth.
4. Transfer to a baking pan, cover with plastic and freeze until firm enough to scoop.
Avocado Truffle Chocolates
If you are craving a smooth, decadent, and creamy dessert, try truffle chocolates made with avocados. Avocados are a great source of vitamins C, E, K and B6, as well as riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid and potassium. They are also packed with heart-healthy monosaturated fatty acids and fiber, which can lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels. The fat content of avocados will help you absorb more nutrients from plant foods which are a staple of the vegan diet. Here's how to make this delicious treat:
Ingredients:
3/4 cup of melted dark chocolate
1/2 tablespoons of vanilla extract
1/4 tablespoons of cinnamon
cocoa powder for topping
Directions:
2. Place in a refrigerator for 30 minutes. When cooled and hardened, scoop into balls and roll until smooth.
3. Roll each ball in cocoa powder and serve.
A lot of people think that subscribing to a vegan lifestyle is synonymous with eating nothing but bland plant-based foods. However, in reality, with some creativity and dedication, you can easily come up with filling, hearty and mouth-watering recipes that will make you realize that you aren’t really missing out on anything by being a vegan.
Content intended only for the use of coconutcloud.net
By Rita Burns