Tag Archives: #eggfreebaking

Double Chocolate Gooey Butter Brownies (Vegan & Gluten-free)

On Saturday mornings growing up in St. Louis, my Dad would take me to Lubeley’s Bakery & Deli near our home to get a German coffee cake or pastry. My favorite was always the Gooey Butter Cake. There are so many stories about who actually created the Gooey Butter Cake, but it is a St. Louis treat that we usually eat for breakfast, like a coffee cake. It’s a cake that is layered with a thick creamy sticky topping, which creates a gooey-goodness!

I never realized that some of the foods I loved were only available in my hometown until I moved away for college and couldn’t find them anywhere. Most of them I can’t eat anymore because of my wheat and dairy intolerances, such as toasted ravioli, Provel cheese, or Ted Drewes Frozen Custard. Since discovering my food intolerances, I thought that I would try to recreate this St. Louis tradition with a vegan, gluten-free, and chocolate twist.

If you regularly follow me on Instagram or read my blog, then you know that I’m a chocoholic. I thought why not make Gooey Butter Brownies with a chocolate gooey topping? The key ingredient to making these Double Chocolate Gooey Butter Brownies extra chocolaty is Hershey’s Special Dark Cocoa Powder for the topping. Of course, you could use unsweetened cocoa powder, but the Hershey’s Special Dark Cocoa Powder takes this chocolate dessert to a new level of chocolate decadence.

DOUBLE CHOCOLATE GOOEY BUTTER CAKE

Double Chocolate Gooey Butter Brownies (Vegan & Gluten-free)

  • Servings: ~12
  • Difficulty: easy
  • Print

St. Louis sticky-sweet gooey butter cake takes a gluten-free vegan healthier twist with this easy, but decadent, chocolate recipe. Refined sugar-free option available.

Tips: use Xylitol Powdered Sugar for low-carb, refined sugar-free option.
Credit: My Real Dish

Ingredients

Cake Base

Perfect Paleo Brownies (Vegan & Gluten-Free)

Gooey Topping

Optional


Directions

  1. Heat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Lightly grease a 13- x 9-inch baking dish.
  3. In a large mixing bowl, prepare Perfect Paleo Brownies (Vegan & Gluten-Free). Press mixture onto bottom of prepared baking dish; set aside.
  4. Boil hot water for egg replacer.
  5. In a medium bowl, beat vegan butter and applesauce until creamy.
  6. Prepare your egg replacer (take with 3 teaspoons egg replacer, 4 tablespoons warm water, and mix until it thickens)
  7. Add the egg replacer and blend in powdered sugar (or Xylitol Powdered Sugar) until well combined.
  8. Pour gooey topping batter on top of the brownie-lined baking pan.
  9. Bake 30 to 40 minutes or until the brownies are nearly firm when you shake if (you want the topping to be a little gooey, so do not overcook the cake).
  10. Remove the brownies from oven and let them cool.
  11. Once they’ve cooled, sprinkle with powdered sugar (or Xylitol Powdered Sugar), if desired.
  12. Refrigerate any leftovers.

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Tahini Cookies (Vegan & Gluten-Free)

My son cannot eat peanuts. So when Trader Joe’s put the Tahini on the end cap display by the checkout, it inspired me to make my sweet boy some cookies that he could eat! I had never had Tahini before, so I didn’t know what to expect.IMG_1560

The tahini cookie batter consistency was just like that of a peanut butter cookie.

IMG_1561.JPGI rolled the batter into balls, and I used a meat beater in order to see what the pattern would look like, but then decided to dip the fork in water and press – the old fashioned way.

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The result was a crispy wafer tahini cookie, which rivaled a peanut butter cookie (in my humble opinion). But regardless, he didn’t have an allergic reaction to them, so that’s a win in my recipe book!

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My daughter wanted to make sandwich cookies, so we made a vanilla filling. Honestly, I was already happily eating the crunchy tahini goodness with a glass of homemade cashew milk, but she was persistent. The kids often inspire my recipes, because I bake to not only make them healthier gluten-free vegan treats, but also to avoid allergic reactions.

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On the other hand, my son, my husband, and I prefer chocolate EVERYTHING, so I pulled a jar of the Best Vegan Chocolate Sauce from the fridge. It’s thick and spreadable, so I used it as a filling! FYI – I didn’t spread and leave the sandwich cookies sitting out, because we ate all of them before I could blink! However, I’m afraid the sauce would melt if you did. I would fill the tahini cookies right before eating each one, or keep them in the fridge. IMG_1583.JPG

Gluten-free and vegan deliciousness!

tahini cookie pinterest

  • Difficulty: easy
  • Print

A crunchy gluten-free and vegan tahini cookie

These tahini wafer cookies are gluten and sugar cane free and vegan. Eat them plain or make a sandwich cookie with chocolate or vanilla filling. If you use the chocolate filling recipe, it contains cane-sugar.

Ingredients

– 1/2 cup (~1 stick) vegan butter (I used Earth Balance)

– 3/4 cup tahini butter (I used Trader Joe’s)

– 1/2 cup coconut sugar

– 1/2 cup maple sugar (I use Coombs Family Farms Maple Sugar from Fresh Thyme, but you can use brown sugar too)

– Egg replacer for 1 egg (1 ½ teaspoon Ener-G + 2 tablespoons warm water)

– 1/2 teaspoon gluten free pure vanilla extract

– 1 cup all-purpose gluten free flour (I used Namaste Gluten Free Perfect Flour Blend)

– 3/4 teaspoon baking soda

Sandwich Cookie Filling (Optional)

Vanilla Filling:

– 2 tablespoon melted vegan butter (I used Earth Balance)

– 1 tablespoon almond milk (or any non-dairy milk)

– 3/4 – 1 cup powdered xylitol or confectioner’s sugar

Chocolate Filling:

Follow the recipe for the Best Vegan Chocolate Sauce.


Directions

  1. The chocolate filling: if you chose to make the chocolate filling click here for the recipe, it's best to prepare this the night before or at least a couple hours before in order to let it cool and firm in the fridge so that it is spreadable.
  2. Heat oven to 350 degrees.
  3. Heat your water for the egg replacer - I used a tea kettle.
  4. Add vegan butter, tahini, and both sugars to a mixing bowl.
  5. Cream with the paddle attachment for the mixer until they are well combined.
  6. Switch your attachment for your mixer to a regular beater.
  7. Prepare your egg replacer.
  8. Add egg replacer and vanilla, and mix on medium speed until combined.
  9. Shape 1 ½ - 2 tablespoons of dough into a ball.
  10. Line three baking sheets with parchment paper.
  11. Place dough balls 3 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets.
  12. Make a design on your cookies with a small dish of warm water and a fork. Dip the fork's tines in water each time before you press. You can also try the meat beater to make a pattern, but it wasn't as pretty.
  13. Bake for 18 - 20 minutes until they are brown; rotate the baking sheets between the oven shelves halfway through baking (at ~9 minutes).
  14. The vanilla filling: If you chose to make the vanilla filling, make it while they are baking with a hand mixer. Mix the butter and non-dairy milk slowly adding the powdered xylitol (or powdered sugar) 1/4 cup at a time, mixing until smooth. You may need extra xylitol until it thickens well or matches your desired level of sweetness.
  15. When cookies are finished baking, transfer them to a wire rack to cool.
  16. Once they have cooled, fill them with icing if desired (refrigerate any remaining sandwich cookies) unfilled cookies, or in an airtight container at room temperature.

 

 

Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookies (Vegan & Gluten-Free)

I know that I’ve been posting a lot of chocolate recipes lately, but in my house Valentine’s Day requires a lot of chocolate; it’s the way to my husband’s heart! 

Since I posted the 2 Vegan Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookie recipes, I’ve been thinking about making the Vegan Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies With Almond Flour with chocolate; tonight I made them, and they were a perfect Valentine’s Day treat! 

Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookies (Vegan & Gluten-Free)

  • 2 cups Almond Flour (I used Blue Almond from Costco)
  • ¼ cup Namaste Gluten Free Perfect Flour Blend
  • ½ cup vegan butter (I used Earth Balance)
  • ¾ cup cocoa powder
  • ¼ cup organic pure maple sugar (I bought Coombs Family Farms Maple Sugar at Fresh Thyme)
  • ½ cup organic coconut sugar
  • 1 teaspoon gluten free vanilla extract
  • 3 teaspoons egg replacer + 4 tablespoons warm water (I used Ener‑G Egg Replacer – it’s available at Whole Foods, Fresh Thyme and Amazon) – If you aren’t vegan or allergic to eggs you can use 1 egg + 1 egg white
  • 1 cup vegan chocolate chips + ¼ cup chocolate vegan chips set aside (Use Lily’s Baking Chips to make a sugar-free Paleo cookie since they are sweetened with stevia, or Enjoy Life chips to make them vegan)
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ¼ teaspoon  Redmond’s Real Salt
  • ½ banana IMG_0996 cover photo.jpg

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  2. Grease cookie sheet and set aside.
  3. Combine flour, baking soda, cocoa powder, and Redmond’s Real Salt in small bowl.
  4. Prepare your egg replacer (take 3 teaspoons egg replacer, 4 tablespoons warm water, and mix until it thickens).
  5. Beat butter, sugars, and vanilla in large bowl until creamy.
  6. Add Ener‑G Egg Replacer
  7. Gradually mix in dry ingredients.
  8. Mash the 1/2 banana.
  9. Add the  banana and continue to mix until combined.
  10. Stir in the chocolate chips.
  11. Drop tablespoons of dough on a lightly greased cookie sheet. I used a knife to get the dough out of the tablespoon. because they were very sticky, and then gently smoothed the top. If you don’t smooth the top  – they will look jagged.
  12. Bake for 14 – 15 minutes until they are browned  and firm to the touch. (I baked them for 15 minutes)
  13. Cool for 5 minutes, then remove to wire racks to cool completely.
  14. Put ¼ cup of chocolate chips in a glass bowl and microwave for 30 second increments stirring in between sessions until melted and smooth.
  15. Drizzle melted chocolate over cookies.IMG_0992.JPG
  16. Makes ~2 dozen cookies

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2 Vegan Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipes

 

My Quest for the Perfect Vegan Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookie

All the cool gluten-free kids talk about almond flour, because it’s low in carbohydrates, high in fiber and a high source of protein...blah blah blah. I felt like I should experiment with it, but I’d been sheepish because sometimes nuts bother my stomach. When I’m making a gluten-free vegan cookie, I want a nice texture so that you don’t know that it’s vegan and gluten-free. And, when I’ve experimented in the past with dense nut flours, they offer a different texture. I’m especially picky because I love Namaste Gluten Free Perfect Flour Blend. It rises well, and is the most similar to actual wheat flour that I’ve tried; my cakes, cookies, and cupcakes rise light and fluffy. I buy it cheapest in bulk at Costco. However, it’s available online at vitacost.com if you don’t have a Costco membership or a store close, and don’t want to pay an arm and a leg.

Speaking of Costco, while I was there I walked by this bag of Blue Diamond Almond Flour. I figured if I’m going to experiment – go big or go home! There was a chocolate chip recipe on the back, so they must rise and make a decent cookie, right?! Here’s how I adapted the recipe to make it vegan and cane sugar-free. Note: I played around with it, and it could not be made completely vegan and not mushy without adding in another flour.

Oh, the decisions… I made two batches of chocolate chip cookies for a taste test: one with Blue Diamond Almond Flour and the other with my treasured Namaste Gluten Free Perfect Flour Blend; then I let my family and friends say which one was best. The taste test was on!

Tips for Making them Vegan:

  • To eliminate eggs: You will need an egg replacer (I use Ener‑G Egg Replacer – it’s available at Whole Foods, Fresh Thyme, and Amazon) AND you will need half of a banana or ¼ cup applesauce regardless of using egg replacer. If you skip the banana or the applesauce, they will be too dry and crumbly. 
  • To eliminate dairy: You will need an alternative to “butter.” I used Smart Balance because they had it at Costco, and I was on a shopping mission that day, but I’ve had great results withEarth Balance too. I love that Earth Balance comes in easy to use sticks instead of just a container.

Tips for Making Them Sugarcane Free:

  1. Organic Pure Maple Sugar instead of brown sugar – you can buy the Coombs Family Farms Maple Sugar brand from Fresh Thyme or Whole Food. I also like Pure Indiana Maple Sugar that I get from a local co-op. It is a great flavor, it has a lower glycemic index than sugar, and contains important antioxidants and minerals like zinc and manganese.
  2. Coconut sugar instead of cane sugar – coconut sugar has a lower glycemic index than regular table sugar because it contains a fiber called inulin, which may slow glucose absorption. A lower glycemic index means that you don’t get as much of a sugar rush and insulin spike with maple syrup sugar and coconut sugar.
  3. Chocolate chips –Lily’s Baking Chips are sugar-free and are sweetened with stevia. Vitacost has them for less than the store. They are awesome. If you can’t find any Enjoy Life contain cane sugar, but are vegan, dairy free, soy free, and allergy friendly option. My mom used carob chips growing up, but I just don’t like the flavor they provide.

If you aren’t sugar conscientious, then just throw in the brown sugar and the sugar cane. However, if you give these a chance, you will never taste the difference.

Vegan Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookie With Almond Flour

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  2. Combine gluten-free and almond flours, baking soda, and Redmond’s Real Salt in a small bowl.
  3. Prepare your egg replacer (take with 3 teaspoons egg replacer, 4 tablespoons warm water, and mix until it thickens)
  4. Beat vegan butter, sugars, and vanilla in large bowl until creamy.
  5. Egg replacer 
  6. Gradually beat in dry ingredients.
  7. Add in the ½ banana and continue to mix.
  8. Stir in the chocolate chips
  9. Drop tablespoons of dough on a lightly greased cookie sheet. I used a knife to get the dough out of the tablespoon because they were very sticky, and then gently smoothed the top. If you don’t smooth the top with your hand – they will look jagged like the top right image. 
  10. Bake for 12 – 15 minutes until they are lightly browned on top and firm to the touch. (I baked them for 12 minutes)
  11. Cool for 2 minutes then move to wire racks to cool completely.
  12. Makes ~2 dozen cookies

Vegan Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  2. Combine gluten-free flour, baking soda, and Redmond’s Real Salt in a small bowl.
  3. Prepare your egg replacer (take with 3 teaspoons egg replacer, 4 tablespoons warm water, and mix until it thickens)
  4. Beat vegan butter, sugars, and vanilla in large bowl until creamy.
  5. Add Egg replacer.
  6. Gradually beat in dry ingredients.
  7. Add ½ of the banana for vegan cookies
  8. Stir in vegan chocolate chips.
  9. Drop by small rounded teaspoon onto greased cookie sheet.
  10. Bake for 9-11 minutes or until golden brown. (I cooked them for 11)
  11. Cool for 2 minutes then move to wire racks to cool completely.
  12. Makes ~34 cookies

Taste Test Results

Both are delicious, and you would never know that they were vegan and gluten-free! The appearance is smoother and lighter with the Namaste Gluten Free Perfect Flour Blend cookie; you must smooth out the top of the Almond Flour Chocolate Chip Cookie if you want it to look like rounded and smooth. The Almond Flour Chocolate Chip Cookie Cookie is denser and a tad sweeter, which is rare, because it has less sugar. I consider that a plus! It also has a crunchier browner outside. The gluten-free vegan chocolate chip cookie with theNamaste Gluten Free Perfect Flour Blend has a softer texture, more like a normal cookie, and is a little lighter color. You really can’t go wrong with either one! After tasting the almond flour vegan chocolate chip cookie, I have visions of chocolate almond flour cookies dancing in my head!

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