HookedOnPlants

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Gluten Free

Chewy Vegan Chickpea Coconut Cluster Cookies | Gluten-Free

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That naked cookie jar is calling for these babies! But be warned; if you are into chewiness with a surprise crunch of clustery, seedy, coco-nutty goodness, that jar of chewy vegan chickpea cookies will be empty within 48 hours.

The tapioca flour in these cookies gives them that chewy texture, and the chickpea flour gives you the extra plant protein so you’ll feel like a health nut without having to taste the health (if you know what I mean)! Perfect combo.

Keep the GF theme going by opting for gluten-free oats.

And the clusters! Such a great addition. You know that feeling of biting into something chewy, and all of a sudden, SURPRISE … a delightful crunch for the teeth to bask in. Is it just me, or is that not the most satisfying sensation ever?

I’m using Hippie Snacks sweet seed + nut clusters (a whole package worth) to round out these devour-worthy cookies. The clusters have dried fruit in them too, so you get a random bit of extra firm chewiness, along with that seedy, coconut crunch (YES).

And the dippability of these guys are 10/10 (very important to mention).

Pour that hemp milk into a your favourite mug and dip away till’ the happy cows come home.

Cookies with Benefits:

  • Chickpea Flour is a great option if you’re sensitive to gluten, plus it’s packed with plant protein with a very mild flavour. It’s anti-inflammatory, and super nutrient-dense, yet lower in calories (compared to wheat flour).
  • Sweet Coconut Seed + Nut clusters are packed with omegas from coconut + flax seeds, iron from pumpkin seeds, and vitamin E from sunflower seeds. They’ve got papaya and cranberries in there for a boost of phytonutrients and digestive enzymes, plus a ton of fibre from the brown rice puffs!
  • Oats are packed with magnesium, fibre and antioxidants. They’ll help balance your blood sugar, lower cholesterol and relieve constipation:)


Chewy Vegan Chickpea Cookies with Coconut Cluster | GF
 
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Easy and chewy with a surprise crunch. These cookies are a new go-to for the lunch box, and their dippability is 10/10.
Author:
Recipe type: cookies, dessert, snack
Serves: 9
Ingredients

  • Dry Ingredients:
  • ¼ cup coconut sugar
  • ½ cup tapioca flour
  • 1 cup chickpea flour
  • 1 cup oats (gluten free if needed)
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • ¼ tsp salt

  • Wet Ingredients
  • ½ cup + 1 tbsp maple syrup
  • ¼ cup almond butter
  • ¼ cup coconut oil
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 package Hippie Snacks Sweet Coconut Seed + Nut Clusters
Instructions
  1. Pre-Heat oven to 350°F
  2. Mix together dry ingredients (I do this in the Kitchen Aid mixer). Then pour that into a bowl and set aside.
  3. Mix together the wet ingredients (except for the clusters), until smooth.
  4. Add the dry mixture to the wet and mix until combined
  5. Then stir in the coconut clusters (save some for topping the cookies with)
  6. On a parchment covered, or reusable cooking sheet covered cookie sheet, place 1 inch cookie dough balls about 2 inches apart.
  7. Press the cookie down slightly and sprinkle with left over cluster bits.
  8. Bake for 10-12 minutes (watch they don't burn, but if you want a crispier base go for 12 minutes)
  9. Store in that cookie jar!

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Raw Vegan Matcha Charcoal Swirl Cheese Cake

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Forget friends with benefits… dessert with benefits way more fun. And yes, this raw vegan matcha charcoal swirl cheese cake does taste as good as it looks.

This luscious  dessert is a crowd-pleases and SO easy!! It only takes 15 minutes of actual time in the kitchen for you. The rest of the time is for soaking the nuts and freezing the cake so it’s a cheese cake-like texture.

Matcha + Activated Charcoal.

Mixing these two wonders together creates a black and green galaxy of antioxidants and intense detoxifying powers your body will thank you for. Matcha does wonders as an antioxidant powerhouse, and activated charcoal actually binds to toxins and heavy metals in your body (great for hangovers).

This crust is just 3 main superfood ingredients with some lemon zest and sea salt. Easy as pie (crust).

Who knew dessert could be so powerful?

Matcha is one of the most powerful antioxidants in the world. I’ve been loving the ceremonial grade DoMatcha. They’re all about quality and transparency with their matcha (check out where they source it from and how it’s made here).

I’m so in love with matcha. One of my Jules Fuel overnight buckwheat oat breakfast cereals is made with DoMatcha, and when I’m working from home I end up having at least 2 matcha hemp milk lattés throughout the day, and I feel gooooood about it.
This dessert was a hit at my good friend’s 30th birthday (Happy Birthday Shannon). No one was vegan, and everyone wanted more 😉

7  benefits of Matcha:
  1. Antioxidant powerhouse! Matcha helps slow aging process by fighting free radicals and protecting your cells from damage and minimizing your risk for disease
  2. Sustained energy release compared to coffee (no jitters)
  3. High in the antioxidant EGCG, which is shown to boost metabolism, increase fat loss, and help prevent disease
  4. 137 times more antioxidants that your typical green tea
  5. L-theanine in matcha improves memory and boosts your mood by helping produce dopamine and serotonin
  6. High levels of chlorophyll in matcha detoxifies your body by helping remove heavy metals and chemical toxins
  7. Increases your immunity with it’s antibiotic properties and good levels of vitamin A, C and potassium

5.0 from 1 reviews
Raw Vegan Matcha Charcoal Swirl Cheese Cake
 
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A decadent, raw vegan dessert packed to the brim with antioxidants and detoxifying effects! It only takes 15 minutes of actual 'work in the kitchen time', the rest is freezing or soaking time! It's delish and has mega benefits.
Author:
Recipe type: dessert, pie, raw dessert
Cuisine: raw vegan
Serves: 10-12
Ingredients
  • Crust:
  • ½ cup oats (gluten-free if needed)
  • 1 cup pitted dates
  • 1 cup walnuts
  • 1 tsp lemon zest
  • ⅛ tsp salt

  • Filling:
  • 2 cups cashews, soaked at least 3 hours (or 1 hour in hot water)
  • 1 cup full fat coconut cream (scrape the solid white stuff out of the can, leave the liquid)
  • ½ cup maple syrup
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • juice of 1 large lemon
  • 2 tbsp coconut oil
  • 2 tsp matcha powder (I used ceremonial grade matcha fromDo Matcha)
  • 1 tsp activated charcoal (sub cacao powder)
Instructions
  1. Make crust: in your food processor, blend dates until they've become small chunks or a ball. Remove from food processor and blend walnuts and oats until their a fine meal. Add the dates back in. Blend until well combined. Texture? It should stick together when squeezed.
  2. Press crust into a parchment lined spring form pan (up the sides too).
  3. Place the crusted pan into the freezer.
  4. Make filling: in your blender, blend cashews, coconut cream, maple syrup, vanilla and lemon until smooth and silky. This will give you 2½ cups of white filling.
  5. Pour ¾ of the filling (1¾ cups) out into a jar, keeping half of the filling in the blender.
  6. Add matcha to the blender and blend until combined.
  7. Pour matcha filling in the pie crust.
  8. Blend the rest of the white filling with the activated charcoal (or cacao).
  9. Drizzle the activated charcoal filling in a swirl over the matcha filling. Use a butter knife or chop stick to create art! (zig zag motion)
  10. Place the pie in the freezer for at least 2 hours.
  11. When you're ready to eat it, take it out of the freezer and let sit 10 minutes.
  12. Store it in the freezer!
Notes
The actual 'work time' of this pie is only 15 minutes, or so (blending the crust, then blending both fillings). The soak time and the freezer time is included in the total time.
The longer the cashews are soaked, the creamier the pie.
You can freeze it for less time, but it just won't be as solid.

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Smokey Vegan Parmesan | Ready in 3 minutes

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This smokey vegan parmesan goes well with anything, and I mean ANYTHING savoury.

It has to be in the fridge at all times, ready to get it’s sprinkle on.

There’s nothing like a little smoky saltiness to add pizzazz to any meal.

Your next pasta, salad, tofu scramble, sandwich or wrap will welcome this parm with open arms.

The one thing people seem to miss most during the transition to plant-based eating… CHEESE, because it’s physically addicting. Casomorphins in dairy create an opioid effect to keep the calf coming back for more from her cow Mama. When milk is made into cheese for human consumption (it takes 10 lbs of milk to create just 1 lb of cheese), the casomorphins are concentrated to high levels and create a strong opioid effect, that keep us coming back for more. Once you’re separated from the addiction for a bit, you’ll be over and and see cheese for what it really is… Check out this post for more on that.

It’s becoming easier and easier with all of the amazing vegan cheese companies coming out with innovative, melty, flavourful, creamy, cheeses! And this recipe gives a cheesiness to any recipe.

When it comes to parm, I think VioLife makes the best store bought vegan version. But, when you don’t have any of that kicking around, you can resort to this smokey vegan parmesan recipe!

The smokiness adds a deep deliciousness to your typical parmesan flava flave.

Benefits:

  • Cashews provide you with 100% of your copper needs! Copper helps with the reactions needed for the metabolism of iron, energy production, and neurotransmission. They’re also packed with vitamins E for healthy skin and bones!
  • Paprika is ground up red pepper! It’s packed with antioxidants, and is very anti-inflammatory.
  • Sunflower seeds are also an amazing source of copper and vitamin E, as well as B1. Vitamin B1 helps the breakdown of fats and protein, and vastly improves the cardiovascular functioning of the body.


Smokey Vegan Parmesan
 
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This is your next meal's best friend. Sprinkle this stuff on anything to enhance any kind of savoury dish.
Author:
Recipe type: topping
Ingredients
  • ¾ cup raw cashews
  • 1 tbsp sunflower seeds
  • ¼ cup nutritional yeast
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • ¼ tsp smoked paprika
  • ¾ tsp sea salt
Instructions
  1. Blend all ingredients in a mini food processor, blender or spice grinder until you reach the consistency of parm! You shouldn't need more than 30 seconds.
  2. Store in the fridge for up to 3 weeks.

** This goes great with Simple Green Curry, Butternut Mac n’ Peas, Whole Roasted Cauli, Curried Collard Greens, Mashed Potato Butternut Swirl, and the Green Machine Curried Zucchini Hummus.

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Gooey Vegan Sweet Potato Brownies + Choco Frosting | GF + Oil-Free

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Gooey, decadent brownie indulgence, without rebelling from your ‘eating clean’ regime. These healthy, oil-free, gluten-free, vegan sweet potato brownies are so downright delectable that you’ll feel as if you’re re-living that brownie experience you had at the grade 4 bake sale (that one packed with alllll the sugar and butter).
Well nope, this one is gluten-free (just use gluten-free oats), vegan (always), and free of refined oil.
It’s packed to the frosting with unrefined whole foods!
Dates for the sweetener, sweet potatoes for the nutrient-dense filler, and almond butter for the density.
These brownies aren’t too sweet, and they go AMAZINGLY with nana’ nice cream!
But, what’s a brownie without a topper? This Chocolate Date frosting is thick and creamy with only whole food ingredients. Date paste is the magic that creates a frosting that’s a sweet, spreadable answer to cure that sweet tooth craving.
Let’s talk protein for a sec.
First of all, these brownies are packed with protein.
Surprisingly:
1 cup of sweet potatoes = 6 grams of protein
1/2 cup of oats = 5 grams of protein
1/4 cup almond butter = 13 grams of protein
Each of these ingredients has a bit of all 9 essential amino acids, too (plug it in on cronometer).
Around 42g of protein per day is more than enough for the average person (about 0.8g/kg of body weight).
Too much protein, on the other hand, is very hard on the kidneys, plus it leads to weight gain, water retention and poor digestion.
So? You can stop worrying about whether or not you’re getting enough protein throughout the day. You will most likely be getting much more than 42g of protein, or around 10-15% of your entire diet coming from protein on the plant-based lifestyle, as long as your eating enough calories (not starving yourself). Plant protein is easier to digest, and we can get all the essential amino acids we need from plants.
Where do you think the muscular Gorillas, Elephants, Rhinos and Horses get their protein?
Rather than having the cow eat the plants to grow meat for humans to eat, let’s get straight to the plant source and stop using the animal as the middle man.
As for complete protein, you don’t need to worry about combining plants on your plate to ensure you’re getting a full spectrum of amino acids in one meal (the rice and bean theory). As long as your eating a variety of whole plant foods, and enough of them, your body will store excess amino acids in the amino acid pool, and release these amino acids to form complete proteins when ever it’s needed throughout your week!
One more thing to think about. Protein doesn’t come on it’s own…it comes as a package.
Which protein package sounds better to you?

 

We can stop worrying about protein and ask the new question: where do you get your fibre? (Most people are low in this SUPER important nutrient)
Whole plant foods are packed with this F-bomb. And these brownies are a good place to start!

Brownie benefits:

  • Sweet potatoes are queen in my eyes. They’re packed with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and taste like heaven on earth. They’re incredibly sweet for a tater! Vitamin A for your eyes, B vitamins for your nervous system, manganese for your bones and fat metabolism, and potassium to lower your anxiety and stress levels.
  • Dates are packed with fibre and minerals. They’re essential if you need to move things along, if you know what I mean. The mineral content in these babies is amazing for your bones, and they are the best whole food sweetener you can find.
  • Tapioca flour is a flour made from the cassava root, so it’s naturally free of gluten. It’s amazing in baking because it gives anything a dense, chewy texture!

Sweet Potato Brownies | Oil-Free, GF, Vegan
 
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Sinful tasting brownies without the sins. Goo-ey, decadent, and chocolate-y. These are a go-to for a healthy snack, or a delicious dessert.
Author:
Recipe type: dessert, snack, brownies
Serves: 9
Ingredients
  • 12 medjool dates, soaked 5 minutes and strained (keep the liquid!)
  • ½ cup smooth nut butter of choice (I used almond butter)
  • 1 chia egg or flax egg (1 tbsp chia seeds or ground flax + 3 tbsp water)
  • ⅛ tsp sea salt
  • ¼ cup raw cacao powder (standard cocoa powder works too)
  • 1 tbsp tapioca flour (or tapioca starch)
  • 1 cup oat flour (just blend 1 cup rolled gluten-free oats to a flour in your blender)
  • 2 medium-sized sweet potatoes, poked with a fork (will become about 1 cup mashed)

  • Frosting:
  • ¼ cup date paste (left over from brownie mix, see below)
  • ½ cup nut butter
  • 1 tbsp cacao powder
  • 3 tbsp plant-milk (I used vanilla unsweetened almond)
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven the 350°F, line a 7"x7" (approx.) cake pan with parchment paper and set aside.
  2. Cook sweet potatoes: Either bake for 45 minutes (or until soft), flipping once. Once cooled enough to handle, scoop out the meat and discard (or eat) the peel. (Another option is to steam the potatoes: Peel, then chop into ½" cubes, then place in steamer for 30 minutes).
  3. Meanwhile in your blender, make the date paste by blending all medjool dates with ½ cup of the left over date soaking liquid. Once smooth, remove ¼ cup of the date paste and set aside (for the frosting baby!)
  4. Add the nut butter, chia egg, salt, tapioca flour, oat flour, sweet potato and cacao powder to the date paste in the blender. Blend until smooth (use your tamper to help it along). Another option is to mix by hand in a big bowl.
  5. Pour the mixture into the parchment covered pan and bake for 30 minutes (or until a toothpick comes out clean).
  6. Meanwhile, make the frosting: Blend the left over ¼ cup of date paste with nut butter, cacao powder and plant milk until smooth.
  7. Remove brownies from oven, let cool 10 minutes.
  8. Flip upside down onto a serving plate and spread frosting over the top. Sprinkle with walnuts.
  9. Place it in the fridge for 10 minutes to solidify the frosting. Then slice and enjoy!
  10. Can be stored in the fridge for up to a week, or in the freezer for months.

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Vegan Omelette (what?!) + Cashew Hollandaise Sauce

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We be BRUNCHIN’!  This vegan omelette shows up with the texture, taste and look you’re wanting when you dig into that savoury fave of a dish.

Finally, an egg-free version of one of the best breakis around. Drizzled it with this Hollandaise Sauce and call it a Sunday.

When it comes to veganizing old faves, it’s all about re-creating that texture, pleasing the taste buds, and replicating the sight of that nostalgic dish you used to devour over and over again…but this time, with plants.

I used to love cheese & avocado omelettes so much that they’d grace the plate for breakfast and dinner. Finally, I can sink my fork into that same omelette, without having anything to do with an animal 🙂

It even got a thumbs up from my hard-to-please fiancé/taste-tester. Davey’s specialty used to be cheese eggs, so needless to say, he’s got high standards when it comes to comfort-food brunchin’. I’m happy to report that this recipe passed with flying colours.

The black salt used in the recipe is a magical ingredient that gives the omelette that ‘egg-like’ suflur taste. If you can get your hands on some, do it. If not, your vegan egg mixture will still be delicious, but not quite as egg-y tasting. I ordered mine online from Vegan Supply (pick up some Jules Fuel while you’re at it!). You can also order it through Amazon or find it in any other natural food store these days.

Tapioca flour (from the Casssava root)  is another magical ingredient that gives the omelette a egg-like texture. It creates the chewiness and helps it all stick together. Cornstarch can replace this, but, if you don’t have either in your cupboard for this recipe, don’t stress, it’s not the end of the world.

I used Alligga Flax Oil for the cooking oil. When it comes to the beauty of this omelette, a little oil goes a long way to give it that crisp, brown outer layer.

Flax oil, you ask?! Yup.

Usually you wouldn’t be able to cook with flax oil. But, these guys are the first to figure out a way to filter the oil so it has a ‘high-smoke point’. This means that you can cook with this flax oil with the omegas will staying in-tact, and the healthy fats in there won’t turn into trans-fats. This is a great way to get in your omega-3 fatty acids (which is an essential polyunsaturated fatty acid that we all need to balance out our omega 6 to omega 3 ratio) for brain power, memory, arthritis, mood, and overall healthy function.

Benefits:

  • Tofu isn’t something to be afraid of. It’s super nutrient-dense and plant-protein packed. The phytoestrogens that come with it aren’t anything to worry about. These are plant estrogens that act completely differently than human estrogens. There’s no need to worry about about ‘man-boobs’ or hormone imbalances, when it comes to soy. Dairy on the other hand…cut that stuff out.
  • Chickpea flour is also packed with protein! Chickpeas are also packed with manganese for bone health and antioxidant function.
  • Nutritional yeast is an amazing source of Vitamin B12 for your nervous system, neurotransmitter signalling, and cell reproduction (great for hair and nail growth).


Vegan Omelette + Cashew Hollandaise Sauce
 
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A veganized omelette! The texture, taste and look are on point with this recipe. Wow your egg loving friends with this egg-free version of the beloved omelette.
Author:
Recipe type: Breakfast, brunch
Cuisine: comfort food,
Serves: 2
Ingredients
  • 1½ cups (350g) firm tofu, patted with tea towel to remove excess liquid
  • ⅓ cup chickpea flour
  • ½ cup milk
  • 2 tbsp tapioca flour
  • 1tsp garlic/onion
  • ½ tsp turmeric
  • ½ tsp black salt
  • ¼ cup nutritional yeast
  • Dash of Pepper
  • 2 tsp Alligga flax oil (for cooking)

  • Filling:
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 1 tsp flax oil
  • Choice of veggies, diced (mushrooms, peppers, spinach, red onion)
  • Vegan cheese Chao, Black Sheep, Gusta are all good options
  • Avocado
  • Hollandaise Sauce
Instructions
  1. Sauté garlic and veggies in flax oil
  2. Blend all omelette ingredients, except for flax oil, in your blender until it’s as smooth as a baby’s bottom.
  3. Test the texture: dip a spatula in the mixture. Does the mixture stay on the spatula, but it’s on the verge of dripping? Perfect.
  4. Turn a pan to medium heat and oil it up.
  5. Pour half the mixture onto the oiled pan and set timer for 2 minutes 30 seconds. DO NOT TOUCH.
  6. When the timer goes off the omelette should be darkening on the top, maybe with a few bubble holes. Cover half of the omelette with half of your fillings. Then fold one side over to create your vegan omelette!
  7. Place lid on the pan and let cook for a minute to melt that cheese.
  8. Serve with avocado slices and a mega-drizzle of hollandaise sauce. Helloooooo Brunch.

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