Refined Sugar-Free

SunButter & Jelly Thumbprint Cookies

SunButter & Jelly Thumbprint Cookies made with Organic SunButter and your favorite no-sugar-added jam. The perfect holiday cookie!

I’m just going to come out and say it: the end of this year has felt like a slog for me.

Anyone else?

I’m tired, I’m cranky, and I feel like the only thing that sounds interesting to me at the moment is a one-way ticket to the Bahamas.

Maybe it’s the shorter daylight, maybe it’s surviving the most wonderful time of the year as a new dog mom, or maybe it’s the extreme cold we’ve had this December.

Whatever *it* is that has me staring at blank pages with blinking cursors and cursing the creative slump I’ve fallen into, needs to go.

Regardless of the cause, I’m actively trying to take it easy on myself.

Because baby it’s freakin’ cold outside, because it’s the holidays, because I’m moving into 2025 without those nuisance negative beliefs.

That being said, whether you’re crushing the last few weeks of 2024 or cruising like I am, I think we all deserve a cookie.

These SunButter & Jelly Thumbprint Cookies are made with Organic SunButter and your favorite no-sugar-added jam.

They’re the epitome of the perfect holiday cookie made with lots of SunButter, jam, and love.

…

Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies

By Flora & Vino Leave a Comment

Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies with oat and almond flour and dark chocolate chips. The perfect classic vegan cookie for any occasion!

It’s cookieeeeeee season, friends!

Just this week, I have three batches of cookies on the menu for three respective holiday events.

And pretty much every gathering this time of year requires cookies, am I right?

Today, I’m sharing with you a classic chocolate chip cookie with an un-classic vegan and gluten-free twist.

I first made these cookies for “Cousinsgiving” last weekend when we celebrated with my cousin, her husband, and their (now toddler!) daughter.

They were the perfect chocolate studded dessert after a beautiful spread of Vegan Zoodle Carbonara, cranberry sauce, delicata squash, and green beans.

I love that these cookies are easy to mix up in one bowl, making them a go-to recipe for last minute cookie exchanges.

You know, for the times you find out the night before (or the day of!) that you need cookies for an event.

Have no fear, these Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies are here.

They’re made with the perfect mix of oat and almond flour and lots of dark chocolate chips.

This perfect classic vegan cookie also happens to be packed with fiber, plant-based protein, and healthy fats.

Not that we need to worry about the perfect nutrition label this time of year (or ever), but now you know!

…

1-Bowl Blondies

By Flora & Vino Leave a Comment

1-Bowl Blondies with oat and almond flour sweetened with pure maple syrup. Top with Endangered Species 60% Dark Chocolate Baking Chips!

Thanksgiving came and went and now the world is hustling and bustling in a holiday craze.

I actually finished my holiday shopping early this year because I was overeager to buy gifts in October and November.

This feels like a major flex now, because I have more time for writing my Christmas cards and…baking.

Friends, ’tis the season for baking.

Baking all things, but mostly sweet things.

I’m excited to share my first December baked good with you.

I had my oven on every day last week working on different variations of blondies.

What I’m sharing with you today is my favorite; sweet, chewy, and chocolate studded goodness.

These 1-Bowl Blondies are made with oat and almond flour sweetened with pure maple syrup.

Top them with Endangered Species 60% Dark Chocolate Baking Chips and don’t forget to measure chocolate chips with your soul.

Make a pan of these vegan and gluten-free blondies for you and yours!

…

9 Cozy Vegan Drinks

By Flora & Vino Leave a Comment

9 Cozy Vegan Drinks made with plant-based and refined-sugar-free ingredients. Perfect to have in your mug when the weather gets chilly!

Every year I tend to romanticize the cold weather, thinking, *this* will be the year that I enjoy being outdoors in the winter.

And then every year I am reminded that no matter how many base layers, fuzzy socks, and parkas I dawn, winter is still not my thing.

And cold is relative, right?

While I think the 20-something degree mornings we’re currently experiencing in Maryland are FUH-REEZING, some of you in climates further north might think that sounds downright tropical.

You’ve got more stamina (and better circulation) than me, friends.

So, yes, this was the week that I decided that it was far too cold to go outside for much more than grabbing the mail and Flora’s potty time.

But it is good weather for some cozy homemade drinks.

Over the years, I’ve created quite a collection of warm beverages that I like sipping on in colder weather.

I decided today, as I type this at my desk with fuzzy slippers, a hoodie, and a blanket on, that it was a good day to put all of those recipes in one place.

These 9 Cozy Vegan Drinks are made with plant-based and refined-sugar-free ingredients.

They’re perfect to have in your mug when the weather gets chilly, or relatively chilly!

The collection includes lattes, hot chocolates, and mulled wines.

Bookmark this recipe roundup and come back to it whenever you need a new hug in a mug.

…

Apple Butter Latte

By Flora & Vino Leave a Comment

Apple Butter Latte made with Eden Foods Organic Apple Butter Spread and warming spices. Perfect to have in your mug for cold weather!

It might surprise you to know that I normally drink my coffee black.

I’ve really gotten into coffee in the past year, and I look forward to my daily morning pour each night when I fall asleep in bed.

But whenever I go out to a coffee shop and treat myself to a cup of something, I always go with a latte!

It’s a treat for me because I don’t have an espresso maker at home, and the addition of vegan milk makes it nice and cozy and frothy.

It’s delicious!

Warm drinks truly are like a hug that you can drink, and I think we could all use an edible hug right about now.

So, you don’t need an espresso maker to make this Apple Butter Latte at home.

It has all the coziness, convenience, and intrigue as going out for a coffee, but you don’t have to change out of your lounge clothes or leave the house.

This Apple Butter Latte is made with Eden Foods Organic Apple Butter Spread and warming spices.

It’s perfect to have in your mug for cold weather!

Make it with strong coffee for a morning pick-me-up, or try it with decaf coffee in the evening for a dessert feel.

…

Vegan Morning Glory Muffins

By Flora & Vino Leave a Comment

Vegan Morning Glory Muffins made with shredded carrots, dried fruit, nuts, and Organic SunButter. Perfect for a quick breakfast or snack!

After daylight savings time told us to “fall back” (thanks, daylight savings!) I’ve been trying to use that extra hour to get an hour ahead…on life.

It feels like a cheat, doesn’t it?

Without missing a wink of sleep, I’m suddenly back to being a 6 AM-riser, something I haven’t been able to accomplish before we brought Flora home.

The past few months, I fell into an easy routine as a new dog mom of sleeping as long as Flora would let me, only getting up to her insistent barks at my side of the bed.

But this week, I’m back, baby.

I’m back to my early morning Pilates + strength workouts before breakfast.

Back to eating a protein-packed breakfast after said workout ends.

I’m also back to starting my entrepreneurial workday at a time I wouldn’t be embarrassed to share with you.

It’s funny how a singular hour can make that much of a difference in the day, isn’t it?

This hour gave me confidence, focus, and self back.

So, now the hard part…I need to hold onto that hour for dear life and not slip back into old patterns.

M and I just started rewatching the series “House”, and I know it would be all too easy to binge a few episodes and lose traction.

OR stay up all night reading this month’s bookclub book, a historical mystery that I cannot put down!

I also feel great because I’ve been enjoying these Vegan Morning Glory Muffins as a nutritious midmorning snack.

These Vegan Morning Glory Muffins are made with shredded carrots, dried fruit, nuts, and Organic SunButter.

They’re perfect for a quick breakfast or snack and would be lovely to bake for family for the upcoming holidays!

…

Sweet Potato Pie Baked Oatmeal

By Flora & Vino Leave a Comment

Sweet Potato Pie Baked Oatmeal made with sweet potato, pumpkin pie spice, and candied pecans. Perfect for a fall meal prep breakfast!

Last week I signed up for a 10K run on Thanksgiving Day!

If you’ve been around here a while, you know that I’ve been a runner for over a decade now.

I come and go with the sport, inspired by the seasons and the weather and what races I have on the calendar.

My longest run was a full marathon I did back in 2022, but these days I’m more of a short distance girlie.

When I lace up my runners and hit the pavement now, 3 miles feels tough; forget about 26.2!

But if you know me you know I’m a goal oriented person, and I love having something to work towards and train towards.

I’m in a season of life where dog training is keeping me busy, but making time for personal goals hits differently.

So I hit the “purchase” button when I was all fired up about running and excited to enjoy the fall weather.

Now, I’m feeling slightly sick knowing that this run (and Thanksgiving!) is a short few weeks away.

If there’s one thing I am good at, though, it’s sticking to a training schedule.

Well, and making new variations of baked oats to enjoy.

I’m counting on these Sweet Potato Pie Baked Oatmeal to keep me fueled this fall as I get back on track with running again!

This dish is made with mashed sweet potato, pumpkin pie spice, and candied pecans.

It’s the perfect energizing fall meal prep breakfast to support your lifestyle with complex carbs, protein, and healthy fats.

And, it would be a fabulous Thanksgiving breakfast for the whole family!

…

SunButter Date Caramel Apples

By Flora & Vino Leave a Comment

SunButter Date Caramel Apples made with apples topped with homemade caramel and rolled in sunflower seeds and dark chocolate chips.

In the past week, Flora took her first 1-mile walk with us!

The walk, which should normally take about 20-ish minutes, ended up taking over 30 because of lots of…

“Leave it, Flora!”, zig-zagging, “Drop it, Flora!”, dragging, “Heel, Flora!”, pulling…you get the idea.

Long story short: we’re still working on leash walking, and it’s a PROCESS.

She immediately came home and proceeded to lap water ferociously, lay down dramatically, and then initiated more play 10 minutes later.

Well, I guess we can’t tire her out.

With all this dog walking and dog training, I’m relying on healthy snacks to get me through this fall.

I’ve always been a sweet snacker, and this SunButter Date Caramel Apples hits just right for the season.

This good-for-you snack is made with your favorite apples topped with homemade caramel and rolled in sunflower seeds and dark chocolate chips.

It’s the best fall snack and a great way to use up all of those apples we collect this time of year!

…

Chocolate Peanut Butter Rice Cake

By Flora & Vino 1 Comment

Chocolate Peanut Butter Rice Cake made with rice cakes, creamy peanut butter, and melted cacao wafers. A healthy peanut butter cup snack!

If you’ve been around here a while, you also know that I’ve been dressing up rice cakes for years.

While some people see dry, boring, bland cakes, I see a neutral and nutritious vehicle for *all* of my favorite toppings.

I mean, the possibilities are endless, friends.

Which is probably why I was immediately taken with the viral TikTok Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Rice Cake.

(Well, that and the fact that my favorite dessert pairing in the history of dessert pairings is chocolate + peanut butter.)

Rice Cakes are also an amazing vegan and gluten-free substitution for toast, crackers, or anything wheat based.

It took me a while to finally try the recipe trending on social media, but now that I finally have, I *need* to share it with you.

This is my version of the Chocolate Peanut Butter Rice Cake.

They’re easy to make for a solo snack or dessert with your favorite rice cakes, creamy peanut butter, and melted cacao wafers.

Basically, it’s a healthier one serving peanut butter cup, and I think we could all use one of those as Halloween creeps up!

Grab some rice cakes, your favorite jar of nut butter, and Semisweet Cacao Wafers and let’s make this sweet treat.

…

Apple Pie Crumble Bars

By Flora & Vino Leave a Comment

Apple Pie Crumble Bars with an almond oat crust and crumble topping with a stovetop apple pie filling. The best fall breakfast or snack!

I *love* apples, mostly because I can let them sit on the counter for a while and ponder delicious ways to use them.

They’re not fickle like summer berries, where you need to use them THE DAY you purchase them.

Or like Flora’s leash training, which some days feels easy and other days (read: most of the time) I think she’s the one walking me.

But, I digress.

We were talking apples, not Aussies!

One of M’s favorite recipes that I make this time of year is a vegan apple crumble.

It’s also one of my favorite ways to use up a bunch of apples that I got at the grocery store, farmers market, or apple orchard. This year, I decided to get a bit creative and turn his favorite apple recipe into…bars!

These Apple Pie Crumble Bars are made with an almond oat crust and crumble topping with a stovetop apple pie filling.

It’s still easy to make with simple ingredients, but crumble turned bars means they’re portable, concise, and convenient.

Slice them into squares and enjoy them for the *best* fall breakfast, snack, or dessert.

…

Refined Sugar-Free

Footer

what’s happening now on instagram