Refined Sugar-Free

Gingerbread Bliss Balls

Gingerbread inspired energy balls made with oat flour, Medjool dates, molasses, and a festive spice blend. Perfect for a holiday season pick me up.

Hey, how was your Thanksgiving?

If you’re like me, the morning after the big meal you hastily turned on the Christmas music.

Something about blasting Michael Bublé and Mariah Carey instantly transports me into the holiday spirit.

Do you have your tree and decorations up yet?

I’m 50% of the way there.

I have the miniature red and white tree-skirt I couldn’t resist buying from Target, before, you know, finding a mini tree to go with it.

The ornaments are out too; a heart-warming hodgepodge of handmade childhood ornaments, classic glass balls, hanging figurines dated by birthdays and ages, glistening cupcakes and my favorite, a sparkling avocado toast (no explanation needed).

So when I finally get my tree, I’ll be decorating it with all of this plus Gingerbread Bliss Balls.

Because everyone needs a little festive fuel to deck the halls!

These gingerbread inspired energy bites are ready in under 10 minutes to fuel you through your busy holiday season.

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My Go-To Trail Mix

By Flora & Vino Leave a Comment

5-minute mix it yourself trail-mix with cashews, cranberries, dark chocolate, shredded coconut, and cinnamon. Perfect for on-the-go snacking!

At my hair appointment last weekend I sat in the salon chair and said, “Well, I’m not a hiker.”

“If you’ve got hiking boots, you’re a hiker,” my hair stylist said, motioning towards the hiking boots that protruded from under the long black salon gown that I wore buttoned around my neck like a cape.

I laughed and nodded in agreement.

I hadn’t had time to change before my hair appointment to change out of the hiking gear I wore to climb Raven Rocks with my girlfriends.

Earlier that morning, exhilarated by the crisp fall air and endorphins, we made a pact to do 12 hikes in 2020.

So maybe I am a hiker, huh?

I thought to myself as my stylist wrapped strands of my hair into highlighting foils.

And every good hiker knows to bring plenty of snack with you when you hit the trail.

Whether you’re a hiker or not, you’re going to love this easy snack mix that I call My Go-To Trail Mix.

It’s perfect to mix up for nutritious pre-portioned snacking on the go!

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Cashew Butter Buckeye Brownies

By Flora & Vino 8 Comments

Three layer vegan cashew butter buckeye brownies that are vegan, grain-free, and refined sugar-free with almond flour, cashew butter, and dark chocolate.

Last night I observed a yoga class for yoga teacher training!

Between training weekends, we have to show up on our mat but also observe others teach, too, to see the teaching experience from a new perspective.

I sat cross-legged in the back of the room, taking notes on a spiral notepad while I watched the room breathe and flow.

It’s hard not to get a bit of FOMO watching the transformation happening around the room.

The audible inhales and exhales made my own chest rise and fall with synchronicity.

But then I had a similar transformation in my kitchen yesterday, one that I’m excited to share with you today.

These Cashew Butter Buckeye Brownies are three layers of deliciousness that you need in your life.

They’re vegan, gluten-free, grain-free, oil-free, and refined sugar-free with just 9 simple ingredients!

You don’t just have to observe this post friends, you get to participate.

Let’s layer up!

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1-Bowl Butternut Bread

By Flora & Vino 2 Comments

1-bowl butternut squash bread made with butternut squash purée, nut butter, and oat flour. Perfect for a hearty fall breakfast bread!

Hello!

Since we last chatted daylight savings time went into “Fall backwards” mode, leaving us with an extra hour of sleep and an abruptly dark dinnertime.

Everyone says that the day after Halloween is officially the start to the “holiday season”.

Nothing felt drastically different on November 1st save the mostly full bowl of Halloween candy by the door.

(I got a whopping TWO trick-or-treaters, guys!)

Bu when I scheduled my 8-week hair appointment with my stylist yesterday she said “Enjoy the holidays!”– that’s when it hit me.

I won’t see her until January and the holiday hustle is upon us, hair highlighted or not.

If you’re tired of pumpkin but still feeling like baking something cozy and orange, read on.

This 1-Bowl Butternut Bread is made with less than 10-ingredients that are vegan, gluten-free, oil-free, and naturally sweetened!

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Vegan Pumpkin Donuts with SunButter Maple Frosting

By Flora & Vino 6 Comments

Pumpkin donuts made with almond flour and pumpkin purée naturally sweetened with maple syrup. Frost with an easy SunButter maple frosting!

It’s Halloween Eve!

Do you have any spooky traditions that you do every year?

Nada over here.

I have heirloom pumpkin on the stoop and a candy-filled ceramic pumpkin bowl perched by the door in anticipation of trick-or-treaters at the new place.

Growing up, my parents used to get us donuts and apple cider to snack on before the trick-or-treaters showed up.

I’m not sure if that’s just a my family thing or if it’s a your family thing, too, but for this reason, I always associate donuts with Halloween!

There’s nothing much better than sweet circles in seasonal flavors, right?

These Vegan Pumpkin Donuts with SunButter Maple Frosting are just what you need for fall.

They’re vegan, gluten-free, and refined sugar free with a delicious 3-ingredient maple-sweetened SunButter based frosting!

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1-Bowl Apple Oat Cake

By Flora & Vino 14 Comments

Simple apple almond cake made in one bowl with gluten-free oats, tart apples, and slivered almonds. Try it for fall dessert, breakfast, or snack.

Guys, apparently I missed the apples.

WHAT?!

At my farm photoshoot last week I was seriously excited to pick some apples but as it turns out the apple orchards were closed for the year.

So I played with pumpkins instead and later bought some gorgeous Granny Smiths for the sole purpose of baking with.

They were clearly destined for cake, although I didn’t know it then.

If you’re thinking, Lauren, the last thing I need right now is another dessert recipe with Halloween candy laying around in plain sight.

Well, this is the kind of cake you can enjoy all fall long once the candy is long gone.

Also, can I just add that this 1-Bowl Apple Oat Cake is so much more than dessert.

It’s nutritious and filling with gluten-free oats, tart apples, and crunchy almonds.

Apple season is when we say it is and I say it’s now and it’s in our kitchens!

The inspiration for this 1-Bowl Apple Oat Cake comes from an old family recipe!

My mom used to make apple cake that we enjoyed after brisk fall walks around the neighborhood with the sun low in the sky.

The original recipe called for two cups of sugar, oil, and eggs, so I made some F&V swap outs to make the recipe vegan, gluten-free, and oil-free.

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Vegan Peanut Butter Butterfingers

By Flora & Vino 36 Comments

Easy vegan butterfinger bars made with peanut butter and cereal sweetened with date paste and coconut sugar with a dark chocolate coating.

Do you guys ever get emotionally attached to TV shows?

I’m currently rationing out my last 4 episodes of Lucifer on Netflix.

Yes, I could finish up season 4 tonight…but what’s the fun in that?!

Ever since moving to my new place those characters have been companions, their playful banter filling up the empty spaces of my living room before there was my large area rug, couch, throw pillows, and plants.

I guess I shouldn’t be surprised, because I get this way with books, too.

You know what else I’m emotionally attached to ATM?

These Vegan Peanut Butter Butterfingers that I made today.

You just need 6-ingredients to make this vegan, gluten-free, and refined sugar-free treat version of the childhood classic!

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Apple Cranberry Pecan Granola

By Flora & Vino 7 Comments

Apple cranberry pecan granola with oats and pecans lightly sweetened with maple syrup and applesauce. Toss in baked apple chips for extra crunch!

Did you know that some clothing stores allow dogs inside?

Like, actually allow them to stroll in the mannequin flanked double doors on all four paws?

Well, I didn’t.

I’m watching Harper this week and on Wednesday we had an epic shopping spree.

It started out walking around the town center and ended up inside the dressing room at J-Crew, Harper smiling through her panting as I tried on flannel for a fall photoshoot.

I paid for two plaid shirts at the register while one of the sales associates crooned over Harper, now sprawled across the the floor in complete retail therapy bliss.

Guys, I’m pretty sure I never want to go shopping without my best girlfriend again.

Despite the retail therapy, this week has been pretty rough.

Lots of recipe fails, yoga homework, and quick meals to sustain late nights.

I do, however, have an excellent fall-inspired granola recipe to share with you.

This Apple Cranberry Pecan Granola is gluten-free, oil-free, and naturally sweetened, with big chunks of cranberry, oats, pecans, and apple chips.

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Vegan & Gluten-Free Cinnamon Raisin Bread

By Flora & Vino 4 Comments

Vegan and gluten-free cinnamon raisin bread that’s packed with raisins and texture. Made cinnamon-y with a secret ingredient!

Hey you!

Do you have a gratitude practice?

Lately I’ve been enjoying writing down 5 things I’m grateful for each morning that happened within the past 24 hours.

This practice encourages me to continuously look for the good stuff that happens each day.

And these aren’t life-altering statements, friends, these are small every day things that spark joy.

Like, today, I gushed about my morning matcha, a phone call with my sister, my freshly rotated mattress, my Roomba, and my first day wearing boots.

What would you write today?

Tomorrow, I might write how grateful I am that this Vegan & Gluten-Free Cinnamon Raisin Bread came out of my oven.

Because I have so darn much gratitude for this sweet cinnamon loaf.

It’s sweet, hearty, and easy to make with just 1-bowl and plenty of cinnamon and raisins.

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Maple Pear Butter & Apple Chips

By Flora & Vino 3 Comments

4-ingredient pear butter made with fresh pears, lemon, and cinnamon lightly sweetened with pure maple syrup. Great to use up lots of fall pears!

If you’ve been following me for a while, you know that I’m a bit obsessed with fruit spreads and butters.

It all started with my classic Pumpkin Apple Butter, but I’ve since branched into all sorts of fruity flavors.

You might remember that over the summer we did a Blueberry Butter and Peach Butter that squealed “summer!” every time I spooned them onto seeded bread.

With the temperatures quickly cooling, I couldn’t stop thinking about more autumn-inspired spreads.

Sure, summer is great for bright fruity jams, but fall is the season to stand over the stovetop with warming fruits and spice.

I couldn’t get the concept of pear butter out of my head after seeing thick golden jars of the stuff at a local farmer’s market.

So I made this Maple Pear Butter that’s fruit forward, smooth and cinnamon-y, and perfectly sweet but refined sugar-free.

It’s all of your fall feels in a 12 oz. Ball Jar.

You just need four simple ingredients and a seasonal chip for dipping!

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