Sweets & Treats

Chocolate SunButter Hummus

Indulge in creamy Chocolate SunButter Hummus! Perfect as a healthy dessert dip or spread, made with chickpeas, cocoa, and sweet maple syrup.

When the groundhog saw his shadow this year, I fully embraced the news as my cue to keep hibernating just a little longer.

This harsh winter has had me leaning into cozy nights, comfort food, and meaningful moments at home.

Like gathering on the couch with M to watch the Super Bowl halftime show this past weekend.

Seeing Bad Bunny take that stage felt electric and unifying; I loved his message and the way his performance brought people together in celebration and joy.

Even in the chill of February, it reminded me how powerful shared experiences can be.

For Valentine’s Day, we’re keeping that same energy by spending the evening with another couple, making homemade pasta from scratch.

I’m predicting it will be equal parts messy, delicious, and heart-filling.

Still, I can’t help but daydream about the warmer days ahead and everything spring promises: longer light, budding blooms, and more reasons to gather outdoors.

In the meantime, I’m channeling that anticipation into simple, shareable recipes like this Chocolate Hummus.

It’s something sweet, nourishing, and perfect for passing around.

In fact, I’m bringing a batch to a friend’s daughter’s first birthday this Monday!

I love the idea of celebrating life’s little milestones with a wholesome treat everyone can dip into together.

This Chocolate SunButter Hummus is a healthy dessert dip or spread, made with chickpeas, cocoa, and sweet maple syrup.

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Apple Butter Truffles

By Flora & Vino 1 Comment

No-bake vegan apple butter truffles made with almond flour, warm spices, and dark chocolate. An easy gluten-free holiday dessert!

The house is slowly starting to feel like Christmas.

We’re in the middle of getting everything ready to host M’s parents and brothers visiting from Germany for the holidays, and I can already feel the anticipation building.

I’ve been deep-cleaning, arranging furniture, and making lists of everything I want to cook and share with them.

We don’t have our tree up just yet, but the stockings are already hanging, and I’m playing Christmas music every chance I get.

That means while cooking, cleaning, and recipe testing alike!

There’s something so special about sharing my American holiday traditions with M’s family for the first time, and it’s making this season feel even more magical.

In true holiday fashion, I’ve already started testing cozy, shareable treats for when everyone arrives, and these Apple Butter Truffles were one of the very first recipes I made.

They feel like the perfect welcome dessert: simple, festive, warmly spiced, and made for sharing from a platter by the fire with mugs of hot cocoa or mulled wine in hand.

If fall coziness could be rolled into a bite-sized dessert, this would be it.

These truffles are rich, spiced, naturally sweetened, and coated in a glossy layer of dark chocolate for the ultimate no-bake treat.

They’re everything I love about the season wrapped into one simple recipe: warm cinnamon, subtle nutmeg, and the slow-simmered flavors of apple butter in every bite.

These truffles are perfect for holiday gatherings, edible gifting, or a little something sweet to keep in the fridge for the busy days ahead.

Best of all, they come together with just one bowl, require no baking, and can easily be made gluten-free and refined sugar-free depending on your chocolate choice!

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SunButter Chocolate Chip Cookies

By Flora & Vino Leave a Comment

Allergy-friendly SunButter chocolate chip cookies that taste just like classic chocolate chip cookies with no peanuts required!

Every year as the holidays roll around, I find myself back in the kitchen baking a familiar mix of cozy favorites and new treats to share.

It’s one of my favorite traditions.

Setting aside a day to make a variety of cookies, packaging them up, and delivering little bundles of sweetness to the people and places that make our days brighter.

This year feels extra special as we’re sharing these cookies not only with friends, but also with M’s family visiting from Germany for the holidays.

These SunButter Chocolate Chip Cookies made the list immediately.

They’re soft, chewy, warmly nostalgic, and a little different in the best way thanks to the rich, nutty flavor of SunButter.

They’re the kind of cookie that feels right at home on a holiday cookie plate, no matter where it’s being shared.

If you love classic chocolate chip cookies but need a nut-free, vegan, and gluten-free option, these SunButter Chocolate Chip Cookies will be your new favorite.

They’re soft in the center, lightly crisp on the edges, naturally sweetened with coconut sugar, and packed with melty dark chocolate in every bite.

These cookies come together in one bowl with simple pantry staples and are perfect for school-safe treats, allergy-friendly baking, or everyday dessert cravings.

Bonus: they’re made with almond flour and oat flour for a wholesome, tender texture that still feels indulgent.

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Applesauce Gingerbread Loaf

By Flora & Vino Leave a Comment

Cozy up with this Vegan Applesauce Gingerbread Loaf that’s moist, warmly spiced, and naturally sweetened with a maple cream cheese frosting.

Dear friends, I have finally given up ice cream for the season.

I know, I know.

Ice cream is one of my top desserts and typically I eat it all year round.

But this time of year when I take staying warm as seriously as I do content creation, I have to ask myself, isn’t the ice cream a *little* contradictory?

If you can eat all of the cold things and stay warm this season, I envy you and you are magic.

But if you are like me and need to actively work to stay warm, let’s make a pact to not cool ourselves out unnecessarily.

So I’ve given up ice cream in an effort to eat seasonal warm baked goods, and, hopefully support my wallet (those vegan ice creams aren’t cheap!).

If you’ve been craving something warm, comforting, and lightly spiced, this Vegan Applesauce Gingerbread Loaf is exactly what you need this season.

Moist, tender, and naturally sweet, it’s the kind of loaf that fills your kitchen with the smell of cinnamon and ginger the moment it comes out of the oven.

Whether you’re looking for a sweet breakfast, an afternoon snack with tea, or a cozy dessert to share with friends or family, this loaf has you covered.

The simple maple cream cheese frosting takes it to the next level, adding just enough sweetness to make each slice feel indulgent (without being overwhelming!).

It’s easy to make, forgiving, and entirely plant-based, so you can feel good about enjoying a slice (or two!) any time you need a little comfort and warmth.

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Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake with SunButter Frosting

By Flora & Vino 2 Comments

Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake with a gluten-free oat crust, dairy-free coconut cashew cream cheese filling, and a SunButter frosting.

These past few weeks have been different settling into a routine with M home from work due to the government shut down.

Flora and I have loved having him home more, despite the circumstances at hand.

This means I have a built in taste tester, and, of course, Flora thinks she has a 24/7 playmate.

When friends ask how M is spending the time off, I respond, “Oh, doing a lot of training (read: PLAY) with Flora…”

“What do you need?” M asks Flora with her piercing blue gaze, and she immediately runs to grab her most beloved toy, Frisbee.

Frisbee, a yellow silicone disc that has survived over a year of tugging, throwing, dirt, and dog slobber, is an adored member of the fam.

Round and round main level they run, Frisbee flying and narrowly missing lights, furniture, and, my face until I scold that someone (read: ME) is going to get hurt.

It’s times like this that I wonder exactly what I was thinking putting an Australian Shepherd in a two level condominium.

But aside from the play sessions with our energizer bunny Aussie, I decided that it was a great time to make a cheesecake.

Cheesecake is M’s favorite dessert, and I realized that I don’t have a pumpkin pie version on the blog yet.

This Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake is made with a gluten-free oat crust, dairy-free coconut cashew cream cheese filling, and a SunButter frosting.

It’s a beautiful tribute to Fall in a fun dessert that’s worth sharing!

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Apple Butter Crumble Bars

By Flora & Vino 1 Comment

Easy apple butter crumble bars made with just 6 whole food ingredients. Perfect for a quick breakfast, snack, or healthy dessert.

Where did August go, friends?!

I just chastised M after I saw that the calendar in his room still read, “April”.

But I feel like that 5-month gap in page turning is a pretty good representation of 2025 so far.

It started out slow, and now here we are somehow barreling into Fall.

This month, we took Flora to the beach for the first time.

We were surprised to find Flora initially terrified of the roar of the tide and the consistency with which it threatened to wet her paws.

It chased her back and forth until finally, on our last day there, she got brave and walked in salty water.

We cheered and praised her and my heart swelled because she looked like such a small animal standing in such a large ocean.

And that’s really all that can be said for any of us, right?

Just drops in an ocean, but, just like Flora, we can do hard things!

Speaking of hard things, this month I also completed another weekend of my 300 hour YTT program.

This weekend we started to learn how to cue a mandala-style vinyasa class, where you turn students on the mat.

The back of the mat becomes the front of the mat and visa versa so you’re shifting directions and perspective while you flow.

It’s this shift in perspective that makes it fun to adopt a beginner’s mindset, or allowing each experience to stand on its own as a fresh start.

And that’s really what Fall feels like for me.

A fresh start, a chance to make new routines, an opportunity to set new rhythms, an invitation to grow, learn, change.

My favorite foods are full of seasonal fall favorites, like these Apple Butter Crumble Bars.

These easy apple butter crumble bars are made with just 6 whole food ingredients.

They’re perfect for a quick breakfast, snack, or healthy dessert.

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Chocolate Chip Snack Cookies

By Flora & Vino Leave a Comment

Chocolate Chip Snack Cookies packed with protein thanks to chickpeas and Organic SunButter. Don’t forget lots of dark chocolate chips!

This summer I temporarily became a solo dog mom with M gone for a week at a work conference.

I was *very* apprehensive how Flora would behave with “Dad” being MIA.

You might remember that it was me that initially begged M to get a dog, but now that we have one, she’s very much attached to him.

That’s always the way it happens, right?!

She’s attached to me too, of course, but it’s different because I’m the human that’s always around as opposed to the other human who leaves for work and returns.

While she did look for him every day (sniffing the door, poking her head in his favorite house haunts, watching out the window), we settled into a routine just us girls.

Honestly, it’s been a big confidence boost to know that I can keep her alive on my lonesome.

I don’t know about you, friends, but some days I feel like I struggle to keep myself alive and well, let alone another furry friend.

So we kept it *very* simple and doubled down on routines this week here at F&V.

Luckily, Flora seems to take after her momma in her love of routines, too.

We did the walks, play time, meal time, and all of the cuddle sessions my little velociraptor would allow before she gets mouthy.

(I’m determined to make the working breed also a lap dog, too!)

One thing I did to support my week ahead was do a massive meal prep on Sunday so I felt comforted with good food even while missing my man.

So, getting to today’s recipe, one of those things that I made was…Chocolate Chip Snack Cookies!

Don’t worry, you don’t need your partner to be out of town to enjoy them, but that might help ensure they’re all yours!

These Chocolate Chip Snack Cookies are packed with protein thanks to chickpeas and SunButter.

Don’t forget lots of dark chocolate chips; because, like I tell my yoga students before savasana;

You deserve it.

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SunButter Chocolate Easter Eggs

By Flora & Vino 1 Comment

Easy SunButter Chocolate Easter Eggs with just 5-ingredients! Perfect for an Easter treat or anytime healthy candy substitute.

A few years ago, at a get together at my cousin’s house, my sister made a point of getting M to try some marshmallow peeps.

Growing up in Germany, M had no idea what to expect from Classic Peeps.

(I’ll note that this moment was made arguably even better by the fact that my sister had purchased neon pink peeps instead of the classic yellow.)

So M, ever adventurous, bit into the marshmallow fluff covered in pink sugar, chewed a few times, and said, “This is pretty gross!”

We all burst into laughter, our suspicions confirmed.

M isn’t a sugar lover, and peeps are nothing but pure sugar!

Although peeps were always a part of my Easter basket, they were never my thing, either.

They were too sweet, too airy, too artificial tasting.

Not that the rest of the Easter candy I was consuming was by any means healthful, but at least they had normal coloring.

Which is why I stand by the fact that Chocolate Peanut Butter Eggs are by far the superior Easter dessert.

They always had what I’ve heard described as “the perfect ratio of chocolate to peanut butter”, even more so than chocolate peanut butter cups!

That is, until today, because I made you some SunButter Chocolate Easter Eggs that are the real winner.

These easy SunButter Chocolate Easter Eggs are made with just 4-ingredients!

They’re perfect for an Easter treat or anytime healthy candy substitute.

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10 Vegan Cheesecake Recipes

By Flora & Vino Leave a Comment

10 Vegan Cheesecake Recipes made gluten free and refined sugar free with whole food ingredients. Perfect for any occasion cake is required!

Hello, friends!

We just got back from a beautiful weekend away in Shenandoah, Virginia for my annual birthday weekend trip.

I’m the kind of person who really leans into my birthday and likes to feel celebrated, you know?

M and I have escaped for a blissful weekend away for vineyards + hiking for the past two years, so that made this our third visit.

However, it was the first time bringing along our 10-month old Aussie, Flora, for the ride.

As it turns out, the literal car ride itself was the hardest part for Flora.

She has a *lot* of anxiety in the car, and looked pretty expired by the time we reached our Air B&B in Free Union, Virginia.

Once we were there, though, she surprised us with how well she behaved at the vineyards and at our new home for the weekend.

It was a lovely few days of morning coffee on the patio, late morning hiking, and afternoon vineyard visits followed by a cozy evening at the house.

We loved exploring Sugar Hollow Reservoir and sipping wine at Glass House Vineyard, Moss Vineyard, Stinson Vineyard, and Knight’s Gambit Vineyard!

My personal favorite was Glass House, because the vineyard contains a glass conservatory area filled with tropical plants.

I mean, could anything BE more Flora & Vino?!

We (read: I) bought way too many bottles of wine but justified it by eating leftovers all weekend (beautiful area + wineries but not so many vegan options!).

Anyway, all said and done, it was a great way to turn 37.

So, where does this leave us?

Well, I got home to a still broken oven unit, so while I wanted to give you a new cake recipe to celebrate your girl, I’m currently unable to bake.

But that doesn’t mean that you can’t!

Here are 10 Vegan Cheesecake Recipes made gluten free and refined sugar free with whole food ingredients.

They’re perfect for any occasion cake is required; especially this recipe creator’s birthday.

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Red Bean Brownies

By Flora & Vino Leave a Comment

Flourless vegan brownies made with aduki beans, nut butter, and naturally sweetened with maple syrup and dark chocolate chips.

Hi, friends.

How are you holding up this year so far?

For the second time this year, I was forced to take time off work due to germs.

Being sick is already a small business owner’s worst nightmare, but not being able to eat as a food blogger really takes the cake.

Maybe it was the flu, maybe it was a stomach bug, but whatever it was, *nothing* sounded good to me last week.

Correction: Nothing I normally eat sounded good to me.

Let me introduce you to my sick week menu.

I lived on applesauce, frozen bagels with vegan cream cheese, plain oatmeal, plain rice and curry, copious sweet potato fries, and many scoops of vegan ice cream.

If you had passed me a vegetable to eat last week, I would have thrown it back at you.

We replaced cooking together on Valentine’s Day with raiding the fridge of anything plain Lauren could digest.

But I am excited to report that my stomach is back to itself, craving veggies and creating recipes (but still eating vegan ice cream because, because).

However, I think M and I deserve a re-do on Valentine’s Day, starting with a nutritious and delicious dessert.

These flourless vegan brownies are made with aduki beans, nut butter, and naturally sweetened with maple syrup and dark chocolate chips.

They’re packed with protein and fiber and still manage to taste like decadent dessert!

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Sweets & Treats

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