Sweets & Treats

Pumpkin SunButter Breakfast Bars

These Pumpkin SunButter Breakfast Bars are soft, chewy, and packed with cozy fall flavor. They’re vegan, gluten-free, and perfect for meal prep!

This fall is bringing a lot of change for us in the best possible way.

We just closed on a house (!!!) and are officially in the process of packing up our lives and getting ready to move into our first home.

At the same time, we’re preparing to welcome our baby boy this winter, so it feels like we’re building a new home and a new chapter of our lives all at once.

There’s a lot to do, but I’m so excited to settle into our new space and make it ours.

I can’t wait to watch Flora run around in her fenced-in backyard, and I’m already dreaming about decorating the nursery in sage greens, warm browns, and soft neutrals for our little safari theme.

With so much change on the horizon, I can also feel myself wanting to turn inward a little this season.

I’m ready to hibernate, nest, and fill the freezer with all of the meals and snacks we’ll be grateful to have once baby boy arrives.

I have a feeling that anything nourishing, portable, and already prepared is going to feel like a gift to my future self.

Which brings me to these bars!

These Pumpkin SunButter Breakfast Bars are the perfect way to welcome pumpkin season!

They’re soft, chewy, and packed with cozy fall flavor from pumpkin, cinnamon, and pumpkin pie spice.

Organic SunButter gives the bars richness and staying power, while rolled oats make them hearty enough for breakfast.

I love making a batch at the beginning of the week so I have an easy breakfast or snack ready to grab from the refrigerator.

They’re also easy to pack up and take with you, which has been especially helpful during this busy season of boxes, errands, appointments, and getting everything ready for our next chapter.

Enjoy a bar on its own for a quick snack, or serve one with fruit and yogurt for a more substantial breakfast.

These bars are naturally vegan, gluten-free, and easy to meal prep for busy fall mornings.

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Soft-Baked SunButter Oatmeal Cookies

By Flora & Vino Leave a Comment

Soft-baked SunButter oatmeal cookies made with rolled oats, dried cranberries, and chocolate chips. Perfect for an easy snack or lunchbox treat!

As we soak up the last few weeks of summer and start looking ahead to fall, I have some news that I’ve been holding close for a while.

If you’ve noticed that things have been a little quieter or different around here lately, there’s a very good reason: I’m pregnant!

Yes, M and I are expecting a baby boy this winter, and Flora is about the be a big sister.

It feels right that I share this information with you, first, my readers who have been with me for a decade of life changes and plant-y recipes.

So, I’ll be honest with you.

The past few months have been some of the happiest and most humbling of my life, and food has looked very different along the way.

For someone who has spent so many years creating recipes and thinking about food for a living, pregnancy has been a forced exercise in letting go of expectations.

There were weeks when my usual favorites sounded completely impossible and dinner was whatever simple, comforting food I could manage.

I couldn’t look at vegetables and the thought of tofu was the most repulsive of all, which is strange because tofu is so…innocuous, right?

So I ate a lot of toast with butter, bagels with cream cheese, and plain pasta with parm.

I was rocking the brown and beige diet to a tee.

My appetite, cravings, aversions, and even the way I think about nourishing myself have shifted from week to week.

I pulled away from Instagram and my recipes to focus on nourishing myself and future baby.

Much to my demise, I also became a napper.

A daily nap was about the only way to make it through the day in my first trimester, and I despise naps!

For me, it took until month 4/5 (I’m 5 months now), to be a functioning human again, when I was sure I’d wake up the first day of the second trimester as superwoman.

Now, as summer winds down and I’m feeling more like myself again, it feels especially sweet to be back in the kitchen creating and sharing recipes with you.

I don’t know what the future holds for Flora & Vino, but I’m very grateful to have you in my community and my village as my family grows.

But before I start crying…let’s make cookies, OK?!

These Soft-Baked SunButter Oatmeal Cookies feel perfect for this season of life: cozy but not quite fall, easy to make, and packed with familiar ingredients.

It’s also the kind of snack I’m very happy to have waiting for me when hunger strikes.

The kind of snack I hope to one day pack in my son’s lunchbox.

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Frozen SunButter Banana Bites

By Flora & Vino Leave a Comment

Frozen SunButter Banana Bites made with bananas, creamy SunButter, and dark chocolate. An easy freezer snack that’s vegan and gluten-free.

Lately, I’ve been all about simple snacks that require minimal effort but still feel satisfying and nourishing.

During seasons when cooking feels overwhelming, I find myself reaching for easy freezer treats again and again.

Not to mention a frozen treat is the best way to beat the summer heat.

These Frozen SunButter Banana Bites were born out of one of those moments when I wanted something sweet, comforting, and made with simple ingredients.

They’re made with creamy SunButter, naturally sweet bananas, and a rich dark chocolate coating.

These bite-sized treats are the perfect balance of wholesome and decadent!

They’re naturally vegan, gluten-free, and easy to keep stocked in the freezer for afternoon snacking, healthy desserts, or whenever a chocolate craving strikes.

Best of all, they come together with just a few simple ingredients and minimal prep time.

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Chocolate SunButter Hummus

By Flora & Vino 1 Comment

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 Leave a 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 4 Comments

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 Leave a Comment

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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Sweets & Treats

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