Flora & Vino

Sweets & Treats

Almond Flour Cashew Butter Snickerdoodles

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Almond flour cashew butter snickerdoodle cookies that are vegan, grain-free, oil-free, and rolled in plenty of cinnamon and unrefined coconut sugar.

Almond Flour Cashew Butter Snickerdoodles by Flora & Vino

Is it cookie season yet?!

I kind of can’t believe that my big December calendar shows only a little over two weeks to Christmas.

Don’t tell my family and friends, but I haven’t even started my Christmas shopping yet.

Aside from my mini blue spruce tree adorned with all of my childhood ornaments and the Christmas music on repeat, I feel pretty unprepared for the holiday.

This past weekend I had yoga teacher training every day with a 15K race early Sunday, so I have quite literally been on the run.

But I did make cookies.

These Almond Flour Cashew Butter Snickerdoodles are the perfect healthier holiday cookie, complete with just 7 ingredients.

Bake them in 10 minutes for a vegan, grain-free, oil-free, and refined sugar-free twist on the classic cookie!

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Mint Dark Chocolate Coconut Layer Bars

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Vegan and grain-free mint dark chocolate coconut layer bars made with a cacao date-nut base, sweet coconut butter center, and mint dark chocolate top.

Mint Dark Chocolate Coconut Layer Bars by Flora & Vino

The expiration date on my almond milk this morning read “12 04” in blue typeface and I thought to myself, oh, good, I’ve got time to enjoy it.

Except I didn’t because looking down at my iPhone calendar I realized that it’s already December, actually, and today is December 4th.

So I poured a big glass of almond milk and chugged it while it lasts.

Kind of like my almost expired almond milk, I feel like the end of this year is going to be here before we know it.

Today there are exactly three weeks until Christmas and four weeks until we ring in 2020- WHAT.

The end of this year just feels heavy, you know?

I’ve been in a bit of a funk lately, honestly, with awkward energy flowing between efforting through December tasks and making big plans for the next.

So, maybe we could use a refresher?

These Mint Dark Chocolate Coconut Layer Bars are a great refreshing distraction to this busy season.

They’re delicious in three easy layers that are vegan, grain-free, and naturally sweetened with no bake time required!

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Vegan Dark Chocolate Pecan Pie

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Vegan dark chocolate pecan pie with a grain-free crust, a Medjool date-sweetened filling, and plenty of dark chocolate chunks. A decadent holiday pie!

Today on Instagram I stumbled across a quiz with deep questions, like…

Coffee or tea? (Matcha, obviously.)

Breakfast or Brunch? (Breakfast is the best meal of the day!)

Cake or Pie? (Hmmm…)

Now this is a tough one, guys, but, when pressed by the bold letters of the quiz screenshot, I had to say pie.

There’s just something about warm filling inside a crispy triangle crust that just GETS ME.

Particularly if it’s this Vegan Dark Chocolate Pecan Pie.

This decadent pie needs to make an appearance on your holiday dessert table this year!

It’s made with just seven ingredients while being oil-free, gluten and grain-free, vegan, and refined sugar-free.
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Cashew Butter Buckeye Brownies

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

Cashew Butter Buckeye Brownies By Flora & Vino

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

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

1-Bowl Butternut Bread by Flora & Vino

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

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

Vegan Pumpkin Donuts with SunButter Maple Frosting by Flora & Vino

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

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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!

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Vegan Peanut Butter Butterfingers

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

Vegan Peanut Butter Butterfingers by Flora & Vino

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 (Oil-Free!)

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

Apple Cranberry Pecan Granola by Flora & Vino

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

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

Vegan & Gluten-Free Cinnamon Raisin Bread by Flora & Vino

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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