Flora & Vino

Sweets & Treats

Cinnamon SunButter Star Cookies (Zimtsterne)

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Vegan Cinnamon SunButter Star Cookies (Zimtsterne) made with almond flour, SunButter, and a coconut butter icing.  Perfect for a Christmas cookie exchange!

Today I’ve got a Christmas cookie recipe for you that’s anything but ordinary.

Move over sugar cookies, I give you…Cinnamon Star Cookies!

When we visited M’s family in Kentucky this fall, they pulled out some old German textbooks for me to continue to learn the language. 

One of my main goals for next year (are we allowing new year’s resolutions yet?) is to improve my German!

They also pulled out some classic German cookbooks, including a recipe for these Cinnamon Star Cookies, or, Zimtsterne, in German. 

I had a sneaky feeling that I could easily adapt the original to be vegan and gluten-free, and I was right! 

The cookies are traditionally made with egg-whites and powdered sugar, but I subbed in flax egg and coconut sugar with a delicious outcome.

The result is these vegan Cinnamon SunButter Star Cookies (Zimtsterne) made with almond flour, SunButter, and coconut butter icing. 

They’re perfect to make and bake for a Christmas cookie exchange this holiday season!

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Maple Cinnamon Baked Mochi

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Oven-baked mochi dipped in maple syrup and topped with cinnamon and toasted pecans. Bakes in under 10 minutes for a unique sweet snack or dessert! 

Maple Cinnamon Baked Mochi by Flora & Vino

This past weekend I visited Colonial Williamsburg with my cousin, my cousin’s husband, and M for a couples weekend getaway. 

Williamsburg has a special place in my heart because it reminds me of the family trips we took there as a kid. 

I have fond memories of ginger cakes from The Raleigh Tavern Bakeshop, strolling down Duke of Gloucester Street, and shopping in the market square. 

So it was a lot of fun to be there with family and show M all of my favorite spots!

We walked the historic area by day, dined in taverns by night, and spent the after hours at a beautiful Bed & Breakfast. 

While historic Colonial Williamsburg doesn’t exactly lend itself to the vegan diet, there were plenty of “hip” places nearer to the William & Mary campus. 

It was a lovely weekend, and I came home with a full heart and a well-rested mind. 

When we got home, I felt so refreshed and rejuvenated I created this Maple Cinnamon Baked Mochi.

This unique sweet snack or dessert starts with oven-baked mochi dipped in maple syrup and finished with cinnamon and toasted pecans.

It’s the perfect energizing fall bite!

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Vegan Blackberry Sundae

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Vegan blackberry sundae made with plant-based vanilla ice cream and a homemade refined-sugar-free blackberry compote. Serve with more berries and mint!

Vegan Blackberry Sundae by Flora & Vino

This summer my mom mentioned about a blackberry sundae she’d had some 20+ years ago. 

The recipe idea stuck with me throughout the sticky humidity and heat of August in Maryland. 

I’ve always loved sundaes; strawberry and hot fudge and banana split. 

But a blackberry sundae was something new to my dessert repertoire. 

Naturally, I had to try making one at home for the holiday weekend. 

I know the hot days left in the season are numbered, but I want to share this Blackberry Sundae recipe as one last ode to summer. 

This Vegan Blackberry Sundae is made with your favorite plant-based vanilla ice cream and a homemade refined-sugar-free blackberry compote.

It’s easier and faster to make at home than driving to your local diner or ice cream parlor! 

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Vegan “Cookie Corners” (Nussecken)

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Vegan “cookie corners” (Nussecken)! These tasty triangles are made with oat and almond flour, SunButter, jam, hazelnuts, and dark chocolate.

Vegan "Cookie Corners" (Nussecken) by Flora & Vino

Today I’m sharing a recipe with you inspired by my European travels!

M’s mom is kind of famous in their area in Germany for her Nussecken.

And with good reason, because they’re kind of amazing. 

This delicious German dessert is made with a nougat base, jammy center, and sweet hazelnut topping. 

After baking you cut layers into triangles and dip the corners in melted chocolate. 

Nussecken directly translates from German to “Nut Corners”, but I’ve also seen them called “Cookie Corners”.

I thought Cookie Corners sounded cuter, so let’s go with that naming convention. 

You’re going to love my Vegan “Cookie Corners” (Nussecken) that are also gluten-free and refined-sugar-free! 

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Vegan Ice Cream Recipe Round Up

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The frozen plant-based treats you need to cool down this summer. A collection of vegan no-churn ice creams, popsicles, and dessert recipes from the freezer!

Unpopular opinion: Vanilla ice cream is always the best. 

Hear me out; that’s because a good vanilla ice cream is the best base for *anything*. 

You can add anything to a vanilla ice cream and it will be an amazing new creation. 

During my last week in Germany, I hit the vegan ice cream jackpot. 

We did our grocery shopping at a shop that had soy, coconut, and almond-based vegan ice creams. 

Naturally, I had to get one pint of each…for international product research, obviously. 

On our last night, we sat around the kitchen table with M’s little brother, dipping into the ice cream cartons with a spoon, tasting chocolate and vanilla and then chocolate again. 

M is always a chocolate ice cream lover, but I’m consistent with my vanilla love.

Surprisingly enough, I don’t have a classic vanilla recipe for you on the blog. 

I do, however, have a collection of vegan ice cream, sorbet, and popsicle recipes to share with you today!

All of these ice cream recipes are made without an ice cream maker or any fancy equipment.

This Vegan Ice Cream Recipe Round Up is full of frozen plant-based treats you need to cool down this summer!

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Chocolate Tahini Banana Pops

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Chocolate tahini banana pops are the vegan treat you need this summer! Frozen bananas drizzled in tahini and dark chocolate and rolled in nuts.

  Chocolate Tahini Banana Pops by Flora & Vino

I swear, something magical happens to bananas when they freeze. 

If you’re joining in on my current banana craze, then you’re going to love this week’s recipe. 

Did you eat Nestle’s Drumsticks growing up? 

Because that’s what these Chocolate Tahini Banana Pops remind me of. 

They sit somewhere deliciously between an ice cream cone, fudgsicle, and popsicle. 

I took halved bananas, froze them, covered them in tahini and melted chocolate, then rolled them in nuts.

This frozen treat is perfect for a sweet snack or healthy dessert. 

Ready to make some banana pops?!

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Easy No-Bake Dessert Ideas

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A collection of no-bake dessert ideas that are perfect to make when it’s too for the oven. Included are cookies, bars, cups, truffles, brownies, and more.

Easy No-Bake Dessert Ideas by Flora & Vino

In Germany it’s really common to not have air conditioning at home.

So for the majority of my stay in Europe I went without the whir of the AC unit. 

I was nervous at first, imagining sweat-soaked clothes and fanning myself incessantly with anything accessible.

But it wasn’t like that at all. 

Honestly, I didn’t really miss it. 

There was a beautiful breeze during the day with the windows open, and I got used to running around the house in shorts and a tank top. 

In the evenings and early mornings I even had to throw on some layers because the temperature cooled down without the sun. 

Except this ONE night that the kitchen got *really* hot. 

Mostly because on this particular evening I decided to turn on the oven and do a lot of meal prep. 

Sitting around the kitchen table in a sticky hot haze, I thought to myself, lesson learned. 

So, maybe don’t do that. 

Maybe make some of these Easy No-Bake Dessert Ideas instead!

We’re in the depths of summer so I thought it was a great time to share some of my favorite dessert recipes that, you guessed it, don’t require *any* baking! 

Included in this post are no-bake cookies, bars, cups, pies & tarts, truffles & macaroons, brownies & fudge, stuffed & dipped desserts, and spoonable desserts. 

There’s something for everyone in this collection so bookmark this post and reference it whenever you’re too (insert: hot, lazy, tired?) to bake!

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Vegan Cosmic Brownies

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Vegan cosmic brownies made with almond flour and sweetened with coconut sugar. Top them with Chocolate SunButter and sprinkles for a fun dessert!

Vegan Cosmic Brownies by Flora & Vino

This holiday weekend I set a PR for most shooting stars seen in one evening. 

On Memorial Day, M and I drove to the Shenandoah to see the Tau Herculids Meteor Shower.

We chose the Shenandoah because it’s low in light pollution with dark skies and great views, so it’s perfect for star gazing. 

I yawned and grumbled getting there, but once I was cozied up in my camp chair with blankets surrounded by the glittering night, I was happy to be there. 

Around 1 AM we watched stars streak across the sky while M took photos, hoping to catch a beautiful bright arch across the frame. 

It’s always humbling to stare up at the night sky, feeling so incredibly small compared to those fire balls whizzing through space. 

I can’t share the cosmos with you, but I can share some cosmic brownies with you that are pretty out of this world. 

These Vegan Cosmic Brownies are made with almond flour and topped with Chocolate SunButter and dotted with sprinkles for a fun dessert!

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Snickerdoodle Oat Bliss Balls

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Snickerdoodle Oat Bliss Balls that taste like a snickerdoodle in energy ball form. They’re made with oats, protein powder, nut butter, and lots of cinnamon!

Snickerdoodle Oat Bliss Balls by Flora & Vino

I’m the queen of portable snacks. 

And I’m the best traveling companion because not only do I have a bar for you, but one for you, too, boo. 

Usually I have a pre-packaged snack bar in every purse pocket, but I’m trying to do better about making some of my own snacks. 

Making your own energy balls is great because you can control the ingredients while using less packaging! 

These Snickerdoodle Oat Bliss Balls make it easy to love making your own energy balls. 

They’re made with 6 ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry. 

Mix some up this week for a sweet no-bake treat to power all of your summer activities! 

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Chocolate Tahini No-Bake Cookies

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Ditch the oven and make chocolate tahini no bake cookies with tahini, oats, and cacao, sweetened with maple syrup. Perfect for a quick dessert or snack!

Chocolate Tahini No-Bake Cookies by Flora & Vino

This past weekend M and I went on an adventure in downtown DC. 

We explored Union Market, and a few museums off of the Smithsonian metro stop. 

It was my first time *really* visiting the city since Covid; public transportation, crowds, and all. 

There’s something so satisfying about getting yourself from point A to point B without the use of a car. 

We navigated the bus system and metro all the way from our house to the National Mall in Washington, DC!

It was a good day, averaging at 20,000 steps, a camera reel full of museum relics, and a full Smart Trip card. 

There’s something equally satisfying about making cookies on the stovetop without the use of the oven. 

Especially in the summer time when the days are long and the oven is hot and tired. 

These Chocolate Tahini No Bake Cookies are made with tahini, oats, and cacao, naturally sweetened with maple syrup.

They’re perfect for a quick and nutritious dessert or snack!

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