Flora & Vino

Sweets & Treats

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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Chocolate Chip Almond Butter Skillet Cookie

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Easy vegan and grain-free skillet cookie made with almond butter, almond flour, and naturally sweetened with coconut sugar and paleo chocolate chips.

Chocolate Chip Almond Butter Skillet Cookie by Flora & Vino

Remember when I said to wake me up when September ends?

Well, it’s September 30th and I still feel like snoozing.

That being said, I think (read: hope) that things will calm down a bit here in October.

I remember looking ahead to September on my giant office wall calendar, snorting at the idea of that blue cursive ink scrawled across dates coming to fruition.

But it did.

In September, I moved my life, my business, and my fridge, started yoga teacher training, traveled for a trade show, and somehow lived to tell about it.

And here I am, tired, and ready for dessert.

This Chocolate Chip Almond Butter Skillet Cookie is vegan, paleo, and grain-free without any added oils or refined sugars!

You just need 6 ingredients, a small caste iron skillet, and a love for gooey cookies.

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Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Breakfast Bars

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Easy pumpkin chocolate chip breakfast bars with oats, almond butter, and pumpkin naturally sweetened with maple syrup and dark chocolate. 

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Breakfast Bars by Flora & Vino

Hello!

This week feels heavy and it’s only Tuesday.

Yesterday I had a a home photo shoot in my kitchen, which was awesome because I got to see my friend Michelle of Bosch Studios, but also because the deadline forced me to clean up my new kitchen.

I was grumbling around washing pots and pans before the sun rose, my pretty gray granite counters slowly becoming more and more visible as the dirty dishes became clean and shelved.

They say your living space reflects your mental space, or maybe it’s the other way around?

Either way, they both got a massive makeover yesterday.

Which made it way too easy to turn around and make something delicious for breakfast.

I highly recommend you clear your kitchen counters and whip up a pan of Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Breakfast Bars.

They’re packed with pumpkin, protein, healthy fats, and all the fall feels you need this autumn.

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Pumpkin SunButter Chocolate Chip Bliss Balls

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Easy 7-ingredient pumpkin SunButter chocolate chip bliss balls mixed together without a blender! Perfect to keep on hand for fall snacking.

Pumpkin SunButter Chocolate Chip Bliss Balls by Flora & Vino

This past week at Target I saw orange and black Halloween trinkets at the end of aisles and my immediate reaction was  a visceral, “Too soon, TARGET. TOO SOON.”

But then at Whole Foods I spotted the first pumpkins, sitting plump, orange, and peppy in their cardboard cases.

Suddenly, it didn’t feel like too soon at all.

It felt TIME.

I wanted to pick a pumpkin right then and there and parade it around secure in my shopping cart for the remainder of my grocery trip.

Somehow I managed to restrain myself and made a beeline for the canned pumpkin, instead.

However, I’m fairly certain I’m going to get an heirloom pumpkin for my front step instead of the classic orange pumpkin this year. Thoughts?

I’d also like your thoughts on these Pumpkin SunButter Chocolate Chip Bliss Balls that I made this week. 

My first pumpkin recipe this year is in motion and it’s rolling your way.

All you need are 7-ingredients, 10 minutes, and the hunger for some fall fuel!

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