Sweets & Treats

Pumpkin fudge layer bars made in two layers; a pumpkin-cashew-coconut based fudge on a layer of dark chocolate. Perfect for a fun fall dessert!

The Fall foliage is in full swing here on the East Coast. 

I hiked White Oak Canyon Trail with my friends in the Shenandoah this past weekend. 

Colorful leaves fell around us like snowflakes as we ascended the trail past *three* stunning waterfalls. 

When we got to the final and largest falls we sat down and devoured lunch. 

I had dark chocolate to share at the top, amongst other goodies. 

“This is what you get when you take a food blogger hiking,” I joked, tossing my favorite snacks at my friends to share (but also to lighten my pack, HA!). 

Afterthought: I wish I’d had these Pumpkin Fudge Layer Bars at the top. 

They’re made vegan, gluten-free, and refined-sugar-free in two delicious layers.

We start with a dark chocolate base topped off with a dairy-free pumpkin fudge! 

They taste as good as the fall foliage looks right about now.

Ready to fall in love? 

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Super fudge-y brownies made with SunButter and sweet potato. Sweetened with maple syrup and dark chocolate chips. Perfect for a decadent fall dessert! 

I love it when my friends are taste testers. 

Whenever we have company over I always feel inclined to bake a special dessert, or re-create a star recipe from the blog. 

You, know, live up to the whole food blogger title. 

Luckily, my friends understand that since I do this for a living, I’m not always jumping to pull out my oven mitts on a Saturday and dirty up the kitchen.

Particularly after it’s *finally* clean for the first time all week. 

So when one of my favorite couples came over last weekend they got an exclusive preview of these brownies made with sweet potato. 

“Dessert, anyone?” I asked, extending a Tupperware jar of leftover brownies that I photographed earlier in the week. 

My friends loved these Sweet Potato SunButter Brownies and I know you will too!

They’re made easily in 1-bowl with sweet potato, SunButter, and plenty of cacao. 

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Easy vegan chocolate truffles made with orange dark chocolate, coconut milk, and fresh orange juice and zest. Perfect for a chocolate-y citrus treat!

This past weekend I found a local nursery that sold seasonal plants and produce. 

I texted M a string of happy emoticons because I was in my happy place. 

There was a sweet corner of succulents where I picked three new additions to the plant family.

I also thought, well, what the heck, and bought two pumpkins for carving. 

There’s something about the fall harvest that makes me want to wrap myself in green. 

Maybe because I know everything is about to turn golden, orange, and maroon. 

So, I have an orange recipe for you today that *isn’t* pumpkin! 

These Vegan Orange Chocolate Truffles are sure to pick you in the October mood. 

Let’s make orange chocolate truffles with orange dark chocolate, coconut milk, and fresh orange juice and zest.

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Turmeric Dark Chocolate Chunk Cookies made with salted dark chocolate chunks, cashew butter, and almond flour. Bakes in 15 minutes!

This past weekend M and I woke up at 4 AM to drive to Shenandoah with two of our friends to hike Old Rag. 

Arriving in the parking lot a little after sunrise reminded me of why I’m a morning person. 

We beat the crowd and had the trail primarily to ourselves, and the weather temps were still in the lows and not the highs. 

But the high of the hike was when, at the summit, Nate got down on one knee and asked Anna to marry him. 

I’ve never witnessed a proposal in person, especially not one involving two of my favorite people. 

These two amazing humans who so clearly bring out the best in each other. 

When she said yes the onlookers from rocks above us cheered and clapped and M snapped photos on his camera. 

On the descent I couldn’t stop smiling and in that moment I believed the universe really does bring people together for a reason. 

Like, you, dear friend, are here to make Turmeric Dark Chocolate Chunk Cookies. 

These grain-free, gluten-free, and plant-based cookies are made in just 1-bowl in 15 minutes! 

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Vegan chocolate cake with sweet potato frosting. Perfect for birthdays or any celebration where cake is required!

This weekend I had my parents over to show them the new place!

Which means that the house is the cleanest and tidiest that it might be…ever.

After I showed my parents the layout and we laughed about the boxes of American Girl Dolls (did you collect slash play with those as a child, too???) still stacked high on M’s side of the bed, we settled in the living room for to chat. 

I offered my ‘rents and sister a chocolate cake I baked yesterday and finished with sweet potato frosting. 

If you’re like me, you’re always ready to celebrate. 

Birthdays, work wins, sort-of-holidays, anniversaries, MOVING; you name it and I’ll be there with a bottle of red and a baked good to cheers and nom. 

So, yes, this Vegan Chocolate Cake with Sweet Potato Frosting is perfect for any celebration. 

I deemed it the most appropriate dessert I could think of to celebrate almost one month in Maryland. 

It’s rich, chocolate-y, and lightly sweet with dark chocolate. 

This vegan and gluten-free cake is finished with a 4-ingredient no-sugar-added sweet potato frosting! 

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