Flourless Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

As you guys heard in yesterday, it’s finally starting to feel like fall here in Houston and I am loving every minute of it. Which in my house means bring on pumpkin flavored everything.

Pumpkin smoothies, pumpkin cookies, pumpkin bread and pumpkin lattes. To say I’m obsessed would be an understatement.No shame though because lets face it, betches love pumpkins. 

I’m working on perfecting a healthy pumpkin spice latte recipe right now, but until then, I wanted to share another favorite pumpkin recipe.

Flourless Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies.

These cookies are to die for and are perfect for when guest come over or just to have for yourself around the home. They are ooey and gooey and absolutely delicious.

Ingredients

-1/2 cup canned pumpkin puree

-2 tbsp honey

-1 large egg

-1 tbsp coconut oil

-1 tbsp almond milk

-1 cup oat flour (you can do this by blending your oats)

-3 tbsp Splenda brown sugar

-1/2 tsp cinnamon

-1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice

-1/4 cup dark chocolate chips

-1/4 cup pecans (optional)

Directions 

-Preheat the oven to 350 f 

-In a large bowl, whisk together all of the liquid ingredients (pumpkin, honey, egg, almond milk). Then in a separate bowl mix together all of the dry ingredients (oat flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice). Note ** Oat flour is just blended up whole oats. Do not measure out the cup of oat flour until the oats are blended in the flour form. 

-Combine wet and dry mix until it forms a doughy consistency. Once formed, stir in dark chocolate chips,

-Once mixed in, chill dough for 25 minutes. Meanwhile, prepare you cookie sheet and line it with parchment paper or spray with non stick spray.

-Using a spoon as a cookie scooper, scoop dough onto cookie sheet.

-Cook for 10 minutes.

-Let cookies cool for desired amount of time & enjoy!

Nutrition: Energy (89); Fat (2.9); Carbs (14.8); Fiber (1.5); Sugar (7); Protein (1.4)

xo,

Lauren 

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Black Bean Brownies

 

Guys, I don’t bean to toot my own horn or anything, but….. TOOT TOOT! 

 If you haven’t made any of my recipes, this is the one you need to try. These Black Bean Brownies are soooo freaking amazing. Promise.

I brought these to a dinner with some girlfriends last month, and they were a huge hit! Since then, I swear I have made them every week. I’ll even admit that I may or may not have had one for breakfast this morning lol. They’re just SO good!  I love them because they  tastes just like your normal brownie, but without the flour and sugar!

Since the main ingredient is indeed, black beans, I can understand why you might be a little hesitant, but I promise you will not be disappointed. You truly can’t taste the black beans. I originally found the recipe on Mind Over Munch, but since then have modified it just a little bit.

So here is how you make these bad boys. 

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INGREDIENTS 

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1 can black beans 

1/2 Cup Dark Chocolate Cocoa 

1/2 Cup Truvia Baking Blend

1 TBSP Coconut Oil

2 TBSP Fresh Almond Butter 

2 Eggs 

2 TBSP Egg Whites 

1 TSP Vanilla Extract

1 TSP Baking Powder

1/4 Cup Dark Chocolate Chips 

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DIRECTIONS

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First things first, preheat the oven to 350 F. 

Next, completely drain and rinse black beans. This step is very important. If you don’t the brownies will come out tasting way too bean-y. 

Then, in a blender, add all of the ingredients (except for the dark chocolate chips). Blend until it forms a batter like consistency. 

While blending, coat a large rectangle baking dish with non-stick coconut oil spray. Once coated, pour in the batter and smooth evenly. 

Then place dark chocolate chips in a baggy, mash with a wooden spatula and then sprinkle dark chocolate chips over the batter.

Cook for exactly 20 minutes and let cool for 5 minutes! 

Enjoy! 

xo, 

Lauren 

Nutrition Information: Energy: 82 // Fat (g): 3.2 // Sodium (mg) 135.7 // Carbs (g) 13.8 // Fiber (g) 2.7 // Sugar (g) 1.1 // Protein (g): 3.3 

Frozen Dark Chocolate Banana Poppers

When it comes to recipes, I know that there are literally hundreds of healthy eating blogs out there that you guys could visit for clean eating ideas.

I know this, because I visit them for inspiration – lol! I’m just here to tell you what I am currently loving and cooking in my kitchen!

A few years ago, these banana poppers were popping up all over Pinerest. I made them  few times back then, but for some reason recently, I have been making them none-stop. The other night when I had a major sweet tooth, I was trying to figure out something I could make that was sweet, healthy, required almost no ingredients, and that I could make in the least amount of tine. So that’s when these banana poppers popped in my head!

They are literally so easy, and incredibly delicious.

I love them for a late night snack because I know I won’t feel guilty eating them and they immediately fix my sweet tooth!

So here’s how you can make them!

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Ingredients

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1 Banana

1/4 Cup Dark Chocolate Chips

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Directions

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First, line a small dish (one that will fit in your freezer) with parchment paper.

Next, slice the banana into 24  (or how the most you can get out of your banana) bite size pieces, and place in dish. Place dish in freezer to rest while you heat up chocolate.

In a small microwave bowl, heat up dark chocolate chips for 1 minute.

Remove dish and stir chocolate. Then place chocolate back in microwave and cook for 45 more second.

Remove chocolate and stir again until completely melted and creamy.

Next, remove banana bites from freezer and with either a small spoon or knife, coat the top of each banana with the dark chocolate.

Place in freezer for 20 minutes or until frozen.

Enjoy!

xo,

Lauren

Healthy Whole Oats Easter Fruit Pizza

Hey everyone, Happy Monday!!

I hope you all had a fabulous weekend! Ours was actually really nice but I’m already looking forward to the three day weekend ahead lol.

It seems as if for every holiday, I have my “healthy” go-to item that I always bring, and Easter is no exception!

A few years ago, one of my aunts brought a fruit pizza to Easter and it was a huge hit, because, well, it was delicious! The crust was also made out of a sugar cookie and the icing was cream cheese…..so that could have been another reason it was such a big hit -lol!

So me, being me, went on a quest to find a “healthier” version. A lighter one that I truly wouldn’t feel guilty eating. Becuase even on Holidays, I always choose the lighter option 🙂

The crust is made out of whole wheat flour, oats, and apple sauce. The frosting is made out of greek yogurt, honey, and PB2. It’s light, it’s scrumptious, and you definitely won’t feel guilting having a larger slice 🙂

I love this recipe for Easter, but it’s honestly just the best recipe to have for all of spring and summer! Whether it be a family get together or just a barbecue with friends,this fruit pizza is perfect!

So what are you bringing to Easter this year???

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Ingredients

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Frosting

1 Cup Plain Greek Yogurt

3 TBSP Natural Honey

1 TSP Vanilla

1/4 Cup PB2

Crust 

1 1/2 Cup Whole Wheat Flour

1/2 Cup Whole Oats (NOT INSTANT)

1/3 Cup Coconut Oil

1/2 Cup Unsweetened Apple Sauce

1 Egg

3/4 Cup Splenda Baking Brown Sugar

1 TSP Vanilla

Toppings 

All of your favorite color fruit!!

(kiwi; blueberries; bananas; pineapple; raspberries)

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Instructions

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The first step is to make the frosting. To make the frosting, combine the yogurt, honey, vanilla, and pb2 into a bowl and then chill in the fridge for one hour.

Next you make the crust. Preheat your oven to 350 f. In a large bowl, combine coconut oil, apple sauce, your egg, and vanilla. Then slowly add in the brown sugar, followed by the whole oats and then followed by the flour. Stir until it forms into a dough. On a large cookie sheet, spray coconut pam before laying out your dough. Once the pan is coated, design the shape of your pizza. Cook for 15 minutes and then take it out and cool for 15 minutes.

While the crust is cooking, start slicing your fruit of choice.

After the crust is finished cooking & cooling, take the frosting out of the fridge and cover the crust. Kind of like you would pizza sauce on a pizza! Afterwards, all you have to do is arrange your fruit as you would like on your pizza and chill for up to 4 hours or serve immediately! But I definitely recommend you chilling it first 🙂

xo,

Lauren

Also, I got this beautiful platter from Marshall’s.