Trying Veganism

exploring the world of vegan cooking

Archiv für chocolate

Peanut Butter Invasion

First off here’s a pic I meant to post in the beginning of March, but totally forgot in the mess that is my images folder ;)
Anyway, I pretty much had the same breakfast today: a pear, Blueberry Raspberry Pancakes with applesauce, blueberry sauce and maple syrup.

And now onto the birthday baking. I apologize because we were in a hurry and when we arrived at his place I honestly just didn’t think of taking more food pictures although there was A LOT of food. His mom made many turkish dishes. I had the vegetarian ones: couscous and hummus. And even though her hummus was perfectly prepared I still don’t get why so many seem to go nuts over it.

But now I present you the best chocolate cookies! I am not kidding. If you’re into the combination of banana, peanut butter and chocolate you will love these! If you’re not into the banana taste simply use another egg-replacer.

They were actually supposed to have a PB core inside, but we were out of peanut butter and made only the chocolate cookies. I’ll post the full recipe though, they are totally worth it!

Vegan Peanut Butter Chocolate Munchies

Ingredients (makes 32 cookies)

Chocolate Cookies
1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 cup vegan margarine, softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup peanut butter (I used crunchy)
1/2 banana, mashed (or egg-replacer for 1 egg of choice)
1 Tbsp. soy milk
1 tsp. vanilla

1. stir together flour, cocoa, and baking soda, set aside
2. in a separate bowl, mix margarine, sugar, brown sugar, and peanut butter
3. add mashed banana, soy milk, and vanilla, beating well
4. beat in as much flour mixture as possible using a mixer, stir in the remaining flour mixture
5. form into 32 balls, about 1 & 1/4 inches in diameter, set aside

Peanut Butter Filling
3/4 cup powdered sugar
1/2 cup peanut butter
2 Tbsp.s granulated sugar

1. beat together powdered sugar and peanut butter until smooth (knead by hand if necessary) and shape into 32 balls
2. preheat oven to 350°
3. slightly flatten a chocolate dough ball and top with a peanut butter filling ball, shape the chocolate dough completely around the peanut butter dough, roll into a ball and repeat with remaining dough
4. place cookies 2 inches apart on an ungreased baking pan
5. bake for about 8 minutes or just until set

The cookie surfaces should be slightly cracked. Cool on pan for about a minute. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Can be frozen for up to 3 months!

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cake.
You were right Jennifer, this crunchy but soft cake was fantastic!

Peanut Butter Chocolate Rice Crispy Bars from Have Cake, Will Travel!

The Peanut Butter Cinnamon Rolls which my friend liked the most.
They looked pretty much like those, but we didn’t have time left for icing but had already mixed powdered sugar, cinnamon and vanilla sugar together and just put that on top which lead to the picture – lots of sugar, but where are the rolls?

And not very photogenic, but damn tasty! Crunchy, sweet and perfect with the raspberry jam in the middle: Peanut Butter Cupcakes from VwaV. We just added jam and 71% chocolate pieces.

All in all this was a huge success, everything was very well recieved and I was called the MacGyver of baking because everyone was like „I’ll call you when I want to bake and am missing an egg so you can tell me what to use instead!“ Ha ha =p

I wanted to make a pie with silken tofu, too. But the stores were closed on Friday and when I wanted to buy it on Saturday I looked at the recipe again to read that it was supposed to cool in the fridge overnight. So no pie, but there was wayyy to much food anyway.
Talking about way too much food, I just came back from my best friend who’s polish and her mom made Pierogies & Borscht, roasted rosemary potatoes, red beet salad and lamb’s lettucce with oranges… SUCH a filling and wonderful dinner!

Grilled Veggie Pita and Easter Goodies

Just a quick update about my dinner yesterday. The PB Birthday goods will be posted later, I’m just off to meet my friend to take pictures.

First, salad: red cabbage with red beet, a little balsamico bianco and sunflower seeds.

And my „main course“: grilled red bell pepper, zucchini slices, broccoli, scallions, brussels sprouts and tomatoes on a mashed Falafel in a sunflower seed pita pocket with a layer of pepper-peperoni spread.

I’m proud (and totally surprised by myself to be honest) to announce that I managed to resist the temptation until Sunday and therefor highly enjoyed my espresso chocolate last night.
And my mom was so sweet! She got me a Lindt Goldhase mug and lots of dark chocolate =)

Hope you had a good time with your friends and family aswell!

Asian Stir-Fry, Brussels Sprouts and 2 Minute Chocolate Cake

Yesterday I had some Asian Stir-Fry my mom made for Dinner.

And I had Paulinas Chocolate Cake for Dessert.

I added crushed cashews to the batter and had 3 layers of sliced banana. I was out of oil and my applesauce had gone bad so I used apple apricot sauce instead. Not a good decision because it tasted pretty much just like that and maple syrup. And I think using carob powder didn’t help to save anything either.
I’ll try it again with the right ingredients the next time, because honestly – who doesn’t dream of cake that can be devoured after 2 minutes in the microwave?

And here’s a picture of Brussels Sprouts with nutmeg and some mustard for dipping from few days ago. I borrowed my dads fisheye lense as you can see =p

Banana Split Pudding Brownies & Caramel filled Golden Vanilla Cupcakes

Okay, there is no denying: this is the best brownie ever!

I gave my omni friend the last small piece and she rationed it and was like „I’m sorry I’m not giving you a bite of this, but oh my this is so good!“ Ha ha, I was like „Never mind, enjoy it! I ate almost the whole batch myself last night.“

When I ate a piece while it was still warm, I swear it felt like velvet melting in your mouth! After refrigerating for a day the consistence was fudgy. Different, but just as good! And they were so rich in chocolate, because I used Lindt’s 85% cocoa chocolate!

Believe me, I wanted to slap myself for cutting the recipe in half. I will definitely make these again, soon.
My friend wants to bake them with me!

And here are the cupcakes I gave her for her birthday.

I filled them with the Caramel glaze from the Dulche Sin Leche Cupcakes. She loved the chocolate ganache! And I was surprised that you can create such a fudgy topping by only using soy milk, chocolate and a Tbsp. of maple syrup. Go vegan recipes!
These were good, but the brownies were better!!!

Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookies

I promised my friend from Eindhoven, Holland a long time ago to send her cookies. And now I finally managed to bake some.
I wanted to add dried cherries, but in the beginning I couldn’t find them anywhere and this one supermarket that actually had them sold a tiny bag for 4 €, eek!!! What’s up with that? Are dried cherries always that expensive?
Anyway, I wanted to substitute dried cranberries for the cherries, but only remembered that when the cookies had been almost done.

I used Katies recipe, but used only 1 cup flour and added 1/4 cup cocoa powder. They are a tad bit too sweet for me(but they’re not for me so maybe they are just right), but that’s my fault. I had only about a tbsp. dark cocoa powder left and then used the organic powder for cocoa drinks which is already sweetend a little bit… I just didn’t remember that and used the amount of sugar the recipe recommended. They are not too chocolatey(thanks to the not-enough-cocoa-in-the-house-incident), but taste very good! I can’t describe it, but the brown sugar added a very nice flavor!

I imagine they must taste great dipped in some Latte!

So Jody, I know these aren’t exactly the cookies I wanted to send to you. Do you want me to bake you another batch?

Chewy Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookies

I used this recipe from the PPK.

Instead of 2 cups flour I used 1 3/4 cups and 1/4 cup shredded oat flakes. And only 1 cup sugar and 1/2 cup agave syrup.

I dipped them in cocoa and coffee. My new Espresso mugs <3

Then I got an idea… I needed PEANUT BUTTER!

Banana Cashew Chocolate Chip Muffins

(makes 12)

Ingredients
3/4 cup sugar
5 Tbsp. canola oil
1 tsp. vanilla
1 ripe banana, mushed well
1 cup flour
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 cup soy milk
1/4 cup chocolate chips
1/4 cup crushed cashew nuts

176°C, 20 min.

1. mix first 3 ingredients, add banana
2. sift together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt
3. mix together, add milk, fold in cashews and chocolate chips
4. bake for 20 min.

Brownie Muffins

(makes 12)

Ingredients
1 cup fresh brewed coffee, cooled
2 Tbsp. sugar beet molasses
1 Tbsp. ground flax seeds
1 tsp. canola oil
2 tsp. vanilla
3/4 cup sugar
2/3 whole wheat pastry flour
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 cup bittersweet chocolate chips

160°C, 15-17 min.

1. combine coffee, molasses and flax seeds in a blender; blend until relatively smooth
2. mix with sugar, oil and vanilla
3. sift in flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt; mix well
5. add chocolate chips
4. bake for 15-17 minutes at 160°C

Golden Vanilla Cranberry Chocolate Chip Cupcakes

(makes 12)

Ingredients
1 cup soy milk
1 tsp. apple cider vinegar
1 1/4 cups whole wheat flour
2 Tbsp. cornstarch
3/4 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/3 cup canola oil
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 1/2 tsp. vanilla
2/4 cup dried cranberries
2/4 cup bittersweet chocolate chips
12 cashew nuts

176°C, 20-22 minutes

1. whisk soy milk and vinegar in a bowl, set aside (about 5 min.)
2. add sugar, oil, vanilla and beat foamy
3. seperately sift together flour, baking soda and salt
4. mix everything together, add chocolate chips and cranberries
5. fill ‘em up, put 1-2 cashew nuts per muffin on top and bake for 20-22 minutes

I gave these to my non-vegan friend and told him about the missing eggs and stuff after he finished them and his reaction was „You’re kidding… this does not contain eggs and milk? Oh my god, they’re so good! I can’t believe they’re vegan.“