Monday, February 23, 2015

Sweet Eats for All (Cookbook Review, Recipe & Giveaway)


Everybody should have dessert. That is the simple (and oh-so-true) premise behind Allyson Kramer's lovely cookbook Sweet Eats for All: 250 Decadent Gluten-Free, Vegan Recipes--from Candy to Cookies, Puff Pastries to Petits Fours. If you or a friend or family member has food allergies, is following a vegan diet or simply wants to experiment with a variety of new dessert recipes, this book will help. Every single recipe in the book is free of animal products and gluten. Plus, there is a chapter devoted to desserts that are free of refined sugar. There are also recipes that are free of nuts, soy and corn.



If you are devoted to a gluten-free diet out of necessity or preference, your pantry may already be stocked with gluten-free baking necessities. Many of the recipes in Sweet Eats for All call for gluten-free baking staples such as tapioca flour, potato starch, xanthan gum and sorghum flour. If you are looking to stock a gluten-free pantry, Chapter 1, "Stocking A Sweet Pantry" explains all about the sweeteners, flours, starches, fats, etc. that you will need.

For those who want to make the occasional gluten-free recipe for themselves or visiting friends, there are also recipes that call for basic ingredients you likely already have in the pantry. A simple chocolate pudding for example. Or how about Cherry Coconut No-Bake Cookies? Yum.


Perhaps, like me, you will be surprised by the wealth and variety of dessert recipes in Sweet Eats for All. With everything from Boston Cream Pie Cupcakes to Chocolate Shortbread to Pumpkin Flan, this cookbook proves that gluten-free, vegan baking need not be boring.

I whipped together this easy recipe for Peanut Butter Chocolate No-Bake Cookies one day before the kids came home from school. Since they are a drop cookie, without a traditional hard-cookie appearance, I wasn't sure how the kids would react. But one bite was enough to persuade them. The winning combo of peanut butter and chocolate never seems to fail, does it?


The book's publisher, Da Capo Press Lifelong Books, was kind enough to allow me to share this easy and delicious recipe with you. Make these simple cookies for yourself or a vegan or gluten-free friend (who quite possibly gets ignored sometimes come dessert time).

Allyson Kramer is also the author of Great Gluten-Free Vegan Eats and Great Gluten-Free Vegan Eats From Around the World. Visit her on her blog for more fab recipes.

Pie, cookies, cake, bars, ice cream...what's your favourite kind of dessert?


Enter to Win A Copy of Sweet Eats for All!


Residents of Canada and the U.S. may enter to win a copy of Sweet Eats for All. Enter using the rafflecopter below until March 16th.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Peanut Butter Chocolate No-Bake Cookies


by Allyson Kramer
Keywords: vegan gluten-free no-bake

Ingredients (24 cookies)
  • ¼ cup cocoa powder
  • 2 cups sugar
  • ½ cup almond milk
  • ½ cup non-dairy margarine
  • ½ cup + 3 tablespoons creamy peanut butter
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 3 ½ cups certified gluten-free oats
Instructions

* Line a large cookie tray with parchment paper.

* In a 2-quart saucepan, combine the cocoa powder, sugar, almond milk, and margarine. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring often. Boil for exactly 2 minutes and then remove from heat. Immediately stir in the peanut butter and vanilla extract. Fold in the oats and then drop by spoonfuls on prepared cookie tray. Let rest until firm, for about 1 to 2 hours. Store in airtight container for up to 1 week.


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From Sweet Eats for All by Allyson Kramer. Reprinted with permission from Da Capo Lifelong, © 2014
Photo - Woman in Real Life

39 comments:

  1. Those cookies look great anything with peanut butter is a win win for me

    Love you

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    1. Me too! Looove peanut butter and chocolate!! Jo

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  2. I loveeeeee no bake cookies. Also, not having to heat up the oven is awesome!

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    1. So true! Although anything that warms the place is fine with me right about now. ;) But, come summer, it will be all about no bake! :)

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  3. I love chocolate chip cookies. And fresh apple pie.

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  4. I love all desserts so it's hard to pick a favorite...it really just depends on the day! :)

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  5. I don't discriminate against desserts...but chocolate/peanut butter is always a win...and I'm so thankful to have found this recipe!! I've got vegan for Lent...will be nice to have a quick-to-make dessert when the cravings eventually hit!

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  6. I can't pick a favorite, depends on the day!

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  7. I think I'm obsessed with ice cream right now.

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  8. Anything with chocolate. My stepdaughter has been diagnosed with RA. I'd love to share this book with her so she can enjoy dessert while trying to switch to a vegan diet.

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  9. All of the above! I have a huge sweet tooth!

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  10. Cake!! I'm still dreaming about that grapefruit cake at Biltmore....

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  11. Cake!! I'm still dreaming about that grapefruit cake at Biltmore....

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  12. I really like cookies!!!!! Chocolate cookies :)

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  13. My absolute favourite treat is just a piece of dark chocolate, but for baked goods, nothing beats a chocolate mousse cake.

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  14. Fresh cherry pie is my favorite! If I could find a good vegan tiramisu, though, that would probably top the list.

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    1. Yum, I love cherry pie too! There is a tiramisu recipe in Sweet Eats for All! :)

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  15. Any baked good is my weakness; but homemade cookies get me every time!

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  16. I love pie-- but it is way too difficult! Cookies are my top pick because they're so easy! Coincidentally, I've been looking for a really good vegan no bake cookie recipe. Huzzah! Finally found one!

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  17. I love carrot cake and cheezecake, preferably together!

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  18. I love carrot cake and cheezecake, preferably together!

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  19. I like homemade ice cream, chocolate, carrot cake...

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  20. I'm a pie sort of gal
    jan

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  21. I like cookies!

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  22. pie takes the cake every time. thanks

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  23. If I have to pick just one I would pick cookies, particularly chocolate chip cookies.

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  24. This is a hard choice since I have such a sweet tooth but I would have to go with cakes.

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  25. It is hard to choose since I have never met a dessert I didn't like. I'm going to have to go with a great pie, maybe rhubarb. :)

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  26. My favorite dessert is definitely cake!

    7% Solution

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