Raw Vegan Pumpkin Spice Brownies and The Best Vegan Nachos

November 2, 2016 By sweet_raw In Uncategorized 2 Comments

This past weekend I taught a raw holiday desserts class which is part of a 5 week series on Saturdays with a theme for each one. They're hands on so that people get the most out of the experience and everyone learns recipes, tips, and tricks. Most importantly we feast on all the food we make at the end and everyone leaves with full bellies. This weekend one of the things we made was raw vegan Pumpkin Spice Brownies. They're such a great seasonal take on raw brownies. A chewy brownie base topped with a creamy pumpkin frosting, a chocolate drizzle and crunchy pumpkin seeds on top. Today I'm sharing the recipe with you.

Pumpkin Spice Brownies

Makes 16

Brownies

1 cup almonds

1 cup shredded coconut

1 cup pecans

1 cup pitted packed dates

1/2 cup raisins

1/2 cup + 1 tablespoon cacao powder

1-3 teaspoons water

1/8 teaspoon himalayan salt

Grind the almonds and coconut in a food processor into crumbs.

Add the raining ingredients and process until they're all ground down and the mixture forms a dough.

Press into an 8x8" pan. Set aside.

Pumpkin Pie Frosting

1 1/2 cups packed, diced raw sweet potato (peeled)

1/2 cup dates, soaked in 1/2 cup warm water for 30-60 mins

1/4 cup soak water

2 1/4 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice

1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1/4 cup melted coconut oil

Blend all but the coconut oil until completely smooth in a high speed blender.

Add the oil and blend again.

Spread over the brownies. Chill in the fridge for 6-8 hours.

Chocolate Drizzle

2 tablespoons maple syrup

1 tablespoons raw cashew butter

1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon cacao powder

1 tablespoon melted coconut oil

Whisk all ingredients together in a small jar. Add 1/2 - 1 teaspoon hot water if needed for consistency and to bring it all to a smooth creamy consistency. Drizzle over the chilled brownies.

We also made the totally raw vegan pumpkin pie from my book, Sweetly Raw Desserts. A lot of "raw" vegan pumpkin pies out there do use canned (cooked) pumpkin - I've done it too and it works like a charm. But its fun to make a completely raw pie! Everyone was truly amazed… they just couldn't believe it when they made and then tasted it. It always makes me so happy when people try raw recipes for the first time and love them so much.

Now for something savoury. The other day I posted a new video recipe on my Youtube Channel, Heather's Healthy Kitchen for The BEST Vegan Nachos (Get the RECIPE). These aren't just "vegan" nachos. They're actually healthy too! They're mostly made up of veggies, except for the tortilla chips. So if you like nachos, you must check them out. And if nothing else, make the nacho cheese sauce! Its NUT-FREE, potato free, and soy free. The "meat" is also made entirely of veggies and spices and is easy to make.