Cashew Blondies ~ Grain & Sugar Free
- Lisa Baughn
A typical Saturday craving washed over us after getting home from farmers market. As I put away loads of fresh veggies, preparing and cutting them for the week for some reason, an overwhelming desire for brownies hit me. Something on our eating plan which is very paleo, primal, GAPS, anti-inflammatory diet, so that meant no sugar, yucky sweeteners, grains, gluten or dairy.
Only we had almost no chocolate in the house, a website to finish and did not want to go back into town. Plus, we were on a tight budget and it was make do with what you have 2 weeks. You know the story. I wanted chocolate, but was not willing to sacrifice ALL of my remaining Green and Black's bar....they are, after all, for extreme emergencies. (note - hubby gets me 3 or 4 85% chocolate bars each Christmas and square by tiny square, they last almost a year!)
Out of that desperation for something slightly decadent in the brownie realm, grain free, sugar free, GF CF Cashew Blondies were born! Cashews are naturally sweet and a total crave in our current lifestyle. They make a lovely flour, with a natural sweetness that almond flour doesn't have.
What a recipe this turned out to be a huge keeper that is already a family favorite, practically perfect in every way. Cashew Blondies are made with coconut flour, stevia, cashew flour and almond milk, and while still hot, an 85% Green and Black Organic Chocolate bar on top, melted, swirled then topped with cashews. Perfection! We did split the chocolate glaze, covering only HALF the pan of cashew blondies, to try it both ways. I was NOT merely being conservative with my "stash!" Dave and I liked it with glaze, Emily loved it without.
- 3 eggs
- 1-2 dropperfuls liquid stevia
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/4 cup coconut flour
- 1/4 cup coconut oil
- 1/2 cup almond milk
- 1 cup cashew flour (ground cashews)
Optional Chocolate Glaze
- 1/8 to 1/4 of Green & Black's Organic Chocolate Bar 85% choc chopped (or choc you can tolerate)
- 2 Tablespoons chopped cashews.
Easiest recipe ever. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Dump all ingredients in food processor, whir up. Dump into pan, bake. Enjoy! Seriously - that simple!
Since we wanted more of a brownie pan, we put this in a square cast iron skillet. You can use a 9 inch pan. Bake at 350 oven for 25 minutes.
If you opt for the "Chocolate Glaze" you still don't have to do much! While still hot, chop an 85% Green and Black Organic Chocolate bar (or whatever chocolate you can tolerate) on top. It will melt, so just swirl over half or all of the luscious Cashew Blondies. Sprinkle chopped cashews on top and let it cool.
NOTE: using an 85% Green and Black Organic Chocolate bar will add trace amounts of raw organic sugar and a tiny trace of dairy. If you find you can tolerate this, great! If not, skip it.