It can be easy to think that eating a raw-food, plant-based diet means staying away from indulgent, decadent desserts. It can be even more difficult to struggle against cravings when you’ve got kids that are wanting something sweet, too, and when it seems you are surrounded by countless sources of over-processed, refined sugar-laden treats. You know that refined sugar intake is linked to conditions like obesity, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease—yet it’s found in so many baked goods you might find it intensely challenging to avoid and perhaps even more challenging to deny them to your little ones. So what can you do on a raw food diet when the kids are asking for something sweet?
What if we told you that there are raw food desserts kids will love? What if kids of all ages could enjoy no-bake cookies, puddings, and more?
If you’ve ever wondered it was ever possible to find Raw food desserts kids and you will love, then wonder no further!
Before Making Raw Food Desserts
Before you embark on this delicious and nutritious journey, there are a few things to keep in mind before creating your sweets. Traditional desserts often use flour, sugar, baking powder, and cooking, but raw food desserts are not made with these ingredients.
There are a few pieces of kitchen equipment you need that will make your dessert creations easier. Make sure you have:
- A good food processor
- An excellent blender
- Muffin trays
- Cake forms
- Tablespoons
- Measuring cups
Most Common No-Bake Raw Food Dessert Ingredients
Here’s a small example of a few of the more common ingredients you might see in raw food dessert recipes:
- Fruit, fresh or frozen
- Nuts and seeds
- Raw and organic honey
- Nut or seed butter
- Dehydrated fruit
- Coconut milk
- Cocoa and carob powder
- Dark chocolate
- Maple or agave syrup
- Oats and buckwheat groats
- Cinnamon, vanilla, salt
- Avocado
Easy No-Bake Chia Seed Pudding
How easy is it to make chia seed pudding? All you need for this delicious snack is three ingredients: nut milk, chia seeds, and raw honey. Of course, you can add nuts and fruit too to make it even more delectable. Start with two mason jars of any nut or non-dairy milk you love. Next, ratio your chia seeds to your milk roughly for every ½ cup of milk; add 2 tablespoons of chia seeds. So, if your jars hold 1 cup, then use 4 tablespoons of chia seeds, for example. Stir your chia seeds very well until all of them are incorporated. Wait a few minutes for them to settle, and then stir again to ensure nothing is clumped. Finally, before placing in the fridge, add honey or skip the sweetener if you wish and use fresh fruit.
Place the chia pudding jars in the fridge for 2 hours or up to 7 days for your kids (and yourself) to enjoy at any time.
Cookie Dough Bars
Surely cookie dough bars can’t be healthy, can they? They can! These no-bake bars can be made with a modest amount of chocolate chips and dried cherries for a sweet and tart treat without loads of sugar, butter, or flour.
What you need:
- 1 cup plain cashews
- 1/3 rolled organic oats
- ¼ cup + 1 tablespoon coconut flour
- 3-4 tablespoons maple syrup
- ¼ medium ripe banana
- ½ tablespoon cold-pressed oil like almond or walnut
- 1/3 cup dried cherries
- Optional: ¼ cup of vegan, dairy-free chocolate chips
- Pinch of kosher salt
How to make them:
- Line a 6×9 baking dish with parchment paper
- In a food processor, combine cashews, coconut flour, and salt and process until the consistency is like a course meal
- Add banana, maple syrup, oil, and vanilla. Keep processing until thoroughly combined and the mixture becomes sticky (it should hold together when pressed between fingers). If it still feels dry, add one more tablespoon of maple syrup.
- Turn the dough out into a bowl and add the dried cherries and chocolate chips. Fold them in with a sturdy spoon or use hands to combine.
- Press the mix into the baking dish and spread to corners.
- Place the dish in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour to chill thoroughly.
- When chilled, lift the cookie dough with the parchment paper and cut.
- Keep refrigerated.
Decadent Raw Brownies with Avocado Chocolate Frosting
Rich, moist brownie batter with decadent chocolate frosting will have your kids asking for this treat again and again. Completely no-bake and made from raw foods, this batter can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days or frozen for 1 month. But we have the feeling they won’t last the 3 days in your fridge!
Ingredients for Raw No-Bake Brownies:
- 2 cups of pecans, walnuts, or almonds
- ½ cup pitted dried dates or Medjool dates. If they are dehydrated, soak them in water for 2 hours beforehand.
- ¼ cup raw cacao powder
- Optional: 1/8 tsp. or a pinch of espresso powder
- Optional: a pinch of kosher salt
Ingredients for Avocado Chocolate Frosting:
- ½ of a ripe, peeled medium avocado
- ¼ cup of maple syrup or your preferred liquid sweetener to taste
- ¼ cup raw cacao powder
How to Make the Brownies:
- Line a loaf tin with parchment paper.
- Add all of the frosting ingredients to your food processor. Process until the mixture is smooth and creamy with no avocado lumps, then scoop into a bowl and set aside. You don’t even need to clean out the food processor if you wish.
- Drain the dates if they are completely dehydrated and soaked. Add the dates and the rest of the brownie ingredients to your food processor—process for 1 minute or until combined. If you love chunky brownies, blend for a shorter time. If you’re a fan of softer, fudgier brownies, process a bit longer.
- Scoop the brownie mix into your lined pan, then flatten the surface with the back of a spoon.
- Top with your chocolate avocado frosting and chill for at least an hour before serving.
This delightful raw food, no-bake brownies, can be stored in an air-tight container for 3 days or in a freezer for an entire month.
When it comes to desserts your kids will love and be packed with healthful, nutrient-dense ingredients, it is possible! When you create plant-based foods free of pesticides, non-GMO, certified organic, you and your little ones can empower your bodies to be better and healthier than ever.
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