Three Healthy Christmas Treats

Ingredients

• 1 cup almond milk
• 1 tsp unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 1/2 Tbsp dark chocolate (chopped)
• 1/2 tsp sweetener of your choice (honey, maple syrup or agave syrup)
• 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
• optional: 1/8 tsp peppermint extract

Method

1. Combine all ingredient in a pot over medium heat and stir occasionally until all the ingredients are dissolved (do not allow your milk to boil!).
2. Pour the hot chocolate into a mug and enjoy!

Ingredients

• 6 medium apples (~ 2 lbs)
• 1/2 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
• Zest from 1 organic orange
• 1/2 cup walnuts, almonds or hazelnuts (~ 1 oz)
• 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cup rolled oats (5 oz)
• 1/2 cup shredded coconut (~ 3 oz)
• 1/2 cup ground almonds (~ 2 oz)
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• optional: 1/4 tsp ground ginger
• optional: 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
• 2 tbsp sweetener of your choice (honey, maple syrup or agave syrup)
• 3 tbsp coconut oil (or canola oil)
• 1/2 cup freshly squeezed orange juice

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 350 °F (180 °C).
2. Wash the apples. Cut into wedges and remove the core.
3. Put the apples into a baking dish and spread them evenly. Add the nuts.
4. Grate the zest of the orange. Squeeze the orange. Mix both with cinnamon and vanilla extract., Combine the apples with orange zest and half of the orange juice mixture.
5. To make the crumble: Combine the dry ingredients (rolled oats, shredded coconut, ground almonds, cinnamon, salt, ginger, nutmeg, vanilla extract). Melt the coconut oil in a microwave or pot (no need to melt canola oil). Add the coconut oil with honey and the rest of the orange juice. Combine well until crumbly.
6. Sprinkle the crumble on top of the apples.
7. Bake for 40 minutes until the apple crumble looks golden and delicious.

Ingredients

• 1 cup dried dates
• 1 cup shredded coconut
• ½ cup cashew nuts
• 1 orange (for zest and 1-2 Tbsp juice)
• 1 Tbsp coconut oil
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Method

1. Grate orange with a zester and set aside the zest.
2. Cut the orange in half to juice, set aside juice.
3. Remove pits from dates (if not already pitted) and place in a blender or food processor; process until they are finely chopped.
4. Set aside ¼ cup of the shredded coconut.
5. Add the rest of the shredded coconut, cashews, orange zest and vanilla extract and process for a further 1-2 minutes until well combined.
6. Melt the coconut oil and orange juice in a saucepan or microwave and add it to the mixture. Combine well for 30 seconds. If it’s too dry and not easy to roll, squeeze a little bit of orange juice into the mix.
7. Using your hands, form a ball out of about one tablespoon of mixture.
8. Place the shredded coconut in a small dish, and gently roll the balls in the coconut to cover entire surface. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. Enjoy immediately, and or keep stored in an airtight container in the fridge.