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  • About Tabatha
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    • Vegan Blog
  • Vegan Reviews
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Vegan Recipes: 10 Ingredients or Less

5-Ingredient Chocolate Chunk Granola

8/31/2019

1 Comment

 
Easy vegan granola
Granola is a staple in our home. We eat granola bars, granola bites, granola cereal, and love making our own vegan granola as well. When we're not making our own, we absolutely love Made Good products. This recipe contains some of my favorite ingredients: dates, dark chocolate, and protein powder.


vegan granola ingredients
People often talk about vegan food being too complicated, tedious, and expensive. One of the most inexpensive and versatile vegan foods are oats. They can be used a variety of ways, and they are nutritious and filling as well. I used gluten-free rolled oats to prepare this recipe. You can toast them before adding them to the recipe or leave them raw. I prefer leaving them raw.

Dark chocolate finds its way into many of my vegan dessert recipes. It's not too sweet, packed with antioxidants, and adds the perfect touch to the granola bars. 

This recipe is a hit with my husband and daughter, and I hope you love it, too! I am happy to make wholesome granola for my family. In the past when I was not as mindful about ingredients and picked just any old granola off the shelves, I was basically basing it off the price of the product versus the health benefits and quality.

Sadly, there are a vast number of granola products on store shelves packed with preservatives, GMO-ingredients, and a long list of other ingredients that help preserve the shelf life by being laden with chemicals. There are quite a few with "wholesome" "all-natural" and "made with whole-grain" on the packaging. These terms do not always ensure a healthy or clean product. That is a definite marketing ploy.

When I started reading labels and ingredients and researching what the chemicals can do to our bodies, I woke up. I am so glad I did! For this reason I love preparing our own snacks and meals so I know exactly what I am using in my recipes. 
Vegan chocolate granola
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Sweet, simple, and only five ingredients.

Author: The Sensible Vegan
Recipe Type: Snack
Cuisine: Vegan
Serving: 14


​Ingredients:
  • 1 and 1/2 cups pitted dates
  • 7 tbsps dark chocolate chunks
  • 1 scoop Just Pea protein powder
  • 1 cup gluten-free sprouted rolled oats
  • 1 packet Justin's Chocolate Hazelnut butter 
Directions:
  • Pulse the dates in a food processor until they turns clumpy and dough-like. 
  • Add the dates, 5 tablespoons of chocolate chunks, protein powder, and oats to a large bowl, and set aside.
  • Melt the nut butter for 30 seconds, and pour it over the ingredients in the bowl.
  • Evenly combine the ingredients, breaking apart the clumps of dates and distributing them evenly.
  • Press granola evenly into a glass baking dish.
  • Melt two tablespoons of chocolate chunks at 30 second increments in microwave.
  • With a fork, drizzle the chocolate atop the granola.
  • Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
  • Cut into 14 bars (depending on the size of your dish) and serve. You may have to adjust the recipe for number of servings made and nutritional information.
  • Store remainder in freezer or airtight container.

Nutrition Info: Serving size 1 bar   Calories: 200   Fat: 4 g    Saturated Fat: 2.5g    Protein: 4g  Sugar: 14g    Fiber: 3.4g   Sodium: 20mg   Carb: 23g

1 Comment

Raw Vegan Fruit Pie

6/3/2019

0 Comments

 
Raw vegan pie
Lately it has been HOT in Georgia. It seems like we had winter, skipped spring – except for some rainy days, and now summer heat is in full effect. I don't know about you, but when it's hot outside the last thing I usually want to eat is hot food. These days, there is so much fresh fruit at the market, and I knew I wanted to incorporate it into a recipe. With this raw vegan recipe I didn't even have to turn on an oven to make a delectable pie.

I really like this recipe because there can be many variations and toppings, and it is very simple to make. After I cut a slice and sat down at the table to enjoy it,  my daughter quickly moved in and happily ate it. I had asked her to try a small bite. She said it was really good, and that made me smile. I am providing nutritious desserts that are healthy for myself  and my family.
Raw vegan pie crust
The crust is made up of two ingredients – cashews and dates – that's it! I don't like recipes with a long, daunting list of ingredients. That's why all of my recipes are ten ingredients or less. Also, people often avoid dates because of the belief that consuming them will elevate blood sugar levels, but studies show otherwise. 

If you make this pie, please tag me, I want to hear from you!
Raw vegan fruit pie
Sweet, filling, light, fiber-filled, fruity and only eight ingredients!

Author: The Sensible Vegan
Recipe Type: Raw Vegan Dessert 
Cuisine: Vegan
Serving: 8 


​Ingredients:
  • 1.5 cups pitted medjool dates
  • 1/2 cup cashews
  • a pinch of sea salt
  • 1-container Daiya blueberry coconut cream yogurt
  • 1 kiwi fruit sliced
  • a half handful of blueberries
  • a couple of strawberries
  • a half handful of raspberries
Directions:
  • Add dates and cashews to food processor, pulse for about 10 seconds.
  • Add in sea salt and pulse until it forms a ball.
  • Remove mixture from processor and press into pie dish atop parchment paper. 
  • Set in freezer for one hour.
  • Remove from freezer and spread blueberry coconut cream yogurt evenly atop crust.
  • Garnish with fresh fruit topping​. 
  • Serve and refrigerate the remainder.

Nutrition Info: Serving size- 1 slice   Calories: 186   Fat: 2.7g    Saturated Fat: 1.1g    Protein: 3g  Sugar: 20g    Fiber: 4.2g   Sodium: 43mg   Carb: 34g
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Easy Raw Vegan Chocolate Brownies

12/31/2018

0 Comments

 
raw vegan brownies
One of my favorite sweet treats are chocolate brownies. Pair the rich, chocolatey goodness with a glass of cold almond milk, and I am content. For the holidays, my daughter and I decided to do a newer version of our vegan brownies by adding peppermint to this recipe. After all, peppermint is to winter like pumpkin spice is to fall. This recipe is a perfect holiday dessert.
vegan brownie mix
Not only do the brownies taste scrumptious, they are packed with wonderful ingredients. Long gone are the days of making brownies with milk and eggs. These five-ingredient brownies are high in vitamins, minerals, and fiber and require no oven at all. You can actually eat one and not feel like you've totally wrecked your diet, but don't take my word for it. You'll have to make this quick and easy recipe yourself to find out.
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raw vegan brownies
Sweet, chocolatey, minty, rich, and only five ingredients!

Author: The Sensible Vegan
Recipe Type: Dessert
Cuisine: Vegan
Serving: 12

​Ingredients:
  • 8 oz. pitted dates
  • 3 tbsps cacao nibs
  • 1/4 cup sunflower seeds
  • 5 oz. dark baking chunks
  • 1 tbsp crushed peppermint
Directions:
  • Add pitted dates to food processor and pulse until they form a sticky ball-like consistency.
  • Add in cacao nibs and sunflower seeds, and pulse until evenly blended.
  • Remove mixture from processor and press into 8 x 8 in. baking dish.
  • Melt dark chocolate baking chunks in bowl at 30 second intervals in microwave or by using a double boiler.
  • Pour chocolate a top mixture, and sprinkle with crushed peppermint.
  • Set in freezer for 30 minutes.
  • Cut brownies into 9 or 12 even squares.

Nutrition Info: Serving size-1 brownie     Calories: 140    Fat: 6.9g    Saturated Fat: 3.5g    Protein: 2.2g  Sugar: 15g    Fiber: 4g   Sodium: 0.8mg   Carb: 15g

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3-Ingredient Crispy Chocolate SunButter Cups

11/26/2018

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Vegan chocolate desserts
Once a year at my daughter's school there is a schoolwide enrichment day. On this day off, students choose an enriching activity and report on it when they go back to school. It can be cooking, a science experiment, going to work with a parent, etc. There are so many creative things that the students can do. My daughter chose to do a recipe. Since she is in a nut-free classroom, we made sure the recipe could be enjoyed by everyone. We really enjoy making vegan desserts, and this one was fun to make.
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Have you tried SunButter? This product is absolutely wonderful. SunButter is sunflower seed butter made from sunflower seeds and can be used as a nut butter substitute for people with nut allergies. It has a taste and texture similar to peanut butter, and it also has some pretty great benefits. Sunflower seeds help improve cholesterol levels, help improve bone health with minerals like magnesium, phosphorus, and copper, and also help control blood sugar. These are only a few of the benefits. There are many more. Sunflower seeds are an excellent source of protein and contain as much as 40% of your recommended daily intake in a single 100g serving. Try adding some to your recipes, too!
Sun butter cups
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Nut-free, dairy-free, gluten-free, crispy, chocolatey,  and only three ingredients!

​Ingredients:
  • 1 10-oz. bag of Enjoy Life Semi-Sweet Mini chips
  • 2 tbsps. Creamy SunButter
  • ¾ cups chocolate crispy cereal (We used Love Grown Comet Crispies (made with navy beans, lentils, and garbanzo beans.)

Directions:
  • Melt chocolate in double boiler or in a bowl at 30 second increments in microwave.
  • Add cereal to chocolate and stir until evenly mixed.
  • Spoon mixture into mini cupcake liners.
  • Gently shake SunButter cups back and forth to evenly distribute chocolate in the cups.
  • Place in freezer for 15 min. to set.
  • Remove from freezer and evenly distribute sun butter to each cup.
  • Cover each cup with remaining chocolate.
  • Set in freezer for 30 min.
  • Remove from freezer and enjoy at room temperature.

Nutrition Info: Serving size-2 cups     Calories: 181    Fat: 11.4g    Saturated Fat: 6g    Protein: 3g
Sugar: 14g    Fiber: 2.3g   Sodium: 18.5mg   Carb: 19.8g

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Dark Chocolate Pretzel Bark

5/21/2018

2 Comments

 
Blue Mountain Organics
I received some amazing products from Blue Mountain Organics. The company sent me the organic almond and organic cashew My Nutty Mylk to try. In addition to being USDA certified organic, they are also PALEO friendly, dairy free, contain no additives, gluten free, and Non GMO.  I look forward to using them in sauces, savory dishes, and vegan desserts as well. Since I was responsible for bringing dessert to a work function, I decided to incorporate the cashew mylk into my recipe.
Dark Chocolate Bark Recipe
I had a few different dessert ideas, but I finally decided to make the chocolate bark with my daughter's help. We had so much fun making the chocolate peppermint bark during the holidays, and I knew that this would be a blast as well. This recipe does not require many ingredients, and it's definitely kid friendly. In between munching on the dark chocolate peanut gems, we stirred, sprinkled, and made this recipe come to life. The creamy cashew mylk is so silky, rich and smooth that it made me think of at least four other recipes where it will be featured in the near future.
Dark Chocolate Pretzel Bark
Rich, smooth, creamy, crunchy, sweet, nutty, and only five ingredients to make!

Author: The Sensible Vegan
Recipe Type: Dessert
Cuisine: Vegan
Serving: 10

Ingredients
  • 1 10 oz. bag dark chocolate chunks
  • 1/2 cup mini pretzels 
  • 1/4 cup Unreal dark chocolate peanut gems
  • 1.5 tsps "My Nutty Mylk" organic cashew
  • 1 tbsp powdered sugar
​     Instructions
  • Melt chocolates in a bowl at 30 sec. intervals in the microwave, or on the stovetop in a double boiler.
  • Place parchment paper in a shallow baking dish. ( I used  an oblong 2-quart baking dish.)
  • Pour chocolate into dish and tilt to spread evenly.
  • Sprink in pretzels.
  • Distribute chocolate peanut gems evenly.
  • Place in freezer for 20 min.
  • In a separate bowl combine cashew mylk and powdered sugar. Stir and microwave for one min.
  • Stir until smooth and creamy to eliminate pieces of powdered sugar.
  • Remove bark from freezer.
  • With a fork, drizzle cashew cream topping across bark.
  • Refrigerate for 1-2 hours.
  • To break the bark: I lift it in the parchment to avoid making fingerprints, and drop it into the dish which causes it to shatter. Since the bark is fairly thin, you may also choose to slice it with a knife as well.
Nutrition Information
Serving size: 2 pieces  Calories: 177  Fat: 12.3g  Saturated Fat: 7.7g 
Carbohydrates: 17g   Sugar: 8.4g   Sodium: 37mg  Fiber: 4g   Protein: 3g
2 Comments

Vegan Chocolate Peanut Butter Brownies

2/19/2018

0 Comments

 
Vegan Chocolate Brownies
I am going to keep this post simple, short, and sweet. I am currently working on a vegan children's book, and it's taking up most of my free time. I had to pause and take a break and post a recipe though. When my daughter and I were at Whole Foods the other day trying the TTLA sandwich made famous by Tabitha Brown, we looked for vegan brownies, and I ended up deciding to make my own. I am so glad I did. These vegan brownies are the truth!
Pitted Dates
What holds the recipe together and gives the brownies that moist, chewy, gooeyness? Pitted dates, of course! Dates are a great source of vitamins and minerals, and they are low in calories and rich in fiber. I also use them in my peanut butter chocolate energy bites recipe.
Simple vegan chocolate peanut butter brownies
This is a fun, kid-friendly recipe filled that is literally "hands-on" and easy to make.
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Rich, decadent, gooey, nutty, chocolatey, and only seven ingredients to make. 

Author: The Sensible Vegan
Recipe Type: Dessert
Cuisine: Vegan
Serving: 16

Ingredients
  • 1 cup chopped walnuts
  • 1.5 cup moist pitted dates
  • 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 2 tbsp dark chocolate baking chunks
  • 1/4 tsp sea salt 
​     ICING (optional):
  • 1 cup dark chocolate baking chunks
  • 1 tbsp creamy natural peanut butter
  • 1/4 cup powdered sugar
Instructions
  • Place walnuts, cocoa powder, baking chunks, and sea salt into food processor and pulse to combine thoroughly. Remove from processor and set aside.
  • Add dates to processor and pulse.
  • Slowly add walnut and cocoa mixture to the date mixture and pulse until it is all completely blended to a dough like consistency.
  • Press mixture into an 8in. x 8in. parchment lined baking dish. (I sprinkled a few extra walnuts atop the mixture before pressing it into the baking dish.)
  • Refrigerate 10-15 min. 
​          Prepare the Icing (optional):
  • Melt dark chocolate baking chunks in microwave at 30 sec. intervals or double broiler.
  • Stir in tablespoon of peanut butter until evenly combined.
  • Refrigerate 10-15 min. to thicken.
  • Remove from refrigerator and whisk in powdered sugar.
  • Spoon icing atop brownies and spread to evenly.
  • Refrigerate 10 min.
  • Cut brownies evenly into squares, and store remaining portion in a sealed container in the refrigerator.

Nutrition Information
Serving size: 1 brownie  Calories: 139  Fat: 7.6g  Saturated Fat: 1.8g 
Carbohydrates: 21.6g   Sugar: 13g   Sodium: 39.4mg  Fiber: 4g   Protein: 3g
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Raw Vegan Brownies

7/4/2017

0 Comments

 
Raw vegan brownie
My daughter and I were at Barnes and Noble reading books and stumbled across If You Give a Mouse a Brownie. After reading the book, we both wanted brownies and decided to make our own. We had much success with our vegan energy bites, so I decided to go a similar route with the brownies. I was almost out of my Garden of Life protein powder, so I took a chance in adding it to my recipe hoping it would work in the place of cacao powder. It did! My non-vegan husband ate four brownies, so I knew I was on to something. They are very good. 
Preparing raw vegan brownies
Pulse your ingredients in the food processor until they are combined thoroughly. My secret ingredient is raw organic meal. It is amazing! I am going to try it in other dessert recipes as well. 
raw vegan brownies in dish
Once you press your ingredients into your baking dish, allow it to set in the refrigerator to firm up. This will allow you to easily cut it into brownie servings. Although there are not many ingredients to this vegan dessert, it is very rich. I cut mine into small servings, but you may decide to do larger brownies.
Raw vegan brownies
Rich, decadent, sweet, and only four ingredients!

Author: The Sensible Vegan
Recipe Type: Dessert
Cuisine: Vegan
Serving: 16

Ingredients
  • 1 1/2 cups walnuts, chopped
  • 1 1/2 cups pitted dates
  • 2 scoops raw organic meal
  • 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
Instructions   
  1. Blend walnuts in food processor until finely ground.
  2. Add in pitted dates. I added them in 5 at a time until well blended with the nuts.
  3. Add in raw organic meal powder and blend.
  4. Add in chocolate chips and pulse until well blended.
  5. Press the mixture into an 8x8 inch baking dish and refrigerate for two hours. I left mine in overnight, but two hours is sufficient.
  6. Remove from refrigerator, cut into squares, and enjoy! 

For Serving
Scoop of non-dairy vanilla ice cream and chocolate syrup. I used Almond Dream vanilla.

Nutrition Information

Serving size: One brownie Calories: 89  Fat:  10g
Sat Fat: 3g  Carbohydrates: 13.8g   Sugar: 9g    Sodium: 18.8mg 
Fiber: 3g  Protein: 5g

What is your favorite non-dairy frozen dessert? I'd love to hear from you and see your variation of the recipe as well! Post your recipe photos #thesensiblevegan. Thank you!

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Excited about becoming vegan? Get you vegan starter kit today!
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Vegan Chocolate Peanut Butter Eggs

4/16/2017

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Easter is here! For the past several weeks I have walked through many grocery stores with aisles packed with various Easter goodies. This is my first vegan Easter, and as I browsed through the stores, I picked up several items and was absolutely disappointed at the long lists of GMO and non-vegan ingredients. Well, I decided to make vegan Easter treats for my family. My dark chocolate peanut butter cups are always a hit, but since it is Easter, I decided to make vegan chocolate peanut butter eggs as well. 
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The recipe is simple and only requires five ingredients to make. The hardest part of the recipes is waiting for the peanut butter eggs to chill before dipping them into the chocolate. Fortunately, I was working on preparing a vegan meal at the same time, so the wait time allowed me to focus on making dinner as well.
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Once you mold your peanut butter mixture into egg shapes, they are ready to pop into the fridge! You can use egg molds if you like, but I prefer to mold them by hand.
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Rich, creamy, peanut buttery, and only five ingredients to make!

Author: The Sensible Vegan
Recipe Type: Dessert
Cuisine: Vegan
Serving: 13 large eggs or 20 medium eggs


Ingredients
  • 2 cups cinnamon graham crackers crumbs (approx. 9 sheets)
  • 1 cup peanut butter
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 1/2 cup melted vegan butter
  • 1 package vegan chocolate chips
Instructions   
  1. Break up sheets of graham crackers, and place them into food processor until finely ground.
  2. Melt vegan butter approx. 15-20 seconds in microwave.
  3. In a large bowl combine graham crumbs, powdered sugar, peanut butter, and melted vegan butter.
  4. Mold the mixture into egg shapes and place atop cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.
  5. Allow to set for two hours in the freezer.
  6. Melt chocolate chips in bowl for 30 second increments in microwave until thoroughly melted.
  7. Sit peanut butter egg atop fork and dip into chocolate, evenly coating the egg. Place back on parchment paper. Allow to set in freezer for 30 minutes.
Nutrition Information

Serving size: 1 medium egg  Calories: 215  Fat:  13g
Sat Fat: 4.7g  Carbohydrates: 21.4g   Sugar: 15.2g    Sodium: 91.3mg 
Fiber: 1g  Protein: 1g


​Please let me know how you like this recipe. I'd love to hear from you and see your variation as well! Post your recipe photos #thesensiblevegan. Thank you!
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No Bake Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars

3/18/2017

0 Comments

 
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The other day an image flashed across my Facebook news feed. It was a photo and link to a chocolate peanut butter bar recipe. The bars looked great, but as I browsed through the ingredients for the recipe, I saw the words "butter" and "heavy cream" among the list. Definitely not. So, I decided to try and make these no bake bars myself, veganized. The first attempt was a fail, but this time I definitely got it right. My husband and daughter approved! This is a simple vegan peanut butter bar recipe that everyone will love.
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Only five ingredients are needed to make this decadent no bake vegan dessert. One bite and you will wonder why anyone even needed to add heavy cream or butter to the mix. It's not necessary. There is always a vegan substitute.  
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 Rich, creamy, sweet, chocolatey, and only five ingredients to make!

Author: The Sensible Vegan
Recipe Type: Dessert
Cuisine: Vegan
Serving: 20


Ingredients
  • 1.5 cups graham cracker crumbs
  • 1 cup peanut butter
  • 1.5 cups dark chocolate chips
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 1/2 cup melted vegan butter 

Instructions   
  1. In a large bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs, peanut butter, sugar, and melted butter. Stir until smooth. Pour into 8 x 8 inch baking dish and evenly distribute. ​
  2. Melt chocolate chips and 1/4 cup peanut butter in microwave at 30 second intervals until thoroughly melted. Stir until smooth. 
  3. Pour mixture atop peanut butter and smooth until even.
  4. Allow to set in refrigerator for one hour.
  5. Cut evenly into squares depending on how many servings you wish to make.
Nutrition Information

Serving size: 1 bar Calories: 214  Fat:  14.8g
Sat Fat: 4.8g  Carbohydrates: 19.2g   Sugar: 12.9g    Sodium: 116.8mg 
Fiber: 2g  Protein: 4.1g


​Please let me know how you like this recipe. I'd love to hear from you! Post your recipe photos #thesensiblevegan. Thank you!

0 Comments

Vegan Chocolates

2/15/2017

0 Comments

 
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I was looking forward to Valentine's day and making vegan chocolates for my husband. My daughter and I had a blast making these sweet treats, and we had even more fun presenting them and eating a few as well. My husband really loved his peanut butter cups. They tasted divine, and only require a few ingredients. The recipe for the peanut butter cups is located here in a different blog post. This post will focus on the heart shaped chocolates. They are rich, creamy, and only require two ingredient to make! You can find super heart shaped candy molds in almost every store baking section around Valentine's Day.
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I was able find organic chocolate Koala Crisp cereal to give the chocolate the crunchy filling. This cereal is also gluten free and wheat free as well.
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Decadent, rich, chocolaty, crispy, and only two ingredients!

Author: The Sensible Vegan
Recipe Type: Dessert 
Cuisine: Vegan
Serving: 10

Ingredients
  • 3/4 cup organic cocoa rice crisps
  • 1 bag (10 oz) semi-sweet chocolate
For Serving
  • ​fresh strawberries

Instructions   
  1. Heat chocolate in bowl in microwave at 30 second intervals until melted. You may also use a double boiler if you have one. Set aside.
  2. Pour cocoa crips into bowl.
  3. Spoon chocolate into baking molds about 1/2 full. Sprinkle cereal atop chocolate.
  4. Shake molds gently to evenly disperse cereal and even out chocolate.
  5. Place chocolate molds in freezer for 10 minutes.
  6. Remove from freezer and fill molds the rest of the way with remaining chocolate. 
  7. Set in freezer for 15 minutes.
  8. Remove from freezer and serve at room temperature. Refrigerate remaining candies. Recipe makes 20 medium-sized candies.

Nutrition Information

Serving size: 2 candies  Calories: 163  Fat:  9.6g
Sat Fat: 5.7g  Carbohydrates: 19.6g   Sugar: 14.4g    Sodium: 10mg 
Fiber: 2.1g  Protein: 2.1g

​Please let me know how you like this recipe. I'd love to hear from you! Post your photos #thesensiblevegan. Thank you!
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    About Tabatha James

    Tabatha James is a wife, mom, and children's book author who loves creating vegan recipes with 10 ingredients or less!

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