End of term and we’ve all spent a little too much on our SSB outfits, and our students loans are a thing of ancient history, and all best intentions to save for Christmas have gone out the window!
Never fear, we’ve got plenty of exciting and delicious goodies which are sure to impress (without having to extend your overdraft). Whether it’s for your friends, or Granny we’ve got a creative solution, some of them healthy and a few naughty ones (it is the season to be jolly after all!!)
Healthy Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups
These are a sure winner for any chocoholic you know! These yummy chocs beat Reese’s peanut butter cups handsdown!
- 1/4 cup of Peanut Butter
- 1/2 cup of Raw Cacao powder (this is the healthiest option, but if you’d rather, use pure coco powder)
- ½ cup Coconut oil
- 2 ½ tablespoons of Maple Syrup
- 1 teaspoon of Vanilla Essence
- Mini cupcake cases
- Melt the coconut oil on a low heat (melt first and then measure out)
- Stir the cacao powder into the oil along with the maple syrup until smooth
- Spoon 2 teaspoons into the bottom of the cupcake cases
- Place these in the freezer to firm up for 5 mins
- Remove from the freezer and spoon 1 tbsp of peanut butter on top of the chocolate, then place back in the freezer if the nut butter is runny.
- Wait until nut butter is more firm and top with the remaining chocolate mixture and put in the freezer to set for another 30 mins.
- Finally decorate with some edible glitter for some extra sparkle, or just wrap up in some cellophane and some pretty ribbon et voila!
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Healthy Gingerbread Men
These delicious biscuits are sure to be a hit, a festive classic with a healthy twist for any health freaks close to your heart!
- 2 cups of Brown Rice flour (extra for rolling)
- 3 cups of Ground Almonds
- ½ cup of water
- ½ cup Maple Syrup
- 4 tablespoons of Ground Ginger
- 2 tablespoons Coconut oil
- 2 tablespoons chia seeds
- Pre heat oven 180c
- Cover baking trays with greaseproof paper
- Blend all ingredients until it is a sticky mixture
- Cover a countertop with some of the flour and roll the mixture out evenly
- Use a cutter to cut gingerbread men or any other shapes you want
- Continue until all mixture has been used
- Bake for 15- 20 mins or until golden. Leave to cool
- Wrap up in cellophane and ribbons. Or alternatively thread on ribbons and use as Christmas tree decorations!
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Healthy Chocolate Truffles
Need I say more……
- 15 pitted Medjool dates
- 100g shredded coconut
- 100g Hazelnuts
- 2 tbsp Coconut oil
- 1 tbsp water
- 1 tsp Ground Cinnamon
- 1 tsp Vanilla essence
- Crushed nut and shredded coconut for decorating
- Mix everything in a food processor until it is in a ball
- Place the mixture in the fridge for 10 mins
- Then roll the mixture into balls until they are around half the size of a ping pong ball
- Roll some truffles in cacao powder, some in crushed nuts (like hazelnuts or pistachios), some in shredded coconut.
- Place back in the fridge for 20 mins
- Bag or box up and finish with a bow! You’ll definitely be top of Santa’s nice list if he finds these at the bottom of the chimney!!!
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Brandied Clementine’s
These make a gorgeous present for any family member. Although the Brandy is expensive you can fill many jars so it works out well.
- Five medium sized clementines
- Two tangerines
- 500g sugar
- 500ml water
- 1 tablespoon sugar syrup
- Cinnamon sticks (to taste)
- Brandy
- Sterilise Jars
- Cut the peel from enough Clementines to fill a jar
- Boil 500 grams of sugar with 500 ml water allow the mixture to simmer
- Add some cinnamon sticks
- Place the oranges in the jars and pour over the sugar syrup
- Top up the jars with brandy
- Allow to cool,
- Refrigerate.
- Tie and ribbon around them and ta da!!
pics @pinterest and @larderlove.com