Chocolate Brownie Bliss Balls

Chocolate healthy goodness!!!! I've always wanted to try Cocoa Nibs, so was very excited to get them and create something with them!! They are very readily available now from Aldi, Coles/Woolies and Health Food shops.

Chocolate Brownie Bliss Balls

Cocoa Nibs have a crunchy texture and are full of antioxidants, magnesium and nutrients! If you don't have them readily available, then you can substitute with nuts (i.e. almonds, hazelnuts) or seeds (i.e sunflower, pepitas).

If you want to make these gluten free, you can buy gluten free oats, or use quinoa flakes instead of the oats.

CHOCOLATE BROWNIE BLISS BALLS

Ingredients:

100 grams oats
10 grams chia seeds
200 grams medjool dates (pitted)
1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste
40 grams cocoa nibs
20 grams cacoa powder/cocoa
30 grams coconut oil

Method (Thermomix):

1. Add all the above ingredients into your bowl.

2. Blitz 1 minute/Speed 8.

3. With damp hands, use a metal teaspoon to measure out the crumb-like texture, squeeze the mixture in your hand and shape into a ball.

4. Place in fridge (or freezer) to set.

Method (Blender):

1. Add all the above ingredients into your bowl.

2. Blitz on the highest setting until all of the ingredients have combined to your desired consistency.

 3. With damp hands, use a metal teaspoon to measure out the crumb-like texture, squeeze the mixture in your hand and shape into a ball.

4. Place in fridge (or freezer) to set.

Note: 

- Medjool dates differ in dryness, so you may need to add 5 - 10 grams more coconut oil/1-2 extra dates if the mixture comes out dry, or add 5 - 10 grams more 'dry' ingredients (oats, cocoa nibs) if the mixture comes out too sticky to shape into the balls. 

- You can use pitted dates instead of Medjool dates (they are not as sweet as Medjool so add about 20 grams honey with it)

Add all the above ingredients into your bowl.

Blitz 1 minute/Speed 8.

With damp hands, use a metal teaspoon to measure out the crumb-like texture, squeeze the mixture in your hand and shape into a ball.

 

Place in fridge (or freezer) to set.

30 Second Choc Chip Muesli Bars

This is a variation of Thermotwinning's 30 Second Lunchbox Oat Slice!

30 Second Choc Chip Muesli Bars

30 SECOND CHOC CHIP MUESLI BARS

Ingredients:

180 grams oats
130 grams wholemeal plain flour
170 grams honey
100 grams dark chocolate chips
30 grams coconut oil
2 teaspoons vanilla essence/extract/paste
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon bicarb soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder

Method (Thermomix):

1. Preheat oven to 160 degrees.
2. Add all the above ingredients to the bowl - mix 30 seconds/Speed 4.
3. Pour crumbly mixture into a square baking pan and press down with the back of a metal spoon until firm.
4. Bake for 15 minutes or until edges are browned.
5. Cool completely and cut into squares.

Method (No Thermomix needed):

1. Preheat oven to 160 degrees.
2. Add all the above ingredients to a large bowl and mix with a wooden spoon/spatula until mixture is combined.
3. Pour crumbly mixture into a square baking pan and press down with the back of a metal spoon until firm.
4. Bake for 15 minutes or until edges are browned.
5. Cool completely and cut into squares.

 Add all the above ingredients to the bowl - mix 30 seconds/Speed 4.

Pour crumbly mixture into a square baking pan and press down with the back of a metal spoon until firm

Bake for 15 minutes or until edges are browned.

Cool completely and cut into rectangular shaped bars

Serving suggestion - photo by Fancy Bake

Chocolate Pumpkin Cupcakes

Everyone loves a sneaky veg! With pumpkins in season, these are deliciously moist and fudgy! These cupcakes are soooo delicious - you would have NO IDEA there is pumpkin in there!!!

Chocolate Pumpkin Cupcakes

CHOCOLATE PUMPKIN CUPCAKES

Ingredients:

250 grams pumpkin (cubed)
20 grams water
120 grams milk
200 grams butter
260 grams self raising flour
100 grams sugar
2 eggs
40 grams cocoa
1 teaspoon vanilla extract/paste

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 160 degrees.
2. Add pumpkin and water to bowl - blitz 5 seconds/Speed 7. Scrape down.
3. Cook 4 minutes/100 degrees/Speed 2.
4. Add milk, butter, self raising flour, sugar, eggs, cocoa and vanilla - mix 10 seconds/Speed 6.
5. Spoon into cupcake pans until 3/4 full and bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean.

Add pumpkin and water to bowl - blitz 5 seconds/Speed 7

Scrape down

Cook 4 minutes/100 degrees/Speed 2

Add milk, butter, self raising flour, sugar, eggs, cocoa and vanilla

 Mix 10 seconds/Speed 6

Spoon into cupcake pans until 3/4 full

 Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean

Chocolate Pumpkin Cupcakes

Deliciously moist and fudgy!

Melt-in-your-mouth Oaty Date Cookies

The name says it all. These are healthy cookies which are firm to touch, then just melt in your mouth once you bite into them!

These cookies have NO sugar (say whaat!?) and are deliciously sweetened by pitted dates. These Melt-in-your-mouth Oaty Date Cookies (not so) dangerously addictive!!

Melt-in-your-mouth Oaty Date Cookies

The texture is kind of in between a melting moment and a digestive biscuit - so it is crumbly, melts in your mouth, with a light crunchy texture from the oats and walnuts - and also a little bit of chewiness from the dates. 

These are really easy to roll into balls, so is a great one to get the kids to help with!

If you have a nut allergy, you could use sunfower seeds or pepitas instead of the walnuts :)

MELT-IN-YOUR-MOUTH OATY DATE COOKIES

Ingredients:

140 grams oats
100 grams wholemeal self raising flour
125 grams butter
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
50 grams walnuts
100 grams pitted dates

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees and line baking tray(s).
2. Add oats, flour, butter, egg and vanilla to bowl - mix 10 seconds/Speed 5.
3. Add walnuts and dates - mix 30 seconds/Speed 4.
4. Roll into tablespoon sized balls, and press down with a fork.
5. Bake for 10 - 12 minutes or until browned.

Add oats, flour, butter, egg and vanilla to bowl

 Mix 10 seconds/Speed 5 

Add walnuts and dates - mix 30 seconds/Speed 4 

Roll into tablespoon sized balls...

...and press down with a fork

Bake for 10 - 12 minutes or until browned

30 Second Lunchbox Oat Slice

This is really quick, easy and is lunchbox friendly containing no nuts, dairy or eggs. I love this as I am always looking for new recipes for the boys' morning and afternoon tea, they are starting to become a never ending pit for food!

30 Second Lunchbox Oat Slice

In addition to the Healthy Banana Bread, this is another recipe from my FIL's partner which I really love and have converted for the Thermomix! I have also included the simple 1 bowl method if you don't have a Thermomix!

30 SECOND LUNCHBOX OAT SLICE

Ingredients:

180 grams oats
130 grams wholemeal plain flour
170 grams honey
50 grams brown sugar
40 grams pumpkin seeds (pepitas)
30 grams sunflower seeds
30 grams coconut oil
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla essence/extract/paste
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon bicarb soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder

Method (Thermomix):

1. Preheat oven to 160 degrees.
2. Add all the above ingredients to the bowl - mix 30 seconds/Speed 4.
3. Pour crumbly mixture into a square baking pan and press down with the back of a metal spoon until firm.
4. Bake for 15 minutes or until edges are browned.
5. Cool completely and cut into squares.

Method (No Thermomix needed):

1. Preheat oven to 160 degrees.
2. Add all the above ingredients to a large bowl and mix with a wooden spoon/spatula until mixture is combined.
3. Pour crumbly mixture into a square baking pan and press down with the back of a metal spoon until firm.
4. Bake for 15 minutes or until edges are browned.
5. Cool completely and cut into squares.

Add all the above ingredients to the bowl

 Mix 30 seconds/Speed 4.

Pour crumbly mixture into a square baking pan...

...and press down with the back of a metal spoon until firm.

Bake for 15 minutes or until edges are browned.

Cool completely and cut into squares.

Looking for another oat/muesli bar recipe? Try Choc Chip Muesli Bars - a variation of the Lunchbox Oat Slice

Healthy Banana Bread

This is a delicious and moist banana bread with a beautiful texture from the sultanas and walnuts.

Healthy Banana Bread

This recipe is from my FIL's partner, Jane. After visiting their place the other day, my husband and I were dreaming about it, it was so delicious! I have converted this recipe to make a quick and easy banana bread in the Thermomix! This takes a total 15 'Thermomix' seconds to mix up, so is super quick and easy to make, but it is in a few steps so that the sultanas and walnuts aren't blitzed up too much!!

HEALTHY BANANA BREAD

Ingredients:

3 x bananas
130 wholemeal self raising flour
110 grams oil
2 eggs
50 grams brown sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon nutmeg
70 grams walnuts
80 grams sultanas
1 x banana to decorate

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees.
2. Add 3 x bananas, self raising flour, oil, eggs, brown sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg to bowl - mix 4 seconds/Speed 5. Scrape down.
3. Add walnuts - mix 3 seconds/Speed 3.
4. Add sultanas - mix 10 seconds/Speed 2/Reverse.
5. Pour into loaf tin and decorate with 1 x chopped up banana on the top.
6. Bake for 30 - 35 minutes or until skewer comes out clean.

Add 3 x bananas, self raising flour, oil, eggs, brown sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg to bowl.

Mix 4 seconds/Speed 5. Scrape down.

Add walnuts - mix 3 seconds/Speed 3.

Add sultanas - mix 8 seconds/Speed 2/Reverse.

Pour into loaf tin...

 ...and decorate with 1 x chopped up banana on the top.

Bake for 30 - 35 minutes or until skewer comes out clean.

YUUMMM!

Leave to cool for a few minutes before cutting...a beautiful texture with the walnuts and sultanas!

Simple Banana Smoothie

With banana's in season, this is a great and simple recipe, especially for toddlers! This is great to get some goodness into them and my boys smash this stuff up!! Great if you're time poor and you just want them to have full tummies and not much clean up!! This is fantastic for the whole family! 

Simple Banana Smoothie

SIMPLE BANANA SMOOTHIE

Serves 2

Ingredients:

2 x bananas
500 grams milk
30 grams yoghurt
20 grams LSA (ground Linseed, Sunflower seed and Almonds)
20 grams maple syrup (optional - I add it if the banana's aren't that ripe)

Method:

1. Add all ingredients to the bowl - mix 1 minutes/Speed 9.

Add all ingredients to the bowl

Mix 1 minute/Speed 9

Quietly drinking...YUM!