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You are here: Home / Archives for chocolate

Grain-free Spiced Chocolate Torte

November 30, 2016 By Becky 40 Comments

Grain-free Spiced Chocolate Torte

This grain-free spiced chocolate torte is a great to end a festive dinner. It will satisfy any chocolate lover, but also has a delectable hint of spice.

Thanksgiving is over, and I’m planning to top everything with pomegranate arils from now until the end of the year. This grain-free spiced chocolate torte, of course, is no exception.

I love using warming spices like cinnamon and cardamom to make desserts smell and taste extra festive during the holiday season. However, I’m also a huge lover of chocolate. I didn’t want to choose between my love of chocolate and my love of a little seasonal spice, so I decided to combine the two into a spiced chocolate torte.

Grain-free Spiced Chocolate Torte

This torte has a perfect texture and crumb thanks to a combination of almond flour and tapioca flour from Bob’s Red Mill. Those two flours are my go-to for grain-free baking year round. The almond flour, which is made of whole, blanched sweet almonds, provides the tenderness and richness that every torte needs. And since Bob’s Red Mill almond flour is super finely ground, there’s no need to sift it before using! As an extra bonus, almonds are packed with healthy monounsaturated fats and protein, but are low in carbohydrates (and are naturally gluten free).

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Filed Under: dessert, gluten free, recipe Tagged With: almond flour, cake, cardamom, chocolate, Christmas, cinnamon, holiday, pomegranate, sponsored

Grain-free Chocolate Cake with Mocha Buttercream

October 28, 2016 By Becky 8 Comments

This post contains affiliate links.  As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. 

This grain-free chocolate cake with mocha buttercream is super decadent and perfect for the coffee-drinking chocolate lover in your life.

It’s Friday, and I brought cake! Grain-free chocolate cake with mocha buttercream, to be exact. It’s my favorite paleo chocolate cake base (from the Black Forest Cake recipe in Paleo Planet) with a classic, very non-paleo mocha buttercream frosting. The cake layers are rich and tender, and the mocha buttercream hits you mainly with chocolate, but has just enough of a coffee kick sneaking up from behind to keep things interesting. The chocolate-covered coffee beans on top provide a welcome crunch and yet another layer of chocolate and coffee flavor.

Grain-free Chocolate Cake with Mocha Buttercream

I made this cake a couple of weekends ago for my future mother-in-law’s birthday. She grew up in Brazil, which grows a huge portion of the world’s coffee and cacao, and is a big fan of both. This cake was a hit with her and with the rest of the family. It’s so rich that we got a full 20 slices out of it.

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Filed Under: dessert, gluten free, recipe Tagged With: cake, chocolate, frosting, grain free, mocha

Cardamom Coffee Fudgesicles

July 25, 2016 By Becky 19 Comments

Cardamom Coffee Fudgesicles

These cardamom coffee fudgesicles are like the perfect iced mocha in creamy popsicle form. The cardamom gives them a uniquely enticing flavor.

I finally got a popsicle mold! I’ve been trying to avoid single-use kitchen gadgets, but I just couldn’t help myself. Since getting  the mold about a month ago, I think I’ve made these cardamom coffee fudgesicles five times. I had to make sure the recipe made just the right number of popsicles and had just the right amount of cardamom. Also, they kept getting eaten before I could get them photographed!

Cardamom Coffee Fudgesicles

By the way, photographing popsicles in the summer is not easy! I didn’t plan ahead, so we didn’t have any ice made to set up a cold plate like this. I decided I’d just go for it and be super quick, but the pops were melting even faster than I expected.

I freaked out a little because I didn’t want to lose all five of the ones I was snapping pictures of, so I stuck four of them back in the freezer and left one out to photograph.

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Filed Under: dessert, gluten free, paleo, recipe, vegan, vegetarian Tagged With: cardamom, chocolate, coffee, mocha, popsicles, summer

Easy Texas Sheet Cake

June 6, 2016 By Becky 20 Comments

Easy Texas Sheet Cake (Gluten free, Grain free, Dairy free)

When you need grain-free, dairy-free cake for a crowd, this easy Texas sheet cake is here for you! It’s simple to make (no mixed needed!) and impossibly delicious. This post is sponsored by Dream in partnership with Honest Cooking.

This easy Texas sheet cake is perfect for times when you need a cake that serves a lot of people, but is simple and straightforward to make. It’s ideal for feeding folks with dietary restrictions since it’s paleo-friendly and free of gluten, grains, and dairy. And it’s also just the thing for when you suddenly need chocolate cake on a random afternoon and don’t want to wait too long to get your fix. With a chocolate sheet cake, you don’t have to worry about un-molding, stacking, or leveling multiple layers of cake. And since sheet cakes are thin, they cool quickly so you don’t have to wait long to frost them. You can make this whole thing, start to finish, in less than an hour. It’s also just really fun to look at such a vast expanse of cake!

Easy Texas Sheet Cake (Gluten free, Grain free, Dairy free)

This cake also has the best texture of any paleo-friendly chocolate cake I’ve ever made–it really tastes just like a regular cake! But, like a really good, homemade regular cake–not a store-bought one, of course. I looked to classic, gluten-laden Texas sheet cake recipes for guidance in developing this recipe, and discovered that they are usually made with buttermilk. Buttermilk works together with baking soda to help cakes rise, and also helps create a tender crumb. For this recipe, I made a super simple dairy-free buttermilk replacement using Dream Ultimate Almond Unsweetened Almond Beverage and a little bit of apple cider vinegar.

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Filed Under: dessert, gluten free, paleo, recipe Tagged With: almonds, cake, chocolate, dairy free, grain free, pecans, sponsored

Mocha Cream Paleo Truffles

May 10, 2016 By Becky 20 Comments

This post contains affiliate links.  As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. 

Mocha Cream Paleo Truffles (Vegan)

Mocha cream paleo truffles are an ideal no-bake dessert for the warmer months. And since they’re vegan, too, more of your friends can enjoy them!

I’ve been sick for the past few days and haven’t been able to stomach much other than these paleo truffles. I think it’s because I’ve been eating them frozen and they’re made with such wholesome ingredients–no dairy or anything like that to throw a wrench into things. My appetite has been really low and I haven’t even craved my morning coffee like I usually do, but a couple of these chilled truffles gives me a little bit of the caffeine boost I’d otherwise be missing out on.

These are also fabulous when you’re feeling great. In fact, the mocha cream filling is so good on its own that I didn’t even dip the first batch into chocolate. I dreamed up this filling a couple of weeks ago and it tasted even better than I’d hoped. Basically it’s cashews whirred to creamy perfection with some coffee (both brewed coffee and finely ground espresso powder), cocoa (I absolutely love this fair-trade, Dutch-processed cocoa and use it in all my recipes), maple syrup for sweetness, and a little bit of salt and vanilla because all desserts need those two flavor-boosters. Sometimes cashew-based desserts taste too much like cashews to me but these don’t at all–the flavor is pure mocha.

Mocha Cream Paleo Truffles (Vegan)

Maple syrup pairs especially well with mocha. The dark undertones of its sweetness blend in with the coffee and chocolate so you don’t detect the maple flavor; you just wonder what other mysterious taste is in there that deepens and complements the mocha taste so well (see also this no-churn mocha ice cream made with homemade maple-sweetened condensed milk).

Anyway, after I made the first batch of this filling and scooped it into balls, I stuck it into the freezer to firm up so I could dip the truffles into melted chocolate later. That was on a Sunday afternoon and things got so busy with preparing for the work week that I didn’t get to it, so I thought I’d do it some evening that week after work. I told Ben he could try one or two of the naked truffles to see how he liked the filling, but not to eat them all because I was going to coat them in chocolate later.

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Filed Under: dessert, gluten free, paleo, recipe, vegan Tagged With: candy, cashews, chocolate, coffee, grain free, maple, mocha, truffles

Olive Oil Blondies

March 10, 2016 By Becky 18 Comments

This post contains affiliate links.  As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Olive Oil Blondies (Gluten free, Grain free, Dairy free)

These olive oil blondies are irresistibly chewy in the middle and crunchy around the edges. No one will guess that they’re gluten free, grain free, dairy free, and paleo friendly!

Here they are: quintessential and perfect blondies (olive oil blondies, no less!), which happen to be free of gluten, grains, and dairy. I don’t mean to brag, but I think I really nailed it with these: no one will know they’re grain free or that they’re made with olive oil. They’re also super easy to whip up with just one bowl and one fork. No melting, no creaming, and no mixer required.

Olive Oil Blondies (Gluten free, Grain free, Dairy free)

When I was little and still the world’s pickiest eater, I loved to go to Annabelle’s, a long-gone café in my hometown of Wellesley, Massachusetts, for dinner. I always got macaroni and cheese and a blondie. My nostalgia for that meal runs so deep that thinking about it still makes me really sad, despite the fact that Annabelle’s has been closed since 1994.

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Filed Under: dessert, gluten free, recipe Tagged With: baking, blondies, chocolate, dairy free, grain free, olive oil

Pumpkin Crème Brûlée Pie Bars

October 31, 2015 By Becky 32 Comments

This post contains affiliate links.  As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. 

Pumpkin Crème Brûlée Pie Bars (Grain free) | acalculatedwhisk.com

These grain-free pumpkin crème brûlée pie bars combine the best elements of crème brûlée and pumpkin pie, and are made with an easy press-in cocoa crust.

Guess what? I finally got a kitchen torch. I say finally because–as I tend to do lately when considering buying new kitchen gadgets–I went back and forth about it for several months.

My friend Andrea is a great baker and a fabulous cake decorator, and she’s had a kitchen torch for a long time. After interrogating her about where she got it, how much it cost, how hard it was to use, and how often she used it (yes, my friends ARE extremely patient–why do you ask? 😉 ), my friend Lucy and I went over to her place and tried it. Andrea had custards all ready to go, and we each torched our own right before we ate them.

Pumpkin Crème Brûlée Pie Bars (Grain free) | acalculatedwhisk.com

You probably guessed this already, but they were outstanding.

The kitchen torch was much easier to use and much more fun than I had expected. Of course you need to be careful, but it’s not scary at all to torch desserts, and the actual fire-blasting part takes less than two minutes.  (In case you’re wondering about all the questions I mentioned above, Andrea found her torch at a yard sale a couple years ago and got it for about ten bucks. I got mine on Amazon for $28, but it’s on sale for $25 right now.) Read More…

Filed Under: dessert, gluten free, recipe Tagged With: chocolate, fall, grain free, pumpkin

Paleo Chocolate Pumpkin Muffins

October 23, 2015 By Becky 13 Comments

Paleo Chocolate Pumpkin Muffins | acalculatedwhisk.com

Today is an exciting day–it’s the first time I’ve ever had a guest author here on my site. Lauren Lester, one of my very favorite paleo bloggers, created this recipe for paleo chocolate pumpkin muffins. Read a little more about Lauren at the bottom of this post, and check out her blog Wicked Spatula for more delectable paleo recipes and gorgeous photographs! Take it away, Lauren…

I’m so excited to be guest posting today on A Calculated Whisk! I’ve been a fan of Becky’s recipes for a while so when we started chatting about swapping guest posts I was thrilled. I’ve got a great fall recipe for you today and if you’d like to check out Becky’s Chicken Apple Sausage that she’s sharing on my site Wicked Spatula you can head on over there as well!

Paleo Chocolate Pumpkin Muffins | acalculatedwhisk.comAlright, is there anything better than a warm muffin early in the morning? I personally don’t think so, especially when they’re filled with dark chocolate. These Paleo Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Muffins take one step further into fall heaven with the addition of pumpkin and pumpkin pie spice. Before going Paleo last year muffins were a breakfast staple. I would pick up a few mixes for the week and with only 30 minutes of effort I’d have breakfast ready for the entire week. We all know Paleo baking baking isn’t that simple though. Usually there are precise measurements, speciality ingredients, and one too many bowls if you were to ask my husband. Read More…

Filed Under: breakfast, gluten free, paleo, recipe, vegetarian Tagged With: baking, chocolate, fall, grain free, muffins, pumpkin

Brown Butter Cacao Nib Skillet Cake

July 27, 2015 By Becky 38 Comments

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. 
Brown Butter Cacao Nib Skillet Cake (Gluten free, Grain free) | acalculatedwhisk.com
 
It cooled down just enough in Boston this weekend for me to feel good about cranking up the oven and baking a cake. And boy, was I glad I did! This grain-free skillet cake is so easy to whip up, looks and smells like a giant cookie, but boasts a unique and sophisticated flavor thanks to the browned butter and cacao nibs. I highly recommend making it today–it’s perfect for dessert or simply as a snack cake!
 
Brown Butter Cacao Nib Skillet Cake (Gluten free, Grain free) | acalculatedwhisk.com
 
This recipe is adapted from Selma’s Table, my assigned blog for this month’s Secret Recipe Club reveal day. I had a hard time choosing a recipe because Selma has so many tantalizing options. I almost bought anchovies for the first time because this walnut, herb, and anchovy sauce sounded so delicious (I wanted to pair it with some zoodles!). This Italian version of shepherd’s pie looks fabulous, too. Also, what sounds better than black summer truffle pesto roast chicken?

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Filed Under: dessert, gluten free, recipe, vegetarian Tagged With: baking, brown butter, butter, cacao nibs, cake, chocolate, grain free, secret recipe club

Tiger Nut Brownies

July 17, 2015 By Becky 44 Comments

This post is sponsored by Tiger Nuts USA.
 
This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.  
Tiger Nut Brownies (Paleo) | acalculatedwhisk.com

Tiger nut flour is the secret ingredient in these super fudgy paleo tiger nut brownies! And since tiger nuts are actually tubers, they’re great for people with nut allergies.

Have you heard of tiger nuts? They’re a new-to-me ingredient that I’m really excited to share with you. Here are three fun facts about tiger nuts:
1. They are not nuts! Tiger nuts are actually tubers, which means they’re a great snack option for anyone, even people with nut allergies.
2. Tiger nuts are a truly paleo food–scientists believe that they formed a large part of the diet of hominims and other early humans. They’ve also been found in Egyptian tombs from over 6,000 years ago. (I found this info on Wikipedia.)
3. Tiger nut flour makes delicious brownies!
Tiger Nuts (Paleo) | acalculatedwhisk.com
Bonus fact: tiger nuts are widely cultivated in Spain, where they’re used to make a special kind of horchata. Grab the recipe here!
The folks at Tiger Nuts USA sell peeled and unpeeled tiger nuts as well as tiger nut flour. I haven’t used the unpeeled tiger nuts yet, but I’m planning to use them to make tiger nut milk. (That has to be the coolest name for a kind of dairy-free milk, right? Why drink almond milk when you could drink TIGER NUT MILK??) Read More…

Filed Under: dessert, gluten free, paleo, recipe, vegetarian Tagged With: baking, brownies, cacao nibs, chocolate, giveaway, grain free, nut free, sponsored, tiger nuts

Cashew Chia Cacao Nib Pudding

July 3, 2015 By Becky 30 Comments

 
This cashew chia cacao nib pudding is paleo, gluten-free, and easily made vegan. It’s also a snap to make and surprisingly satisfying!

Happy fourth of July weekend! I made you a healthy dessert packed with superfoods: chia seeds, cacao nibs, honey, and cashews. Well, I am not totally sure that honey and cashews are superfoods, but they’re not bad, right? I think this pudding would be a welcome change on a weekend when desserts are often pumped full of artificial colors and flavors. (Although, if you do need something naturally red, white, and blue, may I suggest my pico de gallo de frutas? Just use blueberries instead of kiwis.)

Since this pudding is a make-ahead dessert, it’s perfect for having guests over. While you’re out grilling lamb burgers and mixing drinks (agua fresca, perhaps?) these perfectly-sized treats will just be gelling in the fridge.

Cashew Chia Cacao Nib Pudding (Gluten free, Paleo) | acalculatedwhisk.com
This was my first time using chia seeds and cacao nibs, and I loved them both. I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about the cacao nibs since they’re unsweetened chocolate, but while I wouldn’t necessarily eat a handful plain, they were perfect in this pudding. Some of the cacao nibs are blended with the cashew and chia base to deepen the chocolate flavors of the entire pudding, and some are sprinkled whole on top. This gives each bite of cashew chia pudding this craveworthy chocolatey crunch. It’s so good! Read More…

Filed Under: dessert, gluten free, paleo, recipe, vegan, vegetarian Tagged With: cacao nibs, cashews, chocolate, dairy free, egg free, grain free, honey, maple syrup, no-bake, no-cook, primal, pudding

Mocha Ricotta Pie with Strawberries

May 1, 2015 By Becky 14 Comments

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. 
 
Mocha Ricotta Pie with Strawberries (Gluten free, Grain free) | acalculatedwhisk.com
 
This mocha ricotta pie is one of my absolute favorite desserts. It’s in my top three of all time, right up there with almond butter thumbprints and salted caramel brownies.
 
What makes it so fabulous is the trifecta of a lightly sweetened, crunchy shortbread crust, a rich and creamy ricotta filling with chocolate, coffee, and a hint of lemon (yes, lemon!), and a topping of juicy strawberries. It reminds me of the amazing Southern-style chocolate pie I always used to eat at the now-defunct Marimont Cafeteria in Austin, Texas, but with a mature Italian twist and bright berries to lighten things up.
 
Mocha Ricotta Pie with Strawberries (Gluten free, Grain free) | acalculatedwhisk.com
 
Really good dark chocolate and high quality, full-fat ricotta are important for this pie. (Good coffee won’t hurt either, but I love my Café Bustelo.) I was so excited about having a tub of Narragansett Creamery ricotta in my fridge that I proceeded to completely forget I’d bought it to make zucchini lasagna, and dumped all of it into the filling for this pie.
 
 

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Filed Under: dessert, gluten free, recipe Tagged With: cheesecake, chocolate, coffee, gelatin, grain free, italian, mocha, pie, primal, ricotta, spring, strawberry, summer

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