Pumpkin Chocolate Chunk Bars

1 cup brown rice flour

1/2 T ground pumpkin pie spice

-or apple pie spice- or get creative and mix the two!

1/2 t baking soda

1/4 t sea salt- fine

1/2 cup coconut oil- in its hard state

1/4 cup 100% pure maple syrup

1/4 cup + 1 T unsweetened applesauce

1 t vanilla extract

7 oz (about half of a 15oz can) of organic pure pumpkin puree

1 handful Enjoy Life Chocolate Chunks

Preheat oven to 350. Line a medium-sized baking dish* of choice with aluminum foil so that the foil hangs over the edge.

Whisk together the flour, pumpkin or apple pie spice, baking soda and salt in a bowl and set aside.

In an electric mixer bowl add your coconut oil and maple syrup. Mix for a couple of minutes on medium/low-speed until smooth. {It takes a moment for the two to blend well.}

Add the applesauce, vanilla, and pure pumpkin and continue mixing on medium speed. Scrape down the sides of the bowl to be sure to incorporate all the ingredients and continue mixing.

Once mixed add in your dry ingredients and let mix until just combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and mix again.

Add in your chocolate chunks by folding them in with your spatula.

Pour batter into the prepared baking dish and bake for around 35-40 minutes. Check for doneness by inserting a butter knife into the center – if it comes out clean your bars are done- if it comes out chocolatey then you hit a chocolate chunk and you need to move a little to the left and check again!

This step is very important because you are working with a different type of flour and the texture is different– Let COOL for an hour before pulling these out with those extra foil pieces. {I know this will be hard but it will be worth it! …Ok, ok taste a little with a spoon, but you will see how it is very crumbly when fresh out of the oven.} Once cooled and you have pulled them out of the dish, set on the counter and cut into bars. Serve and enjoy! 🙂

*This recipe can be doubled and put into a 9×13 in baking dish but I have had the best results making this as a smaller batch.*

I tried to get a picture before but it was too late… these go THAT fast!!!

..Ok Ok, we aren’t that hungry! I did manage to save a few to put in the fridge for the rest of the week 🙂

Enjoy these guilt free, allergy free & clean treats on your next cheat day when that urge to go to your local cupcake shop hits you! Then sit back and be proud of yourself for keeping it clean, home-made, and safer! — & If your feeling froggy maybe leave me some feedback :)– Jenn

Another quick shot before operation DEVOUR

Choco-love Brownies

Coconut oil

1 1/4 cup Natural Unsweetened Applesauce

1 Small Banana  {ripe}

1 cup Unsweetened Raw Cocoa Powder {call co. to ensure its allergy free}

1/4 t Sea Salt

1 T 100% pure Maple Syrup

2 t Vanilla Extract

1 1/4 cup Brown Rice Flour {gluten-free}

1/2 cup Enjoy Life Chocolate Chips

Instructions:

Grease a medium-sized baking dish with your coconut oil. Pre-heat oven to 350.

Put banana in mixer and let it turn to mush :). Add applesauce. Next add flour and cocoa powder* and continue to mix. I usually scrape down the sides of the bowl to ensure it’s all getting mixed together. Then add in your salt, maple syrup, and vanilla. After the mixture is good and fluffy** fold in your EL Chips.

*Cocoa powder is measured the same as flour. Spoon it into your measuring cup and then level the cup off. If it is packed in it may result in a different flavor/texture.

**I say fluffy because this isn’t going to look like your boxed brownie mixture. It will look a little bit fluffy and a lot less runny.

My dish is medium in size and the brownies turn out about an inch thick!

Then pour batter into your greased baking dish. For a batter that pours to be about an inch thick you will need to cook on 350 for 30 minutes on {or as close to} the center rack.  When you test for doneness {with a butter knife} be sure to check in a few spots in the center of the brownie. The EL chips tend to melt down and may trick ya if you do your test where a few have gathered together.  

I hope you enjoy this clean, allergy free, and !Oh! so yummy treat for your next cheat day…. Or on the next day ending in “y”. 😉

One more picture just to get your taste buds going!

Enjoy!

-Jennifer

Raspberry Chocolates

Everyone that follows a clean eating lifestyle knows how hard it is to find some decent chocolate! When you look at the first few ingredients of your store-bought chocolate bar {even from a health food store} you are probably thinking …