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The healthiest raw cookie dough you’ll ever eat, made from chickpeas! Lightly sweetened with maple syrup, and loaded with extra chocolate chips. This chickpea cookie dough is vegan, gluten-free, super healthy, and totally delicious.

overhead image of scoops of chickpea cookie dough with extra chocolate chips

What You’ll Need To Make Chickpea Cookie Dough

Chickpeas – An entire can of chickpeas is the base to this healthy cookie dough recipe! Drain and rinse your chickpeas well before adding them to the blender. And for a smoother cookie dough, remove the skins off your chickpeas.

Nut or Seed Butter – I used almond butter, but any nut or seed butter will work in this recipe. Peanut butter, cashew butter, or even sunflower seed butter! Though whichever nut/seed butter you use, make sure it’s unsweetened.

Maple Syrup – This unrefined sweetener add sweetness, but keeps this vegan dessert recipe extra healthy. Though if you’d like, you can use honey, agave nectar, or even date syrup instead.

chickpea cookie dough inside a cookie scoop

Tips and Tricks

  • This chickpea cookie dough is high in plant-based protein! However, if you’d like to add even more protein, throw in a scoop of your favorite vanilla plant-based protein powder. I recommend the Aloha Vanilla Protein Powder, it’s not too sweet and won’t throw off the flavor of this healthy dessert recipe.
  • Enjoy it however you’d like! By the spoonful, over ice cream, as breakfast, a snack, or dessert.
  • Taste and adjust the flavor of this edible cookie dough however you’d like. For more sweetness, add in a touch more maple syrup. Or, for a thicker consistency, blend in an extra tablespoons of almond flour.
chickpea cookie dough in a jar with a spoon

Adjust This Recipe To Your Dietary Needs

Make it Nut-Free: For a nut-free version of this chickpea cookie dough, replace the almond flour with 3 tablespoons of coconut flour, and use sunflower seed butter.

Make it Sugar-Free: For an entirely sugar-free healthy dessert, use your favorite sugar-free liquid sweetener in place of the maple syrup. Also, replace the chocolate chips with cacao nibs!

Chickpea Cookie Dough

0 from 0 votes
Recipe by Samantha Course: Snacks, DessertDifficulty: Easy
Servings

4

servings
Prep time

5

minutes
Cooking time

0

minutes
Total time

5

minutes

The healthiest raw cookie dough you’ll ever eat, made from chickpeas! Lightly sweetened with maple syrup, and loaded with extra chocolate chips. This chickpea cookie dough is vegan, gluten-free, super healthy, and totally delicious.

Ingredients

  • 1 (15-ounce) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed

  • 1/4 cup nut or seed butter, I used almond butter

  • 1/4 cup almond flour, see Notes for nut-free option

  • 3 tablespoons maple syrup

  • 1 tablespoon non-dairy milk, unsweetened

  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

  • pinch of salt

  • 1/4 cup chocolate chips

Directions

  • Add all ingredients except chocolate chips to a food processor or high-speed blender, then pulse until super smooth.
  • Fold in chocolate chips and enjoy!

Recipe Video

Notes

  • Make it Nut-Free: Replace the almond flour with 3 tablespoons of coconut flour.

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Perfectly creamy and extra “cheesy” vegan spinach and artichoke dip! Perfect for entertaining, bring this easy vegan recipe to your next party or potluck. A handful of simple ingredients, a blender, a baking dish, and 30 minutes is all you’ll need!

Overhead image of vegan spinach artichoke dip in a skillet with chips on the side.

What You’ll Need To Make This Vegan Spinach Artichoke Dip

Cashews – Raw and unsalted cashews are the base of this hearty plant-based dip. You’ll start by soaking them in boiling for water for about 10 minutes, this’ll soften them and help them blend. I love using cashews in this recipe for not only their buttery flavor, but for how nutritionally dense they are! This vegan spinach artichoke dip is so much healthier than the classic kind, and higher in protein.

Nutritional Yeast – I know what you’re thinking …nutritional what? Just hear me out. Nutritional yeast is a totally natural, plant-based ingredient with a nutty, “cheesy” flavor. I use and love this Bragg’s Nutritional Yeast for all of my savory vegan recipes. It’s surprisingly versatile and tastes delicious sprinkled over popcorn, pasta, potatoes, and in this recipe. Though if you’re not vegan and/or have no interest in getting yourself some nutritional yeast (you’re missing out), you can easily replace the two tablespoons of nutritional yeast with two tablespoons of powdered parmesan cheese.

Lemon Juice – A touch of lemon juice mimics the tanginess found in most dairy products. And because this vegan spinach artichoke dip is completely dairy-free, the lemon juice is necessary. Though if you don’t have any fresh lemon juice on-hand, you can use a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar or white wine vinegar instead.

Artichoke Hearts – Arguably the best part, one whole can of drained artichoke hearts give this side dish its signature hearty texture. They key here is using a can of artichokes packed in water, not oil!

A tortilla chip being dipped into vegan spinach artichoke dip.

Tips and Tricks

  • This vegan spinach artichoke dip tastes best straight out of the oven! When making for guests, I recommend blending and prepping this dish ahead of time, then popping it in the oven right before your guests arrive. This’ll guarantee the dip is bubbling hot, and tastes its best for friends and family.
  • Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to one week. To reheat, you can either microwave on high for 45 seconds, or bake at 425° Fahrenheit for 5-10 minutes.
  • Serve this plant-based dip however you’d like! I enjoyed mine with a side of crispy corn tortilla chips. Though you can even serve it with a side of fresh veggies for a super healthy, vegan snack.

Adjust This Recipe To Your Dietary Needs

Make it Nut-Free: For a nut-free version of this recipe, use raw and unsalted sunflower seeds in place of the cashews!

Add Cheese: If not vegan or dairy-free, go ahead and top this spinach artichoke dip off with some shredded parmesan and/or mozzarella right before baking.

Vegan Spinach Artichoke Dip

0 from 0 votes
Recipe by Samantha Course: SidesDifficulty: Easy
Servings

10

servings
Prep time

5

minutes
Cooking time

20

minutes
Total time

25

minutes

Perfectly creamy and extra “cheesy” vegan spinach and artichoke dip! Perfect for entertaining, bring this easy vegan recipe to your next party or potluck. A handful of simple ingredients, a blender, a baking dish, and 30 minutes is all you’ll need!

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups raw cashews, unsalted

  • 1 1/2 cups unsweetened non-dairy milk, I used almond milk

  • 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast

  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice

  • 2 teaspoons garlic powder

  • 1 teaspoon onion powder

  • 1 teaspoon salt

  • 1 (14-ounce) can artichoke hearts, drained

  • 4 cups fresh spinach, or 2 cups frozen spinach

Directions

  • Preheat oven to 425° Fahrenheit.
  • Soak cashews in a heat-safe bowl with boiling water for 5-10 minutes, then drain.
  • Add soaked and drained cashews to blender along with the non-dairy milk, nutritional yeast, lemon juice, garlic powder, onion powder, and salt. Blend until super smooth and no lumps remains.
  • Add drained artichoke hearts and fresh or frozen spinach to blender and pulse 2-3 times to finely chop the veggies.
  • Transfer to an oven-safe dish or skillet and bake for 20 minutes, or until lightly golden brown and bubbly.

Recipe Video

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Soft and fluffy oat flour pancakes, with a hint of sweetness! This quick and easy breakfast recipe is entirely gluten-free and dairy-free. Whip up a stack of delicious oat flour pancakes in the blender, with a handful of simple ingredients!

a stack of oat flour pancakes with maple syrup being poured on top

What You’ll Need To Make Oat Flour Pancakes

Rolled Oats – Rolled oats are key to making this recipe work! They blend and cook up beautifully in our pancake batter. Some recipes out there will recommend blending your oats into a flour before adding in the other ingredients. However, I found that adding the whole oats directly in with everything else made no difference in the finished dish, and cut out an extra step! Feel free to use either old fashioned rolled oats or quick cook rolled oats, both will work here.

Milk – I used non-dairy milk to keep these oat flour pancakes gluten-free and dairy-free, though you can use any milk you’d like. Some non-dairy milks I recommend are almond milk, hazelnut milk, coconut milk, and oat milk. I’ve also been loving the Elmhurst’s line of plant-based milks – super simple and healthy ingredients!

Maple Syrup – This unrefined sweetener tastes incredible not only on our pancakes, but inside them too! For a sugar-free breakfast, you can easily leave the maple out of this recipe, or substitute it with half a tablespoon of monk fruit sweetener.

a stack of oat flour pancakes with fresh blueberries on top.

Optional Toppings

Feel free to top your oat flour pancakes with…

  • Chocolate Chips
  • Blueberries
  • Sliced Bananas
  • Sliced Strawberries
  • Sprinkles
  • Raspberries
  • Pecans
  • Butter
  • Maple Syrup
  • or Whipped Cream!

Adjust This Recipe To Your Dietary Needs

Make it Dairy-Free: Use my dairy-free option and sub the regular milk for your favorite non-dairy milk, it’s that easy!

Make it Vegan: Turn these into vegan and gluten-free oat flour pancakes by replacing the egg with a flax egg. To make a flax egg, whisk together 1 tablespoon of ground flax seed and 3 tablespoons of water in a small bowl. Let the flax “egg” sit at room temperature for 10-15 minutes, until it’s thickened, before adding into this recipe.

Oat Flour Pancakes

4 from 19 votes
Recipe by Samantha Course: BreakfastDifficulty: Easy
Servings

2

servings
Prep time

5

minutes
Cooking time

10

minutes
Total time

15

minutes

Soft and fluffy oat flour pancakes, with a hint of sweetness! This quick and easy breakfast recipe is entirely gluten-free and dairy-free. Whip up a stack of delicious oat flour pancakes in the blender, with a handful of simple ingredients!

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups rolled oats

  • 2 teaspoons baking powder

  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

  • 1 cup milk, I used almond milk

  • 2 tablespoons maple syrup

  • 1 egg

Directions

  • Add all ingredients to a blender and blend until a smooth batter forms (about 30 seconds).
  • Heat a tablespoon of butter or oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Scoop ¼ cup of batter into skillet and add any toppings you’d like.
  • Cook pancake 2-3 minutes per side, then repeat with remaining pancake batter. Serve warm with butter and maple syrup.

Recipe Video

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The quickest and easiest way to make your own green juice in a blender – no juicer necessary! A refreshing blend of green veggies, a touch of ginger, and a hint of green apple make this homemade juice not only palatable, but actually delicious. No fancy equipment or juicer is needed for this simple and super healthy recipe!

green blender juice being poured into a glass, garnished with a lemon slice

What You’ll Need For This Recipe

Blender – I used my for this green juice recipe. It’s certainly an investment, but my gosh is it powerful! The is a total work horse and if you ask me, worth EVERY penny. I even purchased mine “reconditioned,” which is just a fancy way of saying “used,” and it’s so far lasted me four years and three moves! However, if you don’t have a Vitamix and don’t feel like investing in one at the moment (I get it), you can simply use whatever blender you have. And if your blender isn’t large enough to fit all the fruit and veggies at once, simply split the recipe up into two batches.

Nut Milk Bag or Fine Mesh Strainer – I purchased my very inexpensive nut milk strainer bag off Amazon 5+ years ago. If you don’t own a nut milk bag, you have two options. You can either buy one, which happens to be my recommended option, since it’s also an important tool in my dairy-free coffee creamer recipe! Or, you can use a fine mesh metal strainer instead. Though beware, a metal strainer won’t catch nearly as much pulp as a nut milk bag will, resulting in a grainier green juice.

Fresh Vegetables – Any and all fresh vegetables are welcome to this green blender juice party! The specific ones we use are cucumber, celery, kale, fresh ginger, lemon, and some green apple for a hint of sweetness. I highly recommend purchasing organic produce for this recipe, since there’s no cooking involved to kill off any gnarly chemicals. Also, since everything’s being blended together – simply give the vegetables a couple quick chops, nothing too precise.

Top Tips

  • Store the fresh fruits and vegetables in the fridge before making your juice. This’ll ensure it blends up extra cold and refreshing! Warm green juice is OK, but definitely not nearly as enjoyable as cold green juice.

  • Get innovative with the pulp from your green blender juice! Add it to smoothies, popsicles, or I’ve even seen people use it in baked goods. It’s always a goal of mine to be as low-waste as possible in the kitchen, so if all else fails, I’ll simply add my leftover pulp to the compost pile.

  • Any fresh, homemade juice is best enjoyed immediately after making! This is when the most vitamins and minerals are available, leading to more nutrients to fuel your body and leave you feeling amazing. However, you can store any leftover green juice in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two days.

Other Tasty Additions

Feel free to add or substitute your favorite fruits or veggies, such as:

  • Carrots
  • Beets
  • Oranges
  • Pineapple
  • Lime Juice
  • Strawberries
  • Blueberries
  • Pears
  • Turmeric

Green Blender Juice (How to Make Juice Without a Juicer)

0 from 0 votes
Recipe by Samantha Course: DrinksDifficulty: Easy
Servings

2

servings
Prep time

5

minutes
Total time

10

minutes

The quickest and easiest way to make your own green juice in a blender – no juicer necessary! A refreshing blend of green veggies, a touch of ginger, and a hint of green apple make this homemade juice not only palatable, but actually delicious. No fancy equipment or juicer is needed for this simple and super healthy recipe!

Ingredients

  • 1 large cucumber, chopped

  • 1 bunch celery, chopped

  • 2 green apples, chopped

  • 1 bunch kale, chopped

  • 1-inch piece ginger, peeled

  • 1 lemon, juiced

  • 1 cup water

Directions

  • Add all ingredients to blender and blend until smooth.
  • Place a nut milk bag or fine mesh strainer over a large bowl and pour juice through bag or strainer. Squeeze out as much juice as possible and discard pulp.
  • Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days.

Recipe Video

Notes

  • No need to remove any seeds or stems from your fresh fruits and vegetables! Simply run a knife through everything, making it just small enough to blend.

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More Super Healthy Recipes to Feel Your Best

This avocado crema is tangy, creamy, and delicious! Whip this naturally vegan recipe together for friends and family with just five super simple ingredients.

We love a good guac around here. And while yes, guac is pretty easy to make, this avocado crema is even easier! It requires just five easy-to-acquire ingredients and is blended together in a few minutes. Before I forget, I must mention my most FAVORITE thing about this simple recipe. You know how when you make guacamole it pretty quickly turns brown? Well friends. this avocado crema stays bright green for hours! The lime juice gives this recipe a delightfully tangy flavor and helps to preserve the color of this dish. I just love throwing this easy dip recipe together when friends or family come over. Not only does everyone go crazy for it, but it looks delicious and appetizing until it’s all gone!

What You Need To Make Avocado Crema

Avocados – Use perfectly ripe avocados in this recipe. To know when an avocado is ripe, gently but firmly press on the outside. If the avocado gives a little without feeling too mushy, then you know it’s ripe and ready to eat! However, if the avocado feels hard, place it in a plastic bag with a bunch of bananas to help it ripen quickly (typically in a day or two).

Lime Juice – If you love a ton of lime in your guac, you’re gonna go insane for this avocado crema recipe! Loaded with fresh lime juice, it’s incredibly zesty and bright. However, feel free to adjust the amount of lime juice to your preferences. And while fresh lime juice is always best, bottled lime juice will work in this recipe as well.

Garlic – If you’re anything like me, you add garlic to literally everything. A single garlic clove contributes a bit of spice and an essence of that delicious garlic flavor to this simple dip recipe. If you’d like, you can add even more garlic to this recipe or leave it out altogether!

Adjust This Recipe To Your Diet

  • Add Dairy: If you’re not dairy-free, you can add 1/2 cup sour cream to make this avocado crema even creamier!
  • Sub Cilantro: I know a handful of you are averse to cilantro, therefore you can easily swap the cilantro in this recipe for some fresh parsley instead.

Ways To Enjoy This Avocado Crema

  • with chips
  • in tacos
  • in burritos
  • over chicken
  • in salad
  • …or by the spoonful!

Avocado Crema

0 from 0 votes
Recipe by Samantha Russo Course: SidesCuisine: MexicanDifficulty: Easy
Servings

4

servings
Total time

5

minutes

This avocado crema is tangy, creamy, and delicious! Whip this naturally vegan recipe together for friends and family with just five super simple ingredients.

Ingredients

  • 4-5 medium-sized ripe avocados

  • 3 tablespoons lime juice

  • 1/4 cup cilantro

  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

  • 1 garlic clove

Directions

  • Add all ingredients to a blender or food processor and blend until smooth.

Recipe Video

Notes

  • Store any leftover avocado crema in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days.

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Other Super Easy 5 Ingredient Recipes