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30 Minutes or Less

Sunset Spritz Mocktail Recipe

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sunset spritz mocktail in a glass with fresh blueberries and pineapple on top.

Light and refreshing sunset spritz mocktail! Fresh blueberries and pineapples, with a hint of lime, and plenty of bubbles. This sunset spritz mocktail is so tasty, you won’t even miss the alcohol!

club soda being poured into a sunset spritz mocktail.

This mocktail is a recreation of one I enjoyed daily on my babymoon. No longer able to order an alcoholic beverage, I worked my way through the pool bar’s cocktail menu for a refreshing drink that’d still taste good without the alcohol. One day, I came across the “sunset spritz” and all ingredients sounded DELICIOUS. So I immediately ordered one …without the vodka. And OMG it was delicious! From there on out, the sunset spritz mocktail became my daily afternoon drink order. While best enjoyed poolside, I took the idea home with me and immediately recreated it. Now I can enjoy a fun, bubbly drink during happy hour (or really any hour!) that’s pregnancy-safe and oh-so good!

close-up image of sunset spritz mocktail with fresh bleuberries and pineapple on top.

What You’ll Need to Make a Sunset Spritz Mocktail

Fresh Blueberries and Pineapple – The fresh fruit in this recipe really puts it over the top! It makes this mocktail recipe feel fancy, without actually requiring a whole lot of effort. And if you don’t have fresh fruit, you can thaw frozen blueberries and pineapples instead for your drink.

Lime Juice – A touch of citrus perfectly balances the sweetness in this drink. The original recipe I enjoyed on my babymoon actually uses fresh lemon juice, but when I tried it at home I thought lime juice tasted just a little bit better. However, if you don’t have/like lime juice, feel free to use lemon instead!

Agave Nectar – I always keep a bottle of agave nectar in my bar cart for cocktail recipes! It’s a natural sweetener, and perfect replacement to simple syrup. I use agave nectar in many of my cocktail recipes, like this skinny strawberry margarita, and my Mom’s famous lime daiquiris!

Club Soda – A little bit of bubbles will make your sunset spritz mocktail taste like an actual cocktail! Put as much or as little club soda in your drink as you’d like. I personally prefer a super light and refreshing mocktail, so I fill my glass all the way to the top with unflavored club soda.

sunset spritz mocktail in a glass with fresh blueberries and pineapple on top.

Add Alcohol

  • Turn this mocktail recipe into a cocktail recipe with the addition of 1 ounce of vodka! I look forward to giving this a try post-pregnancy.
Sunset Spritz Mocktail Recipe
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Sunset Spritz Mocktail Recipe

5 from 2 votes
Recipe by Samantha Course: DrinksDifficulty: Easy
Servings

1

drink
Prep time

3

minutes
Cooking time

0

minutes
Total time

3

minutes

Light and refreshing sunset spritz mocktail! Fresh blueberries and pineapples, with a hint of lime, and plenty of bubbles. This sunset spritz mocktail is so tasty, you won’t even miss the alcohol!

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup fresh blueberries

  • 4-5 pineapple chunks

  • 1 ounce lime juice

  • 1 ounce agave nectar

  • club soda

Directions

  • Add the fresh blueberries and pineapple chunks to a glass, then muddle until fruit is broken down.
  • Add in lime juice and agave nectar, then stir to combine.
  • Fill glass with ice, then top with club soda.

Recipe Video

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30 Minutes or Less

Spring Mix Salad with Blueberries, Almonds, Feta, and Honey Vinaigrette

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Close-up overhead image of spring mix salad in a bowl.

Fresh and seasonal spring mix salad with blueberries, almonds, feta cheese, and a simple honey vinaigrette! The perfect warm-weather lunch or side dish, loaded with healthy ingredients.

Overhead image of spring mix salad in a bowl with water on the side.

What You’ll Need To Make Spring Mix Salad

Spring Mix Lettuce – Spring mix is a simple assortment of dark leafy greens. Each brand makes theirs a little differently, but every batch of spring mix is flavorful and super healthy. If you can’t find any spring mix, you can certainly turn this into a spinach salad instead, with 5 ounces of fresh baby spinach.

Sliced Almonds – Every salad needs a little crunch! I love buttery, lightly toasted sliced almonds in my spring mix salad. However, if you don’t have any almonds, any chopped nut will go great in this recipe. Or for a nut-free version, add in some roasted sunflower seeds instead!

Feta Cheese – Some salty feta cheese takes this spring mix salad over the top! Add as much to your salad as your heart desires. Or, if you don’t have any feta, a nice soft goat cheese also tastes great here. And for a vegan or dairy-free option, simply leave the cheese out of the salad – still super tasty!

Honey – A touch of honey balances out the otherwise extremely savory vinaigrette. With plenty of balsamic vinegar, the vinaigrette needs a little sweetness to help mellow it out. And for a vegan version, replace the honey with two tablespoons of maple syrup.

Honey vinaigrette being poured over spring mix salad.

Tips and Tricks

  • Dress the salad right before serving! Avoid storing this salad already dressed, since the vinaigrette will cause the spring mix to wilt. So if prepping ahead of time, keep the honey vinaigrette on the side until ready to eat.
  • Have fun with this healthy salad recipe! This simple lunch or side dish is a great way to use up any fresh veggies or berries you might have on-hand. Strawberries taste delicious in place of the blueberries, and a yellow onion can be subbed in for the red onion.

Add Protein

For a heartier meal, add any of the following:

Spring Mix Salad with Blueberries, Almonds, Feta Cheese, and Honey Vinaigrette
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Spring Mix Salad with Blueberries, Almonds, Feta Cheese, and Honey Vinaigrette

5 from 1 vote
Recipe by Samantha Course: Sides, LunchDifficulty: Easy
Servings

6

side servings
Prep time

5

minutes
Cooking time

0

minutes
Total time

5

minutes

Fresh and seasonal spring mix salad with blueberries, almonds, feta, and a simple honey vinaigrette! The perfect warm-weather lunch or side dish, loaded with healthy ingredients.

Ingredients

  • 1 5-ounce package spring mix lettuce

  • 1 cup fresh blueberries

  • 1/2 English cucumber, chopped

  • 1/2 red onion, chopped

  • 1/2 cup sliced almonds

  • 1/4 cup feta cheese or goat cheese

  • For the honey vinaigrette:

  • 1/4 cup olive oil

  • 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

  • 2 tablespoons honey

  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Directions

  • Assemble all salad ingredients in a large bowl.
  • Make the dressing by adding all ingredients to a jar with a lid, secure the lid then shake until combined. Drizzle over spring mix salad and enjoy!

Recipe Video

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30 Minutes or Less

Berry Breakfast Crisp (for one!)

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close-up image of berry breakfast crisp.

This berry breakfast crisp tastes so indulgent, it might as well be dessert! But don’t worry, it’s entirely gluten-free, dairy-free, and refined sugar-free. It’s super healthy with plenty of plant-based protein and fiber which will leave you feeling full until your next meal!

overhead image of berry breakfast crisp with coconut yogurt on top.

What You’ll Need To Make Berry Breakfast Crisp

Fresh Berries – Use any kind(s) of fresh berries you’d like! I used a combo of fresh strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries – and OMG they were delicious. However, you can totally use whatever berry’s in season, or whatever you have on-hand. You could even use frozen berries if you’d like, just keep in mind they’ll yield more liquid once baked, resulting in a watery filling.

Rolled Oats – It’s super important you use rolled oats, instead of whole or steel cut oats. Rolled oats are flattened then toasted, and bake up beautifully in this berry breakfast crisp.

Almond Flour – Either almond flour or almond meal will work in this gluten-free breakfast recipe. I use and love the Bob’s Red Mill Almond Flour, as well as Anthony’s Almond Flour. And if you’re interested in other almond flour breakfast recipes, check out my almond flour pancakes or almond flour banana bread – both are incredible!

Coconut Oil – A tablespoon of solid coconut oil gives the crumble atop this berry breakfast crisp its crumbly texture. If your coconut oil is liquid at room temperature (this happens when the weather’s warm), then simply place it in the fridge or freezer for 5-10 minutes before using. Also, if you don’t have any coconut oil, you can use a tablespoon of cold butter or ghee instead.

close-up image of berry breakfast crisp with coconut yogurt on top.

Tips and Tricks

  • Remember, this recipe makes a single serving. Therefore, you’ll want to double, triple, or even quadruple the recipe when baking for others!
  • Finish off this berry breakfast crisp with a scoop of vanilla yogurt! I topped mine with a dollop of Cocojune’s unsweetened coconut yogurt and it was perfectly creamy and delicious. Though if you’re eating this for dessert, feel free to top it off with a scoop of vegan vanilla ice cream instead – YUM!
  • You can easily prep this healthy breakfast recipe the night before if you’d like. To do this, assemble the berries and crumble, then cover and refrigerate overnight. Then, in the morning, bake it off as instructed and enjoy a warm berry crisp for breakfast!

Adjust This Recipe To Your Dietary Needs

Make it Paleo: For a paleo crisp, replace the rolled oats with finely chopped nuts and/or coconut flakes!

Make it Nut-Free: To make this a nut-free breakfast recipe, replace the almond flour with one tablespoon of brown rice flour or all purpose flour.

Berry Breakfast Crisp (for one!)

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

1

servings
Prep time

5

minutes
Cooking time

15

minutes
Total time

20

minutes

This berry breakfast crisp tastes so indulgent, it might as well be dessert! But don’t worry, it’s entirely gluten-free, dairy-free, and refined sugar-free. It’s super healthy with plenty of plant-based protein and fiber which will leave you feeling full until your next meal!

Ingredients

  • For the berries:

  • 1 cup fresh berries (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, etc)

  • 1 teaspoon maple syrup

  • 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

  • For the crumble:

  • 1/4 cup rolled oats

  • 2 tablespoons almond flour or meal

  • pinch of salt

  • 1 tablespoon coconut oil, solid

  • 1 tablespoon maple syrup

Directions

  • Preheat oven to 350° Fahrenheit.
  • Add all berry ingredients to a bowl and toss to evenly coat, then transfer into small oven-safe dish.
  • Mix all crumble ingredients together in same bowl as the berries, then sprinkle over top of the berries.
  • Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until lightly golden brown and bubbly. Serve warm with additional maple syrup and/or a scoop of vanilla yogurt.

Recipe Video

Notes

  • Make this an apple breakfast crisp by replacing the fresh berries with fresh sliced apples!

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30 Minutes or Less

Perfect Almond Flour Pancakes

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stacked almond flour pancakes with blueberries, butter, and powdered sugar on top

These almond flour pancakes are extra fluffy, delicious, and super easy to make! One bowl, a handful of ingredients, and 15 minutes is all you need to throw this simple gluten-free breakfast together. These almond flour pancakes are also the perfect blank canvas to any toppings you’d like (I went with blueberries – yum!).

stacked almond flour pancakes with blueberries, butter, and powdered sugar on top

What You’ll Need

Almond Flour – The star of our show – almond flour! It’s naturally gluten-free, grain-free, and paleo friendly. Almond flour is actually the only flour you’ll need for this healthy breakfast recipe. The most common misconception when it comes to almond flour is that it can be used as a 1:1 substitution for regular all purpose flour. However, that’s definitely not the case! Almond flour is much more dense and creates a heavier bake than regular flour. Though in this recipe we lighten the pancakes up with two whole eggs and a touch of milk.

Eggs – Eggs are crucial to keeping these almond flour pancakes held together! They are our binding agent, and without them the pancakes would simply fall apart. I highly recommend using large or extra large eggs for this recipe, though really any size will work.

Coconut Oil or Butter – Whether you’re using a non-stick pan or not, a touch or butter or oil is very useful to prevent sticking. For a non-stick pan, you may be able to get away with using less oil or butter than the recipe calls for. But for either a stainless steel or cast-iron pan, you’ll need the full tablespoon. And if you ever begin to notice sticking throughout the cooking process, then go ahead and add a bit more butter or oil to your pan!

How to Make Almond Flour Pancakes

Making homemade almond flour pancakes is super easy! Start by adding the almond flour and baking powder to a large bowl. Whisk those dry ingredients together before adding in the eggs, milk, maple syrup, and vanilla extract. Once your pancake batter is completely combined, then you can add in any fillings/toppings you’d like – fresh blueberries and chocolate chips are my personal favorite!

Now that your batter is all prepped, heat a tablespoon of either butter, coconut oil, or any other neutral-tasting oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Once hot, scoop about 1/4 cup of batter into the skillet. The batter will disperse out and form that signature circular pancake shape.

Cook each pancake in the skillet for about 3-5 minutes, or until the bottom is nicely golden brown. Then, use a spatula to carefully flip the pancake and cook the other side. Repeat this cooking process with your remaining better then serve your almond flour pancakes! I recommend finishing them off with a dusting of powdered sugar and a drizzle of maple syrup.

Adjust This Recipe to Your Dietary Needs

Make it Vegan – Make this a vegan almond flour pancake recipe by substituting the two eggs for one flax egg (1 tablespoon of ground flax meal + 3 tablespoons water) and one mashed banana. The flax egg and banana will work together to bind your pancakes and prevent them from falling apart. Also, use your favorite vegan milk in place of the regular milk this recipe calls for.

Make it Dairy-Free – To make this a dairy-free breakfast, simply use almond milk or your favorite non-dairy milk in place of the regular milk in this recipe. Also, be sure to use coconut oil for cooking, instead of butter.

Perfect Almond Flour Pancakes
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Perfect Almond Flour Pancakes

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

2

servings
Prep time

5

minutes
Cooking time

10

minutes
Total time

15

minutes

These almond flour pancakes are extra fluffy, delicious, and super easy to make! One bowl, a handful of ingredients, and 15 minutes is all you need to throw this simple gluten-free breakfast together. These almond flour pancakes are also the perfect blank canvas to any toppings you’d like (I went with blueberries – yum!).

Ingredients

  • 1 cup almond flour, see Notes

  • 1 teaspoon baking powder

  • 2 eggs

  • 1/4 cup milk, I used non-dairy milk

  • 1 tablespoon maple syrup

  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

  • 1 tablespoon coconut oil or butter

Directions

  • Whisk together the almond flour and baking powder in a large bowl.
  • Add in eggs, milk, maple syrup, and vanilla extract, whisk to combine.
  • Melt coconut oil or butter in a large skillet over medium low-medium heat and spoon ¼ cup batter into skillet.
  • Cook pancakes for 2-3 minutes per side or until edges are slightly golden brown. Repeat until no more batter remains.

Recipe Video

Notes

  • Almond Flour: Be sure to use blanched almond flour, not almond meal in this recipe.

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Breakfast

Mini Vegan Berry Shortcakes (Grain-Free)

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mini vegan berry shortcakes arranged on a cake stand

These mini vegan berry shortcakes are as cute as they are delicious! A few simple ingredients come together to create a soft shortcake base, which is then topped off with homemade coconut whipped cream. A sprinkling of fresh berries is the finishing touch to this easy and adorable dessert!

close-up image of mini vegan berry shortcakes

These Mini Vegan Berry Shortcakes Are…

  • Soft
  • Crumbly
  • Perfectly Sweet
  • Grain-Free
  • Fresh
  • Summery
  • & a total crowd-pleaser!

What You Need To Make Mini Vegan Berry Shortcakes

Almond Flour – This gluten and grain-free flour is a staple in my kitchen. Almond flour has a very mild taste and gives these shortcakes their irresistibly soft and crumbly texture! While almond flour used to be difficult to locate, you can easily find it either online or in most grocery stores these days.

Coconut Flour – This particular ingredient is vital to the construction of these mini vegan berry shortcakes. Coconut flour holds together these tiny treats, in the absence of eggs. It is very important that you do not skip or replace this it with any other type of flour (unless noted in the flour substitutions section below).

Coconut Cream – If you’re looking to make the vegan coconut whipped cream yourself, you’re going to need a can of coconut cream! I highly recommend the tiny cans of Native Forest Coconut Cream which can be found at Whole Foods. However, if you can’t find that particular brand then pick up any can of coconut cream and use just the solid coconut cream at the top of the can in this recipe. This step will ensure your cream whips up beautifully light and fluffy!

Adjust This Recipe To Your Dietary Needs

Make it Nut-Free: I have not tested this myself, but I can imagine that equal parts oat flour would work in place of the almond flour in this recipe. If you give this a try, let me know how it turns out! 🙂

Flour Substitutions: I get asked a lot if all purpose flour can be subbed in my gluten-free recipes and for this one in particular, you can try using 1 1/2 cups of all purpose flour in place of the almond and coconut flour. Though keep in mind that I have also not tested this myself and therefore cannot attest to its success! If you opt for all purpose flour in these mini vegan berry shortcakes, start with just one cup and the remaining half cup (or maybe even more flour) until a dough forms.

Mini Vegan Berry Shortcakes (Grain-Free)
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Mini Vegan Berry Shortcakes (Grain-Free)

0 from 0 votes
Recipe by Samantha Russo Course: DessertDifficulty: Easy
Servings

24

mini shortcakes
Prep time

30

minutes
Cooking time

15

minutes
Total time

45

minutes

These mini vegan berry shortcakes are as cute as they are delicious! A few simple ingredients come together to create a soft shortcake base, which is then topped off with homemade coconut whipped cream. A sprinkling of fresh berries is the finishing touch to this easy and adorable dessert!

Ingredients

  • For the vegan shortcakes:

  • 1/2 cup dairy-free butter, softened

  • 1/2 cup maple syrup

  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

  • 2 cups almond flour

  • 1/4 cup coconut flour

  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

  • For the coconut whipped cream:

  • 1 (13.5 ounce) can coconut cream

  • 1/4 – 1/2 cup powdered sugar

  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

  • For topping:

  • fresh berries

Directions

  • Preheat oven to 350° Fahrenheit and lightly grease a mini muffin pan.
  • Beat together the dairy-free butter and maple syrup, then add in the vanilla extract and mix until combined.
  • In a separate bowl, combine the almond flour, coconut flour, and baking soda.
  • Add the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and mix until combined, then cover and let chill in the fridge for 20 minutes.
  • Scoop two tablespoons of dough into each mini muffin mold and press down then up the sides to form a cup shape.
  • Bake for 12-15 minutes, then let cookies cool in pan for 15 minutes before transferring to a wire cooling rack to cool completely.
  • While cookies cool, remove the top later of solid coconut cream from the can and discard any liquid. Beat coconut cream along with powdered sugar and vanilla extract until light and fluffy.
  • Top each mini shortcake with whipped cream and fresh berries – enjoy!

Recipe Video

Notes

  • Store these mini vegan berry shortcakes in an airtight container in either the fridge or freezer!

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Other Delicious Vegan Dessert Recipes

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