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These s’mores bars are something else! A buttery graham cracker base followed by a lush layer of chocolate is topped off with toasty marshmallows. These s’mores bars will blow you away with how delicious and addictive they are – all while gluten-free!

gluten-free s'mores bars stacked on top of each other.

What You Need To Make S’mores Bars

Oat Flour – You can either purchase oat flour from the store or easily make it yourself at home. To make oat flour, start by adding 1 and 1/2 cups of rolled oats to a blender or food processor. Then, blend the oats for a few seconds or until ground into a powder. Once ground, you now have oat flour to use in this gluten-free recipe!

Chocolate Chips – Any chocolate chips or even a chopped chocolate bar will work in these s’mores bars. I used the Enjoy Life Mini Chips since they are vegan and nut-free, though you can use any vegan chocolate you’d like. And if you’re not vegan, feel free to use whatever chocolate you have on-hand! (P.S. you should always have chocolate on-hand.)

Marshmallows – I prefer mini marshmallows for simply how cute and satisfying they look all lined up on top of these s’mores bars. However, the standard size marshmallows will work just fine. The key to perfectly toasty and golden brown marshmallows is sticking them under the broiler for about 1 minute. It’s super important you keep an eye on the bars during this final trip in the oven, as the broiler has a tendency to burn things in literal seconds. Therefore, watch your vegan marshmallow-y treats and pull them out once they’ve achieved your desired level of toasty-ness!

close-up overhead image of s'mores bars.

Adjust This Recipe To Your Diet

Don’t Have Oat Flour? If you don’t have oats and/or oat flour, you can replace it with an equal amount of either brown rice flour or all purpose flour in this recipe.

Add Dairy: Use regular melted butter in place of the vegan butter in this recipe.

s'mores bars on a baking sheet with graham crackers on the side.

Tips For Making S’mores Bars

  • Be sure to leave the bars to cool on the baking sheet for at least 15 minutes after you take them out of the oven! These s’mores bars are surprisingly delicate, so leaving them to cool will ensure they stick together when handled.
  • Use a greased knife to quickly and easily slice the bars. To do this, take a sharp knife and either spray it with spray cooking oil or drizzle it with some coconut oil. Once greased, cut into the bars and wipe down the knife between each slice!
  • I highly recommend storing this vegan and gluten-free dessert in the fridge or freezer during the summer months. Due to the butter and chocolate, they are at risk of melting if left to sit out in too high of a temperate. Therefore, to avoid that risk, it’s best to just keep these babies in the fridge to enjoy them at your leisure!
overhead image of s'mores bars.
5 from 3 votes

S’mores Bars (Vegan, Gluten-Free)

These s’mores bars are something else! A buttery graham cracker base followed by a lush layer of chocolate is topped off with toasty marshmallows. These s’mores bars will blow you away with how delicious and addictive they are – all while being vegan and gluten-free!
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 12 bars

Ingredients

  • 1 1/4 cups oat flour, see Notes
  • 1/4 cup tapioca flour, or corn starch
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 cup maple syrup
  • 2 1/2 tablespoons butter, melted (I used vegan butter)
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup chocolate chips
  • 2 cups marshmallows

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350° Fahrenheit.
  • Mix together the oat flour, tapioca flour, and baking powder in a bowl.
  • Add in the maple syrup, melted vegan butter, and vanilla extract, mix everything to combine.
  • Transfer to a lined 9×9 baking sheet, press into an even layer, then bake for 12-15 minutes or until golden brown.
  • Remove from the oven and sprinkle evenly with chocolate chips, then place back into the oven for 1 minute or until chocolate has melted.
  • Remove from the oven once more, spread the chocolate into an even layer, then top with marshmallows. Place in the oven on broil for 1 minute (watch closely to make sure it doesn’t burn!) or until marshmallows are lightly toasted.
  • Let cool in the pan for 15-20 minutes before slicing.

Notes

  • Oat Flour: You can easily make your own oat flour by blending rolled oats in a blender until a powder forms and no large oat chunks remain!
  • Nutrition

    Calories: 300kcal

    More Delicious Vegan and Gluten-Free Desserts

    Fresh, creamy, and irresistibly delicious pineapple ice cream! Made with just two ingredients, and in under 5 minutes. This non-dairy frozen dessert is the BEST healthy summertime treat.

    hand holding a cone of pineapple ice cream

    What You’ll Need To Make Pineapple Ice Cream

    Frozen Pineapple Chunks – Either cut, then freeze a fresh pineapple yourself, or buy already frozen pineapple chunks. For tips on how to cut a pineapple, check out my step-by-step blog post here. But if you’re looking to save some time, buy two bags of frozen pineapple chunks from the frozen aisle at your local grocery store.

    Coconut Milk – Thick and creamy full-fat coconut milk tastes best in this pineapple ice cream! However, you can certainly use a light coconut milk instead, or really any kind of milk you’d like. And if you don’t have milk, use a couple tablespoons of water. The liquid is introduced at the very end of this recipe and should be used sparingly, just until you achieve a thick and creamy consistency.

    Food Processor or High-Speed Blender – While food processors work best to make this non-dairy frozen dessert, a high-speed blender will work as well. I made my pineapple ice cream with this (super cheap!) Hamilton Beach food processor. But I’ve also tried this recipe in my Vitamix, and it worked as well – just required more stopping to scrape down the sides of the blender.

    overhead image of pineapple ice cream in a loaf pan

    Tips and Tricks

    • Start with 1/4 cup of coconut milk, then slowly add in more to blend. The frozen pineapple mixture will start out icy and crumbly, but slowly turn smooth and creamy as more liquid is introduced. It’s important to start small here, as to not risk “watering down” your ice cream!
    • Swirl in some toasted coconut or fresh pineapple chunks! Right after blending, transfer the pineapple ice cream to an airtight container and stir in any mix-ins you’d like. Or, serve this healthy dessert with your favorite ice cream toppings!
    • Depending on how solid you’d like your ice cream, either serve it right away or freeze for a few hours before eating. How solid it is may also depend on how warm it is outside. During the summer months, I certainly have to freeze this for at least an hour before scooping and serving!

    This Pineapple Ice Cream Is…

    2 from 8 votes

    2-Ingredient Pineapple Ice Cream

    Fresh, creamy, and irresistibly delicious pineapple ice cream! Made with just two ingredients, and in under 5 minutes. This pineapple ice cream is the BEST healthy summertime treat.
    Print Rate
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Total Time: 5 minutes
    Servings: 6 servings

    Ingredients

    • 4-5 cups frozen pineapple chunks, about 2 10-ounce bags
    • 1/4-1/2 cup coconut milk

    Instructions

    • Add frozen pineapple chunks to food processor and pulse until crumbly.
    • Slowly add in coconut milk, starting with ¼ cup and adding more as necessary, and pulse until smooth.
    • Either serve immediately, or transfer pineapple ice cream to a parchment-lined loaf pan and freeze for 2-3 hours.
    • To serve, remove from freezer and let sit at room temperature for 5 minutes before scooping and enjoying.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 300kcal

    This arnold palmer recipe is the only one you’ll ever need! A simple lemonade meets a home-brewed iced tea for a beverage that is perfectly light and refreshing. Enjoy an arnold palmer on a hot summer day as a slightly sweet and cooling drink!

    lemonade being poured into a glass of an arnold palmer drink with lemon slices on the side

    Ask me what my favorite non-alcoholic beverage is and I’ll say an arnold palmer every time. I look forward to every summer when the only thing that will refresh and cool me off is one of these half ice tea, half lemonade drinks. While this arnold palmer recipe isn’t limited to just the summertime, it’s just something I’ve associated with very hot days over the years. Let me tell you, the combination of fresh brewed iced tea and a homemade lemonade simply hits different when it’s a billion degrees outside.

    The funny thing is, for the longest time I thought of this drink like it was one of those things I could only order while out to eat. But what I didn’t realize for all those years is how freaking EASY it is to make at home. The lemonade for this arnold palmer recipe consists of just three ingredients (one being water) and the iced tea consists of just two ingredients (again, one being water)! I’m talking like stupid easy, ladies and gentleman. And because it’s me who created the recipe – this drink is refined sugar-free, too.

    What You Need To Make This Arnold Palmer Drink Recipe

    Lemons – Lots and lots of lemons! If you have a lemon juicer, go ahead and whip that baby out for this recipe. In the end, you’ll need an entire cup of lemon juice. Which may sound like a lot, but will actually only end up being about 6 to 8 juicy lemons. My trick for super juicy lemons is to roll them between my palm and the counter before slicing them in half. By rolling them, you’ll soften up the inside making it easier to squeeze as much lemon juice out of them as possible.

    Honey – This natural sweetener is the only sweetener you’ll need for this arnold palmer drink recipe! I love honey for its high dose of antioxidants and strong anti-bacterial properties. It’s also perfectly sweet and makes a delicious addition to this refreshing beverage. If you don’t have honey, you can use either maple syrup or simple syrup instead.

    Black Tea Bags – Any black tea bags will work! I’ve also used green tea instead of black tea and had great results. Brew your own tea by adding the tea bags to water and leaving it to steep in the fridge for at least 8 hours, or preferably overnight. Homemade iced tea couldn’t be easier to make, and is essential to this simple arnold palmer drink recipe!

    Adjust This Recipe To Your Diet

    • Make it Vegan: Substitute maple syrup for the honey to make this a vegan arnold palmer drink recipe.

    Arnold Palmer Drink Recipe (Iced Tea Lemonade)

    4 from 5 votes
    Recipe by Samantha Course: Better Than Takeout, Made Healthy
    Servings

    4

    servings
    Prep time

    30

    minutes
    Cooking time

    40

    minutes
    Calories

    300

    kcal
    Total time

    1

    hour 

    10

    minutes

    This arnold palmer recipe is the only one you’ll ever need! A simple lemonade meets a home-brewed iced tea for a beverage that is perfectly light and refreshing. Enjoy an arnold palmer on a hot summer day as a slightly sweet and cooling drink!

    Ingredients

    • For the lemonade:
    • 1 cup lemon juice (about 6-7 lemons)

    • 1/2 cup honey, see Notes

    • 2 cups cold water

    • For the iced tea:
    • 4 black tea bags

    • 4 cups cold water

    Directions

    • Make the iced tea by placing the tea bags in 4 cups of water then transfer to the fridge to steep for 8-12 hours.
    • Make the lemonade by adding all lemonade ingredients to a large jar or pitcher and stirring until honey dissolves completely.
    • Fill a cup with ice and fill halfway with iced tea, then the rest of the way with lemonade.

    Recipe Video

    Notes

    • Honey: Feel free to use maple syrup or simple syrup in place of the honey in this recipe!

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    Other Low-Sugar Drink Recipes

    This dairy-free clam chowder is irresistibly creamy, without any actual cream! This easy one-pot recipe is loaded with clams and restaurant-quality flavor.

    a bowl of dairy-free clam chowder with a spoon in it

    Clam chowder was one of those dishes that I quit cold-turkey when I went dairy-free. It was by no means easy, but it had to be done. Dairy-free clam chowder simply doesn’t exist on a menu anywhere (at least that I’m aware of). To me, and all my other non-dairy friends out there, I feel sorry for us!

    I grew up in New England, and creamy clam chowders were a major part of my summer diet. Everywhere I went, if clam chowder was on the menu – I was ordering a cup! I was such a big chowder-enthusiast that at one point I participated in a clam chowder contest. I was a taste-tester by the way, as this was looooong before my recipe developer/food blogger days. So I guess, yes, you could say I’m a bit of a clam chowder aficionado of sorts. I don’t mean to brag, but like, you get it. Therefore, I’d say I’m a bit (ok more than a bit *hair flip*) qualified to be providing you with this dairy-free clam chowder recipe today.

    Plenty of clams, chunks of tender potatoes, and a handful of fresh herbs are enveloped in a creamy chowder base. This dairy-free clam chowder tastes incredible with a sprinkling of fresh parsley and crushed gluten-free crackers on top – YUM!

    What You Need To Make Dairy-Free Clam Chowder

    Bacon – Consider this our secret ingredient! Bacon adds the perfect savory, almost smokey flavor to this recipe. You’ll start by crisping up the bacon in your pot. Then, removing the bacon and cooking the rest of the dish in the pot with its delicious rendered fat. You can either enjoy the bacon separately, or crumble it on top of your finished chowder. I personally love the latter and enjoy coming across little pieces of bacon throughout my dairy-free clam chowder.

    Clam Juice – If you’ve never made clam chowder before, you’re probably not familiar with clam juice. I mean, clam chowder is the only reason I’ve ever purchased clam juice in my life. Don’t let the sound of this ingredient fool you, it contributes a subtle briny flavor to this recipe. If you can’t find clam juice, you can use an additional cup of chicken stock instead.

    Canned Clams – These are surprisingly easy to find at most grocery stores! You can use either chopped or whole clams in this chowder. The kind you’d order at a restaurant most often contain chopped clams. However, I think both taste equally as great in this dairy-free clam chowder recipe.

    Adjust This Recipe To Your Diet

    • Make it Paleo: Use arrowroot starch instead of cornstarch for a paleo clam chowder.
    • Make it Whole30: Similar to paleo, use arrowroot starch instead of corn starch and make sure that your dairy-free milk is Whole30 compliant!

    Dairy-Free Clam Chowder

    0 from 0 votes
    Recipe by Samantha Russo Course: MainCuisine: New EnglandDifficulty: Intermediate
    Servings

    6

    servings
    Cooking time

    30

    minutes
    Total time

    30

    minutes

    This dairy-free clam chowder is irresistibly creamy, without any actual cream! This easy one-pot recipe is loaded with clams and restaurant-quality flavor.

    Ingredients

    • 4 slices bacon

    • 2 celery stalks, chopped

    • 1 yellow onion, chopped

    • 1 garlic clove, minced

    • 4 tablespoons corn starch, see Notes

    • 1 cup chicken stock

    • 1 (8 ounce) bottle clam juice

    • 3 yellow potatoes, peeled and cubed

    • 1 sprig fresh thyme, see Notes

    • 1/2 teaspoon salt

    • 1 bay leaf

    • 3 (6.5 ounce) cans whole or chopped clams

    • 1 cup dairy-free milk

    • Fresh chopped parsley, for serving

    Directions

    • Cook bacon in a large pot or dutch oven until crispy, then remove and set aside on a paper towel-lined plate.
    • Add chopped celery and onion to the pot and cook over medium heat until soft, about 5 minutes. Then add in the garlic and cook for just 1 minute.
    • Add in the corn starch and mix until well combined, pour in the chicken stock and clam juice, then add in the potatoes, thyme, salt, and bay leaf. Bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer and cook for 15-20 minutes or until potatoes are easily pierced with a fork.
    • Pour in canned clams (with juice) and dairy-free milk, simmer for 3-5 minutes then taste and adjust seasoning as desired. Served with crumbled bacon and fresh parsley.

    Recipe Video

    Notes

    • Corn Starch: You can use arrowroot starch instead if you’d like.
    • Fresh Thyme: If you don’t have fresh thyme, you can use 1 teaspoon of dried thyme instead.

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    Other Dairy-Free Dinner Recipes

    This cherry cordial is perfectly sweet and slightly sour! Drip this easy and delicious fruit syrup over ice cream or add some to a glass of sparkling water for a refreshing summer treat.

    cherry cordial in a glass with sparkling water, ice, and a fresh cherry

    Never heard of cherry cordial? Well you’re not alone, because neither had I! I’m a BIG fan of cherry season, and I was set on developing a recipe to honor this special time of year. Though I felt like the cherry cobblers, cherry pies, and cherry crumbles have all been sooOooOoOo overdone. So I did a little research for undiscovered cherry recipes and came across the cherry cordial. Now for those of you who don’t know, cherry cordial is a syrup that is most commonly added to sparkling water and served as a refreshing drink. It’s SUPER easy to make, and one of the only cherry recipes that doesn’t require you to painstakingly remove the stems and pits from each and every cherry.

    As I learned more about cherry cordials, I noticed that most are loaded with sugar. And to me, that seemed unnecessary. So I set out to create a recipe that is low in sugar and allows as much of that delicious cherry flavor to shine through as possible! This cherry cordial is perfectly *chef’s kiss* sweet, insanely refreshing, and super easy to make.

    What You Need To Make Cherry Cordial

    Fresh Cherries – Pick up a big bag of whole sweet cherries the next time you’re at the grocery store! Cherry season spans from May through August, giving you plenty of time to enjoy this delicious fruit. I highly advise against using frozen cherries in this recipe as they release too much water when cooked. If you’d like to enjoy this cherry cordial in the winter time, I recommend making the recipe now and freezing it in an airtight container until you’re ready to use it.

    Sugar – Any sugar will work, though I use coconut sugar to make this a tiny bit more nutritious! Coconut sugar is less processed and therefore contains more vitamins and mineral than white sugar. However, white sugar and cane sugar would both taste great in this cherry cordial recipe.

    Fresh Ginger – You’ll just have to trust me on this one! Fresh ginger adds a slightly spicy bite that contrasts with the sweet cherries and takes this cordial to the next level. Feel free to add even more fresh ginger if you’d like!

    Adjust This Recipe To Your Dietary Needs

    • Make it Paleo: Use coconut sugar to make this a paleo cherry cordial!
    • Lemon Substitution: Feel free to use fresh orange juice and zest in place of the lemon juice and zest in this recipe.

    Cherry Cordial

    0 from 0 votes
    Recipe by Samantha Course: Uncategorized
    Servings

    4

    servings
    Prep time

    30

    minutes
    Cooking time

    40

    minutes
    Calories

    300

    kcal
    Total time

    1

    hour 

    10

    minutes

    This cherry cordial is perfectly sweet and slightly sour! Drip this easy and delicious fruit syrup over ice cream or add some to a glass of sparkling water for a refreshing summer treat.

    Ingredients

    • 1 1/2 pounds fresh sweet cherries, see Notes

    • 1 cup sugar, I used coconut sugar

    • 1-inch knob fresh ginger, peeled and sliced

    • 2 teaspoons lemon zest

    • 1/4 cup lemon juice

    Directions

    • Add all ingredients to a large saucepan over medium-low heat. Bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer for 20-25 minutes.
    • Strain cherry syrup through a fine mesh strainer, let cool at room temperature before storing in the fridge to cool completely.
    • Pour a few tablespoons into the bottom of a glass then fill with ice and top with sparkling water.

    Recipe Video

    Notes

    • Cherries: No need to remove the pits or stems from your cherries before using them in this recipe! Simply gives them a good rinse them add them to your saucepan.

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    Other Summertime Recipes You’ll Love