Ella Mills recently launched her fourth and most comprehensive vegan cookbook, The Plant-Based Cookbook. Like her last three, the recipes are beautifully crafted and mainly gluten-free. These peanut butter slices are no delicious exception!
If you love chocolate-y desserts that are satisfying, healthy, and also delicious, don’t miss out on these date and nut seed truffles!
Ella started with a small blog hoping to share some of her creations with others who might be struggling with health issues. Her readers have highly appreciated the fact that she has been so open about her health struggles and her focus on positivity and living life to the fullest is very contagious. She has managed to create an honest and beautiful brand in such a short period with three new products launching at the end of January. Plus, she has her own deli located in the beautiful London area Mayfair. So drop by if you’re visiting or passing by!
As a side note: This has been the fastest-selling vegan cookbook of all time! So maybe this is enough reason to try these beautiful Peanut Butter Slices!
In my house, dessert is a must! My kids are continually chanting for it after a meal, so having quick, healthy options inside my fridge is something I strive for. Raw sweets have the reputation of being “fancy” or “too healthy,” but I love them because they don’t require any baking or very unusual ingredients (and you can always swap the ones you’re missing).
Peanut butter is another necessity! I’m sure this is not only the case in my household but applies to most of you. It’s full of protein and it keeps my little boys full with enough energy to get through their active day. After I pick them up from school, they are always ravenous, but it’s usually too early for dinner, so nutrient-rich snacks are a good way to push through.
There’s a whole world of nut spreads out there, and they are all full of nutrients. Peanut butter is a classic we adore but have you tried almond butter? It’s so smooth and slightly sweet, hence it’s perfect for a dessert like this. Cashew butter is another favorite because it’s a bit more neutral. You can use it for many different recipes.
When it comes to peanut butter, try and find one that has the least ingredients. Peanuts and sea salt is best. It’s a great way to get some healthy fats in and consume a little less butter.
These slices do call for cacao butter, which can be hard to find, and is, to be honest, not much of a staple. So you can easily replace it by melting dark chocolate chips and using it as the top layer.
One funny-sounding ingredient shouldn’t turn you off, and you can always swap it for what you have. In the case you want to add something to make it more of a show-off dessert, you could always serve it with this delicious Coconut Whipped Cream.
Raw can be a bit more tricky if you have a nut allergy, so you could try and swap the nuts used for the base for oats and dates instead. Mix equal parts of both in a food processor, and you’ll have a delicious raw crust for a pie or a slice. Aso, instead of using nut spread you can give sunflower seed butter (or “sunbutter”) a try and see how you like it.
So, next time you come across a raw dessert recipe don’t feel intimidated! You’ll only need a food processor and a few trips to your fridge or pantry. They are an excellent alternative for healthy cold snacks and can also serve as amazing, crowd-pleasing desserts for your dinner parties.
If you find it easier to watch step-by-step, we leave you with this recipe video!
Movie night, anyone? Queue up one of these life-changing documentaries to watch as you enjoy this recipe. Every film on the list is a must-see, truly.
Recipes are extracted from Deliciously Ella The Plant-Based Cookbook by Ella Mills, published by Hodder & Stoughton. Photographs by Nassima Rothacker © Hodder & Stoughton.
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My sons will definitely enjoy this one and will sneak in more vegan friendly foods !
These squares are a chocoholic and peanut lover dream! They are so rich and yummy!
Yum! These were toooo good! I am going to make them every week now 🙂
Omg – chocolate heaven! I’m primarily a raw vegan and there are very few recipes for tasty vegan chocolate. These dessert slices are amazing! Peanut butter and chocolate are the most marvelous mix and I could literally eat these every day (but, I won’t so I can be healthy…lol). Although there seems to be a bunch of steps, it’s actually pretty easy once you do it. Taking that first bite is worth every minute you put into making them. SOO good.
Is there anything Deliciously Ella CAN’T do?!?!? NOM.
This recipe looks amazing! My best friend is going to go to town when I make this for her!! I love how date-heavy it is and the combo of ingredients are a perfect match!
Chocolate and peanut butter is a timeless, luscious combination and this recipe is absolutely divine! I especially love the oat and date crust on this 🙂