Getting your fill of sweets isn’t always easy when your diet doesn’t allow you to consume any gluten or animal-based products. It can be a real challenge to bake something without the use of flour or eggs.
Luckily, we’ve come across this amazing vegan AND gluten-free almond butter fudge recipe. It’s got all the goods to satisfy your sweet tooth and provide your body with some essential nutrients at the same time.
Benefits of going gluten-free
Gluten is a protein found in grains, such as wheat, rye, barley and some oats. For some, such as those with a gluten-intolerance or celiac disease, not consuming these foods is crucial for maintaining their health. While these people don’t have a choice but to steer clear of gluten, others are making the choice to eliminate gluten from their diets.
No matter what your reason is for going gluten-free, there are many health benefits to adopting this lifestyle:
- Less bloating
- Increases energy levels
- Better absorption of nutrients
- Better metabolism
- Improves your digestive health
Foods like bread are high in carbs and can increase your blood sugar level. Eliminating gluten-filled foods from your diet can improve your mind and your body.
Health benefits of coconut oil
Coconut oil is one of the main ingredients in this recipe, and for good reason too. This natural oil has much to offer your health.
Firstly, coconut oil is primarily composed of medium-chain fatty acids, which your body converts into energy rather than storing as fat. In this way, you’re able to burn more calories, thus coconut oil helps with weight loss.
Coconut oil has also been found to prevent heart disease. This is seen in South Pacific populations for whom coconut is a dietary staple. These people are in great health and have not been known to experience cardiovascular problems of any kind.
Furthermore, coconut oil can protect you from contracting infections. One of the main substances found in coconut oil is Lauric acid, which has anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-viral properties.
Inspired by this recipe from thehonoursystem.com.
Maple Almond Fudge
A little elegant marbling brings this uber-easy no-bake treat to new heights. Just drizzling some melted dark chocolate and dragging a toothpick through it creates the marbled effect. In addition, indulgences like this one are full of healthy fats that don’t actually make you fat!
Fudge
- 1 cup almond butter
- ¼ cup of coconut oil
- 1.5 tbsp. maple syrup
- ? tsp sea salt
Marbled Top
- ¼ cup dark chocolate chips
- 1 tsp coconut oil
- In a small saucepan, over medium-low heat, melt together the fudge ingredients (almond butter, coconut oil, maple syrup, salt) until smooth. Pour into a parchment lined 9×9 dish.
- Melt the chocolate chips and coconut oil together over low heat on the stove.
- Drizzle the melted chocolate over the fudge and use a toothpick to make the marbled effect by dragging and swirling the toothpick through the chocolate.
- Freeze for an hour.
- Cut into 16 squares and store in the freezer. *will melt at room temp*
