Foodie Face Off: Round 3

Sugar & (all)spice & everything nice.

It’s beginning to taste a lot like Christmas with these healthy holiday recipes. This week’s round of the #FoodieFaceOff Challenge is kickstarting our holiday party-themed ingredients for the month of December. Our goal is to challenge you to step outside of your comfort zone and whip up some seriously tasty eats that you can bring to your office holiday party, serve to friends and family on Christmas, or—my favorite way to enjoy holiday treats—shovel down on the couch while watching Elf in your flannel pajamas. So, instead of running to the bakery to cater your Christmas needs, try one of these recipes this holiday season! And if you don’t end up making these…don’t say we didn’t help you.

3 Must-Use Ingredients

1. Dates

2. Sweet Potato

3. Allspice

Time’s Up, Chefs!

Cinnamon Allspice Bagel & Caramel Date Sauce (V + GF)

@_sammibrooke

Use This:

Bagels-

• 1 cup GF flour (I used Bob’s Redmill All-Purpose GF Flour)

• 1/2 cup steamed & pureed/mashed sweet potato (I used a white sweet potato)

• 1/2 cup vanilla nut milk (I used Elmhurst Almond Milk)

• 2 Tbs coconut sugar

• 2 Tbs nut or seed butter (I used Wild Friends Maple Sunflower Butter)

• 1/4 tsp baking powder

• Cinnamon to taste

• Allspice to taste

Caramel Date Sauce-

• 15 pitted medjool dates

• 1 tsp vanilla protein powder (optional)

• 1/3 cup vanilla nut milk (I used Elmhurst Almond Milk)

Do This:

Bagels-

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

2. Steam your sweet potato (if you’re not using sweet potato puree from a can). Once done steaming, peel the skin and mash until smooth and creamy.

3. In a large bowl, combine all dry ingredients. Pour in the almond milk and mix well.

4. Fold in the sweet potato and nut/seed butter. Mix until fully combined and formed into a thick dough.

5. Set aside in the fridge to firm for 10 minutes and go make that date sauce.

6. After 10 minutes, scoop into a greased donut pan. Bake for 20-25 minutes (depending upon consistency preference).

Caramel Date Sauce-

1. Remove pits from dates.

2. Place all ingredients in a high-speed blender. Stop & scrape (you know the drill) until the sauce is smooth and creamy.

3. If you’d like a runnier sauce, add more liquid.

4. Spread that shit on your bagel and FEAST.

No Bake Vegan Sweet Potato Pie

@jaymee_caplan

Use This:

Crust-

• 5 dates (soaked 4 hours minimum)

• 1 & 1/2 cup pecans 

• 1/4 cup unsweetened shredded coconut 

• 3 tablespoons ground flaxseed

• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 1/2 teaspoon allspice

• 1/4 teaspoon salt

• 3 tablespoons filtered water

Filling-

• 3 cups cashews (soaked 4 hours minimum)

• 1/2 cup coconut oil

• 1/2 cup pitted dates (soaked 4 hours minimum)

• 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice 

• 3/4 cup pure maple syrup

• 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar 

• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract 

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 2 teaspoons cinnamon

• 1 teaspoon nutmeg 

• 1/2 teaspoon cloves

• 1/2 teaspoon ginger 

• 4 small sweet potatoes (steamed, peeled & mashed)

Do This:

1. To assemble the crust, add all ingredients to a food processor until well combined.

2. On a springform pan, lay parchment paper. Creating a circle that mirrors the size of the man. Press crust evenly onto the pan and place in the fridge.

3. For the filling, process cashews, dates, coconut oil, lemon juice maple syrup, apple cider vinegar, vanilla extract, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and ginger in a high powered blender. Once it’s combined, add mashed sweet potato to the mixture and blend again (this will be very thick! Keep an eye on your blender. You don’t want it to overheat!)

4. Remove crust from refrigerator and pour filling over the crust.

5. Freeze for 6 hours.

6. Toppings are optional, but I added the following: melted coconut butter, brown sugar & shaved almonds.