VEGAN CARAMEL CINNAMON BUNS WITH COCONUT SHREDS

VEGAN CARAMEL CINNAMON BUNS WITH COCONUT SHREDS

Three words. OH MY GOD. If you haven't had vegan caramel yet you will not believe your taste buds when you try some of this! 100% vegan and gluten free. Its so easy to make with just 4 simple ingredients.  The hardest part is getting the right consistency.  As long as you stir it constantly and keep it at the right temperature, you cant fail. This will be your new favourite recipe to complete all your vegan treats. If you cook it an extra 5 minutes you can make vegan caramel squares! As long as you have some shallow square molds. Now enough about my caramel.  Its time to talk cinnamon buns! I LOVE cinnamon buns. Pastries and coffee is actually one of my top 5 favourite things in the world. Ever. So I dont mess around when I make cinnamon buns. These are PERFECT. Better than any regular cinnamon bun I've ever had. Its light, fluffy, chewy and moist. Not too sweet so the caramel is the perfect finish. If you're a fan of cinnamon buns, you've got to try these! You'll never go out to buy some store made cinnamon buns. You can satisfy you and your friends cravings with this simple, cheap and easy recipe! Enjoy!

Recipe

makes 10

2 1/2 cups flour

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon salt

3 tablespoons sugar

1 cup almond fresh coconut milk

4 tablespoons earth balance melted

1 package instant yeast

1/3 cup of raisins soaked in warm water

Filling

1/4 cup earth balance

3 tablespoons sugar

1 tablespoon wholesome sweeteners raw blue agave syrup

2 teaspoons cinnamon

Handful of organic shredded coconut

Caramel

1 can coconut cream chilled 4 hours then drained of water

1 cup sugar

1 tablespoon earth balance

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Steps

Preheat oven to 350F.

Melt 4 tablespoons of earth balance on low heat and combine 1 cup of almond milk. Stir in sugar and salt and remove from heat once everything is well combined.  Pour into a large bowl. Let it cool down. It has to be lukewarm because you're adding your yeast to this mixture and if its too hot you'll kill the yeast. Once lukewarm sprinkle your yeast over top of the milk mixture and allow to stand for 10 minutes. Stir your yeast in and begin to sprinkle in your flour a 1/2 cup at a time. Stirring constantly while adding. Add your cinnamon and raisins and begin to knead your dough with your hands once all the flour is added. Continue to knead for 5 minutes. Rinse and dry your mixing bowl then pour a small amount of oil in tr bottom. Rub it all over the bowl then place your dough inside. Cover with a cloth and allow to rise for 1 hour.

This leaves the perfect opportunity to make the caramel!  To make the caramel

you need to have a can of coconut milk in the fridge for at least 4 hours. Next take your chilled coconut milk out of the fridge and get a strainer place the strainer over a bowl and poke a couple holes through the top of the milk with a knife. Place the can in the strainer with the open side down and let the excess water drain out. There shouldn't be too much. Scoop out all of the coconut cream and place it in a frying pan. Turn it on to med-low heat (between 4 and 5 on your stove). Allow the cream to start melting then sprinkle your sugar, butter and vanilla on top. Stirring until everything is well combined.  Once your mixture begins to bubble allow it to get to a steady boil, not allowing it to boil over. Remove from heat for a minute if it keeps boiling over. Stirring it almost constantly, allow it to cook for 20 minutes. Pour into a bowl and allow to thicken.

This will keep well in the fridge for up to a month you just need to reheat it if you're going to drizzle it over something.

Once your dough has risen for an hour it should be about double in size. Knead it for about 10 minutes then roll it out on a lightly floured surface. 

Melt 1/4 cup earth balance and combine it with your sugar, cinnamon and agave syrup. Spread your butter mixture on your rolled out dough, sprinkle your coconut shreds on top. Save some of your mixture for the top of the cinnamon buns. Begin to roll your dough with the longest side closest to you, pinching tightly while you roll it. Once the whole thing is rolled pinch the open edge with your fingers to seal it. 

Cut off 2 inch sections of the roll and place in an oiled glass baking pan. Repeat until finished. Spread the rest of  your butter mixture on top. Bake for 25 minutes.

Allow to cool for 15 minutes then drizzle your caramel on top. Cut into even squares and serve!

VEGAN GARBANZO ( CHICKPEA ) FLOUR CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

This recipe might seem a little bit weird at first but once yu take a bite you will regret not trying it sooner. Garbanzo bean flour is a great gluten free alternative for cookies. Its much healthier than eating regular ol' flour.  Its fun to experiment with different flours as well! Baking and cooking is all about trying new things and finding out what taste good together. The texture of these cookies are absolutely perfect though. By far one of the best I made. The chickpea flour makes them so soft and chewy. It makes for perfect cookies. I think it would work awesome for brownies too. Ill try that next. This recipe would be easy to make gluten free,  just substitute the whole wheat flour for any other gluten free flour. You could try and use just garbanzo bean flour but it is very soft and absorbs liquids easily leaving the consistency fairly sticky. I do advise using either gluten free whole wheat or unbleached white flour. I definitely will be posting more baked goods with garbanzo bean flour.  I love how veganism gets more interesting and fun!

Hope you love making my

Vegan garbanzo (chickpea) flour chocolate chip cookies

Recipe

Makes 350F
1 cup bob red mills Garbanzo(chickpea) bean flour
1 1/4 cup organic whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons agave syrup
1/4 cup shredded coconut
1/2 cup enjoy life vegan chocolate mega chunks
1/4 cup earth balance butter, melted
1/2 cup turbinado sugar
1 banana, mashed
4 tablespoons spoons organic coconut milk

Steps

Preheat your oven to 350 F. Combine ingredients, flour to chocolate chips in a large mixing bowl. Stir together well with a fork,  making sure there is no clumps in your dry mix. In a medium sized bowl mix your melted earth balance and sugar. Mash 1 banana in a measuring cup and add 4 tablespoons of organic coconut milk. Mix together well and add it to your butter and sugar. Mix together well. Create a well in the middle of your dry mix and add your wet mix. Stir everything together with a large spoon for 5 minutes. If your mix is still too sticky you can add tablespoons of flour one at a time.  Once your cookie dough is ready you can rub earth balance on your cookie sheet for baking. Scoop out one large spoon of cookie dough and place it on the pan. 

They should be about an inch and a half across in size. Flatten out your cookies with a fork so its relatively flat. Repeat that until your cookie dough is finished.  I made 15! Bake for 10-12 minutes.  Let cool for 10 minutes before serving.  Enjoy your healthy dessert!