Vegan Candy Cane Ice Cream & Chocolate Cookie Pie

Just wanted to pop in this week with a festive, wintery dessert recipe.

I probably should have posted this last week, but you know, things happen.  So today will have to do!

vegan candy cane ice cream & chocolate cookie pie | edibleperspective.com
vegan candy cane ice cream & chocolate cookie pie | edibleperspective.com

The good news is this dessert will be welcomed all winter long.  And it’s a 2-for-1!

Make one, make the other, make both.

vegan candy cane ice cream & chocolate cookie pie | edibleperspective.com
vegan candy cane ice cream & chocolate cookie pie | edibleperspective.com

I highly recommend both.

vegan candy cane ice cream & chocolate cookie pie | edibleperspective.com
vegan candy cane ice cream & chocolate cookie pie | edibleperspective.com

Whatever it is you’re doing this week.

Whether you’re celebrating or not celebrating.

No matter if you’re with family or friends or taking some time to yourself.

vegan candy cane ice cream & chocolate cookie pie | edibleperspective.com
vegan candy cane ice cream & chocolate cookie pie | edibleperspective.com

I hope you get just that.  Time.

Time to relax, even if only for a few hours.

vegan candy cane ice cream & chocolate cookie pie | edibleperspective.com
vegan candy cane ice cream & chocolate cookie pie | edibleperspective.com

Time to do something you enjoy.

Reading.  Cooking.  Hiking.  Movie watching.  Playing.  Writing.  Walking.  Yoga-ing.  Couch sitting.

vegan candy cane ice cream & chocolate cookie pie | edibleperspective.com
vegan candy cane ice cream & chocolate cookie pie | edibleperspective.com
vegan candy cane ice cream & chocolate cookie pie | edibleperspective.com
vegan candy cane ice cream & chocolate cookie pie | edibleperspective.com
vegan candy cane ice cream & chocolate cookie pie | edibleperspective.com
vegan candy cane ice cream & chocolate cookie pie | edibleperspective.com

Print this!

adapted from: my single-serving deep dish vegan oatmeal chocolate chip cookie

Vegan Candy Cane Ice Cream & Chocolate Oatmeal Cookie Pie

gluten-free, vegan // yields 8 servings

for the ice cream:

  • 2, 14oz cans full fat coconut milk
  • 1/3 cup coconut nectar, or brown rice syrup
  • 3 tablespoons pure cane sugar
  • 1 tablespoon arrowroot starch
  • 1 tablespoon vodka
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
  • 1 large candy cane, crushed
  • melted vegan chocolate, optional topping

for the chocolate oatmeal cookie pie:

  • 1 cup gluten-free rolled oats
  • 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1/4 cup almond meal
  • 1/4 cup muscovado sugar, or brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons gluten-free oat flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 3 1/2 tablespoons coconut nectar, or brown rice syrup
  • 3 1/2 tablespoons unrefined coconut oil, softened
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1/3 cup vegan chocolate chips

for the ice cream:

Scrape contents of both coconut milk cans into a large pot over medium heat.  Set aside 2-3 tablespoons of the coconut milk liquid in a small bowl.  Pour the coconut nectar and sugar into the pot and whisk until smooth.  Whisk the arrowroot starch into the reserved coconut liquid until dissolved.  Pour starch mixture into the pot and whisk to combined.  Bring to a boil whisking occasionally, and let boil for about 1 1/2 minutes.  Remove from heat and whisk in the vodka, vanilla, and peppermint extract.

Prepare an ice bath by placing ice in a large metal/ceramic bowl filled about 1/3 of the way and then add about 1 cup of water.  Nest a slightly smaller bowl in the larger bowl making sure the water won’t come up over the edge.  Pour the ice cream mixture into the top bowl and let sit for about 1 hour until fully chilled.  Whisk occasionally to speed up the process and add more ice to the bottom bowl if needed.  Or, pour ice cream mixture into a metal or ceramic bowl and refrigerate until fully chilled.

Once chilled pour into your ice cream maker and follow manufacturer’s instructions.  Mine spins for about 20 minutes.  When it starts to thicken [about halfway done] pour in 1/3 cup crushed candy cane pieces and allow mixture to finish spinning.

Scrape contents into an 8x4 loaf pan or other container, sprinkle with crushed candy cane, and place plastic wrap directly on top of the ice cream.  Allow to freeze for 4 hours before serving.  For a soft serve texture freeze for 1 hour.  Drizzle with melted chocolate [1/2 cup chocolate chips + 1 teaspoon coconut oil] if desired before serving.

for the cookie pie:

Preheat your oven to 350* F and grease a 9-inch pie pan with coconut oil.  Grind oats in a food processor, coffee grinder, etc. until about 1/2-way to flour.  Mix dry ingredients together in a large bowl.  In another bowl mash/mix together the coconut nectar, coconut oil, and vanilla [mixture will be thick and sticky] with a fork.

Scrape the wet mixture into the dry and mix with your hands for 1-2 minutes until it starts to form a dough and the dry mixture is fully incorporated.  Place the dough in the pie pan and evenly press into the bottom and around the sides of the pan, coming up about 1-inch.

Place in the oven for 10-14 minutes.  Pour chocolate chips over the top as soon as it’s removed from the oven.  Let fully cool before slicing with a sharp knife.  Cookie will firm but remain chewy once cooled.

Top with ice cream and serve.

notes: The arrowroot starch help the coconut milk ice cream to maintain a creamy, less icy texture.  The vodka [cannot detect the flavor] helps the ice cream stay slightly softer when freezing.  The coconut nectar is extremely thick and can be replaced with brown rice syrup, but I’m not sure of the result using agave nectar.

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You know what your thing is.  Now get to it.  And spread some love while you’re at it.

Happy-merry-healthy-everything to you all!

xo

Ashley

messy, delicious no-bake lasagna

Last week when my mom was in town it took until night 5 before I actually made dinner at home.  And it took until day 6 before my mom ever even saw a glimpse of the mountains.  Hangs head...  But, my mom's main reason for this trip was to help us get settled in our house and she did just that.  While I didn't get to make dinner every night and we didn't actually make it to the mountains, I still relished in the time that my mom was here, focusing on what we did instead of what we didn't do.

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We ran what felt like 237 errands throughout the week.  I was ready to drop but she was ready for more.  She cleaned, organized, consolidated, brainstormed, and gave me loads of that calming-mom-goodness she's full of.  Where does it all come from?

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I'm not quite sure how she does it.  I'm also not quite sure how I got so lucky.  

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So, on that fifth night we finally took a break from the house and dining out and I whipped up a big batch of tofu-ricotta lasagna.  I started with my red sauce, prepped the tofu, layered the lasagna, and set it off to bake.  Dinner may have been served an hour later than I was hoping but there were no complaints.  In fact, there were hardly any words.

Too.busy.chewing.

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While I absolutely love the end result of lasagna it can turn into quite the time commitment, which is where this recipe comes into play.  This actually came about the following day during lunch.  I had a few un-sauced noodles left that wouldn't fit in the lasagna pan, a pint-sized jar of leftover sauce, and a few dollops of tofu ricotta.  I decided to just throw everything in a pan and heat it up.

It was then plopped into a bowl and inhaled.  

No need to bake.  No need to layer.  No need to dirty a million dishes.  Just throw it in a pot, stir together, top with ricotta + fresh mozz or tofu-ricotta and scarf.

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The lasagna noodles are just so doughy + delicious.  And, I allowed time for the sauce to thicken up just like it does when you bake lasagna.

Lasagna on the quick. 

Totally digging it.

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Print this!

No-Bake Spinach Lasagna

gluten-free, vegan option // yields 4-6 servings

  • 1, 10oz box lasagna noodles, gluten-free if needed - my favorite
  • 4 cups prepared red sauce
  • 1 large bunch spinach, washed + stem ends discarded
  • 12-15oz, ricotta
  • 4-8oz, fresh mozzarella, sliced
  • salt, pepper, fresh basil
  1. Cook the lasagna noodles according to package instructions.  
  2. Drain and rinse with cold water.
  3. Heat red sauce in the emptied noodle pot over medium heat.  If using a thin sauce let it cook for awhile allowing to thicken.
  4. Once it starts to simmer reduce heat to med-low and add the spinach.  Stir frequently for 2-3 minutes until the spinach starts to cook down.
  5. Add in the noodles and gently fold/stir until the mixture is hot and simmering.
  6. While cooking, drizzle a pan with oil and gently heat your ricotta or tofu-ricotta over med-low heat, until just heated through.  Remove from heat.
  7. Pour about 1/3 of the pasta mixture in a large serving bowl and top with dollops of ricotta and slices of mozzarella.  No need to spread the ricotta.  
  8. Repeat step 7 twice more and top with a sprinkle of salt, pepper, and sliced basil.  Serve immediately.
  9. For individual portions:  Preheat your oven to broil.  Fill 4-6, small baking dishes with the lasagna mixture.  Top with a few dollops of ricotta and mozzarella.  Place under the broiler until bubbly and starting to brown, about 3-5 minutes.  Watch closely.  Top with salt, pepper, and basil and serve.

notes/substitutions: For a vegan version make this tofu ricotta filling and omit the mozzarella cheese.  I used bunched spinach that you find in the produce area by lettuce.  If using baby spinach sub about 8 cups/handfuls.  This red wine + rosemary variation on my red sauce is perfect for fall and winter.  Or, try these other pasta dishes: spaghetti squash stuffed shellscreamy marinara and kale pasta, vegan.

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And while you definitely don't need to bake this meal...

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It's totally acceptable to portion out separate servings, top with ricotta + mozz, then broil until bubbly + browned.

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I owe you mom [and dad!].  At least 100 million more homecooked meals.  Although, that still won't be near enough.

Ashley