Peppermint Mocha Roll Ups

Peppermint Mocha Roll Ups - A healthy and seasonal take on the classic fried cheesecake. Made with just FIVE ingredients that are rolled in the Christmas spirit! They are gluten-free, dairy-free, naturally low in sugar, and paleo-friendly (without candy cane!)

If you find seasonal drinks like Starbucks peppermint mocha or homemade hot cocoa with a peppermint stick intriguing during the holidays then look no further! 

I have found a way where you can relive these amazing childhood memories without the sugar crash or tummy woes! 

These roll ups are reminiscent of fried cheesecake sans refined sugar, traditional flour, rancid oils, and dairy - all with a seasonal twist! Made with only five natural ingredients, using avocado oil spray instead of deep frying, and using healthier sugar-laden swaps.

Now, these are peppermint mocha themed using peppermint extract, cacao powder, and instant coffee as the main ingredients but if you would like to switch out the flavor profile, feel free! For example, if you are caffeine sensitive, omit instant coffee. 

If you would like to see how these are made, head over to my IG reels

Click here

And if you are a major peppermint fan, here is my favorite recipe that will cure that fresh tooth ;)! 

If you try this recipe, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag a photo to #fromtherootsblog on Instagram. We love seeing what you come up with! 

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Peppermint Mocha Roll Ups - A healthy and seasonal take on the classic fried cheesecake. Made with just FIVE ingredients that are rolled in the Christmas spirit! They are gluten-free, dairy-free, naturally low in sugar, and paleo-friendly (without candy cane!)

Ingredients 

To make one roll up

• 1 cassava flour tortilla (or allergy/sensitivity tortilla of choice)

• 2 Tbsp Lactose-Free Plain Yogurt 

• 1 tsp pure maple syrup

• 1 tsp cacao powder

• ¼ tsp instant coffee

• A drop of organic peppermint extract

• Avocado oil spray

Cacao Sugar Mixture

• Cacao powder

• Organic Cane Sugar (or maple/coconut sugar if Paleo)

Toppings

• ¼ cup dark chocolate chips

• 1 tsp coconut oil

• Vegan white chocolate bar (omit if Paleo)

• Organic Candy cane (omit if Paleo)

• Fresh mint leaves

Directions

1. In a small bowl, mix together yogurt, syrup, cacao powder, coffee, and peppermint extract until fully incorporated. 

2. Place the filling mixture in the center of a tortilla and spread crosswise to form a long line of filling. For each roll-up, roll the side closest to you up over filling. 

3. In a skillet, heat avocado oil to medium-high heat. Place roll ups in hot oil and fry on one side for 30-60 seconds. Turn roll ups until all sides are golden brown. Remove from the skillet and immediately sprinkle with the cacao-sugar mixture. 

4. Set on a plate. Continue doing these steps if making more than one roll up. 

5. For toppings, heat dark chocolate chips with coconut oil in the microwave or on the stovetop until melted. Drizzle chocolate mixture over roll ups. If not paleo, add chopped white chocolate bark pieces and crushed candy cane. Garnish with fresh mint and serve immediately!

Notes

• Here are the ingredients I used for this recipe: Siete foods cassava flour tortilla, Chosen foods avocado oil spray, Siggi’s lactose-free plain yogurt, Flavororganics organic peppermint extract, Navitas organic cacao powder, Enjoy Life dark chocolate chips, Pascha organic vegan white chocolate bar, YumEarth organic candy cane
  

• Using these ingredients,  the nutrition facts for 1 roll up (sans toppings) is 128 calories (3g fat; 19g carb; 5g protein; 6g sugars). 

Cinnamon Apple Streusel Muffins

Cinnamon Apple Streusel Muffins - Bursting with fall flavors, these moist gluten-free muffins are filled with apples and cinnamon and topped with a delicious crunchy streusel. You won’t believe they are naturally lower in sugar, dairy-free, and healthy for you! 

Like most of the recipes I develop, they are inspired by my morning dreams. Well, the dreams I have upon waking up and hitting the snooze button! Mainly because I am starving by the time I wake up but that’s another story! 

The story behind these bad boys was that I wanted to create a lazy version of apple pie. Afterall, apple pie should only be eaten if it’s homemade and preferably made from a grandmother. But if you are strapped for time and there’s not a grandma in sight, well, sometimes you just have to think outside the box. 

And that’s just what I did. These apple cinnamon streusel muffins are basically apple pies but a muffin version. Some of my taste testers actually preferred mini apple pie muffins as the name because they taste just like that! 

What I also didn’t tell them is that these muffins are naturally lower in sugar and oil, gluten-free, dairy-free, paleo friendly, keto friendly, and use clean, real ingredients. After telling them what the ingredients were, they truly couldn’t believe it wasn’t an old fashioned muffin that you would get at a bakery! 

So if you are wanting to trick your family and friends into eating healthy things, then try this! Haha. Not only is it fun to make a traditional baked good healthy, but these muffins are actually fun to make in general. 

As illustrated in the picture, pour batter about halfway in the muffin liner followed by the “apple pie filling”, another layer of batter and top with the streusel mixture! If you are wanting to really elevate the dish and don’t mind the added sugar, then I created a maple cinnamon glaze to drizzle just before serving. These muffins are practically my new favorite! 

If you try this recipe, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag a photo to #fromtherootsblog on Instagram. We love seeing what you come up with! 

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Cinnamon Apple Streusel Muffins - Bursting with fall flavors, these moist gluten-free muffins are filled with apples and cinnamon and topped with a delicious crunchy streusel. You won’t believe they are naturally lower in sugar, dairy-free, and healthy for you!

Ingredients

• ¼ cup + 3 Tbsp cassava flour

• ¼ cup GF oat flour

• ¼ tsp baking powder

• Pinch salt

• ⅓ cup dairy free yogurt

• 3 large eggs

• 3 Tbsp avocado oil

• 2 Tbsp honey

• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract

Filling

• 1 honeycrisp apple (chopped)

• 1 Tbsp organic light brown sugar (optional)

• 2 tsp grass fed butter

• 1 tsp cinnamon

• Pinch of salt

Streusel

• ¼ cup GF all purpose flour or paleo/cassava flour

• 2 Tbsp gluten free oats

• 1 Tbsp coconut sugar or light brown sugar

• 1 Tbsp softened ghee or coconut oil/grass fed butter

• 1 Tbsp sliced almonds 

• ¼ tsp cinnamon

Drizzle

• ¼ cup organic powdered sugar

• 2 tsp pure maple syrup

• ¼ tsp pure vanilla extract

• 1-2 tsp unsweetened almond milk (optional)

• Dash of cinnamon

Yields 6 muffins

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a 6-cup muffin tin with paper liners or lightly grease with avocado oil spray. Set aside. 

2. In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the flours, baking powder and salt. Set aside.

3. In a separate mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs and honey until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Then add the oil, yogurt, vanilla and mix until combined. 

4. Add the liquid mixture into the flour mixture until combined. The batter should be pourable but not too runny. If it’s a little runny, add more cassava flour. Set aside.

5. In a small skillet, melt butter on medium heat. When the butter is starting to bubble, add chopped apples and sauté until apple pieces are soft, about 5 minutes. Add the brown sugar, cinnamon, and dash of salt and mix until fully combined and the sugar has fully melted over the apple pieces. Turn off heat immediately and set aside. 

6. For the cinnamon streusel topping: mash together the softened ghee and sugar until combined. stir in the flour, oats, almonds, and cinnamon, then use your fingers to form thick crumbs. Set aside.

7. Use a cookie scooper or ¼ measuring cup to divide the batter between the prepared muffin cups. Pour batter about halfway, top with about 1 Tbsp of the apple cinnamon mixture, another scoop of the batter until ¾ to the top full and then finish with the streusel mix. 

8. Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes until the muffin tops are golden and the toothpick inserted into the muffin comes out clean. Remove from the oven and allow the muffins to cool for a few minutes in the muffin tin before transferring to a cooling rack. 

9. While the muffins are cooling, whisk together the powdered sugar, syrup, vanilla, and cinnamon. If drizzle is too thick, slowly add 1 tsp of milk to the mixture.

10.  Drizzle glaze over the warm muffins and enjoy! 

Notes 

• If you are wanting to make this recipe lower in sugar, I put (optional) in the filling section. For example, if you are using a sweeter apple like a honeycrisp, then the brown sugar isn’t imperative. Also, you can completely omit the drizzle part and the muffins will still be deliciously sweet!

Paleo Hasselback Sweet Potatoes

Hasselback Sweet Potatoes - Melt in your mouth, sop of buttery sweetness; you can’t tell it’s actually healthy for you! Paleo, dairy-free and gluten-free.

As someone who doesn’t eat gluten, sweet potatoes are one of my favorite carbohydrate sources. They are great after a hard workout when you need to replenish glycogen stores and nutritionally, are among the best sources of vitamin A along with riboflavin, thiamin, and carotenoids due to their naturally orange color.

Sweet potatoes nutrition versatility mirrors its versatility in our diet. They can be eaten any time during the day - paired well with most dishes from a poached egg for breakfast to adding coconut butter and cacao powder for dessert.

For this dish, it’s great for the holidays, as a side dish for dinner or implemented into lunch meal prep rotations!

As a tip, for the best Hasselback sweet potatoes, you’ll need to make deep incisions using a very sharp chef’s knife. Another thing I found was that if you place chopsticks on each side of the sweet potato and cut, it will make the best cut without going all the way through!

I would like to thank Bako Sweet for gifting me with these amazing organic California grown sweet potatoes! For more information regarding nutrition, products, and sourcing, check this link!

Now without further ado, let’s get to the recipe!

If you try this recipe, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag a photo to #fromtherootsblog on Instagram. We love seeing what you come up with!

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Hasselback Sweet Potatoes - Melt in your mouth, sop of buttery sweetness; you can’t tell it’s actually healthy for you! Paleo, dairy-free and gluten-free.

Ingredients 

• 4 Sweet potatoes

• 4 slices bacon (cooked and crumbled)

• ¼ cup raw pecans

• 2 Tbsp pure maple syrup 

• 1 Tbsp coconut sugar

• 1 Tbsp grass-fed butter

• 1 tsp ground cinnamon

• Avocado oil cooking spray

• Pink Himalayan sea salt

Directions 

1. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Line a sheet pan with foil, then coat the foil with cooking spray or simply use a silicone non-stick baking liner. 

2. Place a potato on a cutting board between two chopsticks or two wooden spoons. Using a sharp chef’s knife, slice the potato into ¼ inch thick slices. (The chopsticks will prevent you from slicing all the way through the potato)

3. Repeat the process with the remaining potatoes. Plate the potatoes on the sheet pan. Spray potatoes with avocado oil spray and sprinkle sea salt. 

4. Bake for 50-60 minutes until potatoes are tender, browned and tops are crispy. 

5. While the potatoes are cooking, melt butter in a small skillet on medium heat. Chop the pecans and add to the melted butter. 

6. Stir for about 2-5 minutes until you get a nutty aroma. Add coconut sugar and maple syrup and stir. 

7. As soon as the mixture starts to bubble, immediately add cinnamon to the mixture and take off the burner. Mix thoroughly until the mixture is thick but liquidy. May need to add tbsp water if the mixture is too thick. *Make sure the sugar doesn’t burn! This process is very fast.

8. Remove the potatoes from the oven and top each potato with pecan sugar mixture. Sprinkle the bacon and fresh thyme leaves over the top and enjoy!

Notes

• Ingredients that I used that are #paleoapproved

  • Pederson’s Organic No Sugar Added Uncured Smoked Bacon

  • Primal Kitchen Avocado Oil Spray

  • Kerrygold Grass-fed Butter

Cauliflower Alfredo Sauce

Cauliflower Alfredo Sauce is a creamy dairy-free, gluten-free healthier version as compared with the original recipe. 

If you are looking for a dairy-free version of the traditional alfredo sauce then look no further! Made with whole food ingredients that most will have on hand. All you need is a strong blender that will create this creamy velvety sauce texture, that’s it! 

I love mixing my sauce with pasta noodles, chicken, veggies, or use as pizza sauce! 

If you are looking for a more cheesier vegan or dairy-free sauce, check out my favorite spicy vegan cheese sauce recipe.

If you try this recipe, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag a photo to #fromtherootsblog on Instagram. We love seeing what you come up with! 

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Cauliflower Alfredo Sauce is a creamy dairy-free, gluten-free healthier version as compared with the original recipe. 

Ingredients

• 3 cups (packed) boiled cauliflower

• ½ cup plant based milk

• ½ cup chicken or veggie stock

• ½ cup cashews (soaked and drained)

• 2 Tbsp nutritional yeast

• 4 cloves minced garlic

• ½ white onion

• Juice of 1 lemon

• 1 tsp grass fed or vegan butter

• 1 tsp salt

• ¼ tsp black pepper

Directions

1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the cauliflower and cook for about 8-15 minutes or until cauliflower is fork tender. Reserve 1 cup of boiling water. 

2. In a large skillet, heat butter over medium heat. Sauté minced garlic and diced onions until soft and fragrant. Season with salt and pepper. 

3. Drain the cauliflower and transfer to a blender. Add the sautéed garlic and onions, milk, stock, cashews, nutritional yeast, and lemon juice. Blend until the sauce is smooth and creamy, about 1 minute. If the sauce looks too thick or dry, slowly add the reserved boiling water. Season with more salt and pepper for desired taste. 

4. Serve with cooked pasta and enjoy! 

Notes

• Store any leftovers in an airtight container. Will last 4-5 days in the fridge. 

• Freezer friendly! Since there is no dairy in the mixture, you can freeze the alfredo sauce once it’s cooled down. 

• Use the sauce with pasta, chicken, vegetables, or even as a pizza sauce!

Moon Milk

Moon Milk - A natural sleep aid to put your mind and body at rest!

Now, I want to preface by saying that these adaptogenic moon milks will not take you out like Benadryl, but it will aid in calming the mind for a blissful lull. These milks are in the business of providing that hygge to your mind if you will! ;) 

So you are probably wondering, how!? Well, glad you asked because we have a lot of ingredients to go over! So let’s start with the star player: adaptogens. 

Adaptogens are herbs that support the body’s natural ability to deal with stress. Adaptogens are known for their unique ability to “adapt” their function according to the specific needs of the body - physical, chemical, or biological needs. 

With that said, you can practically add any type of adaptogen to your moon milk depending on your taste preference. For example, adding maca to your foods like oatmeal, coffee, or yogurt bowls provide a “honeycomb” sweetness. The reason why we are not using maca in this recipe, though, is that it provides a natural alternative to caffeine and will energize you - the opposite of what we want here! 

So for this milk, we are adding ashwagandha! Now if you never had ashwagandha before, be warned that it has a fairly strong bitter/earthy flavor. That’s why we are using superfood powders to mask the taste like spirulina, beetroot, blue Majik, and turmeric! 

Whichever powder you choose, all four superfoods provide an abundance of nutritional value that benefits the mind, body, and spirit! Added bonus - they make your milk look pretty!

The last ingredient we will discuss is CBD oil. Now at this point in life, most people know what CBD oil is, but if you would like a refresher, here is an article to brush upon. I garnish my milk with CBD oil as an added punch when my muscles are sore that day, anxiety is high, or I am on my period.  

CBD oil can be completely optional since a high quality sourced CBD oil product can be $$$. But if you are looking for a great product, I highly recommend Icaria. Specifically, I use their aphrodite oil in my milk because it provides a nutty flavor that pairs perfectly with the recipe! 

If you use this link and put it in CANDACE10 at checkout, you can get $10 off your first order! 

If you try this recipe, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag a photo to #fromtherootsblog on Instagram. We love seeing what you come up with! 

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Moon Milk - A natural sleep aid to put your mind and body at rest!

Ingredients 

• 1 cup plant-based milk

• 1 tsp honey

• 1 tsp superfood powder of choice (turmeric, blue spirulina, beetroot)

• ½ tsp ashwagandha 

• CBD oil drops (optional)

• 1 tsp magnesium powder (optional)

• 1 scoop collagen (optional)

• 1 tsp coconut butter or canned coconut milk (optional)

Directions

1. Heat milk in a small saucepan on medium heat, until you reach a gentle bubble. 

2. Add all ingredients that you would like in your milk and whisk until the mixture is smooth and creamy! Optional but you can also pour the heated mixture in a small blender or use a handheld frother to really turn the milk mixture into a latte!

3. Pour in your favorite cozy mug and enjoy! 

Notes

1. Can be made ahead of time by pouring the mixture in mason jars - allow to cool to room temperature, and store in the fridge for up to 3 days. 

2. If you are using a lot of adaptogens/add-ins, after the mixture has been heated, add to a blender and blend until nice and frothy! This also helps for all the ingredients to be fully mixed so you are not left with so much sediment at the bottom of your mug!