Simple Brownies

These devilishly delicious brownies are so easy to make. Remove the chips if you want it strictly paleo as some chocolate chips use soy lecithin --- read the label. You may also add half a teaspoon of cayenne pepper if you are of the adventurous kind. ;)

Ingredients:

1 cup almond flour

½ cup cocoa powder

½ tsp bicarbonate of soda

Pinch of salt (remove if using salted butter)

Handful of dark chocolate chips (optional)

½ cup of melted coconut oil/ghee/butter or combination of any

½ cup of runny honey

3 whole eggs

Seeds from 1 vanilla pod (1 tsp extract is ok too)

1. Combine the dry ingredients (except for the chips) and set aside.

2. Beat the eggs, then add all the other liquids and whisk until the honey is dissolved.

3. Mix the liquid and dry ingredients.  This will be a bit runny.  Throw in some dark choc chips if you fancy.

4. Transfer into a greased 8x8 spring-form.

5. Bake at 175C (fan) for 20 minutes.  On the 20^th minute, check by inserting a toothpick/fork into the brownie. If it comes out clean, it should be ok. If not, bake for a further 3 to 5 minutes.

6. Thoroughly cool before cutting. My cake rose at the centre while cooking but actually flattened out once it cooled. 

*Warning: may cause addiction.

Paleo Ginger Chocolate Cookies

For those with sweet tooth, fear not! Eating Paleo does not mean eliminating all the treats. It takes a little bit of time; you have to make your own. But they are worth it.

Make a big batch of these Paleo cookies to take to work and avoid the menace of Cadbury streets and roses.

You'll need:

1 cup chopped dates
200g ground almonds (use 300g if not using sweet potato powder)
1/2 cup sweet potato powder
2 tbsp ginger powder
1 tsp cinnamon powder
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
1/3 tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
50g butter (still cold)
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla (extract with seeds)
40g chopped 85% dark chocolate bar

Heat oven to 175°C.

Blitz the dates in a food processor until almost finely chopped. Add and blend all the dry ingredients except the chopped chocolate.

Next add the butter, egg and vanilla. It will only take about 10 seconds for the mixture to clump up. Stop and transfer to a bowl. Mix in the chocolate and fold using a spatula.

Scoop out 1 tbsp balls of dough out and flatten. This recipe makes about 18 cookies.

Bake for no more than 10 minutes, slightly less if using a fan oven. Once done, let cod outside oven before indulging.

Dunk into black coffee for your morning fix!!