Salted Petite Chocolate Peanut Butter Apricot Cakes
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~ raw, vegan, gluten-free ~
When it comes to food, texture is a big thing in our house. It is right up there with taste. Whenever Bob and I are taste testing, the first thing we do is take a bite and then roll the food around on our tongue. Often times, we talk more about the texture before even mentioning the flavor. I mean think about it, is there a food that you won’t eat due to its texture? We all have, well most of us, have foods that we steer clear of due to texture alone.
Describing food happens every day, we do it on a subconscious level. Take note sometime and listen to how people talk about food. You will most likely hear the words, “Crunchy, chewy, crispy, juicy, squishy, runny, solid, hard, soft, soggy, firm, creamy, fatty” and so on. Unless they really disliked the flavor of the food in general, then you will just hear, “GROSS”. haha
The sense of texture doesn’t just start and stop with the feel of texture… we also sense it visually. Just looking at the texture may stop us from even bringing food to our lips. For example; the appearance of an apple’s skin can tell us how we expect the texture to be when we come to eat it – if the skin looks wrinkly, then the apple will probably have lost its crunchy bite. Avocados, the ripeness of an avocado is best judged by feeling it in our hands. Gently squeezing it will tell us if its ready to eat that day or not until a few days later.
Now how did I get off on that tangent? Hehe, I guess because when I created this sweet treat when all was said and done, I took one look at it and realized that I had a lot of different textures happening in just one bite. The softness of the outer chocolate ushered your teeth right in… it threw out the welcome mat. As you draw your teeth together to create that first bite, your upper teeth meet a slight resistance yet welcoming invitation as they pierce down through the dried apricot. All at the same time, your bottom teeth sink into the soft and nutty cake, coming together to create a crunchy and chewy delight all rolled into one. I dunno, if I am not expressing the texture well enough… make them yourself, and you will see. :)
Ingredients:
yields 30 treats
Cakes:
- 1/2 cup packed Medjool dates, pitted and rehydrated
- 1 cup rolled, gluten-free oats, soaked & dehydrated
- 1/2 cup almond flour
- 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp Himalayan pink salt
- 1/2 cup raw coconut crystals
- 3/4 cup raw cacao powder
- 2/3 cup natural peanut butter
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Cake accessories:
Preparation:
Cakes:
- Prepare the oats ahead of time. I don’t recommend using wet / soaked oats because it will add too much moisture to the cake. Use dry oats.
- In a small bowl place the pitted dates with enough warm water to cover them. Set aside to rehydrate while you work on the other ingredients.
- In a food processor, fitted with an “S” blade, combine the dried oats, almond flour, nutmeg, salt, coconut crystals, and cacao powder. Process until the oats break down and everything is well mixed.
- Drain the dates from the soak water and squeeze out the excess water from them.
- You can save the date water to add into a smoothie if you don’t want to waste it. :)
- Add the dates, peanut butter and vanilla to the food processor and process until everything sticks together when you pinch it.
- Press the batter into the mold and level off the top. Place in the fridge while you make the chocolate.
Cake accessories and assembly:
- Prepare melted chocolate. I let my melted chocolate firm up a bit before using to get a nice heavy coat on my cakes. The warmer the chocolate, the thinner the coat it will create.
- Remove all of the cakes from the mold and place on a sheet of wax or parchment paper.
- Take a small dab of chocolate and place it on the bottom of each dried apricot before placing on the cake. This will help the apricot adhere to the cake during the dipping process.
- Cover each cake one at a time with the chocolate.
- Place the cake in the middle of the bowl, upright, and ladled the chocolate over the top.
- Slipped a small fork under the bottom and lifted it straight up. Tap the handle of the fork on the edge of the bowl, allowing the excess chocolate to drop back down into the bowl.
- Slide the bottom of the fork along the edge of the bowl at the very end. This will remove excess chocolate, so it doesn’t puddle on the parchment paper while drying.
- Use a toothpick to push the cake off onto the parchment paper so I wouldn’t disrupt the finish of the treat.
- Sprinkle with coarse salt. Repeat process until all cakes are made.
- Allow the chocolate to dry at room temperature, the cooler the room, the quicker it will dry.
- Store in airtight container in a cool cabinet for about 1 week or in the fridge for 2-3 weeks.
I used my Silicone Chocolate, Candy and Peanut Butter-Cup Mold for my cake bases.
Very simple to make, just messy when it came to the chocolate part. Chocolate is ALWAYS messy. hehe
© AmieSue.com
Tags: Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Refined Sugar Free, Soy Free, Vegan
Hi Amiesue,
Could you use your ganache chocolate recipe, and just thin it out a little? I just prefer not to use process choc. chips.
Many thanks!
Michelle
Hello Michelle,
The ganache recipe won’t work because it will soften too much at room temp. I guess if you were to chill the ganache a bit, dip the cakes, and immediately pop in the freezer, it might hold. But it will soften once taken out and be sticky. I added a link to a raw chocolate dipping recipe that you can use. I hope it helps. Have a great weekend, amie sue
These do not only sound so very delishes, but they are so beautiful!! I think I will try making them this weekend. About the almond flour….I looked at the three possibilities for the flour. Which one did you use to make these?
Hello Mandy, I used almonds that I ground to a flour. If you give them a try let me know… I always love to hear how it goes for others. Have a wonderful weekend. amie sue :)
Amie Sue..
That recipe sounds wonderful. My question: Why 873 Course Salt Crystals? How in the world do you count them? :)
Just curious…
Happy Holidays to you and yours.
BJ
lol BJ… I was just being silly about the count on sea salt. I guess I better change it because I don’t want to be responsible for anyone counting out sea salt crystals on their kitchen counter top. lol
Happy Holidays to you as well! amie sue :)
Hello Amie Sue,
Do I really have to count 873 sea salt crystals??? Hihihi, I think this is a mistake….
Thank you so much for this outstanding recipe! Will try it immediately when bought rolled oats. Pls could you post once a picture with rooled oats? I never know if it is oat flakes or graines? Thank you very vey much in advance and have a wonderful “temps d’advent” (as you like french), AM
Hello Anne-Marie… I was just being a silly goof about the sea salt count. I will change it. lol
When I type out rolled oats, I am referring to the oats that are flat like flakes. If I say, oat groats, those are the ones shaped like rice. Does that make sense? :) Have a blessed weekend! Always a pleasure to hear from you. amie sue
Just to make sure, the hardening chocolate is the same as your Chocolate Candies recipe(that I make weekly)?
Thanks!
Michelle
Yes’m… you are correct. :)
Amie-Sue! Another winner! I just made these today. And I have to say, your description of biting into one is bang-on! So much going on, so delicious!
Let’s see… I don’t have molds, so had to shape them myself. I used a scale and came out with 30 just like you said! I found the cake a bit too dry and luckily added a little water to the food processor, maybe a tbsp, but it could have done with another one or two tbsp.
I was worried about my organic apricots, as they go much darker than the ones in your picture, but they taste just fine :)
I also panicked a little at how little agave you add to your hardening chocolate. When I compared to another recipe I have, it seems scant. I added 1 extra tbsp for the whole 3 cups. And wouldn’t you know…you were right, the whole thing is sweet enough, and the darkness of the outer layer is a nice contrast.
I didn’t have enough apricots so I mashed up another of your recipes, and used dates with raw almond butter for 10 of them. I haven’t tried one of those yet, we’ll see how the almond and peanut butters duke it out in my mouth! LOL
Thanks again for sharing a wonderful recipe,
Anastasia
Good evening Anastasia,
I am so happy that you enjoyed this treat. :) I love complex flavors and textures so this recipe really fits the bill. You are awesome… I am just tickled that you got creative with the ingredients and designed new treats with them. That is what I love about raw! Many people feel that making raw food is so limiting… I actually find it to be freeing than dealing with cooked foods.
Thank you so much for sharing all of this with me. I love hearing how the recipes go for others, crossing my fingers that they bring you as much joy as they do / did for me. :)
Have a happy and blessed week! amie sue