Desserts Archives

Healthier Knafeh Recipe (Vegan/Dairy-free)

Healthier Knafeh Recipe (Vegan/Dairy-free)

This healthier Knafeh recipe is my take on one of the most popular desserts in the Middle East. It's much lighter than the traditional recipe with less sugar and fat. It's also easier to make and happens to be vegan & dairy-free! Knafeh, also spelled knafe or kunafa, is a traditional Middle Eastern dessert that is popular in various countries across the region, including Lebanon, Palestine, Jordan, Syria, and Iraq, where I grew up. It's a sweet pastry made from shredded phyllo dough (or semolina dough) that is layered with cheese, typically a white cheese like Akkawi or mozzarella. The pastry is baked until golden and crispy, then soaked in a sugar syrup flavoured with rose water or orange blossom [...]

Nadia2024-04-23T18:06:07+01:00April 23, 2024|Dairy Free, Desserts, Vegan, Vegetarian|3 Comments

5-Ingredient No-bake Pistachio Brownies

5-Ingredient No-bake Pistachio Brownies

These 5-ingredient no-bake pistachio brownies are so moreish, require no baking and are packed with nutrients! Perfect if you’re looking for a super easy and yummy dessert. Why I love making these 5-ingredient no-bake pistachio brownies: No-bake desserts are my favourite type of treats to make. They’re so easy, call for few ingredients and taste so good! What I also love about them is that you can adjust the taste and texture as you go along rather than having to wait for something to bake before you know whether it’s worked or not. I've made a couple of different variations of these brownies over the years, based on one of my most popular blog recipes so far - these 5-ingredient no-bake [...]

Nadia2024-04-16T16:00:44+01:00April 16, 2024|Brownies, Chocolate, Dairy Free, Desserts, Gluten Free, snack, Vegan, Vegetarian|3 Comments

Palestinian Date Ring Cookies (Kaak Asawer)

Palestinian Date Ring Cookies (Kaak Asawer)

These Palestinian date ring cookies (aka Ka'ak Asawer) are the perfect little treat when you want something sweet, but not overly indulgent. They have a hint of sweetness from the dates and are so aromatic from the addition of spices like cinnamon, cardamom, fennel, aniseed and nigella seeds. Kaak Asawer (also known as Ka'ak Asawir or Ka'ak bi ajwa) are traditional Palestinian cookies that are filled with a date paste and shaped into rings. They may look difficult to make, but the recipe is really simple. The only technical part comes into play when shaping them. Even then, you quickly get a hang of the process once you know how much of the dough and date paste you need to [...]

Nadia2024-04-11T18:19:05+01:00April 11, 2024|Cookies, Dairy Free, Desserts, Vegan, Vegetarian|9 Comments

Healthy Blueberry Breakfast Cake

Healthy Blueberry Breakfast Cake

This healthy blueberry breakfast cake is my new favourite way to start the day. Who said you can't have cake for breakfast? Packed with 20g protein, 5g of fibre as well as essential nutrients, antioxidants and healthy fats. It also tastes absolutely delicious! What makes this healthy blueberry breakfast cake a good option for breakfast? This cake is much lighter than your average cake with less sugar, more protein and nutrients/antioxidants. It's packed with good-for-you ingredients that you would usually associate with a healthy breakfast like oats, almonds, yoghurt, eggs, peanut butter and blueberries. As well as protein, this healthy blueberry breakfast cake also offers 5g of fibre and probiotics in the yoghurt to help feed your gut microbiome and [...]

Nadia2024-09-07T23:08:47+01:00April 9, 2024|Breakfasts, Cakes, Desserts, Gluten Free, Post Workout Meals, Protein recipes, Vegan, Vegetarian|20 Comments

Healthier Muhallebi Recipe (Mahalabia) Milk Pudding

Healthier Muhallebi Recipe (Mahalabia) Milk Pudding

This healthier Muhallebi recipe is my lighter take on a classic Middle Eastern dessert popular during Ramadan and Eid. I've sweetened it with whole dates - a great source of fibre, as well as added tahini for healthy fats and flavour. Muhallebi, also known as mahalabia, is a traditional Middle Eastern dessert that originated in ancient Arab cuisine. It is a creamy pudding-like dessert made primarily from milk, sugar, and cornflour (or rice flour), flavored with rose water or orange blossom water, and garnished with pistachios and rose petals. It's served chilled and can be found in various Middle Eastern countries under different names and variations. Muhallebi is known for its smooth texture and delicate flavour, making it a popular [...]

Nadia2024-03-28T17:29:28+01:00March 28, 2024|Dairy Free, Desserts, Gluten Free, Nut Free, Sugar Free, Vegan, Vegetarian|0 Comments

Healthy No-Bake Brownies

Healthy No-Bake Brownies

These healthy no-bake brownies are a must-try. You only need a handful of easy to find ingredients and there's no baking required. They're also a great source of fibre (from the oats), healthy fats (from the tahini) and antioxidants (from the cocoa/dark chocolate). They taste decadent whilst being good for you - that's the kind of dessert I want more of in my life! One of my most popular recipes on my blog are these no-bake chocolate covered brownies. I get why they're so loved - they're easy, tasty and fool-proof, so anyone can make them. They're also just as decadent and satisfying as a regular brownie (I think so anyway!), but made with healthier ingredients like dates, tahini, cocoa [...]

Nadia2024-03-26T12:45:45+01:00March 22, 2024|Bars, Brownies, Dairy Free, Desserts, Gluten Free, Nut Free, Vegan, Vegetarian|9 Comments

How to make Tahini (Easy Homemade Tahini Recipe)

How to make Tahini (Easy Homemade Tahini Recipe)

Have you ever tried making your own tahini? This easy homemade tahini recipe is so simple and you only need 2 ingredients to make it - tahini and oil. The only equipment you need is a food processor and the blending will only take 5 minutes! The results is a super runny and delicious tahini that's better than most jars you buy from the supermarket! If you've followed me for a while, you'll know my deep love and obsession with tahini. It's a big part of my heritage, culture and childhood. We didn't have much growing up. Even snacks were limited, but we always had a jar of tahini in the cupboard. The only snack I remember having was dipping [...]

Nadia2024-03-25T17:53:06+01:00March 18, 2024|Breakfasts, Dairy Free, Desserts, Gluten Free, Sauces and Dips, snack, Vegetarian, Video|3 Comments

Healthy Baklava Chocolate Bars (Vegan/GF/Dairy-free)

Healthy Baklava Chocolate Bars (Vegan/GF/Dairy-free)

These healthy baklava chocolate bars taste like the real baklava, but without all the sugar, fat and calories! They make a delicious healthy dessert or snack. They're also perfect if you're looking for something to satisfy a craving for something crunchy! Baklava is a delicious pastry made of layers of thin phyllo dough filled with chopped nuts (often pistachios, walnuts, or almonds) and sweetened with honey or a simple syrup made with sugar and water. It's a popular dessert in many countries in the Middle East and North Africa, but also in countries like Greece, Cyprus, Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Iran. With variations in ingredients and preparation methods depending on the region. The fact it was able to spread [...]

Nadia2024-03-07T16:26:19+01:00March 7, 2024|Bars, Chocolate, Dairy Free, Desserts, Gluten Free, snack, Vegan, Vegetarian|2 Comments

Chocolate Cottage Cheese Pudding (High Protein/Healthy)

Chocolate Cottage Cheese Pudding (High Protein/Healthy)

This chocolate cottage cheese pudding makes a tasty make-ahead-of-time breakfast option or even a healthy dessert! Packed with 42g protein per serving and you only need 6 ingredients to make it! I'm new to the cottage cheese game. For a very long time I avoided eating dairy all together since I linked it to my IBS and eczema flare-ups. I started reintroducing it back into my diet last year and to my surprise I haven't had any negative side affects. Looking back I wonder whether I ever had an adverse reaction to dairy. I now know my IBS is usually triggered by things like stress and lack of sleep, rather than any one ingredient I consume in isolation. I also [...]

Nadia2024-06-18T17:56:51+01:00March 5, 2024|Breakfasts, Desserts, Gluten Free, Nut Free, snack, Vegetarian|49 Comments

3-Ingredient Apricot Coconut Balls

3-Ingredient Apricot Coconut Balls

Are you looking for a healthy and delicious treat that will satisfy your sweet tooth? Look no further than these 3-ingredient apricot coconut balls! Made with only a few simple ingredients, these balls are not only tasty but also a nutritious snack or healthier dessert option. It hit me recently that I've never used dried apricots in any of my creations before. I used to eat dried apricots a lot when I went through my fad diet phase. I was a big yo-yo dieter before I studied nutrition and improved my relationship with food and my body. I remember one of the big things at the time was to snack on dried apricots instead of sweets/desserts to help kerb sweet [...]