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Vegan Bites, Sweet Treats for All

Guilt Free, yet Sinfully Choccy Tea or Coffee Accompaniment!

By Jessica BaileyPublished 6 years ago 4 min read
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The bites look like they're about to dive. That pool is not big enough, bros.

The above pic is a frequent sight on family dining tables at gatherings—I arrange them, Ferrero Roche-like, on a fine plate and watch the pyramid dissemble with glee. As you know, a magician never reveals their secrets. And since I dreamt up the below the recipe, neither have I. Countless birthdays, holiday spreads, and housewarming gifts later, I have finally given in to entreaties of recipes and here, now, I'm finally ready: I'm going to reveal the tricks of my trade.

As you'll see, it's deceptively simple.

I'm not one for laborious bakes. I'm all about convenience. Pair that with being an inexperienced baker and I, amazingly, came up with the below! So, here goes!

The recipe is for one batch of vegan bites (20 bites).

Prep time: 25 mins

Set time: 10 mins

Ingredients

  • 90g muesli
  • 60g Turkish Sultanas or dried fruit (dried dates are the best)
  • 3tbsp of Golden Syrup
  • 3tbsp of Peanut Butter
  • 1/2 banana
  • 3 M&S "Made Without Dairy" Dark Chocolate With Nibs Bars
  • 30g Cashews

Step One

Measure out the recipe into a food processor receptacle, all the ingredients at once, then pulse for ten seconds. Be sure the mixture has bound together.

Step Two

Move the thick mixture into a bowl. It should be sticky and should bind together easily. You could make any shape with the mixture like cookie dough, but for this recipe, with dry, clean hands, take small handfulls of the mixture and roll into a ball, or "bite," then place on a baking tray. Repeat until the mixture is used up. You should have twenty bites.

And they should look like this...

Step Three

Place the baking tray in the fridge for ten minutes, or your freezer for five minutes, so the mixture can harden and set. It's important not to let the mixture freeze together. The reason it doesn't go into the oven despite the baking tray is because the chocolate would melt.

***

Happy Experimenting! This was Beginners Bites, son. Soon we'll graduate to intermediate... hold on to your trousers.

Actually you know what? Let up on your trousers because I have faith in you all—let's move onto intermediate Bites. Therefore, what you will need:

Chocolate Covered Vegan Bites:

  • 1 M&S "Made Without Dairy" Dark Chocolate With Nibs Bar
  • 30g of Golden Syrup
  • 30g of varied chopped nuts

These are they... and they come in many flavours. Yum.

Step Four

Taking your set bites out of the fridge or freezer to sit, get out a small pan, the smallest you have, and put it on a medium heat. Prepare your bar of chocolate by breaking it into small pieces.

Step Five

Break in the chocolate bar and stir gently until it melts and you end up with a dark chocolate ganache-like texture. This is often very quick so make sure not to leave your pan for a moment (Been burned before. Literally). If it's too dark (often vegan chocolate is) add a tablespoon of soy or any other plant-based milk to lighten it. Very little will be needed.

Step Six

Prepare the chopped nuts and the syrup in the same bowl. The nuts should be very finely chopped. Mix them together to make a sort of incorporated topping. Then place your bites on a wooden board next to the bowl. You will be working between these three spots like an assembly line.

Step Seven

When the chocolate has sufficiently cooled, take one bite at a time and roll it gently in the chocolate until it has a light coating all over its spherical shape. Then take your bite and roll it in the chopped nuts and syrup mixture until it is then covered. Place it back on the baking tray. Repeat until all bites are covered with both chocolate and the chopped nuts and syrup topping.

Step Eight

Place the bites in the fridge for another ten minutes to set. Remove after ten minutes to see if the chocolate has hardened. If it has, they are ready to serve or present. Possibly in a triangular shape wrapped in gold? Just a thought.

***

And that's it! Almost too easy, right? What can I say, I'm lazy. Enjoy with a cup of tea, or with your desert of choice—they last for ages, and they are ripe for experiments. For example, the dairy free chocolate could be flavoured with orange or mint, you could use different nuts or dried fruit... the possibilities are endless. You might even forsake the Vegan Way and use some average (yeah I said it) confection to flavour it—whatever version you do, make me proud.

Happy Experimenting! This was Beginner and Intermediate Bites, son. Soon we'll graduate to Supreme Bites... definitely hold on to your trousers now. Oh, and to friends/family, yeah... I lied, they're super easy. I may have bigged them up to sound more impressive. Sue me.

But do that, and my bites will never darken your dining tables again. Heed me. Magicians, even food ones, have pride.

'Til next time,

J x

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About the Creator

Jessica Bailey

I am a freelance writer, playwright, director and lecturer from London. Self professed nerd, art lover and Neurodivergent, vegan since '16, piano player since 7 - let's see...oh and music, lots and lots of music

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