Cherry Chia Pudding Trifle
/I know one thing to be true; cherries and chocolate were made for each other and on my death bed I hope that the last thing I have tasted is this combination. And if you disagree well, I don't know what to tell you other then I don't think we can be friends anymore.
I kid. Sort of.
Lately I've been craving creativity in the kitchen and not really with meals but rather with my all time favorite thing; raw, vegan desserts. Although I am no longer vegan my heart still lies with treats of these nature. The reason is that you have to really creative and think outside the box to created healthier versions of old time classics. My culinary heart has always been with baking and desserts (I almost went to culinary and pastry school many moons ago) and recently I've been playing around with blizzard-like creations and smoothies that make your tastebuds go BOOM! And then I was craving cherries and chocolate and custardy goodness and I made this.
I like my treats to error on the healthy side not only for my own personal health but I love to show people that healthy doesn't mean deprivation whatsoever. You can still have your cake and eat it too (haha!)...It's just without sugar and other crud.
So, I do my best to create things that taste delicious and make you wonder how they actually are 'healthier'. I never use refined sugar, gluten or dairy because I don't eat any of that stuff and I don't think you have to either.
And here is the recipe because everyone should have a little cherry and chocolate in their lives.
CHERRY CHIA PUDDING TRIFLE
Chocolate Layer
1/2 cup almond meal
1 tbsp cacao powder
1 tbsp coconut oil
2-4 drops vanilla stevia (liquid)
Cherry Chia Pudding
1 can whole fat coconut milk (I blend the whole can in a blender because it seperates)
1/4 cup chia seeds
1/2 cup chopped cherries
2 tbsp chocolate sauce
2-4 drops vanilla stevia (liquid)
Chocolate Sauce
2 tablespoons cacao powder
2 tablespoons coconut oil
1 drop vanilla stevia (liquid)
Coconut Whip Filling
1/2 cup coconut cream (top layer from a can of coconut milk after refrigerating overnight)
2 tbsp. coconut butter
2-4 tbsp liquid stevia (I used vanilla)
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
Directions:
1. Combine coconut oil and cacao in a sauce pan and allow to melt together. Add in stevia and remove from heat. Allow to thicken up slightly as it cools.
2. Place coconut milk in blender and add stevia and combine. Add in cherries and combine. I like little chunks of cherries so I make sure I don't blend for too long. Pour into a tupperware bowl and add in chia seeds. Mix well. Then stir in about 2 tbsp. of your chocolate sauce. Because this is made with coconut oil, as it sits overnight in the refrigerator it will harden so you will have chunks of chocolate in your chia pudding. Place mixture in fridge to thicken up for at least 4 hours to overnight. Also place another can of coconut milk in fridge overnight. I always have a can or two in the fridge "just in case."
3. Combine the top layer of coconut cream from the refrigerated coconut milk into a blender and add coconut butter, stevia and vanilla. Combine well. This is your coconut whip layer.
NOW you get to assemble your trifle!
1. . Combine almond meal, cocao powder, coconut oil and stevia in a small bowl and press mixture into the bottom of whatever vessel you are using for your trifle. This is the first layer.
2. Add a layer of your overnight cherry chia pudding then a layer of your coconut whip cream. From here I put it in the freezer for about 10 minutes to allow it to set up and harden a bit before I tried to add another layer.
3. Remove from freezer and add another layer of cherry chia pudding and last, add another layer of coconut whip. Top with chopped fresh cherries and a little chocolate sauce that you've reheated.
4. Enjoy!