I have baked these yummy vegan carob cookies for the Christmas season with carob powder. Carob powder and almonds give them a sweet, fruity caramel and nut taste and, with their natural vitamin B12, they are simply perfect for anyone with a sweet tooth. And of course for all other vegan cookies connoisseurs.
The many benefits of carob and a vegan carob cookie!
I simply love baking at Christmas time: the kitchen is full of delicious and promising scents and I can hardly wait to taste my cookies. This year, I have discovered carob powder with natural vitamin B12. The vegan carob powder does not only give a lot of taste and indulgence, but also the all-important vitamin B12. People who only eat plant-based foods in particular often lack this important vitamin because the bacteria producing it are mainly found in food of animal origin.
For me having a sweet tooth, it is simply wonderful that I can combine nibbling with healthy enjoyment. I no longer need to buy a vitamin B12 supplement that might contain synthetic vitamin B12, which I definitely want to avoid. Is there anything better than enjoying a cup of Pumpkin Spice Latte or a spiced Chai Latte with delicious homemade vegan carob cookies and reading a good book or watching a movie comfortably on the sofa? And to feel good all around!
Carob? What’s carob?
Carob is made from the pulp of the carob tree fruit. When its pods are hard and dry, their pulp can be processed into powder, the carob powder. Carob tastes fruity-sweet and caramel-like and is the ideal alternative to cocoa. You simply exchange cacao with carob in all recipes. In addition to its delicious taste, carob has many other benefits. It contains minerals, is almost fat-free, rich in fiber, contains neither caffeine nor theobromine and is a good source of energy thanks to the naturally contained sugar.
The carob tree is undemanding and needs little maintenance. It improves the quality of the soil, tolerates sandy soils and even a relatively high salinity of the earth. This makes carob trees perfect for organic cultivation. Additionally, they need much, much less water than a cocoa tree. The carob tree does not only grow in Asia and Africa but also in Italy, Spain, Croatia and Cyprus. vegNCO, one of my affiliate partners, offers a delicious organic carob powder that is produced from fruits from Italy and contains natural vitamin B12. (Can only be ordered in Switzerland at the moment!!)
Keen on more information and support for your vegan journey?
If you like to know more about vitamin B12, click here.
As you might know, I offer vegan cooking coaching. I can advise you on recipe ideas or a nutrition plan. You are also at the right place for vegan cooking classes. Check classes and coaching for more information. Please contact me at any time if you are interested or have questions. A vegan cooking class is a great gift, ideal for a family or a group of friends and perfect as a company event.
Vegan Carob Cookies
Equipment
- Rolling Pin
- cookie cutters
- bowl
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
- 200 g spelt flour, type 1050 or 360 + some flour to roll out
- 50 g ground almonds
- 4 Tbsp carob powder
- ½ tsp baking powder
- 1 pinch of salt
- ¼ tsp vanilla powder alternatively use vanilla sugar
- 50 g muscovado sugar
Moist Ingredients
- 3 Tbsp apple sauce, without added sugar home-made
- 5 Tbsp vegan canola oil with butter taste alternatively use coconut oil
Instructions
- Mix all dry ingredients together in a bowl. Then add applesauce and oil and combine into a dough.
- Pack the dough into foil and place it in the fridge for at least 20 Minutes.
- Preheat oven to 160 °C (320 °F), fan/convection heating.
- Sprinkle some flour onto a work surface. Roll out the cookie dough (3-5 mm). With cookie cutters cut out hearts, stars and whatever shapes you wish.
- Put a baking sheet onto a baking pan and place the cookies. Bake for 12-15 Min in the preheated oven.
Notes
Very healthy! In addition to its natural vitamins, it contains numerous nutrients (such as iron or calcium), is almost fat-free, rich in fiber and, with its naturally contained sugar, is a great source of energy. It has no stimulating substances such as caffeine or theobromine and is therefore also suitable for children.
All the way natural! Carob powder is obtained from the ground pulp of the pods of the carob tree fruit. It is mainly used as natural food replacing cacao and has a natural fruity-sweet caramel taste.
Because carob tastes almost like cocoa, you can use it anywhere instead of cocoa. In all desserts and in many baking recipes, as a drink for children (without caffeine or theobromine) or as a topping on your coffee. Replace cocoa powder with carob powder 1:1. Carob powder is naturally sweet and you probably will use less sugar.
