For those embracing a raw diet, finding satisfying and convenient snack options is essential. Sticking to a healthier diet becomes easier when your snack drawers are filled with tasty and nutritious choices. These snacks can be sweet or savory, crunchy or chewy, spicy or mild - the possibilities are endless. By creating a variety, you can satisfy your inner cravings while staying true to your dietary goals.
The Foundation of Raw Snacks: Techniques and Tools
Before diving into specific recipes, it's important to understand some fundamental techniques and tools used in raw food preparation. Many raw recipes involve dehydrating, sprouting, soaking nuts, using date paste, Irish moss paste, or adding nut milk. Understanding these processes is key to successfully creating delicious raw snacks.
A dehydrator is a worthwhile investment for anyone serious about a raw diet. While an oven can be used, a dehydrator allows for low-temperature "cooking," preserving vital enzymes and nutrients. A high-speed blender, like a Vitamix, is also invaluable for creating smooth sauces, nut milk, and creamy desserts. A food processor is another helpful tool for making nut butters, desserts, sauces, burgers, and more.
Savory Sensations: Cracker and Bread Recipes
Crackers are a versatile snack that can be enjoyed in countless ways. Fortunately, you don't have to give them up when following a raw diet.
Raw Artisan Breads and Wraps
Raw artisan breads are hand-crafted, prepared in small batches with special attention to using raw, organic ingredients that are "cooked" in a dehydrator rather than an oven. Most bread recipes can be converted into wrap, crouton, and cracker recipes.
Read also: Satisfy Your Cravings with Whole Foods
Raw Flax Crackers
Raw flax crackers are a simple raw food staple with endless possibilities. They can be topped with just about anything, making them a versatile and healthy snack option.
Kale Chips and More
Kale, a nutrient-rich vegetable, can be transformed into satisfyingly crunchy chips. Kale is in the same family as the cabbage. It is full of nutrients, including vitamins A, C, K, and calcium. Kale is also rich in antioxidants and is an excellent source of fiber. Fortunately, you don't have to depend on kale chips to fight off those crunchy, salty cravings.
Zucchini Bread
This recipe for raw bread, based on buckwheat, red capsicum, and zucchini, is both strong and soft, just like bread should be. And because the flavour of this raw bread is so neutral, you can put almost anything with it. The possibilities are endless and terribly exciting.
Sweet Treats: Cookies, Desserts, and More
Indulge your sweet tooth with these guilt-free raw dessert options.
Raw Cookies
Cookies evoke cherished memories. Raw cookies offer a healthier alternative, allowing you to enjoy the taste and nostalgia without the unhealthy ingredients.
Read also: Healthy Mediterranean Snack Ideas
Coffee, Cardamom Caramels
Chewy and intensely flavored coffee, cardamom caramels. Rolos for grown-ups.
Frozen Coconut Yoghurt Berry Bark
How to make an easy frozen coconut yoghurt berry bark. A refreshing summertime pick me up.
Frosted Grapes
These frosted grapes make the best mini sorbets. This chocolate sauce is a cinch to make and is a delicious addition to an ice cream sundae or spread on toast. These mini mandarin sorbets are an absolute breeze. Dairy free, gluten free, vegan, sugar free.
Easy Vegan Cookies
Easy, dairy free, gluten free, vegan cookie recipeAt the end of a long day, when you want to curl up with a good book and a warm malty drink, these lemony and nutmeg cookies are the perfect treat with a raw malted oat milk. quick, easy and dairy free - a delicious raw chocolate puddingThis dessert is so named not because of any refined sugars or heavy creams, but after the pomegranate seeds which were the downfall of Persephone.
Nutty Bars
Diary and gluten free nutty bars. I’ve added some lemon for zingyness which makes the bars even more sweetly comforting rather than cloying, in fact, I think the combination of dates and lemon gives a little surprising effervescence to the slices. Quick and easy, vegan, dairy-free, sugar-free
Read also: Origins of the 3 Meals a Day Diet
Lime Mousse with Strawberries
Simple and delicious, this lime mousse with strawberries is quick and easy to make and even easier to eat.
Vegan Banana Bread
Banana bread is a fantastic way to use up overripe bananas, but the typical recipes are packed to the rafters with sugar, even the vegan ones. So I created this wholefood vegan banana bread recipe. It’s gluten-free, paleo and naturally sweetened.
Watermelon Christmas Trees
These watermelon Christmas trees are the perfect raw treat to take to any party. Frankly they’re so impressive, so delicious and SO easy, I say take them everywhere! And I can tell you from experience, they’re a great way to encourage kids to eat more fruit - my 4yo daughter loves them.
Avocado Banana Yoghurt
If you’re looking for a dairy free, nut-free yoghurt alternative, give my avocado banana yoghurt recipe a try. And although it does look a bit like avocado snot, I promise that it tastes like a tangy, sweet banana and vanilla yoghurt.
Medjool Dates with Walnut Cheese and Apple
One of my favourite snacks when I was growing up was a plate of dates, apples and cheese. This raw, vegan, organic alternative combines Botanical Cuisine’s walnut cheese with sticky medjool dates and slices of crisp sweet apple. Be warned, these are addictive.
Bliss Balls
When I was a kid, we used to make peanut butter balls with carob and coconut, and we called them "Bliss Balls". Now that my sister has a two year old and pregnant with her 2nd, she started asking me if I remembered the recipe or if I could make one up.
Beverages
New Year's Celebration Drink
Another very tasty New Year's Celebration drink! This can also be made with or without champagne, and a slight twist on the classic bellini drink! This is also a frozen beverage, so make sure you have a blender on hand! You will need: 1 bottle champagne or sparkling apple juice (I used R.W. Knudsen's).
Healthy New Year's Drinks
If you're looking for ideas for some original yet healthy New Year's drinks, well look no further! This drink can be made with sparkling apple juice or champagne, it's up to you! The taste is original and fresh, it will make you keep wanting more!
Coconut Almond Milk
I've been VERY attached to my Coconut Almond Milk, I think it's my new favorite! Remember my delicious Coconut Almond Milk recipe and how you have the option to strain the almond and coconut pulp from the milk? Once you do that you are left with a delicious pulp, and nothing to do with it.
Other Recipes
Kale Pesto
This AMAZING kale pesto recipe initially appeared in my Gluten Free Pesto Pasta post. But it is too good to miss, so I'm creating it's own post. This pesto can be used as a dip for vegetables or chips, a creamy sauce for pasta, or just to eat plain on its own!
Raw Eggplant Bacon
I’ve never eaten bacon often enough to be any kind of expert, but one thing I can tell you for sure - this raw eggplant bacon is delicious! Mmmmm, so crisp and crunchy and packed with flavour.
Apple Chips
I already have a recipe on my blog for dehydrated apple chips, but since I sold my dehydrator awhile ago, I decided to see how apple chips would come out in the oven. Turns out, they come out GREAT! And much faster to make than in a dehydrator. This recipe is simple, and tastes amazing!
Saint Patrick's Day Dessert Special
A Saint Patrick's Day dessert special! Avocado, lime and fresh mint, topped with a homemade chocolate sauce! Also known as green on green on green, and…some brown, of course.
Vegan Holiday Pumpkin Dishes
Yes, another pumpkin recipe! I'm usually not that into making various pumpkin recipes, but for some reason this year I am really wanting to create more vegan holiday pumpkin dishes. So, stay tuned for more after this!
Storage Tips
Raw snacks, especially crackers, have a long shelf life if dehydrated correctly. They can last up to a month in the pantry if sealed well and for months in the freezer. Storing crackers in the freezer is a great way to maintain their freshness and extend their shelf life.