By: Guest Writer~ Lynn Gold
Health and Paleo Blogger
Ah, Valentine’s Day. If you are looking for paleo desserts for valentine’s day, that are delicious, nutritious, and sexy– This post is for you!
Valentine’s day should be every day–nevertheless, Valentine’s Day is… A day to celebrate love by eating as much chocolate, candy, and decadent food as possible. I fondly remember Valentine’s Day parties in elementary school and competing to see how sugar-filled we could get before going back to our parents. I remember those coconut-covered pink snowballs filled with marshmallows, snack cakes with heart-shaped sprinkles, and dozens of conversation hearts. Looking back on it, it’s a wonder I have any teeth left…
Now, as a Paleo eater (and a much healthier adult), it can often be challenging to incorporate food-related holidays into my normal life. I work to nourish my body each day with high-quality foods, and that definitely does not include a chocolate-only diet (doesn’t that sound awesome?!).
But, how can a Paleo lifestyle possibly fit into a chocolate-covered holiday like Valentine’s Day? V-Day is a day set aside to celebrate love, and one of the best ways to celebrate that love is by loving yourself.
Switching to a Paleo diet helps to maximize the amount of good, quality nutrition going into your body while working to eliminate harmful foods that don’t benefit you. But, thanks to the magic of some amazing recipes, you can feel like you’re cheating on your Paleo life, while still eating the foods your body needs.
This year, I’m celebrating Valentine’s Day with a hike outside (hello, 70-degree weather in Vegas!) and a sushi dinner (#teamwhiterice). There will definitely be a few sweet treats that day as my sweet tooth is calling for chocolate.
I’ve rounded up a list of the 10 Paleo-friendly decadent treats that I’d love to eat on Valentine’s Day.
1. Lexi’s Clean Kitchen Chocolate Decadence Tart
A tart that doesn’t require any special equipment? Sign me up! And if you don’t feel like making the crust, I bet you could just spoon the chocolate filling over some berries and call it a day.
2. Diane Sanfilippo’s Grain-Free Magic Cookie Bars
This recipe is been on my list to try for a LONG time. Creamy coconut, dark chocolate, and crunchy walnuts. I’m in! I’d substitute some milk chocolate for the peanut butter chips, you can never have too much chocolate right?
3. Iowa Girl Eats’ Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Bites
At last, you can indulge in raw cookie dough without even thinking about the eggs. This super simple recipe is made right in your food processor, meaning you can go from ingredients to cookies in less than 10 minutes. Late night cookie craving solved fast? That’s the dream.
4. Running to the Kitchen’s Fudgy Paleo Skillet Brownie
I am honestly amazed that you can make a brownie using ingredients that are good for your body, and have it still turn out fudgy, rich, and chocolaty. Do your body a favor by nourishing it with this treat.
5. The Healthy Maven’s Healthy Chocolate Mug Cake
With just a couple of easy swaps of almond meal and almond butter, this cake becomes totally Paleo. The best part? You mix it in the mug you eat it in. Even better? It’s ready in 70 seconds.
6. Eating Bird Food’s Paleo Chocolate Coconut Tart
With less than 10 ingredients, these tarts are still sure to be a showstopper. They are a healthy source of fats and would leave you feeling good, not overly sugared.
7. PaleOMG’s Cheesecake Bites
I think my soul food is probably a cheesecake. There’s just something about the creamy filling with the buttery crust making them a perfect paleo dessert for Valentine’s Day. But, my body hates me after eating it. Womp womp. Fortunately, there are some Paleo-friendly cheesecakes like this one, so I can literally have my cake and eat it too.
8. The PaleoNewbie’s Banana Nut Chocolate Chip Muffins
I think you should get to eat chocolate whenever you want. And that includes breakfast. Feel good about it by having one of these muffins that are loaded with good-for-you ingredients too.
9. PaleoParents’ White Chocolate Strawberry Cake Balls
These have a few steps, but the end result looks amazing. You could definitely make a batch and bring it with you a V-Day party so you have a treat you can eat too. Plus, they are a handy little size, so you eat more of them, right?
10. My Whole Food Life’s Dark Chocolate Raspberry Truffles
Homemade fancy chocolates? I’m making a batch of these to keep in the freezer. I bet they’d be good with bananas in them too.
I am really loving these paleo desserts. The cheesecake bites and truffles look delicious… ok, ok all of them.
thanks for sharing these recipes. I am gong to make a couple for tomorrows romantic dinner. Yum!
Let me know how they turn out – Lynn @paleointhewild