Day Five is Vegan Cherry Cordials!

Day Five of the Valentine’s Day Challenge is Vegan Cherry Cordials! For those who don't know, cherry cordials are chocolate covered cherries. I used to love cherry cordials so I was so excited to make these! They’re a little time intensive and require that you think ahead but the end result will be amazing.

I’ve been baking a lot of bread lately, things like bagels and garlic knots are in the works so if you’re looking for a good vegan bagel recipe check out: the wicked good vegan!

- Alexis ♥

Vegan Cherry Cordials

• 1 10 ounce jar of maraschino cherries
• 2 tablespoons vegan butter
• 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
• 1 cup Vegan chocolate chips
• 1-2 tablespoons cherry juice
• 1 teaspoon corn syrup
• ½ teaspoon almond extract

Directions

In advance, drain the maraschino cherries (reserving some of the cherry juice) and dry the cherries as much as possible before beginning this recipe. (I recommend freezing them before covering in the powdered sugar mixture/)

Beat together the butter, one cup of the sugar, almond extract, corn syrup and cherry juice until well incorporated and then add in the leftover ½ cup of sugar and knead until it becomes soft dough. If the dough is too sticky add more powdered sugar.

Refrigerate the dough until ready to use.

Once your cherries and dough are ready wrap each cherry with the dough and roll it out in your hand to smooth it out into a ball. If your dough isn't firm enough, roll the cherries in it and then freeze it for an hour or two. Once you’re done freezing it, roll the dough covered cherries in your hand to smooth into out into a nice smooth ball. Freeze the cherries until nice and firm.

Melted the chocolate over a double boiler and let it cool a bit before covered the cherries. Make sure you have a station set up to cover the cherries because they tend to start melting very quickly so you have to cover them in chocolate as quickly as possible. (I did two or three at a time and then put the cherries back in the freezer to chill more and repeated this process until all the cherries are covered.) I used a fork to roll them in the chocolate and then let the excess drain before transferring to my container for the cherries.

After you’re done covering all of the cherries, freeze them until they’re set and then transfer to the refrigerator until ready to eat!

*Tip: Make sure you completely cover the cherries or else the filling will start to leak out. I suggest covering them in chocolate once, letting them freeze and if they’re not completely covered, cover them in chocolate again.

*Tip #2: The longer you let them sit, the more the inside will turn to liquid like a traditional cherry cordial. They taste amazing either way though!

Double Chocolate Cherry Brownies with Cherry Frosting!

Day three of the Vegan Valentine’s Day Challenge features Double Chocolate Cherry Brownies with Cherry Frosting! The frosting is of course optional but tastes delicious. I will have some healthier Valentine’s Day treats coming up soon; even I get tired of all the sugar! Plus, it’s okay to indulge sometimes but not all of them!

I've been hard at work endlessly baking for this fourteen day Valentine’s Day Challenge and of all things doing my own little crafts for the day as well. Sometimes it’s so much better to create something special and meaningful to give to someone rather than just buying some store bought hallmark card and candy. I’m sure there are more than a few people out there that don’t agree with the whole commercially exploited Valentine’s Day (which I agree that it is) but there’s nothing wrong with showing your significant other how much you love them on this particular day as long as you show them on other days as well!

I hope you’re all having an amazing week! :)

- Alexis ♥

Double Chocolate Cherry Brownies with Cherry Frosting

• 2 flax eggs (2 tablespoons flax meal + 6 tablespoons warm water)
• ¾ cup flour
• ½ cup Vegan Chocolate Chips, melted
• ½ cup unsweetened Cocoa Powder
• ½ cup brown sugar
• ½ cup chopped maraschino cherries
• ½ cup walnuts, chopped
• 1/3 cup vegan butter
• 3 tablespoons water
• 3 ½ teaspoons cherry juice
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon salt

Frosting

• 2 cups powdered sugar
• ½ cup vegan butter
• 10 teaspoons cherry juice (if you have cherry extract use 1 teaspoon or more and vegan food coloring for color)

Directions

Preheat your oven to 350°F.

Whisk together your flax meal and water and set aside to thicken.

Beat together butter and sugar until light and fluffy and then beat in the flax eggs, vanilla extract, melted chocolate and cherry juice.

Sift together all of your dry ingredients and then add them into the wet ingredients, a cup at a time, until everything becomes well combined (this will be a thick and sticky batter). Fold in the cherries and chopped nuts and beat in the three tablespoons of water if the batter is especially thick.

Transfer your batter to a greased pan and bake for 30 – 45 minutes or until the brownies set.

Let them cool completely before frosting.

For the Frosting:

Beat together the powdered sugar, butter and cherry juice until well combined. If you feel the frosting is too thin, add more powdered sugar.

Enjoy!