The best of chocolate: 10 fave gluten-free & vegan recipes

above, my raspberry black forest brownies

 Pregnancy cravings can be weird.

The other day I wanted leftover skillet potatoes, green olives, & siracha sauce–for breakfast.

Every day is a bit different, & I try to eat as intuitively as I can (even if it is “weird”).

Sometimes I just want a HUGE leafy green salad drenched in a lemon vinaigrette. Other times I crave a thick chocolate milkshake (vegan, of course). Or a big bowl of hearty chili. Sometimes I can eat a ton, other times I’m FULL after a few bites.

Pregnancy is roller coaster of cravings, emotions, & a rapidly changing body. It’s also a time, in my opinion, to relish the beauty of creating a new life. I’d like to think that what I’m feeding my body is helping to create a super-duper gorgeous & healthy baby, so I want to make sure I’m doing my best to feed it right.

Which brings me to chocolate.

Lately I’ve been craving chocolate anything. Also, did I mention avocados? I sometimes eat it straight out of the skin, with a sprinkling of salt. Or I throw them into salad, soup, spread it on a rice cake or bread. So chocolate & avocados. Though so hard, I’m going to trust my body when it says it wants those things.

Since I’ve been in a chocolate-loving mood, I thought it was time to do another best of (the last two were: pumpkin & autumn, if you missed them).

Here’s my 10 ten list–all vegan & gluten-free

A note on pinning etiquette: Feel free to pin the top image (it’s mine) from my site, but for all the recipes below, please click on the recipe name below each image & it will take you to the direct site where you can pin the image & recipe. Thank you, you’re a dear. 

Want more chocolate-speration? Check out my sweet pinterest board.

One of my fave ways to eat pumpkin pie. (I love this recipe!)

pumpkin chocolate pie, from Dreena at Plant-Powered Kitchen 

 Eat these, instead of your kid’s Halloween candy:

3-layer almond coconut chocolate bars, from Angela at Oh She Glows 

 Perfect! Combines my two current cravings–chocolate and avocados–from my friend Gena at Choosing Raw.

chocomole, a raw chocolate pudding

 Give me mint + chocolate + icecream + cookies, any day.

chocolate mint ice cream sandwiches (with quinoa cookies) from my friend Wendy at Cooking Quinoa

On my “chocolate, now!” days, give me this:

salted chocolate tart, from Beth at Tasty Yummies

Fitting for fall:

pumpkin swirl brownies, from Ricki at Ricki Heller

These put the traditional Twix bars to shame!

chocolate twix bars, from Katie at Chocolate Covered Katie

Fudge season is approaching. Arm yourself:

crazy-delicious chocolate fudge, from Kiersten, at Oh My Veggies

Only 3 ingredients! Simplicity at it’s best:

chocolate peanut butter rice krispie treats, from Alissa at Girl Makes Food

Love the addition of orange:

double chocolate orange milkshake, from Allyson at Allyson Kramer 

 ♥

Do you have a favorite way to eat chocolate? I love it combined with peanut butter, or mint. And with any kind of nuts.