My new obsession is vegan caramel. Try it! I'm pretty sure it's going to be yours too!

I first did that recipe for my Thanksgiving pumpkin panna cotta, and since then I always try to keep a jar ready in the fridge. Seriously... It's totally decadent !!! Let me give you a few ideas on how to use it...

What about a drizzle on homemade popcorn ? It's the entire family's fav's treat for our special movie nights!

Or a drizzle on a scoop of Island vanilla Coconut Bliss : add banana slices, crushed peanuts and melted chocolate and you have our son's favorite desert!

(Or you can just eat it as it with a BIG spoon directly from the jar!)

My wonderful friend from Prana Bio posted her new "Savor life with Marie" video series recently and the last one was a coconut thumbprint cookies with three jams recipe. I had to do my own gluten-free version! Instead of the spelt flour, I used bleached almond meal. The great thing about these cookies is that the fillings are customizable. Has you can see in the video, Marie is filling them with healthy jams and it looks incredible!

I had a jar of vegan caramel in the fridge that I needed to use... so I decided to fill mine with that sauce! Life is so hard sometimes ;)

Then... the caramel was calling for a pecan nut.

And the pecan was calling for... chocolate! Of course! This time, I used a healthy Nutella sauce/spread (I had to try this recipe!), but you can use simple melted chocolate if you want.

That's how a simple almond thumbprint cookie became a DECADENT soft and gooey "Turtle" cookie! I just HAD to share this recipe!

They are very soft when they come out of the oven but hold together very well has they cool down. If you put WAY TOO MUCH caramel like I did, they will definitely become sticky and softer... but hey! I personally have no problem with that ! The more you add the better ;)

They are pretty hard to resist!

If you're looking for a holiday cookie recipe, this is the one!

PLUS : if you're looking for DIY gifts recipes ideas ? Stop searching now!

A jar of this healthy "homemade Nutella" is going to put a smile on everyone's face! Prana Bio sells this AMAZING hazelnut butter that already tastes like Nutella. I adapted their famous chocolate spread recipe and what can I add... I almost ate all the jar myself during the photoshoot!

Add a little ribbon around a jar of my vegan caramel sauce and I'm pretty sure no one's going to be sad to receive this gourmet gift! (And even notice it's vegan!)

Turtle thumbprint cookies (vegan, gluten-free)

Yield : 20 cookies

IngredientS FOR THE TURTLE COOKIES :

2,5 cups organic blanched almond meal

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon sea salt

1/4 cup melted organic coconut oil

1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract

1/4 cup maple syrup (or honey or agave nectar)

1 flax egg (1 tablespoon grounded flax seeds + 3 tablespoons water)

Fillings :

20 pecan nuts

Vegan caramel

Nutella spread (recipe below)

INGREDIENTS FOR THE Healthy "Nutella" spread

Slightly adapted from Prana Bio (Homemade Hazelnut spread)

1 cup hazelnut butter

1/4 cup organic coconut oil, melted

1/3 cup raw cacao powder

1/4 cup maple syrup

1 tsp pure vanilla extract

1 pinch sea salt

For the cookies :

Preheat your oven at 375F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Prepare the flax egg. Set aside for 5 minutes.
Combine all the dry ingredients into a mixing bowl. Mix it together to combine.
Pour in the melted coconut oil, maple syrup and vanilla. Stir the batter until it forms a dough.
Roll about 1 tablespoon of dough the size of a golf ball. Place on the cookie pan. Press down the ball with your thumbprint.
Bake for 10-12 minutes.
Take out of the oven and cool down for about 15-20 minutes. The cookie come out with a VERY soft texture. When they are cooled down, fill the middle with caramel. Add a drizzle of melted chocolate. Finish with a little sprinkle of shredded coconut.

For the "Nutella" spread :

In a food processor or blender (or in a bowl), combine all the ingredients. Mix well to combine.
The spread will be liquid before you store it in the fridge. Use this soft "Nutella" sauce on your cookies. Cut the end of a Ziploc pastic bag and drizzle on the cookies. Store the rest in the fridge. The chocolate sauce will thicken and become a spread.
Enjoy with your favorite bread!

Happy Holidays to all my readers!