Look closely…
What do you see in this photo?
Do you see…
A. unicorns and rainbows?
B. flying puppies?
C. Brownies iced in thick fudgey frosting, without ANY butter or sugar?
Hopefully you see the third choice: a decadent coffee fudge frosting recipe that is made without powdered sugar and without butter or shortening. Yet it is super rich and creamy—the perfect topping for any cake or brownies!
Above: used as frosting for my Black Bean Brownies.
Side note: If you chose answers A or B (the unicorns or puppies), it might be a good idea to talk to a psychologist about this. Or maybe an eye doctor…
You won’t miss the butter.
Promise.
Coffee Fudge Frosting
- 1 cup raw cashews or macadamia nuts (110g)
- 1/4 cup + 3 tbsp espresso or strong coffee
- very scant 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 2 tsp pure maple syrup
- 1/8 tsp uncut stevia OR 4 tbsp powdered sugar (or simply increase the maple syrup to 4 tbsp, and decrease coffee to 1/4 cup)
Place the nuts in a cereal-sized bowl and cover with water. Let sit at least 6 hours, or overnight. Drain the liquid, then combine all ingredients in a small food processor or blender until super-smooth. (I actually used my Magic Bullet for this. If your food processor is too big, you might need to double the recipe for smoother blending.) For all substitution notes, see the nutrition link below:
Do you wear glasses at all?
When I was little, I wanted to wear glasses so badly. My optician uncle sent us pairs of fake glasses, and my sister and I actually wore them to school for a few months. Now that I do sometimes wear glasses, for far distances and driving, I wish I didn’t need them. It’s especially difficult to remember to bring them shopping, and I’m constantly losing them!
Link of the Day:
Coconut Ice Cream – 5 New Recipes
I’m not usually a frosting fan, but this looks delicious.
I started wearing glasses when I was 6 (beginning of my 2nd grade year in school). I wore them until I got contacts when I was 16. Now I wear glasses only when I’m not wearing my contacts (usually first thing in the morning and before I go to bed). I have to wear the RGP lenses but dream of one day getting IOL surgery (they implant a lens behind your iris but in front of your natural lens). I would love to not have to rely on glasses.
This frosting sounds absolutely magical, I need to make this asap.
I’ve had glasses since 7th grade (but I usually wear contacts) I’m pretty blind without them, I can’t even see the big E at the top of the eye chart!
Oh man, are your photos getting better and better every day. Have you ever thought about doing professional photography? Although for selfish reasons, I would prefer you keep blogging. I check your website first thing every day!
I am SO excited to try this sugar-free frosting recipe, Katie! I was talking with a friend the other day about how much fun vegan baking is (‘cuz I’ll promote veganism from ANY angle; I do it for ethical rather than health/weight concerns!). But when she asked me about frosting, I told her I usually don’t bother with it now that I know it’s all just sugar and “butter.” Even if I don’t particularly care about eating healthy foods all the time, consuming powdered sugar by the spoonful is just an unappetizing concept to me. So THANK you for this delicious-looking alternative. Mmmmm….
And I’ve had the same love/hate relationship with my glasses: When a girl at school got glasses in kindergarten, I wanted them so badly; but now that I’VE been wearing them since kindergarten myself, they’re driving me crazy. So I just got the go-ahead from the eye doctor for PRK/LASIK surgery YESTERDAY!!! I’ll have clear vision in a couple of weeks!!!!
you crazy woman. you’ve gone and done it now… and I thank you from the bottom of my growling stomach (it seriously is growling…overshare?). looks like I have everything. Maybe my mom will let me borrow from her Starbucks Via stash. or not.
I do have glasses. I just never wear them. problem solved 🙂
And don’t feel bad about losing your glasses. A couple of years ago I sat on mine and crushed them. And my sister has already broken 4 pairs of glasses- in ONE month. yeesh, like money grows on trees.
This looks so amazing! I am drooling over here…but that’s nothing new when I’m on your page 🙂 I also wear glasses for distances and driving….and I ALWAYS forget to bring them with me since I don’t need them all the time. It’s a pain!
I don’t wear glasses yet, although I have a feeling I’m overdue for an eye exam. I have a pair of rainbow cheaters that I adore and occasionally use for a few minutes at a time when I’m sewing or drawing.
I love the look of glasses, although I have a feeling I’d change my tune quickly if I HAD to wear them. I do love those rainbow cheaters, though. Back when I used to still play around on an online dating site, I put up a picture of myself wearing the glasses, just for the hell of it. Immediately after I noticed a guy I had dated briefly and was still friends with (and who I still had a huge crush on) was looking at my profile every ten seconds. After the tenth notice that he’d looked at my profile, I got a message from him saying, “I’m sorry for crazily stalking your profile, I just can’t believe how cute you look with those glasses!”
I had never considered this before or since, but I briefly thought of scrubbing at my eyes with steel wool so I’d actually need the glasses.
Oooo no don’t! Ouch! Boys aren’t worth it ;).
hahaha… thanks for tip!
JUST KIDDING.
I could just eat this all by itself! SO glad I have a full kitchen in my dorm so I can still make things!
I am just waiting for the nuts to soak, and if all goes well I will try this out tonight with your “one minute chocolate cake” that is eaten every night in my house! 🙂 It’s my favorite recipe of all time!
I have 20/15 vision… “More than perfect”. Heheheh. 8)
I did a twist on this frosting for your healthy chocolate chip blondies! Instead of coffee, though, I used cocoa powder. 🙂 I used cashew butter in the blondies and cashews in the frosting to prevent the tastes from clashing… Both the frosting and the blondies are heavenly. Thank you!
Oh my gosh that sounds so good! I am going to have to steal your idea! I like coffee ok, but I REALLY like chocolate! !!!
I am wearing my glasses right now. It’s the first thing I do every morning when I get up is put them on. I tried contacts, but meh. I prefer glasses and my face feels funny without them!
I’m pinning this recipe….this is genius! I did wear glasses, but got lasik as a college graduation gift and am so glad I did. I do wear sunglasses outside all of the time, though.
Not wanting to seem like a jerk, but the recipe does have sugar! Maple syrup is pretty much pure (though yes, natural) sugar?
I don’t have to wear glasses, my prescription is really weak, but they are kind of a fetish of mine, I have 5 pairs..
You could make it sugar free using only stevia though. 😀
What I’m pretty sure it means is it doesn’t have any of the white stuff known as “sugar”. So technically CCK is correct in stating it has no sugar. As long as you use the stevia instead of powdered sugar.
Yes, what Karen wrote :).
I made sure to not categorize it under my “sugar-free” tab, as I agree that maple syrup still is a form of sugar.
Exactly what I was going to say! Such a lie to say it’s sugar free… besides, cane sugar is not BAD for you, any more than maple syrup is. Both are pure, natural sugar.
Hi Katie, I am allergic to all nuts except for almonds (which aren’t actually nuts). Anyway, do you think almonds could replace the cashews/macadamia nuts? Thanks!!
See “nutrition facts” link ;).
I wear glasses, yep! I got my first pair when I was around 19. They were a minor prescription for reading but I loved them so much that I wore them ALL the time. Then my eyesight got worse. Now I haven to wear glasses all the time. Darnit!
I usually wear contacts, but I always take them out at night. They can be a pain, but I will say that probably one of my favorite parts of the day is when I can take my contacts out. When I have my glasses on, I know it’s time to relax! (And as always, I really wish I could just reach into my computer screen like Willy Wonka and grab your delicious treats!)