Sometimes in life it comes down to tough decisions.
For example, when your iPhone gets really full and you have to delete some music. That’s when you have to have to ask yourself the hard questions. Questions like… do I really need this much Katy Perry music? Does anyone?
When hard questions like this come up, you also have to stop and analyze yourself. I mean… what does it say about you that the most played song in your iTunes is 3 am by Matchbox Twenty. You must be lonely?
There’s only one thing to do while you contemplate these hard decisions and life questions… you have to eat some sugar-free peach parfait.
If you’re one of the folks jumping on the no-refined-sugar bandwagon, you’re gonna love me for this one. And even if you’re not, I promise you won’t be able to tell the difference between this and a “typical” dessert that does involve refined sugar… well, except that this one might taste better. 
This dessert revolves around seasonal, ripe peaches and my secret ingredients – cashews and dates – to create a creamy, dreamy parfait that’s gluten-free, grain-free, dairy-free, and works wonderfully for folks with dietary restrictions, raw foodies, plant-based folks/vegans, and folks following a paleo lifestyle.
To start, you’re going to need some fresh ripe peaches.
No peaches? Try subbing nectarines, berries, or if there are any left in season still, cherries go amazing with this!
The key to this creamy parfait is raw cashews that have been soaked in water to soften and then blended with dates and a little coconut oil. The cashews and coconut oil add some healthy fats to the dessert, which also lets us get away with fewer dates.
Have you ever noticed that low-fat or non-fat desserts are much higher in sugar content? It’s because fat tastes good to us so when fat is removed, it’s often replaced with extra sugar.
In this dessert, I’m using plant-based fats to decrease the overall sugar content, even though the only sweetness is coming from the dates. If you are on a completely sugar-free diet and dates are a no-no for you, then try substituting a few drops of liquid vanilla stevia to taste.
Next, you’re going to need a cat. Preferably a very sweet and nosey one who likes to get in the way of your food photo shoots.
And finally, I like to finish my dessert off with a sprinkle of ground cinnamon. It’s not mandatory, but cinnamon helps to balance blood sugar so I like to add it to my desserts and it also adds a nice flavor of its own.
What are your favorite desserts with peaches this season?
SUGAR-FREE PEACH PARFAIT
PREP TIME
TOTAL TIME
Author: Sonnet
Recipe type: Dessert
Serves: 4
INGREDIENTS
- 1 cup raw unsalted cashews
- 3 medium dates, pitted
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil
- ¼ cup water (more as needed)
- 1 pound ripe peaches, pitted and diced
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
INSTRUCTIONS
- Soak the cashews and dates in 2 cups of water for 10 - 30 minutes to soften. Drain the water.
- Add cashews and dates to a food processor or blender. Add the coconut oil and ¼ cup water to start. Process or blend, scraping the sides and adding more water, 1 tablespoon at a time, as necessary until the cashews reach the consistency of yogurt.
- Add about two tablespoons of the cashew cream to four bowls or glasses. Top with a few spoonfuls of diced peaches and continue layering. Add a sprinkle of cinnamon over the top.
- Chill in the refrigerator for at least 20 minutes prior to serving.
NOTES
If you don't have dates on hand, you could also substitute a tablespoon of pure maple syrup or honey, or a few drops of vanilla liquid stevia to taste.
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