Cashew Whipped Cream Strawberries are a Sweet Treat
Recipe by Triad to Wellness Consulting – Photos Courtesy of Kristen Massad
Certain foods just belong together like peanut butter and jelly, milk and cookies, and our favorite, strawberries and cream! While the combination of berries and cream tastes delicious, smart pairings like these have an added nutritional benefit. That’s why our Cashew Whipped Cream Strawberries recipe is the perfect vegan, gluten-free, refined sugar-free, nutrient-dense dessert, because while you’re enjoying this yummy treat your body is absorbing important vitamins like vitamin C and vitamin E.
An overnight soak of raw cashews makes this dip decadently delicious on its own. But, when it is naturally sweetened with sorghum syrup and vanilla, we create an irresistibly rich and creamy filling for stuffing inside a hollowed out strawberry. Once blended, the cashews become silky in texture with a wholesome sweet flavor. It makes a healthier alternative to traditional whipped cream since it is full of vitamins and minerals.
Since cashews are full of heart-healthy fats and protein, they provide a steady stream of energy when paired with strawberries. Simple yet satisfying, our Cashew Whipped Cream Strawberries are a healthy stuffed-fruit treat. Their hand-held size makes them the ideal indulgence too!
Nutrient Booster: Cashews
Cashews are packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, including vitamins E, K, and B-6, along with minerals like copper, phosphorus, zinc, magnesium, and selenium. Each nutrient plays its part in providing bone strength and joint flexibility, improving memory, supporting healthy blood and immune system functions and protecting against heart disease and cancer. These compounds can protect the eyes from age-related macular degeneration.
Cashews contain about 66% heart-healthy monounsaturated fats which is important for regulating blood glucose levels and insulin responses, especially for those with diabetes. This “good fat” is believed to help prevent heart disease and reduce the risk of stroke. Research shows that consuming more nuts, like cashews, can improve cardiovascular health by reducing blood pressure and lowering cholesterol levels.
There are many ways to enjoy the health benefits of cashews by consuming them daily. They are obviously deliciously crunchy to eat by the handful. However, they can also be crushed and sprinkled over yogurt and desserts. Cashew butter can be added to a smoothie or spread on toast. And cashews can be soaked and blended into a savory cheese or a sweet cream.
Soak Once, Eat Twice!
We love including soaked cashews in our recipes because there are so many dishes that they can add flavor and nutrition to. We prefer to soak our cashews at length, because the longer they soak, the easier they are to digest. A longer soak also means their nutrients are more easily absorbed.
Cashew cream can serve as an alternative to whipped cream in desserts or replace dairy spreads, like butter and cream cheese. It can add body to vegetable-based soups or be topped over chilies and stews. It can be used as a dip for raw veggies or chips. And once you soak your cashews you can use it a number of our deliciously sweet and savory recipes.
For a sweet treat, try our Berry & Cashew Cream Dessert “Pizza” or our Sweet Potato Bites with Pecans and Cashew Cream. Soaked cashews are also tasty in our savory dishes, like our Zesty Herb Cashew Cheese. Our Cashew Cream recipe makes the best sauce substitute for just about any thick, creamy and dairy-based ingredient. It’s a blank canvas for your favorite recipes, vegan or not.
Cashew Cream Stuffed Strawberries
Ingredients
- 1 cup raw cashews, soaked overnight or boiled for 20min
- 3 tablespoons water
- 1 tablespoon sorghum syrup, or maple syrup
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
- Dash of sea salt
- 1 quart strawberries, cored
Instructions
- Add cashews, water, sorghum syrup, vanilla extract, cinnamon and sea salt to a high-speed blender. Blend for 1 to 2 minutes, or until creamy. Note: If it seems too thick add an additional tablespoon of water.
- Fill cavities of cored strawberries with 1 tablespoon of cashew cream. Serve.
Notes
Triad to Wellness is a nutrition consultant for the Sorghum Checkoff. We were not compensated for this post; all opinions are our own.
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