If you follow me on Instagram you’ve probably noticed that my last few posts have centred around berries – that’s because I’m taking part in another amazing Seasonal Berries project – the #BerriesNotBiscuits campaign. I’ve made a large selection of grab and go snacks that are just perfect for the working environment; Raw PB & J Bars, Blueberry and Banana Breakfast Bars, Raw Jam Filled Donut Holes, and now Raw Jammy Dodgers.
Silky cashew creme and raspberry chia jam are sandwiched between vanilla cookie dough to make the best Raw Jammy Dodgers you have ever tasted.
Raw Jammy Dodgers? Kind of sounds a little ironic I know considering the campaign title is Berries Not Biscuits, but just hear me out. The campaign centres around the notion that we often grab those super sugary snacks, the ones that make us have that short burst of energy followed by a big old sugar crash, over something a lot healthier such as fresh berries. But what makes berries so special and why are they better? Well, unlike your favourite chocolate bar their natural sugars release into your bloodstream slowly, providing you with a lasting burst of energy that remains steady throughout the day. It’s a long-term fix and not a short, cheap thrill. Sounds better than a big old sugar spike to me!
I mean, I’m sure you all know that midday slump, you know – where your eyes get super heavy and your brain just fogs out to the point that you find yourself staring at the computer screen SO hard, wishing your work would just write itself for once. We’ve all been there. I’ve been there. I don’t tend to talk about my past much, I’m a little bit embarrassed to admit it, but like most people I was stuck in the 9 to 5 rut, grabbing that shiny wrapped up chocolate bar in a hurry, all because it looked THAT good. Like seriously good.
Not once did I ever make the correlation between what I was putting into my body and how I was feeling, not until I started to wise up nutritionally. It’s for this reason that I didn’t want to go super-duper healthy with my recipes for this campaign. Personally, I’m happy to eat just a big old bowl of fresh berries but I wanted those grab and go snacks to be relatable, easy to prepare, and most of all delicious. I wanted you guys to feel nostalgia over your favourite snacks, and I didn’t want you to feel like you were missing out on the fun. The recipes that I have designed for this campaign are all vegan, gluten and grain free, and free from any artificial flavourings or processed sugars. They are the healthiest version of the snacks you love and are a great way to transition into the world of healthy eating.
If you’re struggling with low mood and productivity levels at work here are a few amazing seasonal berry related tips to keep you on track and leave you wanting to grab those berries, not biscuits:
- Boost your immunity with just 7 fresh strawberries. That’s right – 7 strawberries are enough to provide you with a much-needed dosage of vitamins and minerals that support immune action, whilst a handful of blueberries is packed with vitamins A and C, responsible for the production of antibodies. So, grab some berries and stave off those Autumnal colds now!
- Feed your brain and boost your mood. Your brain and body require glucose for energy production. Your brain can’t actually store glucose, so it’s important to re-feed it every 3 to 4 hours otherwise you will find that both your mood and concentration dip. Every berry is perfect for replenishing your brain which will help you to think clearer and faster.
- Boost your energy levels – berries contain fructose (fruit sugar) making their natural sugars release slowly into your bloodstream to help keep your mood and energy levels steady throughout the day. Berries such as strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries all have low glycemic loads. The glycemic load is a food’s real-life impact upon your blood sugar and the lower the better!
- Stay regular and beat constipation. Just a single cup of fresh strawberries provides 2g of dietary fibre, while a cup of blueberries provides 3.6g of fibre, whilst blackberries and raspberries both contain 8g. Constipation is no laughing matter, it’s uncomfortable, stressful, and let’s face it – downright distracting! Regular bowel movements will keep you happy and comfy at work which is really a no-brainer.
- Get that glow by scoffing on all the berries your heart desires. Berries are antioxidant-rich and so possess anti-inflammatory properties which will help you battle those nasty free radicals and age gracefully. Berries are also rich in vitamin C which is needed for your body to produce collagen and keep that elasticity in your skin. The older you get the less collagen you’ll have, so get noshing. Plus, all of those compliments from your colleagues are sure to boost your productivity levels!
So if I still haven’t convinced you to stop bingeing on biscuits with those super informative nutritional facts then maybe my Raw Jammy Dodgers will change your mind. These are great to snack on at your desk but they do need to be stored in the refrigerator to stop you from making a huge mess. I’ve made sure that this recipe makes just 5 Jammy Dodgers so that you’ll have one for each working day (so long as you don’t eat the whole lot)!
I hope that you found this post super helpful. If you feel like you’ve got something to add please drop me a comment using the comments box below. And make sure you check out Seasonal Berries via their Twitter and Instagram for more informational updates, and most importantly – yummy berry recipes.
If you haven’t done it already please do vote for me as ‘Paleo Blogger of the Year’ in the very 1st ever UK Paleo Awards by clicking here. It’s an honour to have been nominated, and this is what I’ve working towards since I started my blog in 2014! Thanks so much for your support guys… Georgie xxx
- 1 cup raw cashews
- ⅓ cup ground almonds
- 3 tbsp light agave nectar
- ¼ tsp vanilla powder or 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Pinch sea salt
- ½ cup/75g fresh raspberries (or any other berry)
- 1 tbsp light agave nectar
- 1-1.5 tbsp chia seeds
- 1-2 tbsp lemon juice
- ¼ cup cashews (pre-soaked for 2 hours)
- 2 tbsp xylitol (powdered)
- ½ tbsp light agave nectar
- 1 tsp coconut oil (melted)
- 1 tsp cacao butter (melted)
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- 40ml water
- Start by making your frosting. In a high-speed processor add the drained and rinsed, pre-soaked, cashews followed by the remaining ingredients and process on a low speed a few times before scraping down the sides and blending on a high speed until smooth. Pour into a small bowl and place in the refrigerator for 1 hour to set.
- It's now time to make your dough. Place your cashews and ground almonds into the bowl of your food processor. Process until a flour-like consistency is achieved. Add in your agave, vanilla, and salt and process until your mixture starts to come together into a dough. It doesn't have to instantly 'ball' together but if you pinch it between your fingers it should be quite oily and sticky.
- Remove the mix from your food processor, roll into a ball, cover with cling film, and refrigerate for 15 minutes.
- Next, add your fresh raspberries into a cup or small glass jar and crush with the back of a fork until the mix is lump free. Stir in your agave, followed by your chia seeds, and your lemon juice. Gradually add your lemon juice until the desired taste is achieved. Place into the refrigerator until needed.
- Once your dough has firmed up remove from the fridge and place onto a sheet of greaseproof paper. Roll out gently using a rolling pin until about 0.5cm thick. Using an upturned 5.5cm (2.25") cookie cutter (crinkly side up) cut out as many rounds as possible, placing on a greaseproof paper lined
baking tray. Take a 3.5cm (1.5") star, or any other shape, cookie cutter and cut out a star from the centre of 5 of the rounds. Roll up the excess into a ball, roll, cut out the remaining rounds and place onto the tray. Place the cookies into the fridge for 20 minutes to firm up. - Remove both the cookies and the frosting from the fridge. Scoop a generous teaspoon onto each cookie base and using an offset spatula smooth the icing toward the outer edges but not the whole way (once you put the lids on the pressure will push the icing outward). Place into the freezer for 15 minutes to firm up.
- Next scoop a generous teaspoon of the jam onto the top of the creme layer, smooth with your offset spatula then top with your cut-out cookies! Et voila - Jammy Dodgers! Store in an airtight container, lined with kitchen towel, in the fridge for up to a week.
**All cup measurements used are UK cup measurements and so 1 cup = 250ml.
12 Comments
Renee Kohley
25th September 2017 at 7:14 pmThese are so fun! yum!
Jean
26th September 2017 at 12:00 amYes, I’ll take any excuse to eat more berries. These look heavenly!
Kari - Get Inspired Everyday!
27th September 2017 at 4:50 pmMy husband absolutely loves raspberries, so he’d have a batch of these gone in no time!
RecipestoNourish
1st October 2017 at 3:05 amI’ve never heard of this type of cookie before. They remind me of thumbprints in a way, but with a creamy filling. Yum!
Holley Marth
1st October 2017 at 7:38 pmMan… these look so darn good! Soaking cashews right now!
ChihYu
2nd October 2017 at 2:01 amLove that you always have the best (and cutest) idea for healthy paleo sweets. YUM !!
Katja
2nd October 2017 at 4:00 amYUM! These are so cute and look delish!
STACEY CRAWFORD
2nd October 2017 at 4:12 pmThese are darling and so tasty! Love the star in the center showing the cream and jam filling!
edwarddb
2nd October 2017 at 7:32 pmThese are my weakness for sure! I used to love traditional jammie dodgers and now I have a Paleo friendly alternative – yummie!
greensofthestoneage
18th February 2018 at 11:08 amSorry for my mega late reply Darryl I used to LOVE them too! I think I’ll have to make a baked version too
Becky Winkler
3rd October 2017 at 9:51 pmI don’t think I’ve ever found a raw cookie appealing before, but these look great! Definitely in need of more antioxidants this time of year!
greensofthestoneage
18th February 2018 at 11:07 amHey Becky! Thanks so much for such a wonderful comment and apologies it’s taken me so long to say thanks ❤️