Snack Time at Huggy Bear’s
I think I’m going to have to start a new Friday Feature on P&TY. A feature based not on nutrition or plans. A feature based on absolute frivolity. (Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten last Friday’s cupcakes already. I haven’t. And neither has Gigi. No, Geeg, it’s not your birthday yet.)
Every Friday, I have next week’s meal plan written and the grocery list is made. The girls and I are just waiting for Pea Daddy to get home so we can do our weekly run to Costco, Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods.
In other words, the refrigerator is almost completely empty.
Except for the absolute necessities.
Hummus.
Root beer.
Pickles.
And apparently refrigerator grime.
Have we become so predictable? Yes. Yes, we have.
And though it may seem a little frivolous, furry purple slipper boots are absolutely necessary on Fridays.
Especially if your name is Lulu. Or Huggy Bear.
And Cookie Dough Dip is absolutely the purple furry boots of recipes.
And I’m okay with that.
Cookie Dough Dip
Serves one mommy and one toddler while one kindergartner is at school (shhhh…..)
(inspired by Jessica’s version, adapted from Evan’s)
- 1 c. raw cashews
- 2 T. almond butter
- 2 T. maple syrup or agave
- 2 T. nutritional yeast
- 1/2 t. sea salt
- 1/2 t. vanilla extract
- 2 T. non-dairy milk
- 1/4 c. dark chocolate chips
Combine cashews, almond butter, maple syrup, nutritional yeast, salt and vanilla in a blender or food processor.
Let me give you the low down on nutritional yeast, in case you are new to the “nooch” game.
Nutritional yeast is a nutritional supplement/condiment made from a deactivated yeast. “Nooch” has a nutty, salty, cheesy flavor. It is high in vitamin B12 and protein, and is most definitely an acquired taste. We put it on salads, in soups, in dressings, and the girls especially love it on popcorn. They were doing the lick your finger and swipe it on the bottom of the bowl trick yesterday. I don’t share bowls with them.
You can find it in the spice section of your natural foods store, or buy it for less and in a smaller quantities in the bulk section.
Grind/blend ingredients on high, streaming in non-dairy milk until mixture reaches a “dippable” consistency.
Transfer dip to a bowl,
and add chocolate chips.
Serve with apple slices, graham crackers, pretzels and/or a spoon.
But really, anything other than a finger,
is totally frivolous.
Right Huggy Bear?
Your version looks amazing! I have a post going up tomorrow with Apple Cinnamon Dessert hummus…..and think I’ve figured out a caramel apple one, too
Mmm…I almost made an apple cinnamon version today too!
Oh wow!! I made the hummus version the other day which was to die for… but this looks INSANE!! I bet it was super rich tasting from the cashews. Kudos, Mama Pea! xo
It was delish. I’m sure Evan’s is awesome, I just couldn’t bring myself to bean it up.
You really should try the dessert hummus. Your tweet yesterday inspired me to try it. My boyfriend and I were skeptical, but are now madly in love with the stuff.
I just need to find a way to sneak some veggies into your cookie recipes and I’d be set for life. It’s all I would ever need!
My fridge is pretty bare myself…will have to make a trip to the Costco-Whole Foods-TJ’s trifecta myself this weekend.
I’m definitely out of chocolate chips at this point!
Xoxo,
Erin
You just eat a Hugh Jass Salad for lunch and then a cookie for a snack. It’s the Mama Pea way.
I’m 1/2 way through a batch of dough balls and I keep telling myself, “This can’t be Engine 2 approved.” I’m assuming this wouldn’t make the cut either.
Looks yummy – but I’m going to wait until I’m off the diet…or at least until I don’t have dough balls in the house at the same time! 
I don’t think a spoonful of this dip with some apple slices would be too shabby as far as snack/treats go. I didn’t figure out the nutritionals, but it’s not much worse than a spoonful of nut butter.
Amazing! This cookie dough dip/hummus thing is quite the rage on the blog world right now! I neeeeeed to join in.
I caved. I’m not sorry.
I saw something similar to this on HEAB’s blog, also inspired by Evan’s. You, Heather, Evan, and anybody else who has come up with a version of this are absolutely brilliant! I can’t wait to try it!
All the dough dip was getting to me. It had to be done.
This looks awesome!
Can this also double as a body butter? Because I might want to bathe in it.
Yes. Make it naked.
Love that little pea face!!! This recipe is so very naughty…can you imagine topping it on oats??? Hollllllllly amazing! The texture looks deeeevine.
That looks amazing. Did you get the nutritional yeast at Whole Foods? I’m tired of buying it in bulk unless I need quite a bit of it at once.
I got this container at WF, but I just keep refilling it from bulk!
I vote a hundred, thousand, million times yes for Frivolous Fridays! Particularly as you just made precisely what I was planning to this week! I just blogged raw cookie dough balls and was thinking of a dip, and now I don’t have to mess around with proprtions – you’ve given me all I need to know. So yes yes yes to more of this!
Oh, great! I just wanted to keep it raw-ish too. Let me know if you like it!
It is a Friday night and I’m staying up late doing Statistics homework for tomorrow morning and thus am VERY tempted to go make this, ya know to fuel me. Thanks for giving me an excuse to crack open a new jar of almond butter!
Any time
Favorite! Love this. Now if you can make Reese’s peanut butter, you will really be my hero. Not that you already aren’t
I’ve heard adding nooch to PB makes it more of that texture, but I haven’t had luck with that, however I LOVE me some nooch on … EVERYTHING.
Lulu is such a cutie!
Have you tried the nooch/PB trick? I think it is spot on!
Ya, I tried it but maybe my ratios of pb to nooch were off–it still tasted “cheesy” and not “gritty”…???
Anything that starts out with a cup of cashews, nooch, and sweeteners, and ends with choc chips being hand-stirred, well, it’s gotta be spectacular!
On Friday I posted about my nooch love. (not the first time or anything!) But you can order it online for about 40% off retail. I know to some people it seems silly to order things like that online, but I combine my nooch, stevia, bulk cinnamon, supplements, etc all in one order and honestly save tons of money. So for anyone new to the nooch game, you can order it, too.
And you are a BRAVE woman to tackle Costco, TJs, and WFs all in ONE day…with kids…on a Friday no less. Busiest day of the week in groc stores, IMO.
I need that dip…now!
I totally just drooled. My new goal is to write out a week of menu plans and shop like I have some sense. I have been wasting way too much food lately. I do the bulk of my shopping at Costco. Have you ever had the veggie burgers they keep in the refrigerator section? They are the only veggie burger I will now eat, so good, they are nothing but shredded veggies and sunflower seeds. Can’t think of the brand, but they come in a plastic container with a green label.
Anyway, you should totally post your friday meal plans, grocery list! People would “eat” that up.
I do (sort of). Look at the Pealightful Plans tab!!!
Oh my goodness – you are brilliant! Thank looks absolutely amazing! My boys would love that – making it today for them (of course I will only have a small taste
).
I have a question on the birthday cupcakes. We are having friends to celebrate their sons birthday and I was set on making the carrot cake again but since you posted those cupcakes I’m waivering. To make that into a cake would it be a 8X10 pan or 9X13 pan? Also, I guess cupcakes cook faster so I could start at that time & adjust from there I guess. Improvising is not my strength
I think you could fill a 9×13, it made a lot of batter. Let me know how it turns out!
OMG thank you for making this! I have been known to make small batches of your cookie dough balls and just eat it straight as dessert! I just wish it wasn’t 7am right now as I am getting ready to sleep post-night shift… Otherwise the food processor would be going…
I really need to try your version or Evan’s. I made Jessica’s and my husband and I ate most of it in one night… probably not the best move:-)
Ah! I have so many comments asking if this can be made vegan!! I gotta link it!
Thanks, that’d be great! I could have done a closer version of yours with Earth Balance & Tofutti, but I wanted it to be raw-ish.
All the OMG’s in the world can’t describe my opinion of this!
Cookie dough dip? OH MY! Sounds and looks delish.
I had always wondered about Nutritional Yeast so thanks for explaining. Oh and can you please tell me where you got that spoon? I have seen them on a few blogs and have looked high and low for where to find them but no luck. Hubby says Google it and I have but just can’t seem to locate them. Any help would be appreciated!
Sure! They are condiment spoons from Crate + Barrel!
THANK YOU! I am out to search for some today!
I wish I had seen this last night when I was sitting on the couch alone while the Husband was out galavanting around with the boys.
I love the purple fuzzy slippers she is rocking ; )
I would love this dip and prob just eat it straight out of the bowl with my fingers, looks so good!!! I like the pretzels for dippage Idea too, that looks good!
Huggy Bear has got to be the cutest nickname ever ; )
Hope you , Pea Daddy, and the girls have a great weekend! : )
Huggy Bear is her pimp name
but you are too young to know that!
Can I leave out the nutritional yeast? I don’t have any.
Absolutely!
I have been seeing cookie dough dip almost everywhere lately! I think it’s a conspiracy to make me breakdown and eat a whole bowl, LOL. Looks sooo YUMMY! Interesting nooch twist. I just used nooch the other day to make bean sauce. I love the stuff!
Oh wow. I think I would only need a spoon for this.
You’re right; this was an awful awful idea, and now I have to jump off the bridge, too, right into a bowl of this where I can drown and die happy.
You made your bed, now lie in it.
Yes, yes this looks ridiculously delicious, but, more importantly — this whole post is filled with totally adorable pictures of LuLu! She is so freaking cute!
Thanks…I totally agree
Ooh cookie dough dip as an afternoon snack.. I’m game.
I just jumped on the nutritional yeast bandwagon last week. I love that it smells like cheese when sprinkled over hot broccoli!
Nuts and nooch? This is totally nutritious! And eaten-with-a-spoon-able.
I’m so glad you made a cashoo version!! I love me some hummus/beans, but this sounds like it would be so much more dessert-y, and this is easy to make raw! Thanks for the recipe girlie girl I can’t wait to try it!
Those were the goals! You are welcome!
oh my. i am so excited about this! during my run this morning i’m thinking to myself what i’m going to do with the 3 pound of cashews i have…and here you are, creating this perfect recipe. i’m pretty sure it would be gone in no time
Do report back if you like it!
Look at the face. It must be a delicious dip then
I trust her!
wow, that looks amazing!!! I love that you used cashews instead of peanuts too! think you could come up with a dip like that but more caramel tasting? i miss caramel…
This actually tasted very caramel-y, especially with apples!
I love the idea of using cashews! Cookie dough dip seems to be the new trend.
that lulu, she’s fashion forward! do they make purple furry boots in adult sizes?
love the dip, i think i’m going to make it for my next get together!
Oh dear…. Unfortunately for me, I only cook for myself and not for hungry huggy bears, so if I made a batch of this it’d go all into my tummy. That just looks too good to make.
That dip sounds absolutely amazing! Love the combination of cashews and almond butter. Do you think it would be possible to omit the nutritional yeast or would it affect the recipe too much? Just because I can’t find it anywhere.
You could leave it out for sure!
I’m just going to keep “mmmmming”…that’s all
I saw HEABs and Evan’s version and was hooked on those, too, but I’ll have to try yours as well!
For once I have all of the ingredients on hand right now! I must make this, then I can die happily.
That’s all I need! A bowl full of cookie dough and pickles! What a great afternoon with your little one
This looks SOOO much better than the dessert hummus I tried last weekend. Must make this immediately!
that second to last picture of lulu is hilarious. she looks drunk with cookie dough dip.
I think she was.
Just wanted to let you know that you are the “sponsor” for the food at the trivia night I am going to tonight. Not only was I already planning on making your Seven Layer Dip, I am now adding this dip to the menu! And, thanks to your blog and the fact that I pretty much make at least 1 recipe of yours each week, I already have all the ingredients on hand. Believe me, I can’t wait until your cookbook comes out!
Awesome! Thanks! Have fun at Trivia Night!
Your snacks seem to consistently shame mine….I’m eating a bowl of frozen blackberries. LAME
I don’t know…that sounds pretty good.
I always used to mix frozen berries with a little bit of yogurt and mash it all up. It’s like a quick and simple frozen yogurt treat.
YUM! And I love that last picture of Lu…such a cutie!
We still need to do a TJ’s date
Yes we do!
Shoot me an email next time you plan to go!
We were there last night
maybe next week!
AH-MAZING!!! I can’t wait to try this. Thanks so much for explaining more about the nutritional yeast. Learn something new everyday
Cookie dough that I’m ALLOWED to eat straight from the bowl?! Skinny jeans, you might as well just surrender now.
Your version looks really good. I think I’m going to have to make this today but I might add some cinnamon and peanut butter chips.
Must
Have
NOW
I’m literately salivating, which may be TMI
I mean literally-this recipea is making it impossible for me to think clearly. Off to mix nut butter with broken up chocolate bits…
This is like straight up cookie dough! Brilliant idea hehe:):) Hope you are feeling better!
Seriously, I don’t think Lulu could get any cuter. The boys are gonna be chasing after her pretty soon
& oh man that cookie dough, I wish I had a Vita-Mix at college
I love the fury purple booties! My sister and I have some fuzzy socks that are just like them! So I will tell you, they are not something that you grow out off. Your dip reminds me of a peanut butter dip I used to make! Have you ever heard of peanut butter balls? They are this super old school treat. Made from peanut butter, honey, coconut, sesame seeds vanilla and rice Krispies. SO GOOD! I have to say that yours looks better though, on account of the chocolate chips.
That sounds delicious!
I made a version of Evan’s cookie dough hummus with nooch this week too – I love how the nutritional yeast gives it that gritty cookie dough like texture. Ate it with chocolate Food Should Taste Good Chips in about 2 servings. It was so good, but I bet it’s even better and super creamy with a cashew base. Good call Mama Pea!
Love Huggy Bear’s purple slipper boots.
I think I just prefer cashews to beans.
That looks so good!
My exact words: “OH MY GOODNESS!!! That looks like something I am going to have to make tomorrow.”
My husband: Are we going to a party?
My exact words: “No, just because it looks amazing and I can’t wait much longer to try it.”
Ha ha, cute! I’ll come to your party.
Oh my! That dip sounds SOOOO amazing! I love that idea…
Btw, your daughter is soooo adorable! The perfect tea party snack with children!
this looks YUMMY!! your pictures are making it irresistible.
I agree with christyn. Looks totally irresistible!!
Who would have thought of pairing nutritional yeast with something sweet! I am going to have to try that!
ooh my gosh- cookie dough GET IN MY belly!!— im a little skeptical on the nutritional yeast- but i trust you!
Oh, yum. I just tried Evan’s recipe as my contribution for Super Bowl Sunday. It was absolutely delicious, of course. I’ll be trying your version next. It requires a grocery trip (I’ve never purchased nutritional yeast!), but I like that it includes cashews and no garbanzo-peeling.
Try as I may, I just cannot think of beans in cookie dough.
I love your blog. I love your recipes. I just made a version of your Sloppy Josephines last night. Delicious! I had wanted to try to make sloppy joes for a while but the lentil idea was what I was missing. Now I MUST try this dip! It will be heaven for an eight year old boy who needs to eat more!
I’m so glad you are enjoying the recipeas! Good luck with that son of yours…I think once they hit twelve, they don’t ever stop eating
It’s a hit for both of us! Thanks for sharing your recipeas!
Lulu’s such a cutie! Your girls don’t know how good they have it that their Mom makes them such amazing food. I am loving that dip! The only ingredient I’m missing is nooch
This looks delicious and so simple to make! Definitely will have to try this out and soon!!
Interesting dip idea. I bet it’s great with any dippable fruits.
This recipe looks phenomenal. I cannot wait to try it. Definitely some time this week!
That looks delicious…plus that spoon is SOOOOOO cute. I’ve seen on http://www.katheats.com, she uses them often.
They are Crate + Barrel condiment spoons!
This is super yummy. Proof that I NEED a Vitamix because my food processor did not come close to be creamy enough. Sigh.
It’s nice to see it without the chickpeas – I eat enough of those in hummus alone!
I’ve tried Nut. yeast a few times but usually just stick to my cheese (mostly because of cost and I can’t get it in my stores all the time) – but I don’t think it’s an acquired taste at all!! In fact, I think it’s highly addicting! Anything that tastes like cheese and salt…;)
I think for a lot a people it is acquired though. I know I hated it at first.
Hi Mama Pea! I am very new to blogging but have been following your blog for a while now. I love it. You’re awesome and your family is absolutely adorable. You’re also an amazing writer and your blog is a joy to read. Not to mention your food looks delicious. I just wanted to thank you for this recipe which inspired me to put nooch in my cookie dough balls (http://unmitigatedgrub.com/2011/02/21/balls-to-the-wall/). You are a GENIUS!! It worked wonderfully. A very subtle nutty flavor that enhances the sweet. So THANK YOU!
Happy President’s Day
p.s. I love your meal planning post today as well–great ideas!
Awesome! I will definitely check out your post!
oOoo! I love her little grin at the end! I want to try me some cookie dough!!
Hi! I was wondering if these could be turned into an on-the-go energy bar? I’m not sure what I’d need to adjust for that, but I’m trying to find a good one to make and bring with me on the plane this weekend(lest I be forced to endure airport food), but I don’t want to make a bar that is just dates/nuts. And this sounds like it’d be such a good flavor! Any ideas on how I could do it?
Try these!
http://peasandthankyou.com/2010/08/05/we-have-a-winner/
They’re perfect! Thank you so much, just discovered your blog yesterday and I’ve been furiously reading since, I love it all! Can’t wait to make these things weekend, keep up the amazing(hilarious) work!
Thank you! I hope you enjoy the bars!
This recipe looks SO good! I have been wanting to try it for some time, and I think it is about time:D Thank you for sharing all your wonderful recipes!
This was a super delicious late night snack for my husband and me! So good with pretzels and apple slices!
That was quick!