Take in this glorious Raspberry Almond Torte for a moment…
Isn’t it lovely? A little slice of the summer sweetness in a vegan recipe!
I’m sharing this Raspberry Almond Torte today because, well, first, I really wanted to. 😬
Second, it’s a bit of a teaser of what’s to come.
And what’s to come is a big ol’ reprisal of recipes from Let Them Eat Vegan! 📣 🎉
But first, there’s a story behind this announcement…
The Long Story: Let Them Eat Vegan
Now, I know many of you don’t have this vegan cookbook. It’s perhaps my poorest-selling cookbook (and please don’t go purchase a copy – keep reading).
And yet, whenever I post about a recipe from LTEV (that’s ‘let them eat vegan’), I have someone chime in with “that’s my favorite cookbook of yours“.
Every.
Time.
So why hasn’t it sold more copies?
Well, vegan cookbook/book sales are about a lot more than the quality of the recipes.
In present day, they are about social media presence. Big accounts drive big sales.
It’s also about marketing buzz. What a publisher can create for the book, as well as agents and publicists.
And sometimes, it’s about filling a niche and the “look” of the book. As when I published Plant-Powered Families (my best-selling cookbook to date – mind you, it’s small relative to other vegan/cookbook titles).
And with LTEV? Well, I had little social media presence (social was just gaining ground then). But more importantly… my publisher did not do this book justice. It received little attention from media, and they printed it with mistakes. After years of work, It was a disappointing release, to say the least.
But, I accepted that part of this was on me. See, I agreed to work with this publisher and agreed to the terms of the design (a mere photo insert rather than a full-color book with full food photography).
I didn’t own that I deserved better – that my work was worthy – at the time.
Acceptance.
But what I’m not accepting?…
A couple of years ago it was brought to my attention from a reader that her copy of Let Them Eat Vegan was printed in full black and white. Yes, everything. The text, and the food photography – in black and white. 😢
My publisher skirted the issue when I contacted them, and I realized that the dollar was the only issue for them, and this lowered their printing costs on a book they had no real investment in.
But I was invested in it. And I still am. Because I still love so many of the recipes in that book, as you do.
So, I decided to take charge of the situation.
This fall, I will be releasing two ebooks, one savory, one sweet. All recipes are revisions of favorites in Let Them Eat Vegan, AND…
The recipes are ALL photographed!
ALL recipes are now also oil-free!
The recipes are made even easier!
… and finally, all recipes do not use coconut milk or coconut butter (I’m not against consuming some coconut in our diets, quite honestly, I’m tired of getting hammered about having coconut in my recipes when I’ve designed them that way to be nut-free and also a little more luxurious)
Raspberry Almond Torte: the recipe
And today, I want to share one of the recipes from the sweets collection, this vegan, gluten-free, oil-free (& coconut-free) Raspberry Almond Torte.
You’ll find this new and improved version of the recipe much easier to make, you can bring it together in about 10-15 minutes, then into the oven. And, your choice to make a topping from scratch using fresh or frozen raspberries, or take the shortcut! We all love a cooking shortcut, right?
I think you’ll love this new version of a favorite vegan recipe.
Let me know in the comments – and, if you have LTEV and love it, please let me know your favorite recipe. Chime in below, I’d love to hear. 🥰 x Dreena
p.s. be in the know, sign up for my newsletter for when this new collection lands!
Raspberry Almond Torte
Ingredients
Raspberry topping (see note for shortcut, I usually use the shortcut!)
- ½ tbsp arrowroot powder
- 1 ½ tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 1/3 – 1 1/2 cups frozen raspberries or fresh
- 3 tbsp unrefined sugar
- Couple pinches sea salt
- 1/2 cup sliced fresh strawberries or whole fresh raspberries optional, see note
Torte Base:
- 1 ½ cups almond meal
- 2/3 cup oat flour
- 2 tbsp ground chia seed (not whole seed)
- 1 1/2 tsp fresh lemon zest
- ¼ tsp sea salt (rounded)
- 1/3 – 1/2 cup pure maple syrup
- 1 – 1 1/2 tbsp non-dairy milk if using less maple syrup, see note
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- ½ tsp pure almond extract
Instructions
- If preparing the topping (see note for shortcut): In a small bowl, stir together the arrowroot and lemon juice. In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine raspberries, arrowroot mixture, sugar and salt. Cook until mixture starts to slowly bubble and thicken, stirring frequently. Once thickened, turn off heat.
- Base: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare a small cake pan (or small pie plate) with a couple of strips of parchment paper. In a bowl, combine almond meal, oat flour, chia, lemon zest, and salt and stir through. Add maple syrup, milk, and extracts and work through the dry ingredients until you have a soft dough-like consistency. Transfer mixture to the pan and lightly press in and even out. Top with the jam or prepared raspberry mixture. Bake for 25 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely. Slice into wedges, and serve.
Kim Baker says
I will make this today if I can find ingredients. It is Preparation day to ready for Sabbath. And, on Sabbath it is nice to have something special.
Honestly , Dreena, I am so sorry people hammer you about your work. You are one of my favorites regarding recipes and I am grateful for your support.
I have 3 of your cookbooks, although I use ppf most. My LTEV book is in color.
I also want to say , I like ‘ your voice’ on the blog. It is a good read.
Bravo for you ! We have choices and I think this a good one.
Dreena Burton says
What a sweet note, thank you Kim. I appreciate your readership, and hope you enjoy this recipe when you have time to try it out. 🙂
Lauren says
I got LTEV when it first came out and absolutely love it for the sheer number of recipes! I even love the little section where you give tips and ideas for green smoothies. I love the salad dressing recipes, smashed sweet and gold potatoes, curried kale slaw, 3 bean salad, artichoke white bean rosemary dip, beans and greens soup, tomato soup, French lentil soup with smoked paprika, cashew cheese, Thai chickpea curry, jerk chickpeas, nofu love loaf, festive chickpea tart, raw brownies, chocolate granola, three’s company pie, and the raw strawberry pie! These are just the ones I can come up with off the top of my head, and I’m sure there are more I’m forgetting about! Dreena’s food is the best vegan food hands down. Oh and the quinoa nicoise and falafels too! So much goodness.
Dreena Burton says
How special to read all of this, thank you Lauren. Does my heart good!
Susan says
I thoroughly enjoy LTEV! It is my second favourite of your books (because Eat Drink & Be Vegan has no. 1 spot in my heart, and it gave my family that indespensible potato squashers recipe that we make all the time). But I have made a bunch of stuff from LTEV. Such a shame that the publisher let you down so much with it. I am very excited to see you taking back control! Let Them Eat Vegan (Dreena’s Version). Also excited to see that the new version will be coconut free, as I have a coconut fat intolerance.
Dreena Burton says
Hi Susan, thanks for this kind note. And… hmmm… “Dreena’s version” is so timely! I’m going with that!!
David Pickering says
Dreena,
We have really loved some of the recipes in LTEV–our family’s most favorite recipe is the Pan-fried Falafel Patties (I just made them tonight, in fact)! I’ve found that cooking them in an air fryer is just a dream! We also love the Pumpkin Chickpea Cauliflower Curry, Thai Chickpea Almond Curry, and the Too-Good-to-Be-Tofu Burgers. We’ve also loved the Almond Cauliflower and Rawnch Dressing recipes! I must admit that I have found some fantastic cake recipes! The Fresh Orange Cake, Pumpkin Cake (which I found online before I had the book), Lemony Luscious Almond Cake (just divine!), and the Blueberry Coffee Cake with Cinnamon Walnut Crumble Topping (I made this recently for a family reunion and people really liked it!). For the cakes, I’ve just subbed applesauce for the oil (with the exception of more pumpkin and milk like you’ve recommended in the pumpkin cake recipe).
Dreena Burton says
Thanks so much, David, those are favorites of mine as well – and many of those will be re-released!
Michelle says
How exciting! I have the LTEV book with the color inserts, but haven’t utilized it as much as I should because of the lack of pictures and some recipes had oil. I look forward to updated recipes and color pictures. I will be purchasing the ebook when it comes out!
Dreena Burton says
Wonderful to read, thanks Michelle!
Annemarie says
LTEV was the first of your cookbooks that I bought back in 2012. I didn’t realize I had a collector’s item with colour photos!
Dreena Burton says
How special Thanks Annemarie, and yes indeed you now have a collector’s item!
Elissa Ward says
I would love a hard copy of the newer version. Black and white isn’t very excited and ebooks aren’t that great, either. I just can’t get them to print out like a book I would buy and place on my bookshelf. That said, I do look forward to the new versions.
Dreena Burton says
Hi Elissa, thank you, and perhaps down the road I might be able to get them published in ‘real’ book. 🙂
Honey says
I love LTEV! I’m glad I have one with color photo inserts! One of my favorites is the (non fermented) yogurt recipe, as I have one daughter who loves yogurt, but it’s so expensive to buy vegan yogurt, and your recipe works so well for just eating or using in recipes. We also love the raw-nch dressing, goji-strawberry smoothie, raw lemon-lime cheesecake, snifferdoodles, gingery cookies, pumpkin cake, mallow frosting, cashew glaze, and others. I need to dive back into the savories! I’m looking forward to seeing more of the recipes with photos in ebooks!
Dreena Burton says
Oh I’m happy you love that recipe so much, thank you! Yogurts *are* expensive, and the plant-based yogurts (mostly) aren’t great. Thanks for the cheer!
Karen Hearn says
I LOVE LTEV!! It’s my most used vegan cookbook. Favorites… I’ve made Bliss in a Dish countless times. It’s always a hit with omnivores too. My favorite vegan burger of all is the Mushroom Pecan Burgers Take II. Some of my other favorites are Three Bean Salad, Mexican Bean Soup, No-fu Loaf with the Rosemary Gravy recipe, Festive Chickpea Tart, and Creamed Cheese Brownies with Salted Dark Chocolate Topping. I guess I’m one of the lucky ones, my book is in color. I’m not a fan of e-books, so I won’t be purchasing the updated versions, but I have no problem with the recipes as currently written. Thanks for creating so many delicious recipes Dreena! Your recipes are always a hit with everyone.
Dreena Burton says
That’s so lovely to know, thank you Karen! And I think I’ve added all (or most) of those to the ebooks. So happy you love LTEV, thank you.
Anne says
Probably not the fave recipe you expected but… the roasted cauliflower with almond meal and nooch. I am not particularly fond of cauliflower, but I’ll happily eat a whole head this way!
Laurie B. says
I love this cookbook. Like the other cookbooks of yours I own, they are all pretty worn – loved and covered with splecks.
I don’t have a fav.
I love that you are doing this! Great idea. Looking forward to downloading them!!
Mandy says
Yes me too !
And I love the gravy as well And the Mac
And cheese
Dreena Burton says
Thanks Mandy, and you know I forgot all about those two, I might have to add to the ebook lol!
Dreena Burton says
Love that, Anne! That was the recipe that got me loving cauli (and I really did not like it beforehand)!
Samantha says
As someone with a black & white copy of LTEV I am SO EXCITED! I admit I have not cooked very many recipes out of that cookbook because of having to use my imagination as to the final result. The things I have made have ALL been fabulous, though, and I am looking forward to seeing the favorites in color! Thanks, Dreena!
Dreena Burton says
Well, thank you Samantha, for even entertaining a black and white cookbook. Geez! I’m glad you’ve enjoyed the recipes you have tried, thanks for the note. 🙂
Dreena Burton says
Thanks so much, Samantha
Carolyn Brown says
Thank you for making everything oil-free AND coconut-free! It’s not easy for me to find subs for coconut milk, so I look forward to what you have done, Curry? I hope so. I crave a good Thai curry without coconut milk.
Dreena Burton says
Thanks Carolyn!
Lynn says
Ooh, I don’t think I could ever choose just one favourite recipe from LTEV! It’s a spectacular book and a black and white copy wouldn’t do justice to what’s inside! I look forward to the ebook. Some of my favourites are Thai Chickpea Almond Curry, Moroccan Bean Stew with Sweet Potatoes, Three Bean Salad and Three’s Company Pie. Rarely does a day go by without having at least one of your recipes in my fridge. Today it’s Maple Chipotle-Chickpea Dressing and Vegan Butter Chicken. 🙂
Dreena Burton says
What a beautiful thing to read and know, thank you Lynn. (and not an evening goes by that I don’t sit and meditate with my quilt)
Miriam says
I love LTEV, pretty sure my favorite recipe is the No-fu love loaf. But absolutely love all the entrees, cauliflower chickpea curry and Thai chick pea almond bake are to die for!
Dreena Burton says
I love all those too, thanks Miriam!
Shira Isenberg says
I am one of those people that loves LTEV! My favorite recipe in that book is probably the kale slaw. It’s so good! And even though I have the book, I will happily purchase e-books of the revised recipes especially if they are all oil-free and will full color photos. Thank you for all you do!
Sarah Wise says
Love LTEV! I remember getting it at a time when my son was allergic to literally everything and not being able to make much 🙁 But as he slowly outgrew some allergies, I was able to dig into it more and more! I can’t wait for the new edition!
Dreena Burton says
Thanks so much Sarah, and it’s so nice to hear from you – AND I’m so happy for you that he has outgrown some allergies. Recently Hope had some food sensitivities – a lot – and it’s WORK to work through!!
Dreena Burton says
Aw, thank you Shira, and I’m so happy that LTEV has served you well.