This week, three Cross-Fit women have decided to make my life very easy and provide you guys with their favorite paleo-dessert recipes.  Not only did the women write down the ingredients and directions though, they actually baked and prepared their personal recipes for our enjoyment.

While most have tried Edith’s delectable desserts (so good she can actually charge us for them), Melissa and Renee were new to the paleo-cooking scene when they presented their recipes at the East Side Cookout for all to enjoy.  The result? About a billion requests for all three of these women’s recipes. Luckily, they were sweet enough to share them with us J

Disclaimer: Many followers of Paleo do not consume Agave Nectar. Agave Nectar while low on Glycemic Index, A.N. is about 90% fructose. My suggestion: try alternatives such as raw honey or fruit when you need to sweeten a dish if you are strict paleo. For those who are following “modern paleo” agave nectar should be consumed in moderation.

Melissa’s Dark Chocolate Brownies

Melissa started Crossfit on January 19^th (yes she remembers the exact date!) and began following paleo shortly thereafter. Melissa has two kiddos and a man to feed at home so the pressure for delicious dinners and delectable desserts is on. Her husband James, also a (B)eastside athlete is semi-paleo but 100% smart. His thoughts on Melissa’s Dark Chocolate Brownies, “Simply delicious and Paleo-Orgasmic.” Nice James. Looks like your dessert probably won’t stop with the chocolate! Check out Melissa’s recipe below:

Ingredients
*16 ounces of walnut butter (take a baking bag of  chopped walnuts and blend in food processor)
* 1 egg
* 1 cup light agave / raw honey
* 1/2 cup cocoa
* 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
* 1/2 tsp Celtic sea salt
* 1 tsp baking soda
* 2 ounces dark chocolate (preferably 70% cocao or more) chopped

Directions
1. Blend butter, vanilla, egg, and light agave/ raw honey
2. Add cocoa, salt, and baking soda
3. Once blended smoothly add dark chocolate
4. Pour into greased baking dish
5. Bake at 325, 30-35 minutes
6. Step away from James. He may be having a paleo-orgasm now…

Renee’s Paleo Cookies

Oh Renee. Our pint-sized 100-pound (if that!) powerhouse. Renee started Crossfit last November, and has been making the big boys look like wimps! Renee has a non-paleo non-Crossfit man at home to impress and a very opinionated little girl to back him up. While wondering how her five year old has more defined calves than I do I realized that the secret must lie in Renee’s paleo cooking! Lucky kid! Her husband may not get as lucky as James did earlier though… His thoughts on Renee’s Paleo Cookies, “Pretty Good for Rabbit Food….” Ugghh men. Here’s Renee’s recipe, which I can assure you, is actually “Really Damn Good for Rabbit Food!”

Ingredients:
*2 cups ground almonds (use food processor to grind) OR just buy almond flour
*1 1/4 cups raw honey or sub with light agave
*1/4 cup dried fruit of your choice
* 1/2 tsp cinnamon

1. Preheat oven to 350
2. Heat the light agave / raw honey and pour onto ground almonds
3. Add dried fruit and cinnamon
4. Mix together
5. Spoon on to cookie sheet
6. Use a small piece of parchment paper to flatten cookies
7. Bake for 10-15 minutes but WATCH CAREFULLY as they burn quickly. Look for the bottom to turn golden brown.

Edith’s Paleo Brownies

Edith… our Crossfitting Chef… Regardless of any troubles with her water heater that Big D may be taking care of for her, nothing has ever stopped Edith’s oven from working. Edith’s Original Paleo Brownies were created by pure imagination. The self proclaimed chocoholic invented the brownies to fight off her non-paleo urges. Big D’s two cents on the brownies: “I had my doubts about ‘paleo-friendly’ treats, but after one bite of Edith’s Paleo Brownie, I became a believer. The brownies are a perfect complement to a hot cup of black coffee, or a cold glass of almond milk. Mmm… I am craving one now. Where is Edith?!” Big D, are you sure that’s not Edith you are craving? Check out her recipe below:

Ingredients:

Brownie Batter

*4 cups almond flour
*1/2 c unsweetened cocoa powder (I suggest Ghirardelli)
*1/2 c agave nectar

Chocolate Sauce
*1/3 cup light agave
*3 tablespoons cocoa powder

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
2. Grease small baking sheet with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside
3. In a medium bowl combine almond flour and cocoa powder until well combined. Add the agave nectar and blend until well combined.
4. Lightly press onto cookie sheet in an even layer, about 1/4 inch thick. Bake 17-20 minutes. Let cool before drizzling with chocolate sauce.
5. For the chocolate sauce, combine the agave nectar and cocoa powder in a small sauté pan. Place on stove, medium heat, and bring to a light simmer while stirring constantly. Immediately drizzle over cooled brownies.
6. Immediately deliver to hungry caveman.

Sometimes its hard to find these ingredients in your local supermarket. For this delema we suggest Netrition.com . They have a ton of health food and supplements for great prices and a $5 flat shipping rate no matter how much you buy!

Thanks to the women of crossfit who helped out Paleo in Pink by contributing this week! If you have a recipe you would like to suggest for Paleo in Pink you can e-mail them to me @ amymariearsenault@gmail.com. Coming later this week: Paleo Spaghetti!