So, I know it is a big blog faux pas to provide recipes for an event after the event already took place, but I just didn’t find the time to post this yesterday since my mom was in town.  I’m sure you’ll understand that my momma comes before the blog! :) (Plus, these Oscar-appropriate recipes can be made for any gathering, especially if it’s a movie night!)

We did have a really terrific Oscar soiree with lots of really great pun-tastic food. We had a “Chips with the Dragon Tattoo” dish, which was blue corn tortilla chips with maybe the best vegan spinach artichoke dip I’ve ever eaten. I used this recipe, minus the bread.

There was also “‘The Help’-Yourself Hummus”, which is just my go-to hummus recipe (1 can chickpeas, juice from 1/2 a lemon, bit of salt, bit of cayenne, glob of tahini, dash of cumin, bit of water; all blended in a food processor). Someday I’ll figure out the precise measurements so I can post that recipe more officially.

And we had the “Extremely Awesome and Incredibly Delicious” Avo-dillas, which I got from this Healthy Happy Life recipe. (They really were extremely awesome and incredibly delicious!)

But the stars of the show were these hazelnut fudge bites (shaped like stars for Hollywood, of course). I was inspired to make these due to all the amazing recipes for vegan Nutella going around the web. I figured I’d use Nutella flavors, but in cookie form. And, for the sake of the Oscars, I busted out my star cookie cutters. These cookies are raw (unless you choose to roast the hazelnuts, which might be worth it), vegan (obvs), gluten-free, and free of refined sugar.

Hazelnut Fudge Bites

1 c hazelnuts (roasted, optional)

1-2 T cocoa powder

2 T agave (add more if it seems too grainy)

1 tsp vanilla

3/4 c vegan chocolate chips (melted)

1. The simplest way to make this is to put the first four ingredients in a food processor and blend. However, you could also roast and skin the hazelnuts, by heating them in a 400 degree oven for about 8 minutes. Remove skins with a towel (just rub the nuts between a towel to rid them of the skins). After this, just blend it all together (minus the chocolate chips).

2. (NOTE: You can skip this step, and just make them into cookie balls). Dump the “dough” (it should be a bit sticky, but also still grainy) on a Slipat or any surface that you can roll it out. Use a rolling pin to flatten out the dough–this may take some work on your part to use your hands to sort of stick the dough together. It’s delicate dough, so be gentle! Now take your cookie cutters and make your star shapes! Freeze or refrigerate for at least an hour (or days).

3. Melt chocolate chips in a double-boiler, heat-safe bowl over boiling water, or microwave. Dip your stars (gently!) in the chocolate. The chocolate should harden right away.

Voila! Movie night snack magic!

So what did you all think of the Oscars? I was a bit disappointed–which is to be expected since I didn’t see “The Artist” which stole the show— but still had so much fun watching it with friends and my mom!

I’m submitting this recipe to Healthy Vegan Friday and Wellness Weekend!