Red Velvet Bars (GAPS/Paleo)

My confession: I cheated twice on my grain free diet.

The food I couldn't resist: Starbucks Red Velvet Whoopie Pie.

Starbucks stopped carrying those, so they can't tempt me anymore. But I never really stopped thinking about them.

So I decided to make something red velvet for Christmas. These bars are buttery and chocolatey at the same time, with an amazing almond flavored frosting. And pistachios sprinkled on top.

And you know what? I think they're better than Starbucks Whoopie Pies!

Red Velvet Bars

*1/4 cup pasture butter

*1/3 cup honey

*1/2 tsp sea salt (Celtic, Himalayan)

*1 pastured egg, room temperature

*2 Tbsp beet juice

*1 tsp apple cider vinegar

*2 Tbsp cocoa powder

*3 cups blanched almond flour (I like Honeyville)

Directions: Warm the butter and honey until just melted. Add the egg, salt, beet juice and apple cider vinegar and mix.  In a separate bowl combine cocoa powder and almond flour. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix well. Spread the mixture into a 9" by 9" pan. Place on the top rack (to prevent burning) and bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Cool before adding frosting.

Frosting

*1/2 cup water

*2 tsp grassfed gelatin

*1/4 cup honey

*1/2 cup softened butter

*1/2 tsp almond extract

*1 pastured egg yolk, room temperature

*chopped pistachios, optional

Directions: Put the water and honey in a small saucepan and sprinkle the gelatin over the top. Heat the mixture just until gelatin dissolves, a couple of minutes. Remove from heat. Let the mixture cool until slightly thickened but not gelled! (Ask me how I know not to let it gel?). Pour the gelatin mixture into the softened butter and beat at medium speed until it starts to get fluffy. Add the egg yolk and almond extract and beat at high speed until almost smooth (it will not get completely smooth, it does get smoother after it's spread onto the bars.) Spread immediately on cooled bars. Sprinkle with chopped pistachios,if desired.

I'm teaming up with 10 other paleo bloggers to bring you 12 days of paleo Christmas recipes. I'm day number seven :).

I'm sharing the other recipes on Facebook and Pinterest if you want to connect with us there! And then we'll do a round up on day 12.

Do you have any foods that you miss?

Do you paleo-fy recipes?

This post was shared on Healing with Food Friday.