Ani’s Raw Food Desserts: 85 Easy, Delectable Sweets and Treats

By: Ani Phyo 
Publisher: Lifelong Books 
Publication Date: April 2009 
ISBN: 978-0738213064 
Reviewed by: Lauren E. Victor 
Review Date: July 21, 2009

If you’re looking for a healthy way of eating, but don’t want to give up dessert, then look no futher: Ani’s Raw Food Desserts is an ideal solution. Ani Phyo, a well-known chef in the raw food world, has put together another fabulous (un)cookbook full of easy and delicious recipes. Even if you are not a raw foodist, Ani’s Raw Food Desserts has a lot to offer to anyone who likes sweets.

Ani’s Raw Food Desserts is a collection of 85 recipes, ranging from frozen treats, to cakes and cookies to fruit crisps and more. Ms. Phyo successfully translates not so healthy desserts that would otherwise be full of refined sugars and animal fats into treats primarily full of fruits and nuts that do a darn good job of imitating the traditional version. It doesn’t hurt that the photos are mouthwateringly magnificent, either. She also provides an introduction chapter to familiarize the reader with common ingredients in her desserts.

The best part about these raw desserts is that they are (practically) guilt free. I eat her trail mix cookie recipe like Armageddon is fast approaching, and I don’t get the extreme sugar high and subsequent drop as I would with a regular cookie. Another positive aspect of these recipes is that most are fairly simple, and once you get the hang of her style it is easy to be more creative and flexible, merely using her recipe as a guide if so desired.

It just doesn’t get much better than enjoying a delectable lemon cupcake made of whole foods like cashews, bananas, pecans, coconuts and dates, leaving your sweet tooth satisfied without negatively affecting your health or energy. If you enjoy Ani’s Raw Food Desserts, Ani’s Raw Food Kitchen is another great recipe source to have on hand.

Quill says: A neat little guide full of easy-to-make tasty treats without the guilt.