Cinnamon Roll Cashew Spread

This cashew dip is easily one of my new favorite things to put on anything and everything. This cinnamon roll flavored dip is ultra creamy and healthy enough to eat for breakfast!

A Healthy Cashew Dip!

This healthy, paleo cashew dip is the perfect healthy treat to satisfy all of my sweet cravings in the morning. I’ve been loving this cinnamon roll dip with pancakes, grain-free crackers, with celery sticks, and even just with a spoon!

Cinnamon roll flavored anything is bound to be a hit with me, but the consistency of this cashew dip takes it to the next level. When you eat it cold, it almost has a mousse-like texture. Even though this dip recipe only calls for 6 simple ingredients, it has the perfect blend of sweetness & hint warm spice from the cinnamon.

All of the ingredients for this healthy cashew dip are also paleo and SCD-friendly.

The Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD) is very similar to the paleo diet. Both focus on minimally-processed natural ingredients and avoid refined carbohydrates and inflammatory oils. I started following the SCD about 2 years ago to manage my ulcerative colitis symptoms. Following the SCD has given me the opportunity to see first-hand how food is truly medicine, and I haven’t gone back since!

• “SCD: The What’s and Why’s”

• “Science Behind the Diet” – Breaking the Vicious Cycle

I will say: I’m a MAJOR dessert lover. Finding SCD-friendly options on the dessert front was… bleak… for many months.

Once I got serious about creating my own healthy recipes for some of my old favorite treats and desserts, it was hard to stop! Even though I’ve built up quite the library of healthy sweets, this cinnamon roll cashew dip is definitely one of my most unique creations. And I can’t get enough!

I’ve literally been eating this straight out of the container with a spoon LOL.

The “Why” Behind Soaking Cashews

Soaking cashews is the KEY to an ultra-creamy cashew dip! Cashews (and other nuts) are very hard and take FOREVER to blend. Soaking cashews and other nuts allows them to soften to blend easier. The final product will also be much smoother- whether you’re making a nut-based dip or homemade nut butter. Although it’s an added time requirement to making this recipe, it’s 100% worth it! I’ve been able to figure out a few tips and tricks to help this process go faster since I’ve been making cashew dip:

1. I use cashew halves instead of whole cashews. Using halves increases the overall surface area of the cashews so water can diffuse through them easier.
2. Using hot water to soak them also softens the cashews faster than cold water. Water molecules at higher temperatures move faster than colder temperatures, so it’s able to permeate through the cashew pieces faster.

Although it’s been claimed that “activating” nuts by soaking them increases nutrient bioavailability, reduces the amount of phytate, and removes natural enzyme inhibitors in some articles, clinical control trials and randomized control trials have found that it doesn’t make a significant difference. Long story short, the health benefits of “activated” soaked nuts may not be everything they’re hyped up to be by the wellness community.

• Study: “The effects of ‘activating’ almonds on consumer acceptance and gastrointestinal tolerance” – (Taylor and others, 2018)
• Study: “Does ‘activating’ nuts affect nutrient bioavailability?” – (Kumari and others, 2020).
• Study: “Do dry roasting, lightly salting nuts affect their cardioprotective properties and acceptability?” – (Robinson and others, 2017).

However, sprouting legumes and seeds by soaking them in water first significantly increases the amount of nutrients and live enzymes available for our bodies to use!

How to Make Cinnamon Roll Cashew Dip

Step 1: Soak cashew halves in very hot water for at least 30 minutes.

Step 2: Drain and rinse the soaked cashews. Transfer them into a food processor with the other ingredients. Blend on high for 3- 5 minutes, or until smooth.

Step 3: Transfer into a small serving dish and place in the refrigerator to chill at least 1 hour before serving (or freeze for 15- 20 minutes). To make the cinnamon swirl, mix the softened coconut oil, cinnamon, and vanilla extract in a small dish until a paste forms. Use a toothpick to make the swirl design on top of the dip with the cinnamon paste. Serve cold!

What You’ll Need:

More of my Favorite Cashew Recipes:

• Paleo Cookie Dough Bites
• SCD Mozzarella Sticks
• SCD Coconut Cashew Cookie Dough Bites
• SCD No-Bake Lemon Coconut Cookies

I like this spread paired with my SCD butter pecan squares! It’s one of the easiest healthy snacks to make ahead.

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