welcome to my sweetly raw kitchen I've had a sweet tooth my entire life. I come by it honestly, as the whole Pace family has a love for sugar. My earliest kitchen memories are of standing beside my mom while she baked chocolate chip cookies just so that I could lick the beaters. My childhood was filled with blueberry pancakes drenched in pure maple syrup that my mom made after going blueberry picking in the forest, frosty vanilla milkshakes from the lakefront restaurant in my town that is only open during the summertime, and hot chocolate with a doughnut after swimming lessons in the lake. I no longer eat those kind of treats, but I still have a mega sweet tooth and I indulge in dessert every day. The difference is that now I eat raw vegan desserts that are made with real food, packed with nutrition, and void of most common allergens. I'm fortunate enough to have started eating this way purely by choice. At the age of fourteen, I was introduced to the idea of eating whole, fresh foods instead of packaged, pasteurized, and animal-based foods. The idea resonated with me so much that I naturally made the transition to a vegan diet and started cooking for myself. Many people are drawn to raw food due to weight problems, allergy, or illness and have great success in healing with this diet. Regardless of your reason for wanting to make raw desserts, I'm here to show you how easy and delicious they can be. The recipes in this book are free of gluten, dairy, eggs, grains, refined sugar, soy, and corn. It's time to throw away the notion that dessert is "bad." This style of eating is both healthy and delicious. You'll notice that your body responds differently to raw desserts than it does to regular cooked ones. You'll feel light and energetic after eating them instead of tired and heavy. Enjoy a fresh fruit pudding or parfait for breakfast, eat a superfood bar for an afternoon snack, indulge in a piece of cheesecake for dessert—and you'll probably lose a few pounds along the way. Just remember that even these desserts are a treat. Eat your veggies, too! If you're new to the world of raw desserts, you'll be amazed at how delicious a few simple ingredients can be and you may quickly come to appreciate the taste and satisfaction of fruit and nuts as an alternative to sugary snacks. If you've been into raw food for a while, you already know what a treat you're in for with raw desserts. Regardless of your kitchen experience and your palate, I can assure you that there are recipes in this book for you. You'll find everything from one-step desserts to more elaborate preparations that require several steps, and even some special-occasion-worthy desserts that take a few days to make. My wish for you is to play with these recipes using them as a launching pad to create versions that will suit your taste and accommodate ingredients you have on hand. Substitute an ingredient, find a new way to present a dessert, and most of all, be fearless in the kitchen. Take a risk. You never know what delicious treat you might come up with. In my experience, raw desserts are the best introduction to raw food for most people. Share your dessert creations with friends and family, and watch their faces light up as they take a bite. When they ask what's in it, you have the perfect opportunity to tell them about raw food!