This recipe is an allergy-friendly recreation of Sex in a Pan, which is traditionally layers of pudding, cream cheese, and whipped cream stacked on a sweet crust. I changed the ingredients to be dairy-free and grain-free, but still accomplished six layers of decadence. The cashew butter can be easily substituted for sun-butter (sunflower seed butter) and the pecans for shredded coconut to make it nut-free, too.
I don’t know where the name originates, but the first time I came across a recipe for Sex in a Pan was Chocolate-Covered Katie’s version. I immediately resolved to make an allergy-free iteration sweetened only with dates and bit of honey, and yet preserve amazing taste. Developing my version was quite an adventure: more than an hour was required to put together the layers! I was worried that the textures would simply fail (would layers upon layers of dessert goo really work when it came to slicing and eating?) but with the addition of shortening, the chilled final result is actually quite firm.
Speaking of the shortening, I want to be clear that I recommend certified sustainable palm shortening for use in this recipe. While palm oil has the reputation of causing deforestation and habitat loss, organizations such as the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil are working to promote sustainably-harvested palm oil so the product has as little impact on the environment as possible. With the demand for palm oil set to double by 2030 (1), it is a critical time to vote with our dollars to help these sustainable methods flourish. Our desserts will be that much sweeter.
Allergy-Friendly Sex in a Pan
- Prep Time: 1 hr 30 min
- Cook Time: 0 min
- Total Time: 1 hr 30 min
- Yield: 16 servings 1x
Ingredients
Crust
- 1 1/2 cups pecans
- 3/4 cup dates
- 4 tbsp coconut oil
Second Layer
- 2/3 cup cashew butter
- 1/3 cup shortening
- 2 tsp apple cider vinegar
- Pinch salt
Third Layer
- 1/3 cup arrowroot flour
- 1/4 cup coconut flour
- 1/2 cup coconut milk
- 2 tbsp honey
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Fourth Layer
- 1/2 cup coconut milk
- 1/2 cup shortening
- 1/2 cup cocoa powder
- 2 tbsp honey
Fifth Layer
- 1 1/2 cups shortening
- 4 tbsp honey
Sixth Layer
- Grated chocolate, at least 80% cacao
Instructions
- To make the crust, roughly chop the pecans then pit and chop the dates. Load both into a food processor and pulse until ground but still crumbly. Transfer to a bowl and work in the coconut oil, then press the sticky mixture into a single smooth layer at the bottom of a square 8″ x 8″ cake pan.
- Transfer to the refrigerator to chill while you begin the second layer. To make the second layer, combine its ingredients very well in a medium mixing bowl. Spoon over the chilled crust, smoothing as much as possible with the back of a spoon. Place the pan back in the fridge.
- To make the third layer, mix its ingredients together in a mixing bowl and then spoon over the chilled, hardened second layer. Smooth as much as possible, then chill.
- Add the fourth layer by combining its ingredients and then layering it into the pan in the same way as the previous layers.
- For the fifth layer, mix the shortening and honey with a hand mixer until very smooth and spoon over the chilled fourth layer.
- Before placing the pan back into the refrigerator after adding the fifth layer, grate very dark chocolate over the top to the depth of your preference. Chill the pan for an additional half-hour or more, then slice with a sharp knife and serve.
Notes
The layers may seem fiddly but the technique is so simple once you’re in the thick of it: just mix the ingredients, spoon into the pan, and chill!
The Comments
Ashleigh
Wow! Geez, that’s all I can say. Looks amazing.
Rachel
AshleighHaha, what does “geez” mean? And I haven’t forgotten I owe you a guest post, eeek!
Leida
RachelOh my God! where is the recipe?? I have all the ingredients and I was going to make it for Thankgiving
Joe
LeidaI’m in the same boat. I bought all of the ingredients and now the recipe is show up on the website. An chance of getting the recipe please???
Grok Grub
JoeWow, what a day for the site to go down! Emailed you the recipe, too. 🙁
T Bruno
Grok GrubPalm Shortening….is this hydrogenated fat????? Worst thing for your health and body to eat.
christine sinclair
T Brunothere’s no need to hydrogenate palm oil to make shortening
Jenny
T BrunoMy thoughts exactly. I thought of using cocoanut oil instead? Or???
sally
T BrunoPalm shortening isn’t hydrogenated. It’s not like she said use Crisco. Duh.
Grok Grub
LeidaSite is having technical difficulties, just emailed you the recipe. Did you receive?
Leida
Grok GrubI googled the recipe and showed up in another website. It came out awesome as usual. I made two trays. Now I have the second one for the week to indulge. Thank you sooo much.
Christy
Grok GrubI wanted to make this cake a couple days in advance. Is Wednesday too early for a Friday night celebration? Is there anything I shouldn’t do, for example: can the cake be frozen Wednesday night and then thawed out in refrigerator Friday afternoon?
Thank you,
-Christy
Grok Grub
ChristyI think it will last until Friday, yep! Should be good as is.
Betsy Thiede
RachelI calculated the carbs, just incase anyone was interested.. Looks like 448 carbs, and around 59.97 fiber for a net of 388.03 for the entire pan. Since 8×8 = 64 square inches.. I figure you might make 2×2 squares for 16 servings = 24 carbx per serving
Grok Grub
Betsy ThiedeAh, okay good to know.
Dee
Betsy ThiedeYikes! Carbs too high for me, but really looked good.
Will have to work on tweaking this to bring them down.
Heather
Any way to replace the cashew butter? Would almond butter work? We have a cashew allergy in my home. It looks amazing though!
Rachel
HeatherHeather, I haven’t tried an almond butter version, but I don’t see why it wouldn’t work really well! Might be slightly coarser in texture than the cashew butter makes it, but no less delicious.
Sherrilee
Racheloil and water don’t mix. How so these layer go together? How do you emulsify the shortening
Rachel
SherrileeSherrilee, a hand mixer can work wonders. 🙂
paleoinpdx
Holy dangerous! Wow, I definitely would have to make this when I have others to share it with, otherwise I can see myself getting out of control! I can’t do arrowroot, but could I use almond flour or maybe a little more coconut flour to replace it?
Rachel
paleoinpdxOoooh, that might be tricky! Arrowroot flour has thickening properties that I’ve never experienced with almond flour. The structural integrity of this relies on each layer being as firm as the other! I’d try 1/2 coconut flour as a starting point for experimentation. 🙂
paleoinpdx
RachelThanks!
Weezie
RachelWhat about using tapioca starch? To be totally honest, I’m not sure it’s Paleo, but I know it’s a thickener…
Rachel
WeezieIf you don’t have access to arrowroot flour, I’d definitely give tapioca starch a try! Happy experimenting. 🙂
Hannah
RachelWhat can I use in place of the Palm Shortening? It’s not very accessible where I am.
Grok Grub
HannahCoconut oil might work. Not quite the same consistency but at least chills solid…
Sigita
RachelAny ideas for shortening substitution?
kelly
paleoinpdxMaybe try tapioca starch instead of arrowroot. I’ve always found they can be interchanged in most recipes I’ve tried.
paleoinpdx
kellyThanks for the suggestion, Kelly, but I can’t do tapioca starch either. That and arrowroot are too starchy for me and I have to stay away from them.
Rachel
paleoinpdxHonestly, I don’t think the arrowroot thickened it much. I had to bring in the coconut flour “big guns” to thicken it up. 😉 When I make this again, I’ll probably try leaving the arrowroot out to simplify things.
Doris
paleoinpdxpotato starch or corn starch can be replaced for arrowroot as well
Rachel
DorisCorn doesn’t make me feel like a million bucks, so I usually opt for something else. Potato starch, yes I bet it would work just fine!
fedandfit
Incredible. Great work!
Rachel
fedandfitThank you! Love your “off the menu” series, btw.
fedandfit
RachelThanks, girl! It’s a fun series.
Dana
Cannot have chocolate or cocoa…do you have a recommendation for a substitute?
Rachel
DanaIt’s a different direction that chocolate for sure, but what about fruit? Maybe sub pureed banana or berries in the fourth layer + some coconut flour to thicken it (since you’re using a wet ingredient in place of a dry)?
Dana
RachelThank you
Stephanie
DanaTry carob
Rachel
StephanieOh, that’s a good idea! Carob FTW. 🙂
LeAnne
do you think butter would work in place of the shortening?
Rachel
LeAnneI think butter would probably work quite well! Just let it soften to room temperature before beating it into the other ingredients. 🙂
Jenn
I have not been able to find palm shortening, any suggestions for a substitute? Looks delicious!
Rachel
JennJenn, my second choice would be butter… Or maybe coconut butter! Although if you can’t find palm shortening, which is at places like Walgreens and Whole Foods, coconut butter is probably not a productive suggestion. 😛
Jenn
Rachellol you are right, I can’t find coconut butter either, but butter works, thanks! I am from Canada so some things are just not available or as plentiful where I am. Is it a straight swap or a different ratio?
Rachel
JennI would try a straight swap, butter acts so much like shortening! Make sure it’s unsalted. 😉
Patricia
RachelThis is one of my favorite Paleo deserts, thank you thank you thank you. But…I’ve recently learned how the production of palm shortening is not so good for the environment nor the small farmers booted off their land by the bigger ones. So I probably will not be buying it anymore. Instead I will try the coconut oil and hope its similar enough to the palm not to destroy your recipe. For anyone looking for palm oil or coconut oil at a great price (in bulk), try Tropical Traditions online.
heavv
I wish folks would post a picture of the most common palm shortening used — it’s Spectrum Organic All Vegetable Shortening. I passed it up for YEARS because I would looking for a “palm shortening” label, not vegetable shortening. I’ve seen it in Whole Foods, Sprouts, Walmart, and Krogers at the very least. It’ll be in a white, blue, and gold tub and depending on the store in the vegan, organic, baking, or gluten free sections LOL.
Rachel
heavvYep, I had the same experience. When I finally stumbled on palm shortening one day I thought “Oh, THAT’S what they’re talking about?”
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[…] 42. Paleo Sex in a Pan This dessert has quite the name to live up to, and when you compare it to a traditional Sex in a Pan recipe it’s definitely been modified to accommodate Paleo eaters. No white flour is used, no refined sugar has been added, no cream cheese is used, no powdered sugar, no dairy, and no wafer cookies. Just layer after layer of Paleo approved foods that you don’t have to feel guilty about when it’s finished. […]
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Brittney Blair
This looks amazing! I want to make this for my birthday this week! Do you think I could use sunbutter instead of cashew butter?
Rachel
Brittney BlairShould be great!
Brittney Blair
RachelThank you!
Louise
What exactly is palm shortening?
Rachel
LouiseFrom the Tropical Traditions website: “Palm shortening is derived from palm oil. In its natural state, palm oil is a mixture of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, with most of the unsaturated fat being monounsaturated fat. Palm shortening is palm oil that has some of its unsaturated fats removed, giving it a very firm texture”!
Tess
RachelAn alternative to palm oil products would be good. Palm oil production is responsible for huge amounts of rainforests being cleared and the animals such as tigers, orangutangs being slaughtered or sold illegally to people as pets! These rainforests are the lungs of the Earth so using palm oil products is encouraging the companies to continue to these horrific practices. Palm oil products should be avoided at all costs!
http://www.orangutan.org.au/palm-oil
http://www.rainforest-rescue.org/topics/palm-oil
http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/the-guilty-secrets-of-palm-oil-are-you-unwittingly-contributing-to-the-devastation-of-the-rain-forests-1676218.html
The recipe looks delicious!
Rachel
TessHi, Tess! Did you happen to see the other comment on this topic? There is palm oil on the market that is not the result of deforestation.
Rhea
RachelCould you use ghee?
kelly
I can’t wait to make this. Thanks for the recipe!
Rachel
kellyKelly, can’t wait to hear how it turns out!
Sietske
Hello Rachel,
I am Dutch and looking for the translation of ‘dates’….can you give me another word for it, I really cant figure out what it is.. 🙂
Rachel
SietskeSietske, this is an image of what dates look like: http://buff.ly/1cQenvQ. Have you ever seen those before?
Sietske
Rachelaha yep now i know 🙂 !! thank you so much
Photons2
Should have read all of the comments before I made this. Couldn’t figure out why mine is orange and yours is white. I used palm oil instead of palm shortening. Ugh!
Rachel
Photons2Oh, NO! Yep, palm shortening and palm oil are quite different… was your texture all off too? :'(
Vanessa Pruitt
This looks amazing! Yum.
Rachel
Vanessa PruittThanks, Vanessa! It’s perfect for a special occasion.
Happy little Sunday things.
[…] Grok Grub has gone and done it: Paleo Sex in a Pan. Your wait is finally over. (Link here.) […]
Nancy
Coconut milk in the carton or canned coconut milk? Can’t wait to try this!
Rachel
NancyNancy, I used coconut milk from the can. 🙂
Domesticated
RachelI note you use coconut milk in a can. I just bought 12 cartons from Amazon. Do you think milk from a carton will be o.k.
★★★★★
Grok Grub
DomesticatedUnfortunately I think coconut milk from a carton is considerably thinner in consistency.
Kate Moran-Reschke
How long does each layer chill before adding the next one?
Rachel
Kate Moran-ReschkeKate, 15 minutes of chilling for each layer. You could pop it in the freezer for 10 if you’re quick at making each layer as you go!
Lori Cochan
Can you think of a sub for the Palm Oil. Our household has banned products and use do to the Killing of Orangutan populations to harvest the palm oil. Huge devastation of these great apes of occurring. Thanks.
Rachel
Lori CochanLori, if you choose to use a different product than palm shortening…my first recommendation would be butter. However, I’ve had good results in finding palm oil shortening online that’s sourced from land previously used for agriculture. No deforestation or destruction of habitat, in that instance.
Domesticated
RachelI have just spent 2 hours on the internet trying to find the ingredients for this cake. I cannot find palm oil shortening. They all seem to be vegetable shortening. Not sure what to do. Pics or links of the ingredients you use would be useful I think. Thank you.
This is the one I was looking at.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=spectrum+palm+oil+shortening&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Aspectrum+palm+oil+shortening
★★★★★
Grok Grub
DomesticatedSpecialty ingredients are linked to what I use in the recipe itself.
Emilia Romero
Rachel it looks delicious! Regarding Geez! it means Jesus! hahaha
Rachel
Emilia RomeroHa… I meant more like “is that a good geez or a bad geez?” 😉
Melanie
Do you use unsweetened coconut milk?
Rachel
MelanieMelanie, yep! Unsweetened coconut milk from a can.
Caity (@MoiContreLaVie)
These look AMAZING! I can’t wait to make this next weekend. The perfect thing to bring to my girlfriend’s brunch! <3
Rachel
Caity (@MoiContreLaVie)Caity, awesome to hear you’ll be giving it a try. It can also be made ahead, which is really convenient when you’re in a rush trying to get out the door the day of the event!
Annette
Made this tonight! love! Wondering, do you think this could be frozen? There is so much that I hate to waste it.
Rachel
AnnetteI would definitely try freezing it. If it’s a toss-up between throwing it away and trying the results of freezing… what have you got to lose, right? 🙂
Annette
RachelMy thoughts, exactly! I’ll let you know how it turns out.
Tyson
AnnetteHow did freezing turn out?
Ali
Made this today for a Paleo Potluck. It is one of the few desserts I have found that doesn’t taste “different” to non Paleo people. It is awesome! I ended up not using the Arrowroot flour based on the comments and just used the coconut flour at 1/2 a cup and it came out with a crumbly, textured layer that was cookie-like. DELICIOUS! Thank you!
Rachel
AliWow, GOOD TO KNOW the results of using coconut flour… and so glad the non-Paleo folks enjoyed it too!
gypsymum101
I really wanted to like this dessert, but the layer with the coconut flour just didn’t work for me. It was too gritty and not at all cookie like. Not sure what I did wrong.
Rachel
gypsymum101Oh, no! The only problem I can think of is that the coconut flour was not milled finely enough. I use Bob’s Red Mill… and this layer turns into a very fine (almost slick) paste without grittiness.
gypsymum101
RachelYes, Bob’s Red Mill was the brand I used. This was my first try with coconut flour. I’m not sure if gritty is the right word – but it definitely has more texture than I was expecting.
The Honest Dish
Wow. This look simply AWSOME. Will be trying soon!
Rachel
The Honest DishThanks! It’s one of those desserts you can’t help sneaking slices of, it’s that good. 🙂
Pam
Does coconut butter work well instead of palm shortening
Rachel
PamHaven’t tried it with coconut butter myself. The important thing is to use ingredients that harden when chilled, so I think coconut butter is a likely choice.
Jennifer DeVitt
So, is this palm shortening?
http://www.amazon.com/Spectrum-Organic-Shortening—-24/dp/B004WOMWWE/ref=sr_1_1?s=grocery&ie=UTF8&qid=1385044793&sr=1-1&keywords=tropical+traditions+palm+shortening
Thank you in advance!
Rachel
Jennifer DeVittHi Jennifer, yep. That’s one kind of palm shortening on the market.
Vivien Vermaak Webber
Going to try this very soon. looks absolutely delish…. only thing is here in South Africa we are limited with ingredients like for instance palm shortening and arrowroot flour could be a huge challenge to find – the rest is no problem and I have most of it already in my cupboard or refrigerator.
Rachel
Vivien Vermaak WebberVivien, I totally understand about the challenges of sourcing unusual ingredients! I would play around with leaving the arrowroot flour out completely… and subbing butter for the shortening.
Jaime Browning
How long will this stay in the fridge? Would like to eat on Thursday, but will have time to make on Sunday.
Rachel
Jaime BrowningI think it’ll be just fine staying in the fridge for that long. It takes me ages to eat a full pan, just eating a little bitty square every night for a week or more. 🙂
Gaby
I have an all purpose flour that I purchased from a gluten free bakery and was wondering if I could use that in place of the arrowroot and coconut flour.
Rachel
GabyHmmm… the thing about arrowroot flour is that it’s more like corn starch than flour (thickens a recipe rather than building it, if you know what I mean). Coconut flour acts like no other flour I’ve ever tried, so I’d save the gluten-free flour for a different recipe. 🙂
Johonna
Can you substitute coconut oil for the palm shortening?
Rachel
JohonnaJohonna, maaaaaaybe. Palm shortening has much more body than coconut oil, but they both firm up when chilled, so…
Johonna
RachelOk thanks!!
Sharon Hayes
JohonnaIve just made this and im not great at sticking to recipes….i used butter instead of palm shortening….just coconut flour instead of the arrowroot….and I only had coconut cream instead of coconut milk. Tastes pretty damn good to me but very rich so I definitely hope it freezes well!
Rachel
Sharon HayesWow! Yep, I suspected it would be very rich with the substitution of butter. It’s best eaten in little squares like fudge. 🙂
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Erin
I was so excited to make this but layers four and five were total disasters, they did not solidify at all, even after being outside in 15 degrees for two hours to chill… I ended up having to serve a chocolate soup 🙁 I don’t really understand at all, I used butter instead of palm oil, but that is the only substitution I made.
Rachel
ErinThat’s SO strange! Let me whip up those two layers when I get home from work today. Maybe I mistyped something? But others have had luck with it so… gosh, don’t know!
Amanda
My 4th layer is so thin and is chilling now but doesn’t seem like it will thicken up…what happened??
Rachel
AmandaAck! I mixed the 4th layer again and knew as soon as I started measuring out the coconut milk that it should be 1/2 instead of a full cup. Apologies for the error, and I’ve corrected it in the recipe above! :'(
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emmaleelee7
Jenn. I found the palm shortening by accident. It just says vegetable shortening on the front but the ingredients say “mechanically pressed organic palm oil.” I think I bought it at the Christmas Tree Shop in my area. What I could not find was the coconut flour. I am putting it together now and can’t wait to test it. although the cocoa layer is very bitter.
emmaleelee7
Yes, I wrote down old recipe and started with 1 Cup on layer 4. I just doubled the other ingredients and now have another layer for the top maybe. I’m not doubling the cocoa powder though. I cheated and added 1/2 cup confectioners sugar. Still pretty bitter for my taste.
Rachel
emmaleelee7SO AWESOME that you’re trying the recipe! I kept the chocolate layer bitter to balance out the sweetness of all over the other layers. But, everyone has different preferences! 🙂
Steph
This was awesome! Made it for Christmas and everyone loved it, perfectly sweet and rich. Very easy to make too, I have three kids …….4,2 and 5 months and had it put together in no time. Thank you for sharing!
Rachel
StephGreat to hear, Steph!
john
Why not just use sugar, there’s not effective difference to the body if you use honey and dates instead?
Kate
How much does one recipe make? 🙂
Kate
KateI’m choosing this as my whole foods class final assignment and I have to make at least 10 servings 🙂
Rachel
KateI cut it 4×4 to make 16 squares, so I’d say one pan makes plenty for 10!
Kate
Thank you!!!
Jenna
What nut do you think I could sub for pecans? I’m allergic to pecans and walnuts. 🙁
Rachel
JennaAlmonds should work! I just used pecans because it’s traditional.
Ashley Truelove
Literally in the middle of making it! I’m having the cacao layer chill for about an hour cuz it was pretty liquidy. Oh, and it would help to note that in between the layers to chill for 15 min or until hardened. Cuz I just kept going. They would chill for about 10 min (if that) each. But each layer I’ve tasted along the way was DELICIOUS!!!! I’m so super excited for it!!!! And I followed the recipe to the T…except I used tapioca starch instead of arrowroot! Did I mention I was excited? Lol
Rachel
Ashley TrueloveWhat’s funny is that I “just kept going” in between my layers, and they seemed to have enough time to harden. Maybe I’m just super slow at mixing? Lol!
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Ashley Truelove
OH you did!!! OKAY! Yea….mine seem to be fine it was just the chocolate that needed more time but I think I realized what I did…I added an extra tablespoon of honey because I wanted it a bit sweeter, and maybe that threw off the whole thing cuz it only hardened after being in the fridge overnight. BUT WHO CARES! In the end, it is SOOO delicious! I think I will add a banana layer next time around too!!! Thank you so much for this recipe!!!
Korey
Palm oil is killing the rainforests orangutans live in. The extraction of it, anyway.
Rachel
KoreyBuy a brand of palm shortening that sources their oil using sustainable practices.
Eet Goed Voel Je Goed » Blog Archive » Beter dan… Cake – Gelaagd Chocolade Dessert
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Kathleen
I was wondering how long this lasts in the fridge for? Has anyone tried freezing it?
Grok Grub
KathleenKathleen, they’ve lasted a week in the fridge no problem for me (I’d say this recipe has unusual longevity). Never tried freezing, though!
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Cynthia Swanson
I am trying not to use Palm oil of any kind since the use of palm oil is destroying Orangutan habitat, so will any vegetable oil work? Also can this be frozen?
Grok Grub
Cynthia SwansonI’d give it a try with coconut oil, and I haven’t tried freezing it but I suspect that the the cashew butter may not freeze (I’ve had trouble freezing almond butter, for example).
Rebecca Gardner
I have a family member who is allergic to pecans and cashews and other tree nuts, but not peanuts. Have you ever tried peanuts or another nut substitute? I love to eat those nuts, but have a hard time using the equipment in my kitchen to process nuts just in case we have cross contamination.
Grok Grub
Rebecca GardnerI think this would work with peanuts, give it a try!
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Danielle
My third layer was like a dough. Didn’t seem right at all. I couldn’t spread it only sprinkle it evenly around.
Also my 5th layer would NOT smooth. Even with the land mixer. I had to process it in my food processor.
It’s in the fridge now cooking. I made it for a BBQ I’m going to tomorrow. I hope it comes out good!!
Grok Grub
DanielleDid it turn out? Maybe this is an excuse to make it again… for “recipe testing”. 😉
Zoe
Hi,
I found this made about 20 serves as it is so rich .., we have Copha here in Australia which is a great vegetable shortening, mostly coconut oil and soya bean lechiten.
Do you know what the calorie content is for this recipe, based on your 16 serves? Just before I do the manual addition.
Tastes amazing!
Grok Grub
ZoeGosh, not sure what the calorie content is of this! Usually I don’t count calories, just try to keep treats in moderation. 🙂
Leida
I used Palm Oil. Thought it was tge same as shortning
Grok Grub
LeidaHmmm, how did the textures come out?
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john
This sounds great, but whatever you do, do NOT use palm shortening, oil or any palm products! There is massive rainforest destruction going on because of palm oil, destroying miles of habitat and increasing carbon in the atmosphere. PLEASE edit this web page with a substitute, like coconut butter. We’re all in this together…
Grok Grub
johnIt’s possible to find sustainable, humane palm products. Google the brand name you’re considering purchasing, plus “sustainable” to see if they’re engaged in responsible production practices.
Alli
I made this doubled in a 9×13 pan for a large gathering but used almonds (not pecans), almond butter (in place of cashew), no arrowroot flour, and used Enjoy Life Dark Chocolate Bars (non-dairy), and served with a small scoop of coconut milk vanilla ice cream (so delicious brand). It was a big hit! We dodged all the allergies, the paleo crowd loved it, and the kids inhaled it too. Win! 🙂
Grok Grub
AlliWow, all your substitutions sound great!
Karla Birtchman
Wow! Made this, gave a bunch away. Definately substituted arrowroot flour with almond flour. Was tasty. Some didn’t set, and it looks like it may not be tasty, but it proved me wrong. Now just trying to get a calorie count on it. I recommend y’all! Happy eating.
Grok Grub
Karla BirtchmanThanks for the recommendation!
Sil
Hey there! Do you think I could use maple syrup instead of honey? Or would that be too runny or not freeze as well?
Grok Grub
SilI’d definitely try with maple syrup. The textures aren’t that different…
Wendy C
Hey Rachel, how is this sugar-free if you use 80% cacao? isn’t the other 20% sugar? I have come across a lot of recipes where they use those Enjoy Life chocolate chips and been puzzled there too.
Grok Grub
Wendy CThanks for your comment, Wendy. I have removed the “sugar-free” designation.
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GiGi Eats
I’ve always wanted to have sex in a pan! I guess this will make that fantasy of mine a little easier 😉
Grok Grub
GiGi EatsGet it, girl!
Elizabeth
Made this tonight for the super bowl .. only me and my daughter are paleo and the rest of my family is SAD. Needless to say, they loved this desert! It reminded me somewhat of tiramasu…something I haven’t had in years and has always been my favorite! I did sub the pecans for walnuts and no arrowroot. ..instead I dissolved a teaspoon of gelatin in the coconut milk and that layer set perfectly. For some reason the 5th layer didn’t work it was too runny and wouldn’t all congeal..so I ended up making a separate batch of paleo panna cotta (coconut milk and gelatin and egg yolks and honey) and then mixed that in a food processor with the butter and honey from the 5th layer. I used butter instead of Palm shortening in all the layers. I can’t believe it came out perfect!!
Grok Grub
ElizabethWow, that is so creative! Happy to hear it came out, even with all of your substitutions. 🙂
Grok Grub
ElizabethI’ll have to take a look at the 5th layer, though… hmmm…
100 Paleo Valentine's Day Recipes | Grok Grub
[…] Sex in a Pan […]
Ariana
Hi! This looks sooooo delicious! I’m including it in a healthy V-Day recipe round-up I’m posting on my blog, of course giving credit to you and linking back to your site. Please let me know if this isn’t okay and I will remove it! 🙂
Grok Grub
ArianaNo worries, thanks for including it!
10 Tasty Paleo Treats to Make for Your Oscars Party | Tribeloco
[…] “Paleo Sex in a Pan” by Grok Grub looks sexy […]
Marie Jowett
Fab, I wondered if anyone had any success freezing this? Thanks
Paleo – Sex in a Pan | my edible life
[…] This one from Grok Grub appealed as it had a number of layers and looks rather lush. How can you go past a recipe called Sex in a Pan! […]
Kelly
Can this be frozen?
Paleo AIP and Me: The Sweets (Part 4) | Rmac's Yackity-Yacks
[…] Paleo Sex in a Pan […]
Sonia K.
I used almond instead of arrowroot and soy-free vegan margarine by a brand called ‘Earth Balance’ to replace palm shortening and it ended up perfect. All were slurping it up. I now understand its cheeky name.
★★★★★
Grok Grub
Sonia K.Glad your substitutions worked out!
Basmah
Just a fun fact, last year I was looking in one of my mom’s drawers for a certain recipe. I found an old newspaper clipping from the 70s of what is currently known as “Better than Everything/Sex Cake”. Back then, it was called “Better than Robert Redford” cake. I almost died.
Grok Grub
BasmahThat’s hilarious! Now I want to make a “Better than Robert Redford” dessert of some kind!
Nancy
BasmahThat is what my mother called it… more specifically “Next Best Thing to Robert Redford”.
Top 10 Most Popular Recipes Ever Shared On Paleo Recipes World! — Paleo Recipes Lifestyle
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K-
My husband made this and it’s absolutely delicious! I will say that (based on the photos that initially attracted me to the recipe) I expected the layers to be more of a pudding type of consistency, which they aren’t. None of the layers are soft or mushy… it’s a very firm dessert – all layers. It’s like a block of firm … layers. But *very* delicious! I do recommend! Thank you for sharing this recipe!
★★★★
Grok Grub
K-Oh, yes… super firm! I let it sit for a few minutes on the counter before eating if I want a softer and fluffier situation.
Paleo Meal Plan Monday - Week of January 11th | Midwest Modern Momma
[…] Paleo Sex in a Pan – 6 layers of Paleo delicious goodness & your family will never notice there is no sugar in it. […]
Sherlyn A.
The recipe Looks really good, but I will use something else besides Palm oil though. Harvesting Palm oil is not a good thing. It destroys the forests and the habitat that lives there, especially the orangutans. Please check out the website https://orangutan.org, the harvesting of palm oil creates deforestation, and orangutan genocide. Please consider using a different type of oil. Thank you.
Grok Grub
Sherlyn A.Sustainably-harvested palm oil is on the market.
Maggie
The name is just a play on the fact that there are six layers in the pan
Grok Grub
MaggieYes, I mention this in the header notes of the recipe. 🙂
Julie
Can you make this without all the added sugar? I can’t have sugar, natural or otherwise….
Grok Grub
JulieThis dessert is dependent on sweetness… If you cannot have natural sugar or otherwise, this recipe isn’t the best fit, unfortunately!
Recette | Pearltrees
[…] ¼ Teaspoon Sea Salt ¾ Cup coconut flour 1-3 Tablespoons Raw Honey Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Paleo Sex in a Pan Food and Fitness Adventures | Grok Grub. Easy Chocolate Strawberry Cake | Grok Grub. Strawberry Lime Cake (Grain, Dairy, Nut, Refined Sugar […]
Eugenia
I wouldn’t want to eat arrowroot raw. The fresh tuber itself can be eaten raw, but it’s not as digestible as other tubers. The flour of it might be a problem. In a research paper, they showed that even raw rice was more digestible than arrowroot. So, I have reservations of eating arrowroot like that, especially in such a large quantity.
Fresh Planet Flavor
EugeniaWould you provide a link to the research paper?
Louise
Hey!
Late to the party here but I stumbled on this recipe yesterday, I thought I had arrowroot flour but mid way through realised I didn’t so subbed with Tapioca flour which is so tasty!
I made it as my friend was coming to dinner and my folks coming this morning! It went down so well, like they are SO Delish!
Everyone was suggesting I should sell them (as if!). So major success!
Problem I have is that there is loads leftover and I’m not sure I have the willpower to leave these in the fridge. So, I’d take them to work tomorrow, I’m just concerned these will melt if I take them out of the fridge, we don’t have a fridge at work so I wonder will they just turn in to slimy messes? Or if I can freeze them tonight and they’ll have defrosted by the time anyone goes to eat them!
Thanks in advance and thank you so much for the recipe which I’ll be adding to my arsenal.
Fresh Planet Flavor
LouiseThey’ll get pretty soft! Maybe stop by the break-room and put them back in the fridge for 20 minutes or so after a few hours to firm them up before putting them back out?
Molly
How do you consider this “allergy friendly” when it has pecans and cashew butter! It is NOT allergy friendly!
★
Fresh Planet Flavor
MollyI consider it allergy-friendly in comparison to conventional Sex in a Pan, which has gluten, dairy, and nuts. This only has nuts, cutting the potential for having an adverse reaction to the ingredients by 2/3. Thanks for stopping by!
49 Paleo Desserts That Taste Anything But | google healths
[…] 49. Paleo Sex in a Pan […]
georgie @ georgieeats
Hahahaha, what a great name. I will have to make these and see if it is true!!
★★★★★
Suzanne
This sounds fantastic! We used to make a version of this but since my husband has been gluten free, I haven’t been able to. I’m going to give this a try.
Fresh Planet Flavor
SuzanneLet me know how it turns out!
Dena
Made this recipe but replaced a few items like the shortening with refine coconut oil. Then added a little coconut butter, almond butter to make up the difference of cashew butter I didn’t have. This recipe is amazing thanks for sharing it.
★★★★★
Rachel Marion
DenaLove hearing about your swaps! Glad it turned out well!
kim
I don’t use shortening and it seems to be a key ingredient — does it work to substitute coconut oil?
Rachel Marion
kimIt might, Kim. Unfortunately, I can’t say for sure because I’ve never tried that particular substitution.