Healthier Swedish love yummies (Kärleksmums) [refined sugar and coffee free]

What do you say this recipe is called – love yummies?
Yep. Well, that’s one of the possible translations. Kärleksmums is one of Sweden’s most popular chocolate cakes – topped with chocolate and coffee icing and a sprinkling of dessicated coconut – but its Swedish name does not translate easily and so, in English, pieces of this cake are known by many different names including love yummies, love cakes, love mums, choco-coco squares, love yums and love treats.
The recipe from Marisa Alvarsson I have adapted used the name love yummies and that’s what initially drew me in – how fun is that? I mean, that’s on par with other fun dessert names like a grunt, brown betty, pandowdy, or johnnycakes. (Have you made any of these, by the way? Maybe we need to do a fun dessert name bake off one day! Who’s in?)
And boy oh boy, am I glad that I decided to make these healthier love yummies! They are all kinds of delicious, full of nuts, cacao and sweetened naturally with some dates and maple syrup. And I love that there’s two distinct layers, the dense nutty and chocolatey base layer and the coconut cream frosting, which is thickened (of all things) with chia seeds. And, of course, in honour of its Swedish heritance, there’s some delicious desiccated coconut sprinkled on top. But, in order to make these kid friendly, there is no coffee and no refined sugar.


A cross between a delicious chocolatey treat and a bliss ball
I think the best way to describe these delicious healthier love yummies is to imagine a cross between a delicious chocolate treat and a bliss ball – just square, obviously. If you look at the recipe below, these contain a lot of the ingredients which you might normally find in a bliss ball – like nuts, dates, coconut oil, maple syrup, coconut.
In addition to that, you are getting the smooth and creamy frosting layer, which seems a little naughty but is not. The inclusion of chia seeds is intriguing but actually works, even if you just use chia seeds right out of the packet (not ground). The original recipe asks for “finely ground” chia seeds which I tried to accomplish by blitzing them in my mini food processor but alas, they are so little that that did not work. Not even close. Basically those little seeds just bounced off the cutting blades – which was pretty fun to watch but accomplished little. So, save yourself some time and effort (though if you need a laugh, definitely have a go at it) and just use chia seeds as they come.
If you look at the photo on the very right in the gallery immediately below, you will see that on mixing, the chia seeds will make the frosting a little lumpy and bumpy. But leave the slice in your fridge overnight and, similarly to a chia pudding, the chia seeds soften and start to blend into the frosting. And when you eat these love yummies, I bet you won’t even detect any seeds anymore – just a smooth frosting layer which deliciously tops the bliss ball base layer.
The other thing I love about these is that they last in your fridge for ages! I would say they’ll keep at least for two to three weeks. So, if you follow my suggestion in the recipe below, to cut these up after they’ve had a chance to set and store them in your fridge cut up into bite sized pieces, you will always have a little snack ready to pop into your mouth. And what else could you want, right?

Recipe
Healthier Swedish love yummies (Kärleksmums) [refined sugar and coffee free]
Ingredients
Base layer
- 1 cup raw almonds
- 1.5 cups raw cashews
- 12 pitted medjool dates, soaked in 1/3 cup + 2 tsp (90 ml) freshly boiled water
- 3 tbsp coconut oil
- 2 tbsp maple syrup
- 1/3 cup cacao powder
- squeeze of vanilla paste (1/2 tsp)
- pinch of salt
Frosting layer
- 270 g can of coconut cream
- 1/3 cup cacao powder
- 3 tbsp chia seeds
- 5 tbsp maple syrup
- unsweetened dessicated coconut, for sprinkling
Instructions
Prepare the base layer
- Line a square 23cm baking pan with baking paper – this will help you get the slice out easily when it's chilled.
- Option 1: Blitz the almonds and cashews until the texture looks like breadcrumbs in a food processor. Then add the remaining base layer ingredients to the food processor (including the water which the dates had been soaking in) and blitz until the mixture is well combined.
- Option 2: If you have a mini food processor like me and all the ingredients are unlikely to fit in together at the same time, you can do it in two loads as follows:
- (Option 2 continued) Blitz the almonds and cashews until the texture looks like breadcrumbs in a food processor. Pop the nut crumbs into a large mixing bowl.
- (Option 2 continued) Next, place the dates and the water they've been soaking in into the food processor, add the coconut oil, maple syrup, cacao powder, vanilla paste and salt, and blitz until you get a well combined, sticky mixture.
- (Option 2 continued) Add the date mixture to the nut crumbs in the mixing bowl and combine well.
- (Both options) Press the mixture into the prepared baking tin – try to get it as even as possible, but it doesn't have to be perfect. Place the baking tin into the fridge while you're making the frosting.
Make the frosting
- Whisk all the frosting layer ingredients (except for dessicated coconut) together in a large bowl with a hand whisk until well combined.
- The chia seeds will give it a bit of texture at this point but they will "melt" into the frosting as it's chilling in the fridge so don't worry about it too much at this point.
- Take the baking tin out of the fridge and spread the frosting on top of the base layer as evenly as you can. You can do a fancy swirling pattern on the top, if you like, but it's not necessary.
- Sprinkle as little or as much of the coconut over the top of the frosting.
- Place in the fridge (covered or uncovered), and let it set for at least 4 hours or overnight.
- Slice into bite sized pieces before serving.
Notes


Recipe notes
This recipe will make quite a lot of bite sized “love yummies”.
They keep beautifully in the fridge – I keep them in a square or rectangular glass box, already cut up, with a baking paper dividing the bottom and top layers so they don’t stick together, covered.
I’d estimate they’d last at least two to three weeks. They stay beautifully soft (but not mushy) so they’re the perfect snack to pick up on the go (or whenever else the mood might strike).
You can also serve them in larger pieces, as a slice, if you like – which is what the original recipe suggests. For me, they are a little too rich for that but it would be definitely a special occasion treat if you are looking for something sweet and nutritious to share with your company.
This gorgeous recipe is based on a recipe for No-Bake Love Yummies (Kärleksmums) by Marisa Alvarsson which appears in her gorgeous book Naturally Sweet Vegan Treats: Plant-Based Delights Free from Refined and Artificial Sweeteners (which is amazing).


44 Comments
Linger
I love that the name of these little beauties is called “love yummies.” So very appropriate. They look fabulous and the ingredients list is amazing. What a great idea to add the chia seeds. I’m so very hungry for these now and I’m gonna definitely have to make some. Thanks Katerina for the sharing.
Katerina
Haha.. exactly my thoughts! Thanks so much Kristy!
Ben | Havocinthekitchen
Sincce I love Scandinavian cuisine, this delicious cake is right up my alley! I think the original cake calls for flour, sugar, and some other not-so-healthy ingredients (Which I don’t mind!) , but I also love raw truffles. So the combination of nuts, dates, and coconut is calling my name – neautiful flavours and textures 🙂
Katerina
Thanks so much Ben! Everything is moderation, I say – but this healthy slice is absolutely delicious so hopefully you won’t be disappointed!
John / Kitchen Riffs
The name! SO terrific! Pretty darn good recipe, too. 🙂 Thanks!
Katerina
Thanks so much John!
2pots2cook
Loooooooooove Love Yummies ! 🙂 🙂 🙂
Katerina
Thanks so much!
Tasia ~ two sugar bugs
I just adore the name of these treats!! I always enjoy seeing the pretty layers in a dessert and the use of chia seeds in the frosting is brilliant!
Katerina
Thanks so much, Tasia! Yet another use for chia seeds!
Neil
As you know I love a traybake Katerina. Now this swedish recipe looks totally unique and absolutely delicious! It’s on the list!!
Katerina
Haha.. yes, I recall! I’m glad this made it on the list – thanks so much Neil!
Jeff the Chef
Love yummies?!?! I’ve never heard of them, but now they’re all I want! What a great name for such a tasty looking treat. Your versions sounds … yummy!
Katerina
Haha.. that’s not a coincidence! Thanks so much, Jeff!
Molly Pisula
These look like a fantastic, chocolately snack that is still healthy! And who can resist anything called “love yummies”! 🙂
Katerina
Exactly my thinking! Thank you Molly!
Michelle | Sift & Simmer
Well, I can see why they’re called Love Yummies! Oh my gosh, they are so cute and they look incredible, Katerina! Can’t wait to try this one!
Katerina
Thanks so much Michelle, isn’t it the cutest name!
Renuka Walter
It’s always interesting to learn new names of food. 🙂 And, I’m always delighted to try new desserts and sweets. This receipe sounds just too yummy to resist.
Katerina
Thanks so much Renuka!
Kate
This is great, thank you for sharing! I definitely can’t pronounce Kärleksmums, but I’d love to make it 🙂
Katerina
Thanks so much, Kate!
Valerie
Oh my gosh, this looks so good! I’m glad it is a healthier version because I’m pretty sure if I made this…I would eat quite a bit! 🙂
http://roadesque.com
Katerina
Haha.. I had to restrain myself from eating the whole thing, to be honest, Valerie! Thanks so much!
Raymund
That name says it all, its heaven in a slice, a bliss of paradise
Katerina
What perfect alternate names, Raymund, thanks so much!
jodie filogomo
I was so happy to see your email pop up in my box Katerina. I always know it’ll be something that we can eat on our nutrient dense way of eating, and I’ve been craving something more dessert like!!
Thanks,
XOOX
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
Katerina
This is the best kind of feedback, Jodie, you don’t know how happy that makes me! Thanks so much xx
Laura Bambrick
These look incredibly decadent! I love the name too! I’ve never heard of this treat before but I need to look it up! This post made me hungry! Haha!
Katerina
Haha.. I have the same problem! Thanks so much Laura.
Healthy World Cuisine
Want some love yummies straight away! This is a doubly delicious dessert as unlike a power ball, you can get a delcicious frosting layer on top for double the decadence. I don’t think these little treats would last long in our house.
Katerina
They are just marvellous, Bobbi, thanks so much!
Auggie
I’ve never heard of this, but I can imagine it tastes wonderful! Thank you for sharing! 🙂
Katerina
Thanks so much Auggie, much appreciated!
David @ Spiced
What a fun name! There’s something totally to the naming of recipes, too. If I show up somewhere and see ‘love yummies’ on the table, I’ll certainly reach for those first! This is the first time I’ve come across the classic Swedish cake, and I have to say that it sounds amazing. Your version with chia seeds is downright genius, too. I’ve seen plenty of recipes with overnight chia pudding, but using chia seeds to thicken a frosting is a great idea!!
Katerina
I couldn’t agree more, David! Thanks so much!
Allie Mackin
OMG this sounds so good. I love chocolate, coffee and coconut. And I love that is does not call for refined sugar or coffee with caffiene in it. Thanks for posting!
Allie of
http://www.allienyc.com
Katerina
Thanks so much Allie! It’s a great combo of flavours, that’s for sure!
thehintofrosemary
Well since we still can’t travel, I’ll have to bring Sweden to me and try making this tasty chocolate cake! I love that these are similar to bliss balls– but so much easier bc no rolling! 🙂 Happy almost summer time xoxo
Katerina
Absolutely! Thank you so much, Rosemary!
Laura
I can almost taste how delicious these are, Katerina! The look and sound like the perfect healthy snack that has all the flavor and texture of something not healthy! What a treat!
Katerina
Thanks so much Laura, definitely my favourite snacks at the moment!
angiesrecipes
Sounds like a perfect name for these wholesome treats! I am just done with my workout today and desparately need some refuels…wish I could reach in and grab a couple of them!
Katerina
You’d love these, Angie! Thanks so much!