This Viral TikTok "Healthy" Strawberry Shortcake Is INCREDIBLE (GF, Vegan, High-Protein)

[@lindsayponiryan]

When I made this- I was obsessed with the idea of it as well. My attempt came out exactly like yours gummy and somehow dry - (Chloe’s recipe). Sure I didn’t have almond meal but I often think these very stylized model recipes are just that - RARELY WHAT THEY APPEAR. I mean, good for her she eats cake and wears fancy outfits to “bake”. I’m not buying most of these Instagram influencers recipes. They OFTEN let me down. That’s why you are doing THE WORK FOR US, MERLE !!!!! Before I found you, I thought I needed to make videos and show how these viral recipes actually turn out. Thanks for making my dream a reality . I so appreciate it.

[@f.a.s.1746]

baking rule: it doesnt matter how little banana you add to something, it will taste of banana

[@rhodiemachado7351]

And that's why I don't like bananas

[@yankee7238]

Maybe sums wrong w my banana cuz that dont happen to me lmao

[@powderpink9019]

For me it doesn't when I add mashed banana to (sweet) yeasted dough instead of eggs

[@SauceStache]

This looks insane!!! I LOVE Strawberries, we go through them like crazy

[@MerleONeal]

Mark you MUSTTTTT try this - delicious - good fuel for your runs!!!

[@JamieDyerFoodChannel]

From a Gluten-free household, thank you for doing this recipe. We look forward to trying it sometime. Keep up the good work Merle, we love your channel.

[@MerleONeal]

My pleasure 😊 I hope you love it!!

[@CorineT]

I’m finally done with my wedding after literal months and am so pleased to see strawberry shortcake cause ITS MY FAVE❤

[@CorineT]

Also - can relate to the pill swallowing anxiety, I’ve been struggling with it for almost half my life 😢😂

[@MerleONeal]

YESSS it’s the best!!! And congrats on getting married!

[@greenromancepark]

Thank you for continuing to create and post vegan content with frequency!! I’m always surprised (idk everything ends; I’ve been pessimistic recently) and excited to see a new Merle video pop up! ❤❤ Wish you all the best!

[@MerleONeal]

Can’t get rid of me that easy!! 😈

[@lunaisawitch]

We love u sm ❤

[@Forgenorth13]

That blender shot at the end *chef’s kiss*

[@creedreaming]

I can so relate 😂 I am a passionate baker and, as you say, baking is science and sometimes it just doesn't work as you want it to. Props to you that you kept trying 🎉 It really is the best feeling when you finally get the recipe right and the texture and taste are just on point! Loved the video!!

[@MerleONeal]

Thank you!!! I feel like a genius lmfao you bakers blow my mind

[@hoon75]

I love these tiktok trend videos because I don't want to be on tiktok but still want the recipes. Bless you, Merle ❤️

[@davidvllr]

Merle I was having a bad day but you just made it better

[@MerleONeal]

Oh yayyyy!! That makes me happy 💚

[@Laplantelatte]

I was inspired by your enthusiasm for this recipe so I made it using your version though with two substitutions: I had raw date syrup on hand (which I bought previously for a tahini date salted 'caramel' oatmeal recipe), which worked great and saved the hassle of blending dates(the banana and flax seed egg worked well as binders, so the date syrup didn't affect the texture); I also used coconut flour because I couldn't find almond meal anywhere locally;. The latter made for a very nice, moist ( hate that word lol), cake and texture. The flavor is AMAZING! OMG! Thank you so much for sharing all of these recipes and what-I-eat-in-a-day videos! I'm getting so much inspiration as a weight -lifting vegan trying to make those gains! ❤

[@MerleONeal]

AHHHH that makes me sososoososoooo happy to hear! That recipe is legit one of my favorites now

[@VerifiedVegan]

I respect not letting it go until you perfected it…I wouldn’t have slept till I worked it out 😂 well done ✌🏼

[@MerleONeal]

it was haunting me 😂

[@ViCT0RiA6]

your additions are perfect everytime merle 😍

[@MerleONeal]

Thank you!!!! And this one is technically baking!! Maybe I’m evolving

[@sunnygirl5467]

Really cool that you added your own twist, I prefer that over just making a recipe and saying it's good☺️

[@yuli4ka.w]

I always choose apple sauce to add fluff and sweetness to my vegan baking, i find its the easiest and most effective ingredient and works better the more you put in! I'm so happy to see you enjoying yourself in the kitche merly 🥰

[@bobbyreyes6609]

I really appreciate that u show what happens when u make a mistake. It shows us that we can always just go back to the drawing board. Also, I'm definitely gonna try that when I get the chance 😋

[@oddly_ariah]

So glad you shared this Merle, I'm really excited to try this out! I think it would be SUPER delicious to poke a bunch of lil holes in it and let that whip just soak into the cake and top it with some fluffy whipped cream, almost like a strawberry tres leches 😋

[@MerleONeal]

OMGOMG THIS IS BRILLIANT

[@clarissaazure6235]

Oooooh I’m going to be craving this like mad until I get around to making it!!! Looks amazing 🤩

[@MerleONeal]

Make it!!!!!

[@shreyaaashree]

WOWOWOW!!! Merle, you always bring delicious recipes!!! 100% GONNA TRY THIS!!!

[@steamyvegan]

Loveeeee this! Can't wait to try it out. Thanks Merle!

[@MerleONeal]

You're gonna love it!!

[@SoSweetAlmostEvil]

Aww strawberry shortcake was my grandpas favorite dessert we would always have it at Christmas. Thank you for the video!

[@つギレつ]

the cake looks really good ✨

[@Pyrion93]

I love that a lot of your videos ends with your modifications to the original 😊

[@sunny5ma]

Love our reigning vegan queen as always!! I always so appreciate you giving us the Celsius temperatures!! Ciao for now and can't wait for the next one!! 💖 and💖💖

[@mariannewaszak8253]

That cake looked delicious. I will be trying 😍😍😍

[@MerleONeal]

do it!!! you can add any berries you like of course

[@mm0901]

Strawberry shortcake was a big part of my childhood (which was a longgg time ago 😅) - my mother used to make it pretty often- and it is something I think about more often than is probably normal 😆. Totally making this! Thank you Merle! 🍓 🍰

[@akeebamcbean3377]

We love a baking Merle ! 🥰🫶🏽

[@MerleONeal]

a rare occurence

[@Livv_it_is]

This looks sososo gooood! I just love everything about your videos. Merle, you just seem like a very cool person

[@MerleONeal]

Aw that’s so sweet! Thank you 🥹

[@joshuamarie77]

Indeed, what a journey. Can't wait to make this with my 4-year-old this weekend. Merle, you're a gd legend.💖

[@MerleONeal]

You two are gonna LOVE it!!!

[@littlepatrinka7941]

Well done!!

[@michaela879]

I highly recommend using applesauce instead of a banana next time. It's more neutral in flavour and makes every cake dough beautifully moist and fluffy. Also,careful about overmixing the dough! It doesn't really matter with gluten-free stuff, but if the oat flower was from regular oats, then it probably contained gluten. And the more you work dough that has gluten in it, you develop the gluten and it will become more tough and gummy- basically close to a seitan. Hope these tips help!

[@umafa1645]

Your version looks damn good Merle, keep up the fun and good content ((:

[@magorzatagaazka2971]

Looks amazing🎉

[@jaygatsby8588]

gotta try this one out

[@MerleONeal]

You simply must!!!

[@cookiecrazycool]

Almond meal is what you are left with when making your own almond milk, so that's where she probably gets it! :)

[@MerleONeal]

Good to know!

[@youaintgettingmyhandle]

I love when I have the ingredients. I’m definitely going to try this! 😊

[@MerleONeal]

You will be SO GLAD you did

[@JubeiKibagamiFez]

Mmmmmm. That looks really good.

[@masdanar9321]

Wow merle baking ❤

[@MerleONeal]

This is a very big deal

[@sassypants4121]

I’m definitely going to try this but poke holes in the cake like très leches. The cake looks a little dry and I think pouring some milk over would be delicious!

[@RachelKay528]

It's crazy to me because I mess up when cooking/baking all the time, but I'd much rather bake than cook. I just don't do it often because I'm left to eat it all myself 🤣

[@chrissquarefan86]

You can make almond meal with the nutri-bullet thing using whole almonds

[@oAgL214]

Omgggggg 😭 it's 5am and the biggest black hole just opened on my tummy, your twist made it look even better I'm hungry 🥺

[@MerleONeal]

you gotta make it!!!

[@gaurivasudevan2291]

Let us know if you try her tiramisu recipe!!

[@zachcain2639]

Oat flour is like the gummiest flour IMO. I’d use sorghum or millet or buckwheat or any other GF flour if you wanted to minimize gumminess

[@susanngocwagstaff9735]

What would you use instead of protein powder for the whip?

[@MerleONeal]

you could use silken tofu!

[@gaurivasudevan2291]

NOW THAT you’re a baker will you review some of the Detoxinista recipes like the Vegan cheesecakes etc?

[@KimberlyM-ww7wb]

Yum!! I think you might be a baker after all ❤

[@appropriateinput]

@Merle O'Neal What's your overhead camera setup? 🎥🎥🎥

[@1998tkhri]

Tbh, I feel like having more available liquid helped more than anything. The baking powder probably worked better if the dough wasn't as dense, and it looked thinner in the 2nd attempt

[@alisoncarroll]

She reminds me of the late Shannon Doherty in this video ❤

[@adelphe33]

Hear me out… swap the banana with mashed up strawberries and if not sweet enough, a tbsp of strawberry jam 👀

[@MerleONeal]

or maybe all of the above!

[@amethystdgem]

Shout out to Merle for the 🎬 *Take 2* 🎬

[@judykhaleck8034]

Hey Merle, Can you make a vegan chicken scarpariello? A celebrity private chef have a recipe for them on Delish website or if you type in vegan chicken scarpariello here on KZbin or google.

[@j_m12341]

Its kind of looks like a tres leches cake when its all together

[@TeenerSpencer]

Gummy. Hmm...

[@MerleONeal]

omg that would have been such a good segue

[@shellym79]

I genuinely thought almond meal and almond flour were the exact same thing.

[@Randilynn66]

Sugar contributes to browning. That’s why I didn’t look cooked.

[@MerleONeal]

We’re learning today, folks

[@Lunar_Darkstar]

Soooo, I made this and the texture was like a tough, spongey, biscuit. It was almost inedible. I was so sad as this looked amazing 😢 Clearly baking is not my strong suit 😂

[@NopeyMcNopeington]

Was there a reason you kept looking at the ceiling in the first part of the video? It was making me paranoid something was up there, but I didn't see you address it in any way. Oh, and thanks for the recipe.

[@0goodbyeGravity0]

she has a camera set up overhead to record some of the shots you see in the video, so she was probably just making sure the bowl was in the frame etc.

[@NopeyMcNopeington]

@@0goodbyeGravity0 thanks. I was so worried something else was happening

[@MerleONeal]

ITS MY SUPREME OVERLORD ALWAYS WATCHING ME

[@justin_g_smith]

Okay new rule: no more making desserts and not telling me to stop by tysm

[@chrisakridge8392]

What are you looking up at?

[@MerleONeal]

My overhead camera!!!

[@MerleONeal]

Sometimes the battery sneakily dies

[@greenromancepark]

I was so curious too! Thanks for the question and the answer!!

[@rationale7727]

You're on your way to becoming a baker when you say things like "I added a flax egg to lighten it up"! Sounds great and I'd like to try. HOWEVER, your gram measurements are way way WAY off. For example, 2 cups of soy milk is about 250 grams - not 18.

[@MerleONeal]

Oh that might be a typo? Where are you seeing it

[@rationale7727]

@@MerleONeal Pretty much all your gram measurements are wrong in the printed recipe below the video

[@therewillbefireflies]

@@rationale7727 I think those are the grams of protein from those ingredients, not the gram measurements for the recipe.

[@rationale7727]

@@therewillbefireflies No way! lol I suggest clarifying by adding the word "protein"

[@PeiPeisMom]

Had to watch this in secret because my husband is a fruit fiend and I would have to immediately go get the ingredients if he sees this

[@MerleONeal]

LMAO love a covert viewing

[@PeiPeisMom]

@@MerleONeal 🤣

[@judykhaleck8034]

👋 Merle, Have you ever heard of a social media influencer/content creator named Alexa Luria? She is from Boca Raton, Florida and currently she lived in Los Angeles, California. 🌴 ☀️ 👙 🌊 She also has a foodie account called Girl With A Gourmet Palate. 😋🤤🦋 💚 🍴

[@omnoms2445]

The open mouth chewing is just 💀

[@veganradiation]

Ugh, what is going on here? So many utensils being used, its like a never-ending cooking show! And the constant talking and editing, its giving me anxiety just watching this video. I mean, I get it, youre trying to be all cute and charming, but come on, can we just focus on the cake for once? And dont even get me started on the ingredients. Almond meal, almond flour, soy milk, cashews... its like a chemistry experiment in there! And then you add flax eggs and mashed banana? What is this, some kind of vegan baking sorcery? I will give you credit, though - that cake does look pretty good. I mean, its not perfect or anything, but its definitely edible. And the fact that youre so proud of yourself for making a cake without using animal products... thats something to be commended. But seriously, can we please just simplify the recipe and ingredients? Im all about promoting veganism and animal-friendly cooking, but this is getting out of hand. Lets keep it real, folks - we dont need all those fancy ingredients or complicated steps to make a delicious cake. Anyway, thats my two cents on this video. If youre interested in trying out some new vegan baking recipes, Id be happy to share some simple and easy-to-make options with you. Just let me know!