The craving for chocolate is really hard to resist. From the rich taste to the feel of melty decadence when it touches your tongue, chocolate has a treasured place in many palates. Making your own chocolate treats means you know exactly what you’re putting in your body! We’ve put together a selection of healthy recipes that are great to make when chocolate cravings hit. All recipes use cacao powder over cocoa powder, as cacao (the pod from which chocolate is made) is a superfood; high in nutrients, antioxidants and an excellent source of iron, protein and magnesium.
Chocolate Bark From Scratch
Ingredients
1 cup raw cacao butter
1 cup raw cacao powder
1⁄4 cup honey or agave nectar
3 tbsp cranberries
1 tbsp sesame seeds
3 tbsp pumpkin seeds
Method
- Gently melt the cacao butter in a glass dish set over a small pot of boiling water (or a double boiler).
- Mix cacao powder into the melted butter and add sweetener to taste. Add more cacao for a darker chocolate.
- Pour mixture into a large baking tray lined with baking paper. Sprinkle cranberries, sesame seeds and pumpkin seeds onto the chocolate. It will begin to set fairly quickly, so do it asap.
- Place in the fridge overnight to harden.
Easy Vegan Chocolate Fridge Tart
Ingredients
2 Tbsp coconut oil, plus 1 tsp for greasing
3⁄4 cup desiccated coconut
200g organic cacao paste (or vegan dark chocolate)
1⁄4 cup maple syrup or agave nectar
1 tin coconut cream
160g to 200g fresh raspberries
1⁄4 cup almond flakes
1⁄4 cup coconut flakes
Method
- Grease a 20cm tart dish (or 12 ramekins).
- Sprinkle desiccated coconut on the bottom of the dish and shake to make sure it’s evenly dispersed, covering the bottom and a little of the sides (add a bit more if necessary).
- Place cacao paste, honey and two tablespoons coconut oil into a glass dish over a double boiler, heating gently to melt. Add coconut cream, stirring continuously to combine. Pour the mixture into the dish and place in the fridge to set overnight.
- Decorate tart with raspberries, almond flakes and coconut flakes and serve.
Healthy Hot Cocoa
Chilly evenings call for warm, comforting food and drink, and right up on our hot list is a cup of cocoa.
Ingredients
2 Tbsp good-quality cacao powder
Pinch of vanilla seeds or ¼ tsp vanilla essence
Pinch of salt
1 Tbsp maple syrup or honey (or to taste)
300ml milk of your choice (almond milk works really well!)
Method
- Place the cacao powder into a glass jug (or large glass) with the vanilla and pour in a little boiling water. Add the salt and maple syrup and stir to make a paste.
- Heat the milk up and then slowly begin to add it to the cacao mixture, stirring to combine.
- For bonus mood-boosting, add a pinch of chili flakes in the beginning.