Did you know that the woman who holds the record for living the longest, to a ripe age of 122, ate almost one kilogram of chocolate a week?* Like you needed any excuses! Making your own healthy and delicious chocolate is so simple and the best part is you can be sure of all the good quality amazing ingredients you are using and no added nasties. Indulge and nourish at the same time!
Good quality raw cacao is packed with anti-oxidants and is great to use in smoothies, baking, and of course making chocolate. Here is a really simple recipe for 100% guilt free homemade chocolate nutbutter bites.. warning.. they are addictive!
INGREDIENTS
5 tablespoons of raw cacao powder
4 tablespoons of extra virgin raw coconut oil (But that’s so much Coconut Oil! Did you know that Coconut Oil is actually good for you, can help you lower cholesterol and has been known to improve metabolism and aid weight loss. Plus it’s so delicious and coconutty)
1 tablespoon of Almond, Brazil, Cashew butter for the chocolate mix, then a little more for the centre.
1 tablespoon of Chia Seeds
1 tablespoon of raw honey or organic maple syrup. You can sub this out for Rice Malt Syrup if you don’t want any Fructose or Stevia but I like the health benefits of honey.
A sprinkle of Celtic sea salt.
Optional: I like to add a tablespoon of beautiful grass fed cultured butter for a smoother taste or a good quality grass fed organic cream.. Experiment and see what variations suit your tastebuds.
METHOD
1 If the coconut oil is solid, warm it slightly so that it becomes liquid.
2 Add all ingredients to a bowl except the honey and mix up until smooth.
3 Add the honey and mix thoroughly. You can also mix in the blender or food processor for a smoother consistency but I like the old fashioned way.
4 Now this is the best part.. Taste it. Is it sweet enough? Taste it again to make sure. Does it need a little more? Better have another taste just to make sure!
5 Once you have perfected the mixture, carefully spoon some chocolate into paper cups or you can use some baking paper in a muffin tin.
6 Once you have a thin layer, place them into the freezer for a few minutes to set.
7 Remove from freezer and carefully spoon some nut butter straight from the jar on top of the chocolate.
8 Again place in the freezer to set for a few minutes.
9 Whilst you are waiting for them to set in the freezer you better try the chocolate mixture once more just to make sure you got the consistency right.
10 Remove the cups from the freezer and again carefully spoon the chocolate on top of the nut butter.
11 Place back in freezer for a few minutes and once set you can transfer to the fridge. When ready to indulge, serve them straight out of the fridge.
What variations on this recipe do you like? Sometimes I add coconut, a variety of seeds, bee pollen, goji berries, blueberries or cocoa butter. The best part of making your own chocolate is experimenting! Every batch is a little bit different. There’s no such thing as just one!
*Jeanne Calment lived to 122 years and 164 days and had the longest confirmed human lifespan on record. She accredited her longevity to a diet rich in olive oil, port wine and nearly a kilogram of chocolate a week. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeanne_Calment
The Carousel thanks Mother Nourish for this recipe.
