If you’re a chocolate lover or have one in your life, you know how powerful chocolate cravings can be.
Many people think that if you eat dark chocolate, it’s totally fine…because we hear all the time that “dark chocolate is good for you.”
Well, here’s the thing about that…
Depending on which dark chocolate product you’re looking at, it may contain a superfood ingredient called cacao that has notable health benefits.
But it may also have a load of sugar, hydrogenated oil, preservatives and other health-zapping ingredients in the mix.
Or, it may not have any cacao at all. Instead, it may be full of processed cocoa to provide its chocolatey flavor.
Cocoa is cacao that has been heated at high temperatures, which can strip it of its health benefits. Plus, cocoa is often combined with sugar, artificial flavoring and unhealthy fat that has been highly processed.
Most health-focused stores like Whole Foods have a decent stock of dark chocolate products made with cacao for sale. Unfortunately, during the manufacturing process for many of these products, cocoa butter is often mixed in with inflammatory vegetable oils to make the chocolate go further.
Many brands also contain high levels of sugar or high fructose corn syrup, and they add soy lecithin as an emulsifier to make the ingredients blend better for a creamier consistency. The end result isn’t a truly “healthy” chocolate.
You may be able to find raw chocolate bars in certain stores (and you can definitely buy them online), but they typically come with a hefty price tag. I love the Hu brand, for example, but you’re looking at $5 or more per bar.
The good news is you can preserve your finances and your health by making your own pure and delicious chocolate. It’s super easy to do with just 3 simple plant-based ingredients: raw cacao powder, coconut oil and pure maple syrup.
And you get to control the level of sweetness. SCORE!!!
THE RECIPE
PLANT-BASED CHOCOLATE
~Yields 1 Large Chocolate Bar or About 15 Bite-Size Pieces Using a Candy Mold~
Organic Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup of cacao powder (My go-to brand to avoid heavy metals is Navitas.)
- 1/4 cup of extra virgin coconut oil
- 2 tablespoons of pure maple syrup (If you like a stronger chocolate flavor with less sweetness, simply reduce the maple syrup content.)
OPTIONAL EXTRAS: You can add some peppermint extract, coconut flakes, raw walnuts, orange zest, pumpkin seeds, strawberries, cherries or other healthy ingredients to incorporate your favorite flavor or texture.
Ninja Preparation:
- Put the coconut oil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Once the oil is completely melted, turn off the heat and whisk in the cacao powder until you have a nice creamy chocolate mixture.
- Remove the pan from the heat and mix in the maple syrup. (WARNING: If you add the maple syrup while the pan is still on a hot surface, it will crystallize and make the mixture a little rough/chunky vs. being silky smooth.)
- You have 2 options: One option is to make a large candy bar by pouring the mixture into a small glass dish with a tight lid that has been lined with unbleached parchment paper. The other option is pouring the chocolate into food-grade silicone candy molds (like these) to make bite-sized chocolate candies.
- Freeze the chocolate until it’s solid (about 30 minutes) and then cut it into pieces or pop it out of the candy mold. Store the chocolate in the fridge to prevent melting.
One of the many wonderful things about this simple and delicious recipe is that it makes a small batch, so you can’t go on a crazed chocolate bender like I’ve been known to do!
However, if you need to make more chocolate for a large group or special occasion, just multiply the recipe above for the amount of chocolate you need.
For example, the photo below shows how I doubled the recipe to make 30 pieces of chocolate (using candy molds) for Valentine’s Day:
Here’s a look at the delicious finished product:
HEALTH BENEFITS OF CACAO
Cacao (pronounced “ka-kow”) consists simply of pure, raw cacao beans. It delivers lots of nourishing elements like vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, flavonoids, essential fatty acids and other beneficial phytonutrients that are naturally occurring in the cacao beans.
Cacao is classified as a powerful superfood that promotes heart health, weight loss, healthy skin, better digestion, improved immune function and a more positive mood. Plus, eating cacao is a natural way to get an energy boost.
In addition to the powder form used in this recipe, you can also get cacao in the form of “nibs.” Cacao nibs are small pieces of raw cacao beans that you can add to smoothies, oatmeal, baked goods like cookies, etc. for a little crunch and chocolatey flare.
Cheers to enjoying a clean and simple chocolate recipe with health benefits!
With love and gratitude,
Kandi
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